Palace Theatre
1445 23rd Avenue,
Oakland,
CA
94606
1445 23rd Avenue,
Oakland,
CA
94606
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Golden State Theater & Realty Corp.
Architects: James Reid, Merritt Reid
Firms: Reid Brothers
Functions: Educational, Gymnasium, Office Space
Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Colonial
Nearby Theaters
The Palace Theatre was opened in 1923, and closed in 1952. It was purchased by the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in 1953, and they occupied the building until 2013. In summer of 2014 it was reopened as a live performance venue. By January 2018 it had become a church again. In August 2023 it was sold to a school to be renovated into a gymnasium, classrooms and offices, while retaining much of the interior decoration. Completion is expected in fall of 2024.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
The former Palace Theater is home to the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
The Palace had a Spanish decor inside. The side walkways were under an arches What fascinated me as a kid…was the ceiling..Stars would glow in the darkened auditorium.
Here is part of a June 26, 1947 article in the Oakland Tribune:
A flamboyant dragon-decorated jacket led police last night to a 24-year-old medically discharged Navy veteran who confessed to the gunless holdup of the Palace Theater, 1445 23rd Avenue, two hours before. The youth, Donville Greene, of 2015 48th Avenue, simulated a gun in his pocket to force the theater manager, Charles Menapace of 1054 105th Avenue, to hand over $170 in the theater office, police said. Then Greene made Menapace accompany him out of the theater and several blocks to 20th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.
Greene was traced to his home by Police Officers James Lawson and Herbert Scares by a description of the green dragon embroidered khaki jacket he wore. They remembered they had seen a youth in such a jacket while patrolling their beat and traced him to his home. At the police station he wept with remorse while he told officers he held up the theater because “I can’t hold a job and I needed the money. "Now I’ll never be able to hold a job. What I did tonight has made me a criminal and I’ll get 20 years.”
Police said Greene gave the money to his wife, Bernice, an expectant mother. They said she had $152 when he was arrested. Police said that Greene entered the lobby of the Palace Theater and asked Miss Norma Rodrigues, 22, of 1929 East 24th Street, head usherette, for the manager. When Menapace came Greene told him he had a .45 caliber gun and, threatening his life, forced the manager upstairs to his office. While the holdup was taking place one of the employees of the theater walked in and was told everything was all right. After the robbery Greene reportedly went io his parents' home at 2019 Foothill Boulevard and left the jacket there before going to his residence.
I am so happy to see that this theater is still there. When it closed, the neighborhood was rough. It closed because people were afraid to go into the neighborhood, 23rd and E.14th was one of the first neighborhoods to slip in the mid 50’s in Oakland. I visited for the first time just last week in 40 years and it is worse! Just a few blocks up the street, the police were investigating a gang shooting. It is still a church, and I knocked on the door wanting to see the inside. A really nice gentleman let me in and let me look around. I can’t believe that the snack bar is still there, to the left when you first walk in. The lobby, still looks the same, with the staircase leading to the balcony, with the original blue carpeting, just the way I remembered it! The lighting fixtures are still there. The restrooms look the same, it has been whitewashed over in some spots, but the interior is spotless, and well maintained. The auditorium looks like a step back in time. The ceiling that had star lights are still there, the murals are all gone and whitewashed over, but the balcony seats are all still there, and there were arches and all still there and intact. It was remarkable. When I stepped back out onto 23rd avenue and saw the reality of life, it sure was fun to be transported back in time when I was in there. It was tired inside, but what a wonderful time to step back inside there
Good news! The Palace is being reopened for stage performances. www.palacetheateroakland.com
The Facebook photo page for Zoe Jakes House of Tarot has two recent photos of the auditorium of the Palace Theatre. The are no seats on the main floor, but there are in the balcony. It doesn’t look as thought here’s been any restoration, but the building appears sound and the atmospheric decor is intact, though painted a uniform beige with a bit of dark brown trim.
Welcome to The Palace Theater presented by Lucid Dream Lounge Inc. Oakland’s oldest operating theater and newly opened event space. This is a big win for LDL, Inc. and Oakland, bringing art and commerce to our neighborhood, as well as providing space to showcase the works and events of our talented and beautiful community and beyond.
Come be a part of the magic.
The Palace Theater is now available for your event! With 5600sq/ft of open floor space, 1400sq/ft of stage space, 2500sq/ft Lobby/Mezzanine, a balcony with original seating, and capacity of 820+ persons, the Palace is just that; a palace with enough room and stage space for any event. We are available for music/dance events, plays/musicals, community inspired events, fashion shows, conventions/seminars, weddings, holiday parties, concerts and more. The Palace Theater is also available to film your movie, commercial or TV show. We are always open to hearing about your own special events too.
The Palace Theater is the home of Lucid Dream Lounge, Inc. Look for in house events on a regular basis. Such as: full scale high production plays and musicals, dinner theater/cabaret, speakeasies, marketplace bizarres, game nights, showings of movies and art films, open galleries, open mike/poetry, and community based classes in art, dance, theater, and writing.
The Palace is also home to the projects of LDL members such as the Kenjitsu Dojo Oakland, a private recording studio, and several artist’s studios.
Brief history of the theater: The Palace Theater was built in 1921 as a vaudevillian theater featuring some of the most talented and long forgotten greats. She was built strong, made of Iron and masonry in attempts to make oakland’s theaters more safe. In 1931 she was built-out to look like a palace, with city scape walls and a large proscenium arch that featured the best movies of the day. This original work is still intact by 80% and is undergoing restoration. In 1953 the theater was converted into a baptist church, and it is in this form that she stayed for 60 years. Until now, taking new directions with LDL Inc. she is once again a theater and neighborhood arts and events fixture.
Lucid Dream Lounge encourages you to think outside the black box, and up your fun!
For more info about hosting your event, LDL, Inc. events, or a detailed history of the theater herself; go to our website: palacetheateroakland.com Email us @ or For info about LDL, Inc. go to: lucidddreamlounge.com Look for us on the web, and YouTube as: The Palace Theater / Lucid Dream Lounge, Inc.
This IS a most unexpected and pleasant surprise (the return of the Palace, that is). May it enjoy a long and productive success.
The Palace is once again a church. The Word Assembly – The Palace holds services there, and has a great facebook page which has pictures and videos of their services at the Palace.
The theater has been sold to Bay Tech Charter School and will be renovated to include a gym, classrooms and offices while retaining much of the buildings architecture, scheduled for completion in Fall 2024.