Editing Clearwater, Florida (section)

====Capitol and Royalty Theatre====
Pre-Capitol Theatre, a bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater, where the community gathered to listen to music.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite news|first=Paul|last=Guzzo|title=Clearwater's Capitol Theatre, which hosted vaudeville and maybe Jesus, turns 100|date=March 16, 2021|website=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/03/16/clearwaters-capitol-theatre-which-hosted-vaudeville-and-maybe-jesus-turns-100/|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316105438/http://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/03/16/clearwaters-capitol-theatre-which-hosted-vaudeville-and-maybe-jesus-turns-100/|archive-date=March 16, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The names of locals serving in World War I were etched on the wall of the adjacent ''Clearwater Sun'' building; this "Panel of Honor" was obscured when the original Capitol Theatre was built but uncovered when the newspaper building was torn down in 2013.<ref name="auto4"/>

[[File:Clearwater, Florida Courthouse pmr01.jpg|thumb|Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater]]
The [[Capitol Theatre (Clearwater, Florida)|Capitol Theatre]] opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect [[John Stansel Taylor]]. The theater's architect was [[Lester Avery]] and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff.<ref>New Capitol Theatre Finished and Opened, ''The Clearwater News'', March 24, 1921</ref> Avery is known for his architecture in [[Miami]]. Philipoff also built the Coachman Building (1916), the [[Donald Roebling Estate]] in [[Belleair, Florida|Belleair]] (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979),<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/fl/Pinellas/state.html |title=National Register of Historical Places - FLORIDA (FL), Pinellas County |publisher=Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com |access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> the [[old Pinellas County Courthouse]] (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992),<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com" /> other historical homes which have been saved,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8egNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696,491932&dq=henry+plant+clearwater+phillipoff|title=St. Petersburg Times - Old homes may find a place in history|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> and did work at the [[Belleview Hotel]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6kLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xlQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203,3652567&dq=john-phillipoff Personals]. ''The Evening Independent''. December 26, 1923</ref>

Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYILAAAAIBAJ&pg=3873,3738850&dq=theatre+clearwater+taylor|title=The Evening Independent - Invitation Accepted|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> The "New Capitol Theatre" was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4rYKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3876,1860580&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater+damage+storm|title=St. Petersburg Times - Clearwater Swept By Furious Storm|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> A [[theatre organ]] was installed in 1922, to accompany [[silent film]]s with music. The organ was made and installed by the [[Robert Morton Organ Company]].

[[Donald Roebling]] was a frequent patron, having his own double seat installed at the theatre.<ref name="olddays">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mRgMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6286,8176267&dq=clearwater+capitol+movie+houses+were "Old Days: Movie Houses Were King"], ''St. Petersburg Times''. April 8, 1981.</ref>

The theatre was managed by various movie companies (EJ Sparks, Paramount, ABC-Southeastern Theatres, and Plitt Southern) and played the most recent movies of the day. The theatre also offered [[vaudeville]] on Friday nights in the 1930s. Headliners included [[Sally Rand]], [[Fred Stone]] and his daughter, and [[Lum and Abner]] (of radio).<ref name="olddays" /> The theatre was renovated in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-tAOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3037,4021303&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater|title=St. Petersburg Times - Two more shops open along Cleveland street|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> The Morton theatre organ was most likely removed during this renovation. When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979, Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices. However, the theatre closed its doors on October 28, 1980.

Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981, when it then became known as the Royalty Theater (Clearwater, Florida). The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_oNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7011,6907944&dq=clearwater+royalty "Royalty Can Start Renovating New Home Now That Papers Are Signed"], ''St. Petersburg Times''. September 30, 1981.</ref> and Scott Musheff as the architect.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hvoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5602,2478432&dq=scott+musheff+theater+clearwater "Royalty Theatre Off To Good Start At Capitol With Oliver"], ''St. Petersburg Times'', December 3, 1981.</ref>

During the renovations, Bill Neville's murdered body was found in the balcony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19810529&id=6XFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5397,3645402&hl=en|title=The Evening Independent - Canadian Man Arrested In Theater Murder Case|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008, the building went into foreclosure.<ref name="Capitol Theater">{{Cite news|title=Clearwater negotiating to buy old Royalty Theatre building|website=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article838940.ece|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330130640/http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article838940.ece|archive-date=March 30, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2009, the City of Clearwater and [[Ruth Eckerd Hall]] joined forces to purchase the theatre (renamed Capitol Theatre) as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building as part of a renovation and revitalization of the historic [[Capitol Theater (Clearwater, Florida)|Capitol Theater]].<ref name="Capitol Theater"/> Fowler Associates Architects, Inc. was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Renderings reveal Capitol Theatre plans|url=https://www.tbnweekly.com/clearwater_beacon/article_71784c70-d367-5b84-be44-c371a2d48729.html|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=TBNweekly|date=April 3, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> The $10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013.<ref name="auto4"/> In 2019, a $2.5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.<ref name="auto4"/>