The theater experience: quaint vs. corporate

By Cory Andre Anotado
Collegian Staff
April 4, 2007

Theaters are a different beast than they were a century ago. Weekly movies have taken a back seat to daily showings at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. A popcorn and box of candy have segued to a jumbo Tub-O-Corn and a gallon of Diet Pepsi and quaint, one-screen theaters have moved to theaters like the AMC SuperJumboMultiPlex 28 with digital surround sound, stadium seating and heated shiatsu massage seats. In and around Philadelphia, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a theater like those of yore.

But, I’ve found one.

Taking the Pennsylvania Turnpike west, I took the Carlisle exit and spent an hour or two driving on Interstate 81, watching trees and cows go by. This is God’s Country, I thought to myself. Eventually, I turned off the highway and drove into Chambersburg, Pa. It’s a sleepy town; a resident called it a “one-horse town,” but I’m fairly sure I saw at least three.

This town is quaint. I’m not even trying to be cute when I use that word. It’s a literal, storybook kind of quaint. They have a Main Street. Their Main Street is actually their main street. It’s the artery of their town. They have a candy shop and an ice cream parlor. There’s a whole line of stores, including a jewelry shop, an antiques store and an art gallery.

And then there’s the Capitol Theater.

The Capitol Theater first opened Feb. 3, 1927. It was innovative and modern for its time, constructed of steel and brick in a majestic fashion. A Moller Theater Organ was installed, and well-known theater organist Wilford Binder was the official organist of the theater for almost 30 years. Air conditioning was added in 1955, and the decision to totally restore the then-decaying theater was made shortly thereafter.

Over time, eight different multiplex movie theaters opened in and around the Chambersburg area. The one-screen Capitol Theater could not compete, and the decision was made to turn the building into a center for performing arts. Currently, the theater seats over 700 people, with almost 60 seats in the balcony. Wheelchair ramps and a hydraulic lift for the organ have also been added.

As I walked into the theater, I felt like I walked into a time warp. They have an actual box office. No one was in there, but the doors were unlocked. Red velvet was everywhere. Art deco light fixtures adorn the wall, and exploring a bit further, I saw a snack bar, selling bags of popcorn and candy. Reasonable prices, and I saw why: all proceeds go to restoration of the theater. I found the stairs and walked up to the balcony. What I saw was easily as majestic as the lobby—a large theater, not unlike those big classic theaters you see in movies. Beautiful columns adorned the walls, and the seats were packed with people from all walks of life. An organist was playing beautiful Christmas music on this organ, the likes of which I’ve never seen. And, he plays it like I play PS2.

The small theater is a rare treat in this day and age. Sitting down in a seat, I soaked in the live music that was playing, and simultaneously understood everything my grandfather always told me about old-time theaters: how he used to get in for a nickel and watch old movies, how beautiful everything was, and how he loathes theaters now.

Having gone to the mall’s multiplex soon afterwards, and experiencing again the modern theater experience, I know how he feels.

anotadoc1@lasalle.edu