For Disneyland Resort guests who also love movies, a visit to Disney’s El Capitan Theatre Hollywood is a manageable day trip. Not only does the theatre show Walt Disney Pictures for the general public, it hosts world premieres, stage shows, and can be rented for private events. Plus, the site itself holds a place in theatre and film history that makes El Capitan worthy of a visit.
El Capitan Theatre as part of a Hollywood walking tour
El Capitan Theatre is an exclusive first-run theatre for Disney pictures. Rather than simply showing movies, the theatre offers a movie-going experience that combines old Hollywood glamour with new technology.
Disney's El Capitan Theatre is a destination for both tourists and local residents because of its relationship to Hollywood past and present. The theatre opened in 1926 as a venue for stage shows. The El Capitan is one of three theatres developed by Charles Toberman and Sid Grauman, the others being the Egyptian and the Chinese. Billed "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama," the house produced more than 120 shows during the next decade.
By 1941, the theatre was showing film; the world premiere of Citizen Kane was screened there. Decades later, in 1989, The Walt Disney Company and Pacific Ventures collaborated on an extensive restoration of the theatre, and El Capitan was named a national historic site in 1991, when it reopened to the public.
The theatre is right across the street from Hollywood and Highland Center, which houses the Kodak Theatre – where the Oscars are held. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and street performers are also in the neighborhood.
Seeing movies at Disney's El Capitan Theatre
The small, 1,000 seat theatre has been renovated for both stage and screen events, but with an eye toward restoration. The theatre retains its original Spanish Colonial exterior and ah East Indian interior, but has been outfitted with state-of-the-art audio and visual technology.
In addition to offering first-run movies and special screenings, El Capitan also has a Wurlitzer and house organist to evoke the Golden Age of Hollywood. Live entertainment pre-shows are part of the fun, and each different movie screened has a pre-show designed and produced to fit with that movie. Patrons are invited to tour the theatre and check out its many displays, including historical information on the site and current films.
For light snacks, the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio store is right next door to the theater. It offers an ice-cream parlor experience, as well as the opportunity to buy a few Disney souvenirs, either before or after a film screening.
Tickets for El Capitan Theatre may be purchased online, and the theatre offers a VIP option. While more expensive, the VIP option includes a reserved seat, bucket of popcorn, and drinks.
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