Port Chester’s The Capitol Theatre Reopens with a Bang!

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

by Elisa Zuckerberg, Founder of HearItThere

I was truly honored to be invited to The Capitol Theatre’s reopening celebration on September 9. The theater had been shut down for 18 months, for obvious reasons, and this was truly a big deal for the theater owners, managers, local business owners, and certainly us music fans!

Guests ranged from local media including News 12 Hudson Valley, publishers, town officials, government representatives, and most importantly, the generous donors who helped keep the theater afloat financially during the past year. We toured the venue, had a look and listen inside (and sound system and lights), and learned more about the Fall 2021 line-up.

Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre’s Talent Booker Josh Cohen’s excitement about the opening was tangible. We geeked out about music and shared our mutual passion for finding talent in the region. He described his job as presenting bands and artists that create a joyful experience – a party of sorts.

Head usher Brian Lynch gave us a short history lesson about the theater and explained how the space has been used since its initial opening in 1926. (I’m in the photo!)

You can read the entire history here but here’s the short version: The Capitol Theatre was designed by noted architect Thomas Lamb. It was originally a Vaudeville theater, then presented movies, and in the 70s was re-designed as a psychedelic performance space and hosted major rock and roll acts.

Bands who have performed in those early years included Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, YES, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, and Alice Cooper. It’s Phil Lesh’s favorite venue, the only one he performs on the east coast and has done 80s shows and more are scheduled next month in October.

Mr. Lynch shared an interesting story about Janis Joplin who performed one of her last shows at The Capitol Theatre. Apparently, she wrote “Mercedes Benz” backstage!

In the 80s it was renovated and used for catering and theatrical performances. The theater was later shut down and then started to decay.

In the 90s, The Capitol Theatre brought to the stage such legendary acts as David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Phish, and Jimmy Cliff.

Peter Shapiro, a NYC music promoter, took over in 2011 and made “serious renovations” – breathing new life into the historical theater” and it re-opened in 2012 with Bob Dylan as the first act and as Westchester’s new premier rock palace. Since there have presented over 750 shows!

The Capitol Theatre’s Wallpaper in the Lobby

Learn more about the theater’s incredibly cool custom wallpaper: https://www.flavorpaper.com/installations/the-capitol-theater

Joan Grangenois-Thomas, District Director at U.S. House of Representatives, 17th District and a member of the village of Port Chester’s Board of Trustees and I had a wonderful chat. She told me that when The Capitol Theatre opened years ago it revitalized the town and brought new life and energy to Port Chester. She is thankful that the new administration has given federal dollars, through the Small Business Administration, and financial support to small businesses and venues in the region including The Capitol.

The afternoon concluded with Bruce Wheeler, General Manager, and owner Peter Shapiro, thanked all the donors and guests and the unveiling of the “Capitol Family Tiles” with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.