PSTOS - Capitol Theatre, Portland Oregon

Capitol Theatre - 2/4 Kilgen, Style U012
Portland, Oregon
Morrison & 4th Avenue

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Capitol Theatre, 1930

The Capitol opened in July, 1928. It had a pleasant Spanish motif with the exterior, interior and furnishings very well coordinated and of excellent design. The theatre had 850 seats with a small balcony.

The theatre had a Kilgen organ (opus #4157) installed in 1928. According to the Junchen opus lists, the instrument was a Style U012 and the purchase price was $4,322.50

Emory Stevenson played for vaudeville acts at the Capitol for three years -- 1937-1939. He learned to play at the Bagdad Theatre with its 3/12 Kimball. Emory recalled that the Capitol Kilgen, although only 4 ranks, had a nice, full sound in the theatre.

The organ was purchased by Ted Marks of Portland and later by Leonard Vernon of Astoria, Oregon.

Morrison St, c.1940s

Interestingly, when the original Blue Mouse Theatre closed in 1958, owner Paul Forsythe moved the Blue Mouse sign to the former Capitol Theatre. The "new" Blue Mouse operated until 1977 when the block was razed to make way for a huge parking structure.

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The "new" Blue Mouse (ex-Capitol) Theatre building in 1977 shortly before demolition