Palace Theatre (Albany, New York) facts for kids
Marquee of the venue (c.2018)
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| Address | 19 Clinton Ave Albany, New York 12207-2211 |
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| Owner | City of Albany |
| Operator | Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc. |
| Capacity | 2,844 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 1930 |
| Opened | October 23, 1931 |
| Renovated |
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Palace Theatre
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003235 |
| Added to NRHP | October 4, 1979 |
The Palace Theatre is a cool entertainment spot in downtown Albany, New York. It's located where Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street meet. A special group called the Palace Performing Arts Center runs the theatre. This group is a non-profit, meaning they use their money to help the community. They started in 1984 to make the theatre a great place for culture and fun in Albany.
The Palace Theatre hosts over 150 events every year. You can see concerts, amazing ballet and dance shows, Broadway plays, and even classic movies. Famous artists like the Rolling Stones, Jerry Seinfeld, and Bruce Springsteen have performed here. It's also home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra, which has won a Grammy Award!
The theatre was designed by John Eberson, a very famous theatre architect. He was known for making "atmospheric" theatres that felt like you were outdoors under the stars. The Palace Theatre has a beautiful Austrian Baroque design. Even though it's been around for a long time, it still has many of its original features. These include a fancy brass chandelier, original paintings by Hungarian artists, and cool plaster beams that look like carved wood. The theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Contents
History of the Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre first opened as a movie palace for RKO, a big film company. It was built between June 1930 and October 1931. When it opened, it was the biggest movie theatre in Albany. It even had a special Wurlitzer theatre organ!
In 1940, the Palace was sold to FAST Theatres. This happened because RKO had to stop owning movie theatres due to new business rules. In 1960, the theatre got a big update that cost $250,000. They made the seats more comfortable, which meant there were fewer seats overall.
The Palace Theatre closed in September 1969 because it wasn't making enough money. But soon after, the City of Albany bought it for $90,000 and reopened it. For many years, the only big changes were a new boiler and roof. The theatre was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 1979.
Modern Renovations
In 2002, a huge restoration project began. It cost $3 million and was finished in January 2003. This project made the inside of the theatre look much more like its original 1931 design. They even added a new LED sign outside that looked like the old one. A company called Conrad Schmitt Studios did the work, and local architects helped with the plans.
Exploring the Building
The Palace Theatre is a brick and stone building with a steel frame. It sits on a small piece of land in downtown Albany.
The front part of the building, which faces the street, has two stories. It's made of tan brick with stone decorations. The windows have carved supports, and there are fancy brick walls at the top.
The taller part of the building, where the audience sits, has a cool chimney and decorative brickwork. The side along Pearl Street has round arches and tall, flat columns.
Inside the Theatre
The inside of the theatre is designed in a beautiful Austrian Baroque style. When you enter, you'll see red marble staircases with fancy designs. Murals painted by two Hungarian artists decorate the walls.
The balcony area hangs over most of the main floor. The ceilings and walls are highly decorated with columns, statues, and arches around the theatre boxes. A sparkling crystal chandelier from the Czech Republic hangs from the ceiling. The area where the orchestra plays can even move up and down with an elevator!
See also
- Albany Symphony Orchestra
- David Alan Miller
