Palace Theatre - Calgary, Alberta
Posted by: 
wildwoodke
N 51° 02.739 W 114° 04.003
11U E 705606 N 5658995
The Palace Theatre was one of the first theaters in Calgary, Alberta.
Waymark Code: WM28N3
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 09/23/2007
Views: 135
The Palace Theatre officially opened October 25, 1921 with a seating capacity of 1,951. Featured a "men's smoking room" and a "ladies retiring room" decorated with a French grey Wilton rug, upholstered furniture and blue silk curtains trimmed with blue and gold damask.
Ceilings and walls throughout the building are elaborately decorated with plaster design. Marble stairs at either end of the foyer lead to the balcony lounge. Mahogany and plate glass doors at the entrance to the foyer. Exit signs made of stain glass.
Original color scheme was "old rose and gold with touches of blue".
The light bulb and neon marquee was added to the theatre in 1939.
In this era before the "talkies" became fashionable the theatre accommodated movies and vaudeville and in later years public meetings and during World War II, benefit performances. Nelson Eddy, Ethel Barrymore, Victor Borge and Lena Horne and the Calgary Philharmonic played The Palace.
February 28, 1974 The Exorcist opens and breaks opening day house record grossing $10,000.
February 8, 1990 the theatre closed. Last movie was "Tango and Cash" starring Kurt Russell and Sylvestre Stallone.
1993 used as a movie set for Legends of the Fall starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt.
Designated a Provincial Historic Resource in May 1996.
Much of the original architectural detail of Calgary's oldest surviving movie theatre remains intact. The Palace is one of only a few remaining examples of this grand old style of theatre architecture in Canada.
The Palace is currently being used as a local night club, restaurant and sports bar owned by the Calgary Flames hockey club...it's called Flames Central
Web site: [Web Link]
Year Theater Opened: Not listed
Ticket Price (local currency): Not Listed
Matinee Price (local currency): Not Listed
Number of Screen(s): Not Listed
Concessions Available: Not Listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Must take a photo of the theater.
Please try to include yourself or gps in the picture.
Tell of your experience at the theater, if it is still a theater. If it is no longer a theater tell of an experience from the past at the theater, if this can be done.