The Capitol Theatre collection consists of some of
the financial and legal papers of the Consolidated Theatre Company of Logan, Utah. The
remainder of the collection consists of owner B.G. Thatcher's personal papers.
Repository:
Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Manuscript Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-1663 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
Languages:
Collection materials are in English.
Sponsor:
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant,
2007-2008
Historical Note
Located in the block of Main Street and 100 South in Logan, Utah, the Capitol Theater
was constructed with funding from local businessmen George and Guy Thatcher. The theater
held its grand opening on March 29, 1923, with a pianist, singer, dancer, organist, and
the "photo-play" Adam's Rib on the bill. Intricately decorated with "old rose and French
gray" carpets, drapes, furniture, lighting fixtures, and stucco decorations, the theater
was hailed by the Logan Journal as "the finest theater west of Chicago." Although the
Capitol was the last theater in Logan built expressly for stage performances, by the
mid-1950s it was used almost exclusively for movie showings. The city eventually
purchased the aging theater, and in 1993, it was renovated by the Capitol Arts Alliance
at a cost of $6.4 million. Now known as the Ellen Eccles Theatre, the old Capitol is
managed by the Cache Valley Center for the Arts and is home to the Utah Festival Opera
and a number of other musical and theatrical performances.
Content Description
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!
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access : Restrictions
Open to public research.
Restrictions on Use : Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of
the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents
from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Capitol Theatre papers must
be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
Preferred Citation :
Capitol Theatre papers, 1868-1937. (CAINE COLL MSS 9). Utah State University. Special
Collections and Archives Department.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
All correspondence has been chronologically arranged and placed at the beginning of the
collection. Material relating to the Thatcher theaters has been grouped together and
follows in order after the correspondence. All other Thatcher and miscellaneous
materials are held at the end of the collection.
Badly torn papers have been repaired using archival repair tape. Items damaged due to
acid deterioration have been treated using Wei T'O spray, a de-acidifying agent. Several
items have been encapsulated in Mylar to preserve and protect them.
Acquisition Information :
The Capitol Theater Collection was purchased from a private individual during the summer
of 1985. The acquisition was made possible due to a generous monetary gift from the
Marie Eccles Caine foundation. This collection will join several others in Utah State
University's Marie Eccles Caine Archives.
Processing Note :
Before processing, the collection was stored in a single, early 20th century letter file
box measuring 11.5"x12"x5". The material had not originally been placed in any sort of
order. It was necessary, therefore, to impose an order upon the materials during their
procession.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Capitol Theatre Collection
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
1
1
Correspondence
1888
1
2
Correspondence
1893
1
3
Correspondence
1916
1
4
Correspondence
1917
1
5
Correspondence
1918-19
1
6
Correspondence
1921-23
1
7
Correspondence
1926-27
1
8
Correspondence
1928-29
1
9
Correspondence
1930-33
1
10
Correspondence
1934-37, 1978
1
11
Correspondence
undated
1
12
Assignment of lease from the Consolidated
Theater Co. to Thatcher Bros. Banking Company
November 21, 1916
1
13
Proposal for a contract between Redfield-King,
Inc., an electric sign display company and B.G. Thatcher
May 20, 1918
1
14
Ten year lease of the Capitol Theater by the
Consolidated Theater Co., a co-partnership consisting of G.W. Thatcher, B.G.
Thatcher, and William Spicker, from the George Thatcher Corporation
April 2, 1923
1
15
Contracts of repayment and the canceled check
from an agreement between the Consolidated Theater Co. and the Salt Lake
Theater Supply Co
192
1
16
Balance sheet from the Consolidated Theater
Company
Included on this sheet are names of companies owed, amounts owed in notes, and
interests and other charges due. These expenses were incurred in building the
Capitol Theater which opened in 1923. ALSO- Notes, receipts, payment protests,
of the Consolidated Theater Company, 1923.
Aug. 14, 1923.
1
17
Bills for work done on the Capitol Theater by
the Cache valley Electric Company
1923
1
18
Reminder notes from Zions Savings Bank and Trust
Company to the George Thatcher Corporation concerning monies (principal and
interest) owed and payable
November 13, 1925 to February 4, 1928
1
19
Credit and Debits Ledger, Thatcher and Sons
August 31, 1888
1
20
Legal Assignment concerning the George Thatcher
Corporation and Zions Savings Bank and Trust Company
August 14, 1923
1
21
Statement of receipts and disbursements of funds
of Mrs. Alley Thatcher
1882-1887
1
22
Final account of the administration of the
estate of Hezekiah Thatcher
November, 1881
1
23
Receipts - George W. Thatcher's receipt for 10
U.C.R.R. Company gold bonds from Brigham Young, April 3, 1876. B.G. Thatcher
Logan Temple receipt
May 20, 1918
1
24
Governors Commission of George W. Thatcher as
Captain in the Logan Nauvoo Legion
February 21, 1968
1
25
Resolution and Bond concerning lands owned by
Phillis Thatcher Spicker
August, 1922
1
26
Documents concerning the guardianship and estate
of Gladys Spencer West
1
27
Contract and Bond concerning the guardianship
and estate of Gladys Spencer West
1
28
Stock Certificate and a letter concerning same
from The Utah Funding Co. The certificate is in the amount of two shares dated
July 30, 1914
1
29
Newspapers
Mining, Oil and Industrial Record,
December 4, 1916.
The Free Advertiser, May 10, 1935.
Tear Sheet: Machinery, January,
1917.
1
30
Pamphlets
Business, Politics and religion in Utah : The
Utah-Idaho Sugar Company Versus the People of Utah and Idaho,
by C.G. Patterson. 1916.
How The War Came to America, issued by
The Committee on Public Information, June 15, 1917.
1
31
Miscellaneous material - Envelopes from the
collection, A.A.A. Auto emblem, picture of African wildlife
Two photographs discovered with the addenda material were mounted on acid-free
boards and placed in the USU Special Collections photographic file under numbers
A-4521 and A-4577.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
2
1
Correspondence
1928, 1930
2
2
Correspondence
1937
2
3
Correspondence
1938
2
4
Correspondence
1939
2
5
Twentieth Century-Fox materials
Sent to the Main, Capitol, and Lyric Theaters. Includes:
-Confirmations and bookings.
-Notices of designation of photo plays.
-Percentage contract for the movie "Poor Little Rich Girl."
1935-38
2
6
Western Poster Company orders by the Capitol,
Lyric and Main Theaters
2
7
Certified Productions Company agreement to
supply the Lyric Theater with a number of movies
January, 1932
2
8
Astor Pictures Corporation agreement to supply
the movie "Killers of the Chaparral" to the Lyric Theater
2
9
Capitol Theater complimentary
tickets
2
10
Lyric Theater Logan City business license
1929
2
11
Consolidated Theater Company canceled checks
written t the Herald Journal
February, 1939
2
12
Consolidated Theater Company freight bills from
the Utah-Idaho central Railroad Company
