by Karen Lunde
Dry autumn leaves clatter in colorful drifts down Olympia’s 5th Avenue. Before you stands a landmark — an art deco theater building. Above its entry, with its multiple doors and old-fashioned ticket booth, hangs a neon sign proclaiming “CAPITOL.” A marquee promotes an upcoming movie. You might label the Capitol Theater an indie and art-house film venue, and you wouldn’t be wrong. But insiders know the Capitol Theater is so much more. From late fall 2026 through the end of the year, the Capitol Theater will host a public film club, serve as a live-music venue, and showcase regional filmmakers. Then, in December, it becomes concert hall and cinema at once.
“What feels most important to me is that the Capitol Theater is a place where people can truly belong,” says Audrey Henley, executive director of the Olympia Film Society, which stewards the Capitol Theater. Henley sees the theater as more than a venue. People come to experience art, be in community, volunteer, and belong to something bigger than themselves. It also provides space for local artists and organizations to gather and be seen, while offering South Sound audiences innovative — and often delightfully fringe — films, music, and live performances they might not otherwise find locally.
The Olympia Film Society (OFS) was established in 1980 as a collective of film lovers and community members with a passion for independent, international, and classic cinema. The society made the Capitol Theater its primary home in 1986. Its current mission is to make film, music, and art exciting and accessible for the Olympia community, while also reaching beyond the two-block downtown theater district to the surrounding South Sound.
The society’s role shifted from programmer and caretaker to owner in 2010, when it purchased the Capitol Theater. Since then, OFS has completed a new roof, critical electrical and mechanical work, stained-glass restoration, and other protective improvements. “To fully address the theater’s needs from roof to basement, OFS is preparing for approximately $6.5 million in capital improvements over the next 5-7 years,” says Henley.
The venue was built in 1924 and designed by prominent Olympia architect Joseph Wohleb, with facade details that included ornate terra cotta decorations, stained-glass windows depicting the five muses, and marble flooring. Over the years, the building has endured natural aging as well as damage from a 1937 fire and the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. It occupies part of the Downtown National Historic District, and the Olympia Historical Society lists the Capitol Theater as “Historic Contributing.” Today, it has 754 seats, including accessible seating to accommodate different body types and disabilities. There’s also assistance for patrons with sight and hearing needs.
But without events, a historic theater is just another pretty building. That’s where Rob Patrick, Olympia Film Society’s director of programming, enters the picture. A longtime film writer, Patrick was named a “programmer to watch” by MovieMaker Magazine in 2018. His philosophy includes an exciting and varied calendar with education, accessibility, and context at its heart. And that means a film screening should ideally offer more than just the show itself.
“When presenting 35mm prints, we like to discuss the significance of film preservation,” Patrick says. “When showcasing repertory cinema, we hope to reintroduce underseen gems or beloved classics to new audiences.”
The Olympia Library Film Club’s October 25, 2026, screening of Manhunter — a thrilling adaptation of Thomas Harris’s first novel in a four-book series featuring the enigmatic serial killer Hannibal Lecter — showcases that philosophy at work. The event launches the library’s “Reels & Restorations” series, featuring a new 4K restoration, an introduction by film-club facilitator Zach Havekost, and free tickets distributed by the Olympia and West Olympia libraries.
In December, the Capitol Theater won’t just host the beloved 1982 classic The Snowman; it will add live orchestral music. “As the story unfolds on screen, the orchestra carries every step, every snowfall, and the unforgettable Walking in the Air moment that has made the film a holiday favorite for generations,” the event page proclaims.
The Olympia Film Society brings film to children in more ways than just special one-time events. “Access” means more than accommodating physical disabilities; it also means deliberately creating an entry point for young film buffs and their families. The OFS Kids Club serves up an ongoing Sunday program with free admission for kids 12 and under.
And then there’s Locals Only, described as “an absolute bash of a fest” that “showcases the Pacific Northwest’s creative community by celebrating independent filmmaking.” The film festival will screen selected submissions from local filmmakers during a special event on November 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, with donations accepted at the door. “Locals Only continues to be one of our most popular programs because of the Pacific Northwest talent it showcases,” says Patrick.
Although the theater and the Olympia Film Society serve the community, they also belong to it in a unique way. “Anyone can participate and find a meaningful role at the Capitol Theater,” says Henley. The cinema and organization have been powered by volunteers since 1980. Henley says the society currently has 225 active volunteers. They can work on the street team, learn digital and — after training — 35mm projection, help run concerts and special events, supervise the lobby, or assist with cleaning and maintenance. Serving the theater not only brings volunteers a sense of satisfaction; volunteer hours can also earn free film tickets and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Membership is another important piece of the Olympia Film Society’s offerings. Although the COVID pandemic affected numbers, the society is growing again and is currently home to 730 members. Membership starts at $60 per year for an individual, with dual, family, and business memberships also available. Along with the satisfaction of supporting the society’s ambitious mission, members get reduced admission and concession prices, business discounts, and loyalty points.
Whether it’s serving as a cinema, concert venue, or artists’ showcase, the Capitol Theater is an evolving and eclectic part of Olympia’s downtown that continues to reflect the creativity, care, and character of the South Sound community. A building, no matter how wonderful, can be inherited, but a cultural home must be recreated again and again by the people who pass through its doors, climb into the projection booth, take the stage, or simply sit, connected in their common fascination, when the lights go down.
WHAT:
Olympia Library Film Club Presents: Manhunter: The Final Cut — 4K Restoration
WHEN:
Sunday, Oct 25, 2026, 7 p.m.
WHERE:
Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave. SE, Olympia
COST:
Free; tickets available from the Olympia and West Olympia libraries. A library card may also be shown at the box office.
WHAT:
Locals Only 2026
WHEN:
Friday, Nov 6, 2026, 7 p.m.
WHERE:
Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave. SE, Olympia
COST:
Free; donations accepted at the door
Learn more:
https://www.olympiafilmsociety.org/movie/locals-only-2026/
WHAT:
Olympia Symphony Presents: The Snowman
WHEN:
Sunday, Dec 6, 2026, 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave. SE, Olympia
COST:
$9–$71
Learn more:
https://www.olympiafilmsociety.org/movie/olympia-symphony-presents-the-snowman/