Does the smell of hot buttered popcorn make you wish you were at the movies?  For 82 years, generations of movie-goers fulfilled that wish by attending the Capitol Theatre at 204 Dundas Street in London, Ontario.  The Capitol opened on February 23rd, 1920 as the Allen Theatre, part of the first national chain of theatres in Canada, founded by Jay and Jules Allen in the late 1910s.  It became the Capitol in 1924 and closed ten years ago during the summer of 2002.

Movie-goers in London today can still enjoy movies in the Allen tradition.  In 1973, Jay and Jules' great-nephew, Brian Allen, purchased the Mustang Drive-In at 2551 Wilton Grove Road.  Brian is vice-president of Premier Operating Corporation which also operates the Sunset Drive-In in Barrie, the 5 Drive-In in Oakville and the Starlite Drive-In in Stoney Creek.     

Arthur

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