Palace Theatre (Columbus, Ohio)

The Palace Theatre is a 2,695-seat restored movie palace located at 34 W. Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio. It was designed and built in 1926 by the American architect Thomas W. Lamb as part of the American Insurance Union Citadel (now the LeVeque Tower). Today the theater functions as a multi-use performing arts venue. It is owned and operated by The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts.[1] The Palace Theater's "house" is considered separate from LeVeque Tower, while the marquee and lobby are part of the LeVeque complex.

Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre and LeVeque Tower
Former namesKeith-Albee Palace, RKO Palace
Location34 W. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
Coordinates39.962372°N 83.002042°W / 39.962372; -83.002042
Public transitBus transport Central Ohio Transit Authority 4, 5, 7, 10, 11
Bike transport CoGo
OperatorColumbus Association for the Performing Arts
Capacity2,695
Current usePerforming arts center
Construction
Opened1926 (1926)
ArchitectThomas W. Lamb
Website
www.capa.com/venues/palace-theatre

History
The Palace Theatre entrance at night

The Palace Theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb in his signature "Adam" style, reminiscent of the 18th century neo-classical work of the Scottish architects James and Robert Adam. Originally named the Keith-Albee Theatre, its construction was personally supervised by the vaudeville mogul Edward Albee of the Keith-Albee circuit. It opened in 1926 as the Keith-Albee Palace and featured live vaudeville along with silent feature films, an orchestra and "Miss Buckeye", a Style 260 3/16 Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ.[2]

The dressing room tower in the backstage area was designed as a small hotel, complete with a "front desk", where performers picked up their room keys and mail. Kitchen facilities and a children’s playroom were available. The dressing rooms are named after cities on the vaudeville touring routes. The under-stage room includes an animal shower and small sanitary stable, along with a ramp built for hoofed animals to help facilitate their transport to and from the stage during the Vaudeville era.[1]

In 1929, the Keith-Albee Palace was renamed the RKO (Radio Keith Orpheum) Palace. The theater was closed as a movie theater by RKO in 1975. It was later renovated and preserved by owner Katherine LeVeque as a home for Opera Columbus and touring Broadway shows. In 1989, the Palace Theatre was purchased by the non-profit theater management company CAPA, which consolidated its administrative functions with those of the Ohio Theatre. The Palace now hosts performances by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Jazz Arts Group, the Broadway Series, and scores of CAPA-sponsored shows.[1]

The Palace's Wurlitzer organ was dismantled in the 1960s by the Central Ohio Theatre Organ Society pending restoration, and as of 2007 was installed at Thomas Worthington High School in nearby Worthington, Ohio.[2]

References
  1. "Palace Theatre". www.capa.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  2. ""Miss Buckeye" Organ History". VintageHammond.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
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