The Capitol Theatre, Community Contributor

The Capitol Theatre, designed by noted architect Thomas Lamb, opened on Wednesday, August 18, 1926 as a dignified playhouse with great decorative beauty and luxurious comfort. People traveled from near and far to see shows at The Capitol. Hollywood kept the theater going for decades with films like Casablanca, Gone with the Wind and The Taming of the Shrew. Enthusiasts could pay as little as 5 cents to see a double-feature Sunday matinee. The Capitol Theatre was mainly used to put on plays and musicals during the mid-’80s, and it underwent continuous renovations for several years. There was a brief resurgence of rock concerts in the early ’90s when well-known acts like Phish and Blues Traveler visited the Port Chester stage. However, due to the poor economy at the time, it was difficult for any theater to thrive, and the small size of The Capitol no longer appealed to top-name entertainment. In December 2011, Peter Shapiro announced that The Capitol Theatre would reopen with him at the helm, and the venue began yet a third round of serious renovations. Previously the owner of the legendary Wetlands Preserve in Manhattan and currently the owner of the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Shapiro has no shortage of experience when it comes to running successful live music venues. He planned to breathe new life into the historical theater—with state-of-the-art light, sound and video systems, and new carpets, repainted walls and upgraded bathrooms. The Capitol Theatre, partnered with concert promoter The Bowery Presents, reopened in September 2012 as Westchester’s new premier rock palace.