The Capitol Movie Theater In Milton

The Capitol Theater in Milton opened for the first time on June 30, 1934 with  Baby Take A Bow, starring Shirley Temple and James Dunn.    The theater survived several floods, and a renovation, before succumbing to fire in 1973.

The Life Of  Virgie Winters, shown on the marquis above,  was showing in 1934.

The Capitol Theater in the 1936 flood

Located at  55 Broadway Road, Milton, PA 17847, in 1934 afternoon shows cost 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults. For evening shows children were charged 15 cents while adults paid 35 cents.

A 1942 Ad for the theater.

The  Milton movie theater had  350 seats in the balcony, and 850 seats on the floor.  It was a grand, well built theater, that survived at least two floods.

Many Christmas parties and programs were held at the theater each year.

Help, Starring the Beatles, was showing in 1965

By the 1960's and 70's, the theater was in disrepair, and very much in need of restoration.  In 1971, Jack Oberleitner & Thomas Poling  purchased the theater and began to restore it to it's original glory.

Alfie, starring Michael Caine, was showing in 1966

   The theater was closed for two months in 1971, while volunteers repaired, painted, re-wired, and polished the building.  The volunteers worked nonstop, reportedly eating and sleeping at the theater.  Nearly 1,000 light bulbs  were replaced on the old-fashioned marquee.

"It was mainly done by ourselves and our friends," Oberleitner said. "A lot of times we would sleep in the balcony of the theater, and get up in the morning and start painting again. It was a major, major undertaking."


Usherette Vickie Coup looks on as  Owner Jack Oberleitner holds a 35mm film, for Mayor Evan C. Williams to cut as the "ribbon" for the opening ceremony on August  6 1971.

A crowd nearly six blocks long lines up for  for the grand re-opening, while the owners and volunteers hurriedly finished painting and putting away scaffolding, just an hour before the doors opened.  

 The  1933 version of King Kong was shown, along with   classic short subjects featuring Shirley Temple, W.C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy.   Organ music greeted them as they entered, and all of the ladies were presented with an orchid corsage, and children received a comic book.  Gold fabric couches lined the lobby, which was lit by chandeliers that had been rescued from the theaters basement storage. Free coffee was served.

The Capitol Theater in the 1972 Flood

Over the years the theater had hosted many events and clubs.  It was used by the catholic church for Sunday services while the church was renovated, by the Union Workers at Chef Boyardee when meeting to approve a new contract, and by many civic organizations for Christmas parties.  

 In October of 1972, just months after the flood, "Let No Woman Be Overlooked", a mass cytology screening program, was held at the Capitol Theater in Milton.

  

A ticket stub from 1973, when admission was $3.50 for orchestra seating.

In 1973, a year after the flood caused by hurricane agnes,  a fire at the theater buckled the walls and burned a hole through the roof.

On Friday Nov. 30 1973, the Republican & Herald newspaper reported that a fire had erupted in the furnace room of the theater.  The fire gutted the stage area, and damaged the roof.  

  Because of the condition of the walls, the building was in danger of collapsing. 

The Capitol Theater Sign Coming Down

 In 1974, after citing the owner William Cloninger of Nanticoke, multiple times for building code violations, the borough had the building torn down.

The demolition project was expected to cost the borough more than $8,000.  A lien will be filed against the property in an effort to recover the demolition costs.

"I was totally, totally devastated,"  Oberleitner said. "It was almost like having a close relative die. I just couldn't go back to that and see an empty lot where a thing of beauty had once been. There was such magic in that building … I just couldn't do it."

In 1976 the former theater site was for sale.  Today the area is a park, with a large mural commemorating the theater on the adjoining building.

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Where The Movies Played

An Index Of Old Movie Theaters

In & Around The West Branch Valley

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/07/where-movies-played-old-movie-theaters.html

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Timeline Of The Capitol Theater In Milton -

1934, June 20 - Warren C Girton, of Bloomsburg,  is named manager of the newly completed Capitol Theater in Milton.

1934, June 30 - Capitol Theater Grand Opening

1939, February - the Theater was  robbed, with the burglers getting away with approximately $70.  It was believed that the thiefs entered through a basement window.

1942 - a scrap material show was held at the theater, and $10 of scrap metal was collected. The money was turned over to the Milton Council of Defense for equipment.

1943, January - Francis Fletcher replaced Harry O Burns Jr. as ticket taker.

1955, December 24 - Milton Steel held a Christmas party for employees children and grandchildren at the Capitol Theater.  388 children attended. (each child received a "bright steel sand pail", filled with candy)

1964, July - Warren C. Girton, Manager at the Capitol Theater, retires after 35 years in the motion picture business.

1971, December - Amalgamated Food Workers and Butcher Workmen of the North America Local 38 (Union) met at the Capitol theater to approve a contract.

1971 - August, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church of Milton held Sunday morning services in the Capitol Theater through September 17th, while the chruch was renovated.

1972, Oct -  "Let No Woman Be Overlooked", a mass cytology screening program, was held at the Capitol Theater in Milton.

  Prior to the program, two films were shown: Time And Two Women, &  BSE.  A physician was on hand to speak between the two films.  "Priority will be given to women in lower socio-economic groups and menopausal and post-menopausal women of all income brackets who have never had a pap test."

1974, May - Charged were refiled against William Cloninger of Nanticoke, owner of the Capitol Theater. Borough Code enforcer filed the charges, for violations of the borough building code.

1974, Feb 22 - Cloninger cited for building code violations

1974, June - Cloninger arrested for building code violations.  Freed on $2,500 bail.