Capitol Theater Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1925 at 202-208 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, this brick and composition-stone building combines a movie theater with stores, offices and apartments. Architect William J. Drummey designed it for Albert J. Locatelli, whose theater chain also included the Ball Square and Central Square theaters in Somerville. The project cost $500,000 and held 11 stores, 12 offices, a 1,700-seat theater and 15 third-floor apartments. Its Robert Morton organ was promoted as the largest of its kind in New England. Architecturally, the building is Classical Revival, with a center bay of recessed coupled columns, broken pediments, quoins and cartouches above the storefronts. The interior mixes Baroque elements with later touches, including early Art Deco. It is regarded as one of the best-preserved early 20th century movie theaters in the Boston area. It also marks East Arlington's 1920s change from market gardening to a densely populated suburb. The building has had no major alterations and is still used as a theater.
Significance in brief: The building houses one of the best-preserved early 20th century moving picture theaters in the Boston area. It is also an example of Classical Revival design with Baroque and early Art Deco touches. It symbolized East Arlington's 1920s shift from market gardening to a dense suburban neighborhood.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85001025, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 202--208 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William J. Drummey |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is the same as the original: a movie theater with commercial and residential space. The exterior is described as well preserved, with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40568, -71.14268 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85001025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5035934
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.