When the roaring twenties gave way to the talking thirties, Kamloops answered with a theatre that was ready for the change. In 1930, the grand Empress Theatre was reborn as the Capitol Theatre — outfitted with sound equipment, redecorated, and refocused on the future of film.

The Capitol was more than a makeover. It marked a new chapter in Kamloops’ entertainment. With the city’s earlier movie houses either shuttered or struggling, the Capitol stood as the central hub for cinema lovers. Its stylish interior and improved acoustics made it the perfect setting for the golden age of Hollywood. Stars like George Raft lit up the marquee, and film-goers flocked to see the latest in romance, mystery, and musical drama.

The theatre’s earlier incarnation had featured silent films, live vaudeville acts, and even organ-accompanied screenings. But now, it was all about the movies, and they talked. The Capitol stayed in step with changing times, eventually becoming part of the Famous Players chain in 1937. As Kamloops grew, so did the Capitol’s role in everyday life. Date nights, matinees, rainy-day escape all part of the rhythm of the city.

By the 1950s, a newer theatre, the Paramount, emerged just down the street. Still, the Capitol hung on, holding its place as a nostalgic gem even as film formats, fashion, and furniture styles evolved around it. But time has a way of shifting the spotlight. In 1957, the Capitol Theatre was torn down, leaving behind memories, a few playbills, and a big empty lot between the Toronto Dominion Bank and the BC Hydro office.

Though the building is gone, its story remains. The Capitol, and the Empress before it, brought the world to Kamloops, one film reel at a time. 

Learn more about The Empress Theatre here.