Since its birth as a vaudeville hall, the Palace Theatre has been reinvented several times to keep pace with ever-changing trends and tastes.
The theater has gone through incarnations such as a Big Band hotspot and a movie house, even screening kung fu flicks. Stage shows were sporadic but successful.
For almost a century, this varied past has lent itself well to the Palace’s present reputation as one of CAPA’s most diverse venues.
“We call it our ‘workhorse’ theater because we have so many different audiences at the Palace,” said Chad Whittington, president and CEO of CAPA.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 2,695-seat theater at 34 W. Broad St. hosts touring music artists, comics, dance companies, local arts groups, Broadway
in Columbus and other performances.
As the Palace nears its 100th anniversary, Whittington was optimistic about the venue continuing its tradition of wide-ranging entertainment.
“The Palace is already so diverse in its programming, we can tweak the mix to meet the needs of the community,” he said.
“Whether it’s hot new music, a certain performing arts genre – the Palace has room for it.”
CAPA will offer special performances and community events for "Palace 100” during the remainder of the year.
Palace Theatre is highlighted in history
The Palace Theatre was designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1926, as part of what is now known as the LeVeque Tower. The décor was influenced by France's Palace of Versailles, with a grand staircase, marbled lobbies and elaborate ornamentation.
The theater opened on Nov. 8, 1926, with live vaudeville acts and a silent film, “The Campus Flirt.”
A handful of the many high points in Palace history include:
- Nov. 23, 1929: Vaudeville ends, an all-movie format begins.
- July 11, 1930: The Palace becomes part of RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum); the marquee would be changed to “RKO Palace” in 1931.
- Dec. 22, 1942: Duke Ellington begins a six-year run of engagements, making the Palace a major tour stop during the Big Band era.
- March 17, 1952: Though still mainly a movie venue, the Palace hosts two stage shows, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” with Carol Channing and “South Pacific,” which sells out.
- 1960s-1970s: The Palace shows primarily B-movies and martial arts/kung fu films.
In 1975, RKO closed the Palace. As the building stood empty, plans were to raze it to construct a parking lot. Enter Katherine S. LeVeque.
The Columbus business leader, recently widowed at the time, invested $3 million to restore the theater – the original cost of building it in 1926 – and the Palace reopened in 1980.
“[LeVeque] ran the Palace for almost 10 years, just on sheer tenacity because she felt it was an important part of Columbus,” Whittington said.
“She was a singular person. Without her, we wouldn’t have a Palace Theatre.”
Between 1982 and 1985, LeVeque funded a $250,000 renovation that included painting throughout the venue and the repair of damaged plaster art. She gifted the theater to CAPA in 1989, and in 1996, the Katherine S. LeVeque lobby was named in her honor.
![The Palace Theatre auditorium on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the in Columbus, Ohio. The 92-year-old theatre's auditorium recently underwent a six-month, $6.5 million renovation. As part of the renovation, seats were replaced in the majority of the auditorium, plaster was repaired and repainted and the walls were redecorated. The goal was to make the theatre appear as it was when it opened in 1926. [Joshua A. Bickel/Dispatch]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2018/11/01/NCOD/ghows_image-OH-31e77442-e506-4226-9ab1-76cd9cdd5cba.jpeg)
Palace gets a major makeover
Whittington has seen many renovations at the Palace since joining CAPA in 1998; changes like upgraded dressing rooms and backstage areas that enhance the venue’s appeal among performers.
“We want them to have a good experience before they get onstage. It makes a difference when they’re making decisions where to play,” he said.
In 2018, a $6.5 million overhaul of the main auditorium included infrastructure repairs, new seats, a new roof and a new LED lighting system. The interior was painted using a custom color palette, and pieces of the original 1920s wall fabrics were used in the auditorium’s arches.
“It was already a beautiful venue. Now it’s really stunning for the audience,” Whittington said.
CAPA celebrates the Palace's centennial
CAPA’s roster of events for the Palace’s anniversary will be anchored by a tribute to a world-famous soul pioneer who headlined the theater numerous times.
Hosted by renowned bandleader Paul Shaffer, “The Genius of Ray Charles” will honor the late Charles, whose last show at the theater was in 1992. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 14.
Shaffer, musical director for “Late Night with David Letterman” for three decades, played with Charles regularly over the years.
Ticket prices range from $62.50-$565 at capa.com. A VIP package includes one top-tier seat, valet parking, a “Palace 100” memento and afterparty access.
Other “Palace 100” events will include:
- Sept. 26: Birthday celebration, 1-5 p.m. – Take photos onstage, explore the theater and see pop-up performances, plus there’s the chance to win a $100 CAPA gift certificate. The event is free to attend.
- Oct. 21: CAPA Haunts the Palace, 4-7 p.m. – Attendees of all ages are invited to wear costumes, go trick-or-treating in the theater, view a Day of the Dead display and other activities. The event is free to attend.
- Nov. 6, 8: “Pirates! The Penzance Musical” – CAPA and Opera Columbus team up for the regional debut of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 2 p.m. Nov. 8. Tickets are $13.40-$135.16 at capa.com.
- Dec. 8-13: “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” – Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-11; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 12-13; 7 p.m. Dec. 12. Tickets are $52-$158 at capa.com.
What does the future for the Palace Theatre look like?
Now that it has marked a century, what’s ahead for the Palace? What does CAPA envision in the next 100 years?
“Structurally, we want to make sure the Palace will be in good working condition for another generation. Just as important as the building is what happens inside,” Whittington said.
“Columbus is growing and becoming more diverse. By continuing to offer a wide variety of programs, we can make sure that everyone has something they connect to.”
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: From vaudeville to Broadway, Palace Theatre has evolved for 100 years
