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circles  which  were  a  feature  of  1940s  In 1990, the theatre was added
        architecture.  The  building  contractor  was  to   the   South   Australian
        R.J. Nurse of Norwood.              Register  of  State  Heritage
                                            Items.
        A bright green neon star was erected above the
        theatre. This was to become a landmark in the  The  Capri   Theatre   is
        area  and,  nearly  75  years  later,  still  shines  Australia's   only   fully
        brightly at night.                  operational   cinema   which
                                            features theatre organ music at
        The corner site enabled the theatre to be built  many   evening   screenings.
        with a curved exterior wall. A series of large  Regular screenings feature the
        glass  double  doors  allow  access  from  both  organ  being  played  for  15
        Goodwood  Road  and  Gilbert  Street.  In  the  minutes pre-show on Tuesday,
        main  foyer,  curved  glass  ticket  boxes  with  Friday  and  Saturday  nights.
        chrome-plated grilles stand on either side of  Theatre  organ  concerts  and
        the staircase.                      other live shows are presented
                                            from time to time.
        The new theatre featured "love seats" (double-
        sized  seats  which  catered  for  two  people).  TOSA  members  have  been
        These seats were commonly found in Clifford  involved  with  much  of  the
        Theatres.  They  were  in  the  upstairs  Lounge  restoration   and   alterations
        and  also  extended  four  rows  into  the  Dress  undertaken at the Capri. With
        Circle, as well as being used in the back six  their  many  and  varied  skills,
        rows of the Stalls. The seating was reported to  they  were  able  to  extensively
        have been deep and luxurious.       alter   the   proscenium   to          Organist, Peter Hosking
                                            accommodate  the  organ.  Many
                                            hours were spent by volunteers assembling the  movements of the organ lift and the curtains
                                            organ.                              covering the chambers.
                                            The  4/29  Wurlitzer  Organ  console  of  four  The  Theatre  Organ  Society  has  transformed
                                            keyboards  came  from  the  State  Theatre  in  the interior into a very versatile theatre. New
                                            Melbourne. The different sets of pipes (called  luxury  Art  Deco  styled  seating  has  been
                                            ranks) came from other organs in Australia,  installed.  Double  "love  seats"  still  remain  a
                                            New Zealand, England and America, making  feature.  Provision  has  also  been  made  for
                                            it  one  of  the  most  outstanding  organs  in  wheelchairs  downstairs.  Seating  capacity  is
                                            Australia.  The  console  is  on  a  lift,  which  now  782  (327  in  the  stalls  and  455  in  the
                                            allows  it  to  be  lowered  into  a  pit  with  a  lounge).
                                            mechanically operated cover, thus providing a
                                            flat stage area when the organ is not in use  Members of TOSA (SA) are very proud of the
                                                                                heritage of their theatre and have been careful
                                            The  various  ranks  of  pipes,  with  all  of  the  to restore it to its 1941 Art Deco design. This
                                            associated  mechanism,  are  located  in  includes restoration of the interior and exterior
                                            chambers on both sides of the screen, with the  decor to the original 1941 colours and styles.
                                            percussion sections mounted on the front of  Replica 1941 Art Deco fireplace, mirror and
                                            the  pipe  chambers.  These  are  covered  by  wooden venetian blinds have been installed in
                                            curtains which can be opened to display the  the upstairs foyer. New carpets are designed
                                            whole  organ  when  it  is  being  played.  The  to  match  the  original  1941  pattern.  Club
                                            Capri's  computer  system  synchronises  the  lounges and replica 1941 style round column
        Seating  capacity  was  1472.  Throughout  its
        history,  the  theatre  has  been  recognised  as      Below:  The Society's 4/29 Wurlitzer pipe organ
        having  excellent  acoustics.  The  use  of
        "Syncrete"  cavity  building  blocks  for  the
        construction of the walls, with their excellent
        sound absorbing properties was the reason for
        this.
        In  March  1947,  Greater  Union  purchased
        Clifford's  Star  Circuit.  The  theatre  was
        renamed  the Odeon-Star  Theatre  and
        operated  under  this  name  until  it  closed  on
        15  February  1964.  Six  days  later,  on
        21  February  1964,  it  re-opened  as  the New
        Cinema Curzon, which ran until 25 October
        1967. After another brief closure, it re-opened
        on 16 November 1967 as the Cinema Capri.
        In 1978, Greater Union decided to close the
        theatre and sell it. Cinema Capri closed on
        27 May 1978.
        On  26  December  1978,  the  Theatre  Organ
        Society  purchased  the  theatre.  Since  then  it
        has  traded  as  the Capri  Theatre  and  has
        become  the  home  of  the  Society's  4/29
        Wurlitzer pipe organ.


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