Capitol Theatre (Passaic, New Jersey) Explained

Capitol Theatre
Owner:John Scher
Demolished:1991
Closed:1989
Built:1921
Genre:Rock
Coordinates:40.8645°N -74.128°W
Location:Passaic, New Jersey
Address:326 Monroe Street
Seating Capacity:3,200

The Capitol Theatre was an entertainment venue located at the intersection of Monroe Street and Central Avenue in Passaic, New Jersey. Opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house, the Capitol later served as a movie theater, and then as a venue for rock concerts.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the 3,200-seat theatre was a popular stop on many major rock artist's tours. The venue was known for its in-house video system which resulted in a number of good quality, black and white video bootlegs. After it closed, the building fell into disrepair and it was demolished in April 1991. A shopping center known as Capitol Plaza occupies the site now.

History

Vaudeville and films

The Capitol Theatre opened on October 7, 1921 with sold-out a concert by the U.S. Marine Band, which helped raise funds for a pipe organ in the city's high school.[1]

By the 1960s, it was known as the Capitol Cinema, and by 1970s the theater was showing adult films.

Rock venue

On June 27, 1971, the popular Fillmore East theater in Manhattan closed, ending owner and rock promoter Bill Graham's stipulation that acts who played at his venue were prohibited from performing at any theater within 75 miles for the following four months. John Scher, a young rock promoter from West Orange, New Jersey, seized on the closure of the Fillmore East by acquiring the Capitol Theatre and transforming it into a rock venue.[2]

The first concert at The Capitol Theatre was by The J. Geils Band and Humble Pie on December 16, 1971.[3]

The theater closed in 1989 for various reasons, including the changing music industry and the 1981 opening of Brendan Byrne Arena at the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex. John Scher had also started to promote concerts at the arena, enabling much of the Capitol Theatre staff to obtain employment there when the theater closed.

In popular culture

The Marshall Tucker Band concert from February 18, 1977 was released on December 4, 2007 as a 2 CD/DVD package called Carolina Dreams Tour '77, marking the 30th anniversary of the concert. This is the only known footage of a complete concert by the original members.

Notable appearances

Pig Light Show appeared from the Opening Night in December 1971 till the end of June 1973, performing with all artists during those dates.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Capitol theatre opening. 1921-10-08. The Herald-News. 2020-04-11. 1.
  2. Web site: John Scher: A life in rock music, in New Jersey and far beyond. Jersey. Tris McCall For Inside. 2012-01-29. nj. en. 2020-04-11.
  3. Web site: Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, USA Concert Setlists setlist.fm. www.setlist.fm. 2020-04-11.
  4. Web site: Matheson . Whitney . My fave Music Vault finds: R.E.M., U2, Blondie and more . USA TODAY . 30 March 2020.

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