Palace Theatre
19 Clinton Avenue,
Albany,
NY
12207
19 Clinton Avenue,
Albany,
NY
12207
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 95 comments
Updated facade photo added, 1969 photo credit Historic Images.
Circa 1952 photo added credit Times Union. Palace sign with arrow at the top.
Clear version of the 6/28/51 LIFE Magazine Photo added.
Palace is a definite fit for this theater, it is truly like a Palace, it is palacial in size and decore. I think it sad to see not only theaters but all manor of old buildings in such states of disrepair and neglect, instead of preserving the buildings of this era of time we just let them rot away. It is such a shame we could have so many more beautiful examples such as proctors, but through selfishness and greed we let them deteriorate until we cannot save them.
Tinseltoes: Great photo you posted on 7/21/2010. In October a group called Straight No Chaser will take to the Palace stage!
An article on Fabian’s Palace, with photos, appeared in Boxoffice magazine, August 7, 1961:
View link
A few years ago, someone SOMEWHERE on the web posted pictures of the Palace Projection booth that were taken in the 80’s showing the OLD booth before restoration with the old 1950’s era RCA equipment. Anyone have any idea where these pictures appeared? Dozens of Google searches have given me nothing.
Cool history and photos.
This 1951 photo comes courtesy of LIFE …
View link
As a lifelong Albany resident I was thrilled with the renovation of the Palace. I saw a couple of movies there as a kid (including Bambi)and have enjoyed many, many concerts there through the years. Unfortunately, someone ran a car into the front doors at least a year ago and half of the front doors were boarded up. I don’t understand why they have not been repaired yet. Could they plan on leaving this beautiful theater with half the entrance covered in plywood? Also, there are some areas of peeling paint in the theater. Whoever did the restoration should have to come back and repair what has not held up. It would be a shame to let the theater fall back into disrepair.
The Palace hosted many a concert in the late 70’s and into the 80’s. Devo, the Tubes, Elvis Costello as well as comedy acts. The back stage area is also enlarged to accomodate larger road show engagements. Of course, Proctors in Schenectady added to it’s back stage to promote larger Broadways tours.
Lost: You know, I have to admit that I was wondering the same thing as Warren G. Harris! Where are all of those “misterboo” contributions as I haven’t seen a single one either! :)
It is only right to give credit where credit is due! Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving!
I think LaMotta won that fight.
You are always welcome, my theatre friend! :–)
“misterboo”: Thanks!
ken mc: Great b/w photo of the original marquee. The present marquee is similar though the electronic look changes it, imo.
Here is a 1951 photo from a new collection of Life Magazine images on Google:
http://tinyurl.com/5tmmuv
Thanks. I have visited this theatre, but had forgotten the EBERSON connection!
re: theatre organ
Patty, perhaps this person could help you: Christopher Gould, Operations Director / Production Coordinator of the Palace theatre
(518) 465-3335 Ext 123
The Albany Palace Theatre is another beautiful theatre, very baroque-looking inside, yet a little bit old-looking, too, which is one of the beauties of movie palaces like this. I drove out to Albany from Boston to see a screening of the film “West Side Story”, and had a wonderful time. After the movie, I spent the night at the nearby Hampton Inn Suites, and then headed home the next day. after exploring the city for a little while.
The latest issue of Theatre Historical Society’s MARQUEE MAGAZINE features a photo and short bio of this theater in a travel feature spotlighting the Berkshires.
Go to www.historictheatres.org to join THS or order back issues.
ERD: Your post of May 26, 2006 mentions a George Kansas though their website doesn’t seem to list him now. Who would be the correct person to contact about a possible organ for this theatre?
I will be taking a phone call from Dennis tomorrow, April 7th so please email me at as I couldn’t contact you with no email address on your profile page as happens more times than I care to recall with so many CT members. This Opus 1616 organ saga is like putting together pieces of a puzzle and eventually the pieces will all come together…I hope with the help of D. Unks. BTW, I went on very informative Wurlitzer site that Bob Jensen, who is in Chicago, posted on the Paramount Theatre link and was able to track Opus 1616 from the Paramount to Dennis via a couple of other destinations before it reached its final location in PA. Please title your email to me OPUS 1616.
I am aware of that instrument, opus 1616. Does Dennis have it for sale?
As to the organ being removed from the Palace in the mid ‘60s…it takes no brains to figure out why it was sold: $$$$$.$$
It was sold right out from under the folks who put in gobs of hard work to get the organ playable again.