Capitol Building, Neoclassical theater building in Downtown Core, Singapore
The Capitol Building is a neoclassical structure in central Singapore with a pale yellow facade, decorative walls, and glass-paneled windows located at the corner of North Bridge Road and Stamford Road. After comprehensive renovations, it now operates as The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, housing 157 guest rooms and suites in the Downtown Core.
The structure was completed in 1930 by architects Keys and Dowdeswell and named after Persian businessman Mirza Mohamed Ali Namazie. The Shaw Organisation acquired it in 1946 and converted it into a cinema, which operated under the name Kyo-Ei Gekijo during Japanese occupation.
The building served as an important entertainment venue in its early years, featuring one of Singapore's first air-conditioned theater spaces where people could gather. The Magnolia snack bar reflected local dining culture by combining Western cuisine with Hainanese flavors in a single social space.
The hotel sits at a central intersection in the Downtown Core and is easily accessible by public transportation from all parts of the city. Since the building underwent complete renovation, all modern facilities and access points are fully accessible to all visitors.
During Japanese occupation, the cinema enforced a ban on English-language films, showing how the venue functioned as a point of media control during wartime. This restriction was part of a broader censorship policy that shaped the cultural landscape of the occupation period.
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