The auditorium of the Capitol with the main curtain drawn closed over the screen. The Drapery was of a dark blue. The auditorium walls were a light blue made of tin test.

The C for Capitol at the top of the Proscenium Arch was added at a later date and even later a large illuminated clock was installed to the top right on the proscenium arch to let the movie patrons know what time it was while the show was on.

Movies to play in the Capitol around the time of this photo were some of the all time classics. Casablanca, Mrs Miniver, Random Harvest, How Green Was My Valley, Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Just to name some.

It must have been nice being a Projectionist in one of these Old Movie Houses. I ran film in single screen houses in the 1980's and I enjoyed running film the way it was meant to be run. Having 2 projectors and doing my own changeovers every 15 to 20 minutes. Manually dimming the house and proscenium & curtain lights, raising or opening and closing the curtains, and adjusting the moveable masking to accomodate the "Flat" or "CinemaScope" picture.

Fortuantely I had the opportunity to operate in an Old Movie Theatre, the "Roseland Theatre" which was New Glasgow's "Movie Palace". The Roseland was built in the 1920's and was part of "Garson Theatres" (Odeon) before becoming part of Canadian Odeon Theatres then later Empire Theatres.

Sadily I witnessed the end of the Craft as a Motion Picture Projectionist. First being introducted to the use of Hour Reels and the Xenon Bulb, then the use of platters in all booths. Even the single screen older houses, where platters aren't needed at all and a total waste of time. Today one company with head offices in Mississauga would rather have the kids run the show and they really don't give a shit about the presentation. They are more interested in selling their overpriced crap at the concessions.