History Cine Capri

1 history

1.1 construction
1.2 opening
1.3 demolition

history
construction

the original cine capri theatre constructed @ corner of 24th street , camelback roads in phoenix, arizona. began in 1964 when federal district court of new york approved arizona paramount theatre’s application construct , operate new motion picture theater @ barrows plaza @ 24th street , camelback. such approval required theaters owned major motion picture studios due anti-trust laws.

shortly after being approved cine capri came life when george m. aurelius, vice-president , general manager of arizona paramount corporation , henry george greene, a.i.a., n.c.a.r.b., consulting architect abc theaters, teamed w.e. “bill” homes, jr. president of homes & son construction company, inc. , ralph haver, president of haver, nunn & jensen, architects barrows plaza. rounding out group spero kontos of los angeles-based john filbert company. goal design, build , outfit unique, state-of-the-art motion picture facility complement potential neighborhood development , accommodate ever-changing film distribution , exhibition patterns.

the large, 16,500-square-foot (1,530 m) facility featured striking dual colonnades flanking both sides of theater; ten pre-cast white, columns weighing 7 tons each. supported overhangs copper fascias cured achieve antique green patina. patio off east lobby provided shelter waiting patrons , intermission breaks, while larger western portico served main entrance. entire lower building façade overlaid imported hexagonal jade italian tile. in center multi-paneled, 24-foot-long (7.3 m), custom antique stained glass window served focal point, day , night, inside , out. low profile desert landscaping surrounded cine capri, featuring assorted palm trees, , russian olive , italian cyprus trees punctuating perimeter.

patrons entered spacious two-level lobby clean modern lines. center seen camelback mountain , praying monk rock formation. oval confection area situated along wall gold waterfall draperies duplicating lavish auditorium décor.

the auditorium enveloped in lavish display of 4,000 yards (3,700 m) of lustrous antique gold fabric covering proscenium , walls carpet ceiling. electrically synchronized gold front cascade drape moved on cue vertically @ different speeds reveal title curtain behind, opened horizontally expose film on giant curved screen extended out fifth row of seats.

with cine capri continental seating introduced community. sloping floor plan using 8 hundred high-back, maroon rocking chairs in rows of seats flowed side aisle side aisle; eliminating center aisle. in later years floor plan had changed conform changes in fire codes.

the cine capri first multipurpose theater in southwest designed project film aspect ratios of time, including cinemascope, vista-vision, , cinerama 70/35 mm projectors , stereophonic sound system.

opening

the cine capri opened charlton heston film agony , ecstasy.

the morning of march 31, 1966, charlton heston, star of agony , ecstasy, hosted youth drama clinic in theater auditorium several dozen high school , college students. followed afternoon “show & tell” reception distinguished guests meet mr. heston. attendees included community leaders, city , state officials, press, radio , television personnel, studio , distribution executives neighborhood merchants. there architects, contractors, members of trade , craft suppliers, phoenix art council , mid town rotary club, sponsors of evening charity program.

well before curtain time premiere attendees , fans had gathered outside theater entertained scottsdale high school marching band. outside festivities concluded arrival of charlton heston in open convertible. escorted through crowd entrance officially launched theater ribbon cutting ceremony.

once inside patrons filed auditorium inaugural program. mr. heston addressed audience, suggesting fortunate have, “this new, outstanding prototype of motion picture theater of tomorrow,” them enjoy.

the lights dimmed, front drapes rose, , opening credits fell on title curtain. world-class theater born cine capri officially came life , began honorable , distinguished third-of-a-century run of great storytelling , dream spinning enjoy.

other notable runs @ cine capri include star wars in 1977. cine capri held 1 of highest grosses 1977 george lucas film , played film on year – longest run in united states. david dozoretz, later worked directly george lucas on star wars prequels, saw film @ cine capri while sister mindy worked @ theater. famed snowboard artist joe sorren, painted audience viewing film, titled after theater.

demolition

after several years, arizona paramount corporation , abc paramount theaters disposed of theater holdings , withdrew community. in 1988 theater renovated , re-opened new operator harkins theatres, large privately owned movie theater chain.

in 1997, year-long battle began between harkins theatres , property owner on decision demolish cine capri in favor of high-rise office building. despite on 260,000 petition signatures , efforts of save cine capri committee, preservation effort failed. on january 5, 1998, @ 2:12am, curtain lowered on original cine capri , appropriate final film, titanic. 6 weeks later, theater demolished.