Information
Landmark: Palace TheatreCity: Albany
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Palace Theatre, Albany, USA New York, North America
Overview
In Albany, New York, the Palace Theatre has stood since the early 1900s, its grand marquee and gilded balconies bearing witness to more than a century of performances.The Palace Theatre opened its doors in 1931, a creation of architect John Eberson, famous for “atmospheric” designs that wrapped audiences in ornate, dreamlike surroundings.The building showcases Austrian Baroque style, with gilded moldings, soaring chandeliers, and intricate carvings that recall the opulence of Europe’s great opera houses.At its height, the theatre ranked as the world’s third-largest movie palace and Albany’s biggest, with enough plush red seats to hold about 3,700 people.The theatre first opened as a grand movie palace, screening films while a Wurlitzer organ filled the room with rich, rolling notes.RKO-short for Radio Keith Orpheum-ran it at first, and later handed the reins to other companies.Attendance kept dropping, and by 1969 the theater shut its doors, the smell of popcorn fading from its darkened lobby.Albany bought the old building and swung its doors open again, this time as a bustling civic auditorium.In 1979, the Palace Theatre earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, honored for its history and ornate red-brick façade.Since 1984, the nonprofit Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc.has run the space, turning it into a lively hub for concerts, plays, and neighborhood gatherings-where you might catch the smell of popcorn drifting through the crowd.Today, the theatre buzzes with life, staging more than 150 events each year-everything from the sparkle of Broadway shows to the swell of a symphony, a comedian’s sharp punchline, and the roar of a concert crowd.The Albany Symphony Orchestra calls it home, and the stage draws talent from across the country and around the world-sometimes the hall buzzes with accents from three continents.During the 2000s, crews brought back many of the building’s original architectural details, upgraded its wiring and climate systems, and added a gleaming new marquee patterned after the one that lit up the street in 1931.Today it holds around 2,800 people, with sleek lighting and updated comforts tucked inside walls that still carry their old-world grace.At 19 Clinton Avenue, the Palace Theatre anchors downtown Albany’s cultural scene, its bright marquee drawing visitors in.Step inside and you’ll find a breathtaking, wraparound setting, its ornate arches and gilded trim carrying you straight into the golden age of movie palaces.The venue offers accessibility accommodations, and you’ll find performances ranging from quiet acoustic sets to lively shows that draw a wide mix of audiences.The Palace Theatre showcases Albany’s cultural heritage, blending its gilded ceilings and vintage charm with the energy of today’s live performances.It’s still a beloved landmark, alive with music, laughter, and the glow of marquee lights.
