Being able to show the latest movies in the best possible resolution will help the Capitol Theatre compete for more films and more customers (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Grant to fund digital movie projector
Northwest Neighborhoods CDC (NWN) was awarded a $50,000 Community Development Supplemental Grant (CDSG) from Cuyahoga County to fund a new digital projector in Auditorium No. 1 at the 105-year-old Capitol Theatre.
This upgrade will strengthen programming and expand community use of the historic venue located at 1390 W. 65th St. in Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District. Auditorium No. 1, which seats more than 400 guests, is the theatre’s largest screening space and a central hub for films, events and community rentals.
Its projection system, unchanged since the theatre’s 2009 reopening, is now outdated, limiting both performance quality and programming flexibility. The new projector will improve picture quality, reliability and compatibility with modern formats.
These improvements will enhance the audience experience while also unlocking new opportunities for programming, partnerships and event rentals. This investment moves the Capitol Theatre closer to long-term financial sustainability and deeper community impact, NWN officials said in a written statement.
Thanks to a grant from Cuyahoga County, the historic Capitol Theatre, one of the few neighborhood movie theaters left in Cleveland, will be upgraded to offer more movie programming (Google).
“We see these upgrades as key to realizing the Capitol’s full potential as a truly community-centered space,” said Akshay Kalra, NWN’s Economic Development Coordinator. “With strong community support, we’re building a more sustainable future for the theatre.”
In May 2025, the NWN Board of Directors formed the Capitol Theatre Stewardship Board to guide the theatre’s long-term strategy. A central focus has been identifying critical investments, starting with technology, that will ensure the theatre’s viability.
Community input has shaped these priorities, Kalra said. Through an open house and an online survey that drew hundreds of responses, residents voiced strong support for upgrading the theatre’s systems, citing frequent frustrations with current limitations.
Many of those surveyed also expressed interest in expanded programming and event use, both of which depend on modern, reliable technology.
In addition to mainstream and specialty movies, the Capitol Theatre also hosts community events (Capitol Theatre).
This grant marks a significant step for NWN preserving and strengthening the Capitol Theatre as a cornerstone of arts, culture and community life on Cleveland’s West Side, Kalra added.
“For over 100 years, the Capitol Theatre has been providing a premiere movie-going and event space for the residents of Cleveland and beyond,” said District 3 Cuyahoga County Councilman Martin Sweeney.
With these critical upgrades, Sweeney said that theatre patrons can continue experiencing everything the venue has to offer while supporting the Gordon Square Arcade complex and its surrounding community.
“I’m grateful the county was able to contribute grant funding to this project,” Sweeney added. “My family will continue to enjoy many nights in the theatre together, and I’m glad I was able to help strengthen and grow artistic expression in District 3.”
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