El Capitan Theatre

The El Capitan Theatre debuted on May 3, 1926, as "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama." That evening, limousines pulled up before the theatre's elaborate cast-concrete Spanish Colonial exterior (designed by architectural firm Morgan, Walls, and Clements) and deposited Hollywood royalty, who were attending the play "Charlot's Revue," starring Jack Buchanan, Gertrude Lawrence, and Beatrice Lillie.

Inside, the audience enjoyed one of the most colorful and lavish interiors they had ever seen, featuring an elaborate $1.2-million East Indian design, created by San Francisco architect G. Albert Lansburgh.

In 1989, The Walt Disney Company joined forces with Pacific Theatres to begin a two-year archeological dig, which led to a museum-quality restoration of the legendary palace. Under the supervision of the National Park Service's Department of the Interior, and with guidance from conservator Martin Weil, architect Ed Fields, and renowned theatre designer Joseph J. Musil, the certified national historic site was restored to its former grandeur and reopened to the public in June, 1991, with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "The Rocketeer."

The El Capitan Theatre was an early participant in Hollywood's recent revitalization efforts. In 2001, the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex which houses the permanent home of the Oscars at The Kodak Theatre opened directly across the street. As an exclusive first run theatre for Walt Disney Pictures, The El Capitan Theatre hosts live stage shows, world premieres, and other special events that have helped restore showmanship to Hollywood Boulevard.