“Doors Open” at the Capitol Theatre Celebrates 75 years as a Community Asset

OPEN HOUSE at The Capitol Theatre, Port Alberni

On Saturday, October 15, Portal Players Dramatic Society, owners and operators of the Capitol Theatre in Port Alberni, invite the community to an open house.  Our very special guests for the evening will be the Warren family.  Harold Warren, who was born in Port Alberni in 1914, learned the movie theatre business by helping his father operate the Port Theatre on Second Avenue.  After his father died in 1935, he decided to build a new theatre equipped for sound, and on May 11, 1936, the Capitol Theatre opened. The Capitol Theatre was the start of the 21-year old’s business career, as he went on to open the Paramount Theatre, the Roxy Theatre, the Beaver Valley Drive-In theatre, the Village Theatre in Qualicum, CJAV Radio, and Alberni Cable Television.  Harold Warren owned the Capitol Theatre for fifty years, sold his theatre business in 1986, and died in 2005 at the age of 91. 

The Capitol’s rich history continues in the 21st century. As the West Coast Advocate noted in their Progress Report of 1937: “[The] Capitol Theatre is a Community Asset…[it] was constructed by experts, sparing no efforts to make it one of the most modern and up-to-date theatres in the province…There is nothing which adds so greatly to the progress of the community as do live-wire theatres such as this.”  75 years later, the Capitol Theatre remains standing as a vibrant community asset in the Alberni Valley, and we are inviting the community to rediscover the theatre, tour the facility, and meet the Warren family who will be unveiling a commemorative plaque and photographs. They will be permanently displayed in the licensed upstairs lounge of the theatre.

Tours will begin at 6:30 pm hosted by Portal Player’s members, and visitors will see areas that are usually closed to the public like the backstage, the green room, and the mysterious attic.  They will also get to enjoy the new-to-the-Capitol seats, and inspect the refinished flooring and floor lighting.   Festivities begin at 7:30 pm, with a presentation from the Warren family, and end with the unveiling of the plaque and photographs in our licensed lounge.  The free tours and events in the theatre are open to all ages; however, visitors must be at least 19 years of age to visit the lounge in the evening. Please come out and take advantage of this rare opportunity to see all “Doors Open” at the Capitol Theatre.

For all inquiries:

Brent Ronning, President, Portal Players Dramatic Society

250.730.2700, capitoltheatre@shaw.ca