Los Angeles Times (19 June 1991): El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood

1F100cWEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1991 * LOS ANGELES TIMES ~t Age 65, the El Capitan BACKGROUND • The El Capitan Theatre originally was designed as a venue for live performances, opening on May 3, 1926, with the mtJsical, "Charlot's Gets a Major Face Lift Revue," starring Jack Buchanan, Gertrude Lawrence and Beatrice Lillie. In the I910s, when theater in general fell victim to hard times II Theaters: Disney and the Pacific Theaters movie . after the Depression, the El Capitan became a movie house. Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," was premiered there in 1941. It was later chain have spent two years restoring the structure on remodeled by covering the decor with curtains and features such as the box-seat balconies were removed. It reopened as the Paramount Hollywood Boulevard, in time for 'The Rocketeer.' Theater in 1942, screening Cecil B. DeMille's "Reap the Wild Wind." By DAVID). FOX tion and the L.A. Conservancy to rI:\I,ES ,s rAH , WIUrJ:R go back to the original. The effort has received enthusi · {tel' building an artificial astic support from the neighbor Restored EI Capitan Theatre on A Hollywood in Orlando, I~la., hood. On Monday, Hollywood area Hollywood Boulevard combines the Walt Disney Co. has and Los Angeles leaders an architectural styles from G. Al turned its attention to the real nounced the creation of a Cinema thing. bert Lansburgh's Italian Baroque District along the boulevard in an on its exterior, left, to East Indi A .partnership of Disney and the effort to promote moviegoing. The Pacific Theaters movie chain in district includes Mann's Chinese, an in its main auditorium, below. vested an estimated $6 million in the Egyptian and the still-under Lansburgh's original Baroque in~ the restoration and relighting of a construction Galaxy 'l'heaters com fluences also appear in the lobby Hollywood legend: the 65-year-old plex' among others. El .Capitan 'rheatre, on the real ceiling, right, and in light fixtures. Hollywood Boulevard, in the real uests at Monday's screening Hollywood, California-faded Ggot a preview of the glitzy glamour district in the city of Los show Disney has planned for to Angeles. night's world premiere of '''l'he It .took nearly two years of Rocketeer." They entel'ed ,mder restoration to strip a way the years the splashy new rainbow-colored of neglect and the pseudo-modern marquee and inti> the brightly interior remodeling from the 1940s gilded theater, with its oversized andJ950s to find the original decor. urns and purple, green and yellow But workers restored virtually carpeting. all the architectural features creat In a Disneyland-like touch, ush ed by theater designer G. Albert ers dressed in '30s style uniforms La(lsburgh, who also designed Los and caps swept up any popcorn Angeles's Wiltern and Orpheum that might have fallen on the new (nQw the Palace) theaters, as well carpet. thCi Shrine Auditorium interior. On stage, a troupe of singing and 'I'he EI Capitan's original decor is tap-dancing ushers greeted the said by historians to represent preview audience with a special Italian Baroque on the facade and show, to be presented only this in ~,he lobby, English Tudor in the week during previews. wood-p.aneled lower lobby, and Then the lights were lowered East Indian in the main auditorium. and the audience applauded as the In an interview Monday before a elaborate curtains-three tiers of prqviewat the theater of Disney's ornate tassels and silver tinsel '''l'he Rocketeer," Dick Cook, pres parted to fanfare music and re ident of Disney's Buena Vista Dis vealed the giant. 42x20-foot screen. triI;Jution, said Disney will make 1'he new sound system in the thq' EI Capitan a showcase where theater features THX and Cinema the studio will debut its major Digital Sound systems. - fea'ture films. Disney . and PacifiC In the refurbishing, the number Theaters already had jointly re of seats was reduced from 1,500 to vived the much smaller, aging 1,100, providing more leg room for Crest Theater in Westwood, alter persons on the main floor. ing its decor to a Hollywood fanta The balcony area with its tiered sy-land motir. seating has excellent sight lines, Disney and Pacilie 'l'heater offi but leg room is limited, according cials originally planned to divide to a number of guests. the theater in two and install an· Disney has moved the projection Art Deco interior. But they were booth from the balcony to the first persuaded by the landmark status floor to improve projection capabil of the ElCapitan and such groups ity and features for the hearing as Hollywood Heritage, the Los impaired and seating for handi Angeles Historic 'l'heatre Founda- capped were installed. .

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