The Port Chester Historical Society opens a new exhibit on Saturday, November 21, about two names the village claims as its own: the Capitol Theatre, which turns 100 this year, and Ed Sullivan, whose television show put a generation of rock and soul acts in front of the country. The exhibit is called Toast of Our Town. It is free and open on six Saturday afternoons through January 16 at the Bush-Lyon Homestead, 479 King Street, in Port Chester, Westchester County.

What is in the exhibit

The society built the show around the link between the two. One part follows Sullivan himself: his personal life, the variety show that ran under his name, and his advocacy for civil rights. Another part traces the Capitol from 1926 to today, including the stretches when it was dark and how it came to be known as The Original Rock Palace. A third part follows the artists who played both rooms, among them Smokey Robinson, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys.

The material on display includes video, historic newspapers, and merchandise and ticket stubs from a selection of the bands. The society ties the timing to two milestones in 2026: the Capitol’s centennial and Sullivan’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A century of the Capitol

The Capitol opened on August 18, 1926, as a playhouse designed by the theater architect Thomas Lamb, and its first night sold out roughly 2,000 seats, according to the theater’s own history. Around 1970 it became a stop for touring rock bands: Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane played there, and the Grateful Dead gave 18 shows in 1970 and 1971, including a February 18, 1971 concert at which the band played five songs for the first time.

By the late 1990s the main floor seats had been taken out and the building was used as a catering hall for weddings and private events. Under owner Peter Shapiro it was restored and reopened on September 4, 2012, with Bob Dylan on the bill. The theater is marking its 100th year by collecting stories and photographs from people who have been to shows there, through a form on its website.

Where the exhibit is

The exhibit is in the Bush-Lyon Homestead on King Street, the historical society’s home in Port Chester. Port Chester is served by Metro-North’s New Haven Line.

Dates and admission

Toast of Our Town is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on these Saturdays:

  • November 21, 2026
  • December 5, 2026
  • December 12, 2026
  • December 19, 2026
  • January 9, 2027
  • January 16, 2027

Admission is free. The exhibit is at the Bush-Lyon Homestead, 479 King Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. The society’s event page has the current schedule.

Sources