Page 21 - CINEMARECORD-98

The current owners, Phil
and Leanne White, operate
a café named “229 on
Main” in the building.
In 1993, the Capitol was
placed on the State
Heritage List.

As mentioned above,
cinema returned to
Peterborough at the start of
1995, with monthly
screenings held at the
(new) Town Hall.
However, cinema in
Peterborough came to an
end in around 2007, when
the last exhibitors were
David and Carol Burford.
Although David died in
2017, Carol still operates
cinemas at Moonta and
Kadina in South Australia.
★
Former Capitol Theatre. (2008 image: CATHS Archive)

From 1949-55, the Capitol was under the
control of O.M. Rondahl, followed by Austin
Sibley Theatres between 1955-57, then back to
O.M. Rondahl from 1957-73. In the late 1950s,
seating was reduced to around 800. In 1973,
Mr. Rondahl sold the property to R.G. & D.I.
Wisbey. They continued screenings until
28 May 1977, the final film being Carry on
England.
In October 1977, the Capitol was purchased by
the Corporation of the Town of Peterborough.
It was sold, yet again, in December 1979 into
private hands. The building remains largely
intact, with the tiny projection room still in
place as well as the lattice ceiling. Some of the
seating in the circle is still present, but part of
the ceiling has collapsed. The proscenium, with
its gold leaf decoration, is still intact.
Former Capitol Theatre lobby. (2017 image: John Kleinig)

Former Capitol Theatre auditorium. (2017 image: John Kleinig) Credits:

Much of the text herein has been reproduced
from Colin Flint’s articles on the Peterborough
Capitol (Kino Edition 53) and the Peterborough
Town Hall Pictorial (Kino Edition 55).

Peterborough History Group (Ms. Judy Evans)
For additional historical information.

Mrs. Carol Burford (Statewide Cinema, SA) for
information provided about the time that she
and her husband, David, operated the cinema
in the new Town Hall.
Images:

John Kleinig (SA).
CATHS Archive.

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