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“Paramount’s Capitol Theatre” c. 1937. Note the Adolph Zukor images on the flag bunting.

1940. During the 1930s the Capitol was ad- Greater Union negotiated a long term fran-
vertising as "Paramount's Capitol Theatre chise with Paramount in 1958 and this lasted
Magnificent". until 1971, when GU began showing films
from other companies.
Paramount films were screened at many dif-
ferent cinemas during the 1940s. In 1942 the Paramount Pictures do not appear to have
Kings Theatre, controlled by Gaiety Theatres entered into any screening contracts since
Pty Ltd (Fullers), ceased operating as a live then. They have continued to produce many
theatre and was converted for movies. Their box office hits but in the days of smaller
first film was Paramount's Skylark which cinemas in large multiplexes it is impractical
opened on 2 April 1942 but this was not yet to to limit distribution options.
become a permanent home for Paramount
films. In December 1944 it was leased by The Auditorium Post Paramount
Warner Brothers, and showed Warner movies
for the next few years. In 1949 it reverted to The Auditorium, after years of exclusively
live theatre but this was not successful. Para- showing Paramount Pictures, reverted to
mount then took over the theatre, which un- limited concert seasons and short run films
derwent extensive refurbishment, including until exclusive long run seasons of top films
the placement of two huge Paramount logos from Union and Electric Theatres was
on the landings. negotiated in 1926, this included the Australian
masterpiece For The Term Of His Natural Life.
It reopened on 24 May 1951 with Sampson
and Delilah and was advertised as This policy was parallel to Sydney's Crystal
"Paramount King's". The theatre seated Palace Theatre (later Hoyts Century), and
1273 and Paramount's mega hits still played at continued until the advent of talkie films in
the much bigger State. The Kings closed on 1929.
13 February 1958. The building was gutted by
its new owners, Greater Union Theatres, and Fox's first sound film, The Red Dance, was
made over inside and out. shown in 1929 in opposition to Warner
Brothers' The Jazz Singer which screened at
It reopened as the Barclay on 12 December the Athenaeum Theatre opposite in
1958 with the Paramount blockbuster The Ten Collins Street. After this screening, the
Commandments, which ran for almost a year. Auditorium reverted to selected live concerts.

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