The venerable theater in downtown Port Chester turns 100 this year. It’s been the favorite place to play for many a band, including the Grateful Dead and their bassist Phil Lesh.
Click here for a lookback on a century of entertainment history as described in my article for The Rye Record, and read on for a timeline I put together.
The Capitol Theatre: A Timeline
- 1926: Theatre opens with a sold-out performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by a 10-piece orchestra and a showing of the silent film The Sea Wolf. Advertisement boasts that it’s “the only theater refrigerating system in Westchester County.” Theatre remains open for decades, charging as little as 5 cents for double-feature matinees.
- 1970s: Under promoter Howard Stein, theatre begins hosting concerts by major rock’n’roll acts.
- 1970: Janis Joplin debuts Mercedes Benz after writing the song between shows at a bar around the corner.
- 1970-71: The Grateful Dead perform 18 times over 11 months as the theatre earns the nickname “the House The Dead Built.”
- 1976: A village ordinance prohibiting live entertainment after 1 a.m. leads to a shutdown.
- 1983-84: Renovated theatre reopens under new owner Marvin Ravikoff, staging plays and musicals.
- 1997: The Rolling Stones pull out of an October taping of MTV’s “Live from the 10 Spot” after Mick Jagger comes down with laryngitis. David Bowie steps in as a replacement. The Stones return 10 days later, jamming the village’s downtown with crowds and equipment trucks.
- Late 1990s: Seats are removed and the building becomes a catering hall hosting weddings and private events.
- Sept. 4, 2012: The Cap reopens under new owner Peter Shapiro with a performance by Bob Dylan.
- March 14, 2025: The street outside The Cap is named Phil Lesh Lane, in honor of the former Grateful Dead bassist, whose more than 100 performances helped anchor the theatre’s resurgence.
- Sept. 19: 2026: The theatre’s centennial celebration features Pink Talking Fish headlining a roster of performers from the jam band world.
Visit thecapitoltheatre.com for information about the theatre and upcoming shows.
RELATED: Street to be renamed for Phil Lesh
Robert Brum 