Capitol Theatre papers, 1868-1937

The Capitol Theater Collection is composed of two major parts. The first half is related to the Thatcher Theater enterprise while the second half concerns business and correspondence of various Thatcher family members. The theater portion of the collection centers on the financial and legal movements of the Consolidated Theater company, an umbrella organization covering both the Capitol and Lyric Theaters. The Consolidated Theater Company was a co-partnership consisting of B.G. Thatcher, G.W. Thatcher, and William Spicker. Much of the theater material (including contracts of repayment, notes, receipts, payment protests, and bills) is dated sometime during 1923. This reflects the fact that heavy costs were incurred in the building of the Capitol Theater that year. Non-theater materials quite diverse in content. Most of it centers around Thatcher family members and includes correspondence ledgers, and legal documents. Also included are newspapers, pamphlets, an AAA auto emblem, and even a picture of an Elephant and Rhino!