BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 8U Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 AFK. 1 O 1000 Area Form no. 323 PHOTO (3x3" oI 3x5"!, black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number.. : J SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings OI geographical features. Indicate north. Town Arlington, MA - Address 202-208 Massachusetts Avenue Historic Name Capitol Theater Building Use: Original movie theater with commercia and residential adjunct. Present same usage Ownership: [X] Private individual Private organization Public Original owner Albert J. Locatelli DESCRIPTION: Date 1925 Source Arlington Advocate Style Classical Revival Architect William J. Drummey Exterior wall fabric brick & composition stone OutbuildingsNone Major alterations (with dates)_ None Recorded by Organization Date Betsy Friedberg Mass.
Historical Commission 12/84 Moved No Date N/A. Approx. acreage_Less than one acre Setting This building anchors the north- west corner of the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Lake Street CTM: 19/32363014696820 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) The Capitol Theater Building houses one of the best-preserved early 20th century moving picture theaters in the Boston area. Vaguely Baroque, with a liberal dose of later stylistic touches including early Art Deco, the theater is the most important part of the building. The building also includes office and commercial space, as well as apart- ments. The exterior is also well preserved.
The strefronts retain much of their original Classical Revival detailing, while the upper floors are enlivened by an impressive center bay of recessed coupled columns, broken pediments, quoins, cartouches, and numerous other classical elements. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Built in 1925, the Capitol Theater Building was designed by architect William J. Drummey. It was originally part of the Albert Locatelli theater chain, which included the Ball Square and Central Square Theaters in Somerville. Costing $500,000, the building contained 11 stores, 12 offices, a theater with a seating capacity of 1,700, and 15 apartments on the third floor. Publicity releases listed among the notable features the theater's organ, which the management claimed was.
"the lagest of its kind in New England" (made by Robert Morton Co. and capable of producing 150 "effects"). In lts early years, it was also said to have "the largest electric sign in New England" and "a stage equipped to turn to vaudeville." When the theater opened to the public in 1925, its interiors were much praised by the press. It was noted that "above the organ chambers were two frescos, copied from postcards brought by Mr. Locatelli from Italy. One depicted Lake Magiori, and the other the Fort of St. Gotard in the Italian Alps.
The Capitol Theater symbolized East Arlington's 1920s transition from a market gardening center to a densely populated suburban neighborhood, an area noted at the time as "the most rapidly growing section of Arlington." CRITERA FOR EVALUATION The Capitol Theater Building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. It meets Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Arlington Advocate, November 27, 1925 p.l; August 28, 1925, p.7. 20M-2/80 O9S Form 10-900- United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number MB No. 1024-00 xp. 10-31-1 Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name Arlington Multiple Resource Area State Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 11.
Bassett, Maria, House Fateced is ass Matoee? #ogt star yyfosts aduyeln Buildings at 1334 and Subatenttin lalin 1339 Massachusetts Ave. 13. Call-Bartlett House Fatered e.t1 onel Sogeufor 14. Capitol Theater Building Fatered Ketlonei egition 15. Chapel of St. Anne Enterod in taa Nationel Hegloter 16. Cushman House Entered in Metionet Ne 17. Cutter, Jefferson, House Entered in Natlone! 18. Cutter, Second, A.P., House Habirsi du ee Mettonet Reg 19. Damon House Hatored in the' Tationel Begleter 20. Farmer, Kimball, House Saterod in the letione? Bogtetos.
Date/Signature fritper AtlouAyen 9/27/ Attest Keeper Attest fkeeper AeneBgan the/os Attest fRéeper AemsBgun tho/rs Attest fteeper Aecvre Bguu tetis Attest Ticeper SuluneBgen whetis Attest tKeeper delauBgee 4/16/8s Attest Akeeper AelovaßBgent18/8s Attest furéeper dleloueByen 1/15/6s Attest /Reeper AemeByura 4/8/85 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Capitol Theater Building (Arlington MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample Entersd in Mettonet Lrequest -appeal MAR 6 1985 Working No. Fed. Reg. Dated Date Due:_ .185- 1/20/83 Action: ACCEPT _ 4-1583 _RETURN.
REJECT_ Federal Agency: LJNR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer - Discipline Date _ see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: - _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one - unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site -moved date - 8.
Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed - Date - Phone: _ Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet CAPITOL THE TIN DRUM 645 920 Captol Treater Burldiry 202-208 Massachusett Are ses 53LE BIS 9. 100 de0 PT20 3373 600 (3) MASSACHUSETTS sase :lºa FREEMAN 12.00 35l= ..03 RANDOL.PH ORVIS NEWCOMB 038 AVENUE (g) 203 STREET (12) GOFEFE -(3) 12.18 -T8A B74, HERBERT LAKE ROAD CHANDLER 3) () (5) SLALEM Arlington MRA 202-218 Massachusetts Avenue Capitol Theater Building 6 -