Shuttered since 1985, the Capitol Theatre (1390 W. 65th St.,
216.651.3010, clevelandcinemas.com) is set to
reopen next week after a multi-million dollar facelift. Originally
opened in 1921 as a vaudeville and silent-film house, the theater
became the property of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development
Organization, which has been applying for grants and working with
Cleveland Cinemas owner Jonathan Forman to restore it to its former
glory. The venue was in such bad shape that plaster from the ceiling
covered the seats, requiring that they all be replaced. Much of the
original woodwork and plaster pilasters were retained, though the
theater was reconfigured so that it will now feature a main auditorium
and two smaller rooms upstairs. “You can see all the original moldings
and where the original doors were — they’ve done as much as they
can to keep what was here and not just strip it down and replace it,”
says Cleveland Cinemas marketing director Dave Huffman while providing
a brief tour of the still-under-construction facility. The main
auditorium will feature a digital 3D screen; the other two screens will
use digital technology too.
Coinciding with the completion of a Detroit Shoreway streetscaping
project that’s part of developing the Gordon Square Arts District, the
theater opens with a private gala event on Thursday, October 1. A free
ribbon-cutting event with Mayor Frank Jackson takes place at 9 a..m.
Friday, October 2, and there’s a $35-a-ticket opening-night party from
9-11 that night. Assuming the theater is a success, there are tentative
plans to add three more screens and a 250-car parking structure, but
that’s going to require another $12 million dollars. And though DSCDO
has applied for stimulus money, executive director Jeff Ramsey is
doubtful their request will be approved.
Slated to take place at the Beachland Ballroom in late November, the
first annual Cleveland Grindhouse Film Festival is now taking
submissions. Films must be shot in Cleveland or with Cleveland-based
crew and talent. “We’re looking for anything from exploitation to
sexploitation,” says organizer Brenna Lee Roth, a Northeast Ohio
actress now living in Venice Beach. Winning entries will be screened at
the festival, which will also feature appearances by Playboy model from the Youngstown area Lisa Neeld and Another World‘s Robyn Griggs (Zombiegeddon). Roth will also be in
attendance. For submission info, contact clevelandgrindhouse@gmail.com.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2009.
