The opening night included a screening of Gene Stratton-Porter's Freckles and performances by the Capitol Theatre orchestra, Leah Miller's Beauty Ballet and a vaudeville act by Syd Roy's Lyricals.

[4] The theatre featured a 12.2-by-6.1-metre (40 by 20 ft) illuminated sign above its roof on the William Street facade,[5][6] Art Nouveau stencil work in the lounge foyer and the upper crush area, a bust of the late Rudolph Valentino in the foyer and a 4.9-by-3.7-metre (16 by 12 ft) chandelier, containing 300 lights.

[7] Reportedly the lips on Valentino's bust were constantly red with the adoring kisses of his Perth fans.

The bust is currently part of the Western Australian Performing Arts Museum collection at His Majesty's Theatre.

Similar to the nearby Esplanade Hotel and Barracks Arch, the Capitol Theatre was demolished prior to the city or state of Western Australia having any effective heritage legislation.