Sept. 19 marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre. In celebration of this major milestone, the venue hosted an anniversary concert, which was a varied and exciting evening of live music and community.

Photo from the Capitol Theatre's Centennial Celebration

The Capitol Theatre has been dubbed “the original rock palace.” This historic venue, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has hosted performances by legendary artists such as the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones since its 1926 opening.

The Capitol Theatre during a performance

The Centennial Celebration began with DJ Brownie, also known as Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits, setting the stage with a DJ set. Next, BERTHA: Grateful Drag kicked off the main event with a large selection of Grateful Dead songs.

A performance during the Capitol Theatre's Centennial Celebration

Following BERTHA, the headlining band Pink Talking Fish brought the evening to its peak. This tribute band is known for combining music from Pink Floyd, the Talking Heads, and Phish. For the occasion, his group diverged from their roots by performing songs from a wide variety of artists, all of whom have previously performed on the Capitol Theatre stage.

For this event, Pink Talking Fish performed under the name “The Centennial Band.” The group began with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which was the first song ever performed at the Capitol Theatre when it opened in 1926. Other songs incorporated into the Centennial Band’s set were “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin and “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers Band.

Beyond the music, the night included many whimsical and entertaining touches. Notably, General Manager Kiley Williams dressed in a squirrel costume to blow out 100 candles on a birthday cake. A confetti cannon, a balloon drop, and an onstage aerialist also featured in the evening’s festivities.

A performance during the Centennial Celebration

In advance of the Centennial Celebration, Port Chester Mayor Luis A. Morino named Sept. 19 “Capitol Theatre Day,” memorializing the venue’s contributions to Westchester musical culture for many years to come. For more information about the venue, see the Capitol Theatre website.