The age of film isn’t over, Capitol Theatre is coming out to say, amidst the sad slew of cinema closures last year, such as Cathay Cineplexes and The Projector. Yes, 2 new indie cinemas have taken over at Orchard Cineleisure and Golden Mile Tower, but nothing quite screams grand dame of local picture houses like Capitol Theatre.
Well, Capitol Theatre is back in business to remind us about the golden age of film with Classics At Capitol, kickstarting this February.
Before getting into the upcoming film programme at Capitol Theatre, here’s a quick dive into why it’s significant to the history of cinemas in Singapore.
Image credit: National Archives Singapore
Its story starts from the year 1930, when the Namazie family opened Capitol Theatre, one of the first air-conditioned buildings in Singapore, and purportedly was the most modern auditorium with the largest seating capacity (of 1,600) in the Far East.
American musical comedy film Rio Rita was the first show to grace the cinema, which held up to 1,600 people.
Image credit: Memories of Two Cities
It was said to be modelled after the Roxy Theatre in New York City, with a distinctive Neo-Classical facade and retractable domed ceiling that allowed for open-air cinema nights. When Charlie Chaplin and other big names from the silver screen came to town, it was at Capitol Theatre that their movie premieres were held.
Image credit: Heritage SG Memories via Facebook
After being renamed Kyo-Ei Gekkyo during the Japanese Occupation, when the theatre was both a food depot and cinema for propaganda films, The Shaw Organisation bought Capitol Theatre and transformed it into the group’s flagship venue, screening films and hosting live entertainment shows starring names such as Sakura Teng and Rita Chao.
The Capitol Theatre auditorium today.
Image credit: Capitol Theatre
The last Shaw-run film was screened there in 1998, before a 17-year dormancy till May 2015, when it was reopened as a multipurpose venue, now managed by The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore.
The classic films which predated our modern blockbusters aren’t typically on the watchlists for many of us, but there’s no better way to relive the golden years of cinema than to watch them in 4K glory, at Capitol Theatre.
And that’s what Classics At Capitol is all about. Starting from 22nd February 2026, this programme will see the iconic Singin’ In The Rain, Lawrence of Arabia, and North By Northwest – not to be confused with Kanye West’s daughter – on the big screen. Tickets to these screenings start from $20.
Here’s the schedule:
| Film | Screening dates & Time |
| Singin’ In The Rain | 22nd Feb (Sun): 7pm 24th Feb (Tue): 7.30pm |
| Lawrence of Arabia | 5th Mar (Thu): 7pm 18th Mar (Wed): 7pm 25th Mar (Wed): 7pm 29th Mar (Sun): 5pm |
| North by Northwest | 8th Apr (Wed): 7.30pm 22nd Apr (Wed): 7.30pm 26th Apr (Sun): 5pm 28th Apr (Tue): 7.30pm |
These 3 films are just the start of what’s slated to be a full year of classics, restored in 4K, that you can expect to catch at this cinema this year. They’re your OG Mission: Impossible and La La Land, shot before green screens and DI changed the landscape of cinema.
Watching them in the pre-war theatre would take you back in time, and perhaps you’d see why those years were known as the golden age of Hollywood, too.
For more reads:
Cover image adapted from: @capitolsingapore via Instagram, Britannica
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There’s also a cafe within the exhibition space to check out.
Includes light-ups and hands-on activities for the whole family.