Hermosa Beach
Updated on Apr 29 2024 5:58am
The El Capitan Theatre, located on Hollywood Boulevard, has been a major part of Hollywood's entertainment scene for almost a century. Built in 1926 by Charles Toberman and Sid Grauman, the theatre was designed by Stiles O. Clements with an elaborate cast-concrete Spanish Colonial style exterior, and an East Indian inspired interior designed by G. Albert Lansburgh. It quickly became known as "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama," with its 1,550 seats making it the largest legitimate theatre in Hollywood. With its stunning architecture, luxurious interior, and a rich history, the El Capitan Theatre truly is Disney's home on Hollywood Boulevard.
The El Capitan Theatre opened its doors on May 3, 1926, with the premiere of the play CHARLOT'S REVUE, starring Jack Buchanan, Gertrude Lawrence, and Beatrice Lillie. Over the years, the theatre hosted many more plays, as well as a variety of other events. However, in 1941, the theatre was converted from a playhouse to a movie theatre, and the El Capitan name and staff moved to the nearby Hollywood Playhouse.
The theatre continued to host movie premieres over the years, and in 1989, the Walt Disney Company joined forces with Pacific Theatres to restore the El Capitan to its former glory. The two-year restoration, led by renowned theatre designer Joseph J. Musil, aimed to recreate the original 1926 look and feel of the theatre, including original design elements such as ornate plasterwork and opera boxes. The restoration was supervised by the National Park Service's Department of the Interior, and guidance from conservator Martin Weil and architect Ed Fields.
The El Capitan Theatre reopened its doors to the public on June 19, 1991, with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' THE ROCKETEER. This was the first of many Walt Disney Pictures feature films to premiere at the El Capitan Theatre, which is now owned by The Walt Disney Company and serves as the venue for a majority of the Walt Disney Studios' film premieres.
In addition to its role as a premiere destination, the El Capitan Theatre also serves as a venue for special events and live performances. The adjacent Hollywood El Capitan Entertainment Centre, also owned by The Walt Disney Company, offers a variety of dining and entertainment options.
The 4/37 Wurlitzer Organ
The El Capitan Theatre is home to a spectacular 4/37 Wurlitzer organ, which is considered the top of the line in theater organs. It was meticulously restored over a one-year period and installed by G.M. Buck Pipe Organs, Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The organ has four keyboards and 37 ranks of pipes, each representing different musical instruments. Over 2500 pipes have been installed in four chambers, two in each side of the theatre, with the largest pipe measuring over 32 feet long. This magnificent instrument, originally installed in 1929 at the World Famous San Francisco Fox Theatre, was dormant for years before being purchased by Frank Lanterman in 1963 for his home in La Canada. The Mighty Wurlitzer has come to life again, performing to a new audience of hundreds of thousands of people at Hollywood's Classic Movie Palace, The El Capitan Theatre.