160 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036, United StatesThe Palace Theatre* is a Broadway theater located at 1564 Broadway, on the north side of Times Square, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, USA. The theater, designed by Milwaukee architects Kirchhoff and Rose, was built at the expense of Martin Beck and opened in 1913. From the moment of its opening until about 1929, the Palace was considered by vaudeville performers to be the flagship venue of the organization of Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee II. As of 2018, the theater had 1,648 seats on three levels.
The modern Palace Theater consists of a three-level auditorium on 47th Street, which is a landmark in New York City. The auditorium is decorated with stucco, boxes on the side walls and two tiers of balconies that descend to the stage. When the theater opened, it was adjoined by an 11- or 12-story office wing facing Broadway, which was also designed by Kirchhoff & Rose.
The Palace achieved its greatest success as a vaudeville theater in the 1910s and 1920s. Under the management of RKO Theaters in the 1930s, it became a cinema called RKO Palace Theatre, although in the 1950s there were still occasional performances in the vaudeville genre. In 1965, the Palace was acquired by the Nederlander Organization and reopened the following year as a Broadway theater. From 1987 to 1991, the theater was closed for extensive renovation, during which the original building was partially demolished and replaced by the DoubleTree Suites Times Square Hotel. The theater reopened as part of the DoubleTree Hotel in 1991. In 2019, the DoubleTree Hotel was mostly demolished to make way for the TSX Broadway. As part of this project, the palace was closed again in 2018, and in early 2022 it was raised by 30 feet (9.1 m). The renovation was completed in May 2024.
History of the Palace Theatre (New York)
1. The Vaudeville Era (1913–1932): The Apex of Fame
-
Opening: The theatre was built for impresario Martin Beck as the flagship of his circuit. It opened on March 24, 1913, with a bill headlined by the famed vaudeville comedian Ed Wynn.
-
Status: It quickly became known as the "Mecca of Vaudeville." The phrase "Playing the Palace" was the ultimate sign of success for a performer, signifying they had reached the top of their profession.
-
Decline: With the rise of "talking pictures," vaudeville's popularity waned. The last vaudeville show was staged in 1932.
2. The Movie Palace Era (1932–1965): Hollywood's Showcase
-
Transition: The theatre was acquired by RKO and converted into a lavish movie house. Its interior was altered to accommodate film projection.
-
Premieres: It hosted major Hollywood premieres, most notably "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939, with Judy Garland making a personal appearance on its stage.
-
Closure: By the 1960s, as Times Square declined, the Palace closed in 1965 and faced potential demolition.
3. The New Era & The Sybil Burton Revival (1965–2019)
-
Salvation: The theatre was saved by producer Sybil Burton (ex-wife of Richard Burton). She oversaw a radical, modernist redesign by architect Gottlieb Palumbo for a contemporary theatre-in-the-round experience, reopening it in 1965 with the musical "Sweet Charity."
-
Legendary Venue: Under her and later owners, the Palace became a premier live venue:
-
Concerts: It hosted historic performances by Judy Garland (her 1967 comeback shows), Liza Minnelli, and Harry Belafonte.
-
Broadway: It housed major Broadway productions like "La Cage aux Folles" and "Beauty and the Beast."
-
Television: It was the long-time home for the Tony Awards (1967-1997, 2001-2010) and the original broadcast studio for "Saturday Night Live" in 1975.
-
-
Landmark Status: The theatre was designated a New York City Landmark in 1987 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
4. Modernity: The Move & New Future (2019–Present)
-
Unprecedented Move: To make way for a new tower, the entire 7,000-ton theatre was physically moved 30 feet eastward on steel dollies in a remarkable engineering feat, preserving its historic facade.
-
Restoration: Following the relocation, the interior was meticulously restored to its original 1913 Beaux-Arts splendor, reversing the 1960s modifications and revealing long-hidden ornate details.
-
New Role: Since 2022, the restored Palace Theatre has been the permanent home for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." It also hosts concerts and special events.
In summary: The Palace Theatre's history mirrors the evolution of American entertainment—from the pinnacle of vaudeville, through the golden age of film, to a legendary television and concert stage, saved by innovation and restored to its original grandeur for the 21st century.