The El Capitan Theatre, located west of Highland, east of La Brea in Hollywood, opened its doors as a live theatre on May 3, 1926. Real estate developer Charles Toberman, often called the "Father of Hollywood," built 36 stylish buildings in the heart of Hollywood, including the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and three themed theaters, which he developed with Sid Grauman: the Egyptian, the Chinese, and the El Capitan. With a beautifully ornate 120-foot stage, it featured plays on stage with stars that included Clark Gable, Buster Keaton, Will Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Henry Fonda, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Jason Robards. The theatre's first play was "Charlot's Revue," starring Jack Buchanan, Gertrude Lawrence, and Beatrice Lillie. Between 1926 and 1936, more than 120 live productions were produced at the El Capitan Theatre, including "No, No, Nanette," "Anything Goes," and "Ah, Wilderness." By the late 1930s however, the El Capitan felt the economic effects of the Depression, showcasing fewer and fewer productions. This period saw a cycle of experimentation with entertainment. In an effort to boost attendance to the theatre, revues, road shows and benefits were the main lure. Despite these efforts, however, the El Capitan was faltering. When Orson Welles was unable to locate a theatre owner willing to risk screening Citizen Kane in 1941, he turned to the El Capitan for the world premiere of his first feature film, foretelling the theatre's future. Soon, stage circuit promoters Fanchon & Marco convinced Paramount Hollywood Theatre Corporation to refurbish the El Capitan as a movie house. Thus, the theatre closed in 1941, and was reborn on March 18, 1942 as the Paramount Theatre. Its inaugural film presentation was Cecil B. DeMille's Technicolor feature Reap the Wild Wind, starring Ray Milland, John Wayne, Paulette Goddard and Raymond Massey. Over the next four decades, the theatre attracted audiences with such classic motion pictures as Incendiary Blonde starring Betty Hutton, Sunset Blvd. starring Gloria Swanson, War and Peace with Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda, Gigi, Vertigo, Cimarron and The Music Man, among many others. The theatre's management also changed several times, and by the end of the 1980s, the Paramount had become rundown. Like most of the picture palaces built between 1925-1930, the Paramount seemed destined to be lost to ravages of age. The building was also home to the famous Barker Brothers Company, furniture emporium to Hollywood's elite. The signature neon light tower that was darkened in World War II but years later it was restored. In 1989, The Walt Disney Company joined forces with Pacific Theatres to begin a two-year archeological dig. On June 12, 1990, the El Capitan was declared an historic structure. The site was restored to its former magnificence and reopened to the public in June, 1991, with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "The Rocketeer." For the price of a movie ticket ($8.50), one can experience the nostalgia of Old Hollywood, from the live organist who plays songs before the show, to the brightly-costumed ushers. They went all out for the 1996 premiere showing of "Hunchback of Notre Dame." The theatre sold tickets two months in advance, and included a 20-minute live musical stage show with the price of admission. For the openings of "Hercules" and "Toy Story," they built a multi-room funhouse for kids next to the theatre, themed to the animated films. This pattern was repeated for most of their following major releases, such as the current "Dinosaur." In 1998, it closed for further restoration, and reopened with the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "A Bug's Life," which they transformed into a "Bug House,” where guests saw everything from a bug's perspective. The stage has been restored to its original 1926 dimensions, a high-speed lift center stage was installed, new lights, remodeled dressing rooms, and state-of-the-art special effects. The theater offers 1,100 seats and a Dolby SR-D audio system. On most days, the lines of ticket-buyers stretch for blocks down Hollywood Boulevard. It’s no wonder the El Capitan claims to be the highest grossing single screen movie theatre in the U.S.