1903 to 1982
A Little History
Our story begins in 1903, when a new playhouse is completed in Quebec City. Designed by American architect Walter S. Painter, the theatre hall is known as the Québec Auditorium. Making the most out of the narrow lot, Painter creates an impressive yet harmonious facade. Painter demonstrates his concern for appropriately blending his work into the limited space, and develops a plan divided into three distinct parts, joined together by a corridor, and built around a central foyer. The building is relatively modern for its day, inspired by the Beaux Arts architectural style, and borrowing later ideas from the Second Empire style. The layout of the monumental façade and choice of exterior ornamentation are typically classical in style.
Nearly A Century Of Culture
In many ways, Le Capitole bears witness to an exceptional popular cultural experience. Throughout its 80 years of existence, it has seen the arrival of silent movies, and the inevitable adjustments required as movies began to feature sound in the 1930s. The building’s versatility allowed for a wide range of presentations from traditional theatre to silent and talking films, as well as shows, opera, vaudeville, music hall, concerts and galas.