Palace Theatre
276 W. Center Street,
Marion,
OH
43302
276 W. Center Street,
Marion,
OH
43302
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 28 comments
Been to this theatre. An amazing theatre worth visiting. Hats off to the people of Marion for preserving this cinema treasure.
The Palace Theatre was built for V. U. Young’s Young Amusement Company, according to this item from Motion Picture News of January 7, 1928:
Construction photo added courtesy Jim Smith.
“Designed for “talkies,” the Palace had to open [in 1928] with a silent motion picture [Excess Baggage] because the needed equipment for sound motion pictures had not arrived. The success of talkies, a new technology only two years before, had been widely successful. Vaudeville could not compete, and its own stars contributed to the demise of its popularity as they recorded their acts on film, resulting in no demand to see live acts that had already been seen on film.” Hoffman, Scott, A Theatre History of Marion, Ohio: John Eberson’s Palace & Beyond, p. 11 (History Press 2015).
The view of the marquee and upright is now a little bare. During an inspection the facade holding both the marquee and upright was found to be unstable and both were removed and repaired while the facade was torn down brick by brick, the large I-beams replaced and will be restored to original build. Donations would be appreciated. marionpalace.org for contact information.
From the 1920s a postcard view of the Palace Theatre in Marion.
Nice photo Wallyum.
http://landmarkhunter.com/121587-palace-theater/
Richard G: I, too, have visited the Palace in Canton though didn’t see the Harding Hotel lobby…sounds like I missed a “must see”.
I returned to the Palace on April 3, 2010 and saw the movie, Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief. I can only add, “This is how movies should be shown” I bought a good size drink and popcorn for a grand total of $3.00. The lobby of the Harding Hotel (now a Senior’s home and directly across the street from the thatre) is also a must see.
ery nice looking theatre,love their vertical sign.
Several years ago I traveled to see the Palace in Canton Ohio and didn’t continue onto Marion Ohio to see this Palace though I do see similar simaliarities in the above posted flickr photo. Is that a tongue twister? Didn’t mean to it to be! ;–)
MARION, OH â€" Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m. the Palace’s mighty Wurlitzer organ fills the theatre as world renowned organist Dennis James accompanies the classic silent film “The Cat and the Canary.â€
What a beautiful-looking place!
A view of the Palace Theatre at its 50th anniversay in 1978 and a view of the auditorium .
A 1996 image of the Palace Theatre in Marion.
Here is a 1948 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2yc23a
Here is a June 1943 ad from the Marion Star:
http://tinyurl.com/267t8a
Amoung John Eberson’s many sky jobs, he designed this theatre and the Oklahoma City Midwest Theatre (1930-1975). Although OKC’s Midwest Theatre auditorium was longer and higher, it was also much more narrow than the Palace. Otherwise these two theatre auditorium sidewalls matched one another in design.
There are some interesting interior photos from the 1920s on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/pgldg
Like Proctors'theatre in Schenectady, New York, it is good to know
how well The Palace theatre is being developed to serve the people in the 21st century.
Here is a link:
View link
Good news!
The Palace after receiving over a half million in grants and again as much in donations will move on phase one of a three phase expansion.
Designed to compliment the exterior a 2-story pavilion will be built on the west parkinglot to provide seating for 300 at dinner tables for conventions, weddings and dinner theatres while providing a venue for small, intimate shows. The old second story offices have been gutted and new construction for theatre offices have been finished.
Phase 2+3 Include expanding the oddly shaped stage by blowing out the back wall and expanding for larger stage shows and combining the store fronts into one large concession room to better serve patrons.
My father Gerald “Obie” Obenour who served the theatre for 63 yrs. as Stage Mgr. passed away Aug. 31 and loved every minute working there.
The theatre is alive and growing stronger and serves over 100,000 patrons every year.
The Wurlitzer is there and playing away. I saw two Chaplin movies there last Sunday with Dennis James playing. What a beautiful place!
I believe it does, I saw it in the pit covered by a tarp….not sure how oftern it is used.