In today's world of the multiplex cinema houses, it seems almost quaint that there still exists the old movie houses of Hollywood's golden age. Yet right in the heart of Hollywood lies the El Capitan Theatre, a movie palace that dishes up Disney fare in a yesterdayland setting with tomorrowland technology.

The renovation of the El Capitan was one of the first revitalization projects of a Hollywood Boulevard that had been in decline for years. In 1998 and in conjunction with Pacific Theaters, the El Capitan's owner, Disney began a two-year major renovation of the theater. The historic site was reopened in June 1991 with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' The Rocketeer.

The lavish theater has orchestra and balcony seating, a vaulted ceiling and colorful art deco decor. Movies are exhibited with digital picture and sound on a large screen whose curtain closes after trailers in order to open anew for the main feature. Many Disney features make their debut here and are often accompanied with a live, staged pre-show. Other times, an organist will play Disney tunes before the show to set the mood.

The El Capitan Theatre originally opened May 3, 1926, as Hollywood's "First Home of Spoken Drama," with the premiere of the play Charlot's Revue, starring Jack Buchanan, Gertrude Lawrence and Beatrice Lillie. Between 1926 and 1936, more than 120 live plays were performed on the El Capitan's stage. In 1941, the classic film Citizen Kane enjoyed its world premiere at the El Capitan, which would lead to the conversion of the theater to an "art moderne" movie house.

The El Capitan Theatre is a sister theater of the Chinese and Egyptian theaters, all three being developed by Charles Toberman and Sid Grauman. The theater is a certified national historic site and today is flanked by a Disney Store to one side and an multi-level entertainment complex often themed to the current Disney film playing at the El Capitan on the other side.

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- Story and Photos by Matthew Walker
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