Palace Theatre, New York

The Palace Theatre located at 1564 Broadway in New York City, is a Broadway theatre described by its owner as "the Valhalla of vaudeville." The theatre was built by Martin Beck in 1913 and opened with vaudeville shows from the Keith Circuit. From its opening to its change to cinema, the palace lured the best and brightest in vaudeville.

Related Topics:
Broadway - New York City - Broadway theatre - Valhalla - Vaudeville - Theatre - Martin Beck - 1913 - Keith Circuit

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Designed by architects Kirchoff and Rose, Martin Beck's theatre experienced quite a few problems even before it opened. E. F. Albee, one of the main executives for B.F. Keith and his powerful vaudeville circuit, demanded that Beck turn over three-quarters of the stock in the theatre in order to use acts from the Keith circuit. In addition, Oscar Hammerstein was the only person who could offer Keith acts in that section of Broadway, so Beck paid him off with $225,000. The theatre finally opened, but it was not successful for quite some time until Keith booked French actress Sarah Bernhardt. The bookings for the Palace took off, and within a few years it was the most sought after place for vaudevillians to perform. To "play the Palace" meant that a performer had reached the top of their career.

Related Topics:
E. F. Albee - B.F. Keith - Stock - Oscar Hammerstein - French - Actress - Sarah Bernhardt

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With the rise in popularity of film and radio and the Great Depression, vaudeville began its decline, and business slackened even at the Palace. In 1929 the two-a-day vaudeville shows were increased to three. By 1932, the palace moved to four shows a day and dropped it's admission price. On 16 November 1932 the Palace moved to a full bill of movies. This date is generally regarded as the death of vaudeville.

Related Topics:
Film - Radio - Great Depression - 1929 - 1932 - 16 November

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The Palace limped on, and in the 1950s the RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) chain tried to revive vaudeville with shows by such names as Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. While the shows were successful, they did not lead to a revival of vaudeville. In 1965, the Palace returned to its live theatre roots when it became a live theatrical house.

Related Topics:
1950s - RKO - Frank Sinatra - Judy Garland - 1965

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As a legitimate theatre, the Palace has seen such shows as George M! and Applause and more recently shows like Will Rogers Follies in 1991, Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 1994 and Aida in 2000.

Related Topics:
George M! - Applause - Will Rogers Follies - 1991 - Beauty and the Beast - 1994 - Aida - 2000

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The Palace theatre is now the home of the hit Broadway musical All Shook Up.

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