The El Capitan Theatre

The El Capitan Theatre. Hollywood. , The El Capitan Theatre was originally built as a legitimate theatre by developer Charles E. Toberman, (who also developed the nearby Egyptian Theatre and the Chinese Theatre); and designed by renowned theatre architects G. Albert Lansberg (interior), and Morgan, Walls and Clements (exterior). , The Early Years: 1926 - 1941 , The El Capitan opened on May 3, 1926, with "Charlot's Revue," a song and dance variety show starring Gertrude Lawrence. For 15 years, the El Capitan showcased more than 120 productions with top Hollywood stars like Fanny Brice, Jackie Cooper, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth. But in the late 1930's, business was slow and the theatre's future was in question. , Movies to the Rescue: El Capitan becomes the Paramount , The El Capitan's fate was sealed on May 9, 1941, when Orson Welles, unable to secure a movie house, premiered Citizen Kane at the El Capitan Theatre. Soon after, stage circuit promoters Fanchon and Marco convinced owners of the theatre to remodel the El Capitan as a movie house, ending live stage performances for good. The modernized and redecorated El Capitan re-opened as the Paramount on March 18, 1942, with the world premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind. The theatre enjoyed 50 years of success with films such as Sunset Boulevard, War and Peace, Gigi, and Cimarron. , Happy Days are Here Again , Like so many old movie palaces, the Paramount needed a facelift. In 1989, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company), and Pacific Theatres joined forces to restore majesty to moviegoing. Following a painstaking renovation, the theatre was restored to its original grandeur and beauty, and the El Capitan opened in June of 1991 with new state-of-the-art projection and sound.