History

The site originally contained two theatres – the Empress was constructed in 1908 and the Capitol was built in 1922. In 1926 a fire destroyed the Empress and gutted the Capitol. During that fire, A.H. “Sandy” Lindsay died while battling the blaze. It’s rumoured that Sandy continues to spend time at the Capitol and can be felt and sometimes heard during late night hours.

Following that fire, both theatres were rebuilt and re-opened less than seven months after the fire.

Throughout the years the Capitol has been a hub for community activity. Live Vaudeville performances were commonplace at 10 cents a show. Eventually live performances gave way to silent movies, talkies and then colour films. By the 60’s the Capitol operated as a movie theatre until the late 1980’s.

Thanks to the foresight and vision of our municipal leaders in the early 1990s, the Capitol and the adjoining Empress were purchased by the City of Moncton with plans to convert it back to a regional performing arts centre.

It wasn’t until a team of restoration experts began peeling back the layers did anyone really know what existed under multiple coats of paint and years of wear and tear. Once it was discovered what the Capitol really offered, that’s when the dedicated team leading the restoration was formed to return the Capitol to its original 1922 splendor, while ensuring the latest technical advances - positioning the venue once again as the most important performance arts centre in Atlantic Canada.

The Capitol went from an old abandoned movie theatre to one of the most vibrant and dynamic cultural centers in Atlantic Canada. We offer the best local, national and international programming available anywhere and, present it in a building like no other. It’s the best of both worlds.

Learn all the details of the Capitol Theatre’s history in this video capsule.