Capitol Theater (Manila)

The Capitol Theater was an Art deco theater in Manila, Philippines. It was built during the 1930s along Escolta Street, part of the city's primary commercial district, together with the Lyric Theater. It was designed with a double-balcony by National Artist Juan Nakpil and was considered a rare feat during that era.[2]

Capitol Theater
Tower of the Capitol Theater in Escolta where the main entrance is located.
Location in Metro Manila
General information
StatusDemolished
TypeTheater building
Architectural styleArt deco
LocationEscolta, Manila
AddressEscolta Street
Town or cityBinondo, Manila
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates14.5972°N 120.9777°E / 14.5972; 120.9777
Groundbreaking1930
InauguratedJanuary 8, 1935 [1]
Demolished2020
OwnerRoxan Inc.
Technical details
MaterialConcrete
Floor area3,067 m2 (33,010 sq ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectJuan Nakpil
Other information
Seating capacity1,100

Architecture

A decorative located over the main building entrance, was intentionally designed to be different from the rest of the building. The tower facade is symmetrically composed with lines offsetting each other to emphasize the strong and rigid geometric forms; this is most especially shown at the top, with recessed tiers resembling a ziggurat and the geometric details at the top corners.[3] At the center of this is an art deco grillework that is made up of squares and circles surrounded by two pilasters on both sides. Both of the vertical surfaces have low-relief figures depicting two Filipina muses which are portrayed wearing native dress or 'traje de mestizas' and local fauna which include carabao head.[1][3] This was done by Francesco Riccardo Monti, also known for his works in some of the famous buildings in Metro Manila. Strong lines and soft curves outline the pleats of the gowns worn by the muses. To represent its use as a theater, both muses each hold a mask and a lyre, associated with theater arts and music, respectively.

The external elements found in the building relate to the function of the structure as a cinema and the Art Deco style with its strong geometric forms. Crowning the top of the central tower is the world "Capitol," the name of the structure in concrete. Due to natural and human-caused damage, only the I and T remain.

The national flower, sampaguita was the underlying motif of the interior spaces shown in wrought-iron grills on the stairs, the lobby, the foyer and the proscenium arch.[1] Also found in its lobby is a mural entitled "Rising Philippines" done by Victorio C. Edades, Carlos V. Francisco and Galo B. Ocampo. The theme also is evident in the proscenium arch, featuring sampaguita flowers in bloom finished in white seashell. Four concentric circles of short bamboo nodes and internodes radiate from the sampaguita flowers.[3]

The theater accommodates 1,100 seats in its air-conditioned double-balcony interior.

Damage and decay

The theater closed because of the declining theater business in Manila. The beginning of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction caused the theater-goers to choose cinema theaters inside the newly opened air-conditioned malls.

Demolition

The theater was being demolished in June 2020 to make way for a new high-rise building.[4][5]

References
  1. Montinola, Lourdes (2010). Art Deco in the Philippines. Manila: ArtPositAsia. ISBN 978-971-057-905-1.
  2. Ortiguero, Romsanne (July 29, 2013). "Escolta Street Tour shows Retro Architecture and why it's Worth Reviving as a Gimmick Place". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. Lico, Gerard (2008). Arkitekturang Filipino: A History of Architecture and Urbanism in the Philippines. Quezon City: The University of the Philippines Press. pp. 350–351. ISBN 978-971-542-579-7.
  4. Jun 22, Christa I. De La Cruz; 2020. "Pre-War Capitol Theater in Escolta Officially Torn Down". SPOT.PH. Retrieved 2020-10-18.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "It's officially goodbye to Escolta's Capitol Theater". NOLISOLI. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2020-10-18.

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