Collection 87-M

Capitol Theatre (New York, NY) Collection of Silent Film Music

When the Capitol Theatre opened at Broadway and 51st Street in Manhattan, on October 24, 1919, it was touted as the “World’s Largest and Most Beautiful Theatre,” and with 5300 seats it maintained that claim for several years to come. Managed by Major Edward Bowes, the Capitol was one of the premier “picture palaces” of its era, and the luxurious theatre played host not just to movies, but also to elaborate stage revues and musical performances which complemented the films and ensured the Capitol’s distinction among its rivals. In addition to an Estey organ constructed for the theatre, an orchestra of 71 musicians – a number that would rise over the years – was employed.

In June of 1920, having established himself as New York’s leading theatre manager at the Rivoli and the Rialto, Samuel “Roxy” Rothapfel took over the artistic direction of the Capitol, where he worked with some of the era’s most distinguished theatrical musicians. In September of 1920, Hungarian-born conductor Erno Rapeé became music director of the Capitol, where he remained until 1923. Rapeé’s subsequent books – Motion Picture Moods for Pianists and Organists (1924) and Encyclopedia of Music for Pictures (1925) – reflect the musical principals he developed at the Capitol and remain among the most important documents of silent film accompaniment practice in this period.

Rapeé’s successor, William Axt, had been assistant conductor at the Capitol since 1921; upon Rapeé’s departure in 1923, Axt took charge of the theatre’s music in partnership with David Mendoza. All of these musicians were responsible not only for selecting and conducting music, but also often for orchestrating, arranging, and composing pieces. The published Capitol Photoplay Series, comprising music written for the theatre, includes dozens of Axt’s compositions, but Axt and Mendoza’s best known achievement is their full-length score for Don Juan (1926), which was the first feature film to be screened (though not at the Capitol) in synchronization with the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. Also associated with the Capitol’s music department was Eugene Ormandy – first as a section violinist, and from 1926 as associate music director.

In 1927, Rothapfel left the Capitol to manage the new and slightly larger Manhattan theatre which was named after him – the Roxy – where he was joined once again by Rapeé. But the Capitol remained in business for over 40 more years, making the transition to sound and later to wide-screen Cinerama, and continuing for much of that time to keep alive the mixed format of motion pictures and live entertainment. The theatre was demolished following a final gala stage show on September 16, 1968.

The collection principally consists of music intended for performance as film accompaniment – mostly the piano parts of larger orchestrations – but it also includes music used for other aspects of the theatre’s varied programming. There are also manuscripts of compositions and arrangements by Rapeé, Axt, and others. The collection retains the organization of the Capitol’s music library, in which selections were grouped either by genre or by what Rapeé called “moods,” using the following categories: Appassionato; Bacchanale; Ballet; Barcarolle; Berceuse; Caprice; Characteristic; Children; Concert; Descriptive; Dramatic; Emotional; Festival; Galop; Gavotte; Grotesque; Gruesome; Humorous; Hunting; Intermezzo; Lullaby; Maestoso; March 6/8; March Concert; March Funeral; March Processional; Mazurka; Medley Overtures; Minuet; Movimento; Mysterioso; Nautical; Nocturne; Operatic; Oriental; Overture; Pathetic/Pathetique; Pastoral; Polonaise; Pulsating; Rags; Romance; Rube; Schottische; Selections; Serenades; Southern; Storm; Suites; Symphony; Valse Concert; Valse Lento; Valse Popular.

Items are arranged alphabetically by title within folders.

The collection is in the midst of being processed. The finding aid will be updated periodically. The collection consists of 31 boxes of materials.

The collection consists of published scores, mostly for piano, of music to accompany the showing of silent films. Also included are manuscript parts of music arranged for chamber ensembles.

For additional information about this collection consult:

Catalog record
Finding aid

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