Palace Theatre

276 W. Center Street,
Marion, OH 43302

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Showing 1 - 25 of 28 comments

Patsy
Patsy on May 9, 2023 at 6:02 am

Been to this theatre. An amazing theatre worth visiting. Hats off to the people of Marion for preserving this cinema treasure.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 8, 2023 at 10:55 pm

The Palace Theatre was built for V. U. Young’s Young Amusement Company, according to this item from Motion Picture News of January 7, 1928:

“John Eberson to Plan Theatre at Marion, O.

“John Eberson, prominent Chicago theatre architect, has been selected to develop the plans for the new Palace Theatre, to be built at Marion, Ohio, by the Young Amusement Co., V. U. Young, president, Gary, Indiana, in which project Ed. E. Bender and Sol Bernstein, Canton, Ohio, are also interested. The building is to house five stores and seven apartments in addition to the theatre”

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 17, 2019 at 5:34 pm

Construction photo added courtesy Jim Smith.

AtmosphericTheatre
AtmosphericTheatre on February 14, 2015 at 6:59 am

“Designed for “talkies,” the Palace had to open [in 1928] with a silent motion picture [Excess Baggage] because the needed equipment for sound motion pictures had not arrived. The success of talkies, a new technology only two years before, had been widely successful. Vaudeville could not compete, and its own stars contributed to the demise of its popularity as they recorded their acts on film, resulting in no demand to see live acts that had already been seen on film.” Hoffman, Scott, A Theatre History of Marion, Ohio: John Eberson’s Palace & Beyond, p. 11 (History Press 2015).

obie
obie on November 9, 2013 at 6:03 pm

The view of the marquee and upright is now a little bare. During an inspection the facade holding both the marquee and upright was found to be unstable and both were removed and repaired while the facade was torn down brick by brick, the large I-beams replaced and will be restored to original build. Donations would be appreciated. marionpalace.org for contact information.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on September 7, 2010 at 4:58 pm

From the 1920s a postcard view of the Palace Theatre in Marion.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 19, 2010 at 8:46 am

Nice photo Wallyum.

Patsy
Patsy on April 8, 2010 at 7:12 am

Richard G: I, too, have visited the Palace in Canton though didn’t see the Harding Hotel lobby…sounds like I missed a “must see”.

richardg
richardg on April 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm

I returned to the Palace on April 3, 2010 and saw the movie, Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief. I can only add, “This is how movies should be shown” I bought a good size drink and popcorn for a grand total of $3.00. The lobby of the Harding Hotel (now a Senior’s home and directly across the street from the thatre) is also a must see.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 24, 2010 at 10:51 am

ery nice looking theatre,love their vertical sign.

Patsy
Patsy on December 27, 2009 at 9:27 am

Several years ago I traveled to see the Palace in Canton Ohio and didn’t continue onto Marion Ohio to see this Palace though I do see similar simaliarities in the above posted flickr photo. Is that a tongue twister? Didn’t mean to it to be! ;–)

Patsy
Patsy on October 13, 2009 at 4:18 pm

MARION, OH â€" Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m. the Palace’s mighty Wurlitzer organ fills the theatre as world renowned organist Dennis James accompanies the classic silent film “The Cat and the Canary.”

MPol
MPol on October 6, 2009 at 8:25 pm

What a beautiful-looking place!

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on August 8, 2009 at 7:09 pm

A view of the Palace Theatre at its 50th anniversay in 1978 and a view of the auditorium .

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on February 8, 2009 at 6:26 pm

A 1996 image of the Palace Theatre in Marion.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 16, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Here is a June 1943 ad from the Marion Star:
http://tinyurl.com/267t8a

raybradley
raybradley on December 16, 2006 at 7:09 am

Amoung John Eberson’s many sky jobs, he designed this theatre and the Oklahoma City Midwest Theatre (1930-1975). Although OKC’s Midwest Theatre auditorium was longer and higher, it was also much more narrow than the Palace. Otherwise these two theatre auditorium sidewalls matched one another in design.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 7, 2006 at 2:51 pm

There are some interesting interior photos from the 1920s on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/pgldg

ERD
ERD on February 12, 2006 at 6:44 am

Like Proctors'theatre in Schenectady, New York, it is good to know
how well The Palace theatre is being developed to serve the people in the 21st century.

obie
obie on January 4, 2006 at 4:36 pm

Good news!
The Palace after receiving over a half million in grants and again as much in donations will move on phase one of a three phase expansion.
Designed to compliment the exterior a 2-story pavilion will be built on the west parkinglot to provide seating for 300 at dinner tables for conventions, weddings and dinner theatres while providing a venue for small, intimate shows. The old second story offices have been gutted and new construction for theatre offices have been finished.

Phase 2+3 Include expanding the oddly shaped stage by blowing out the back wall and expanding for larger stage shows and combining the store fronts into one large concession room to better serve patrons.

My father Gerald “Obie” Obenour who served the theatre for 63 yrs. as Stage Mgr. passed away Aug. 31 and loved every minute working there.

The theatre is alive and growing stronger and serves over 100,000 patrons every year.

tsf
tsf on May 23, 2005 at 8:02 pm

The Wurlitzer is there and playing away. I saw two Chaplin movies there last Sunday with Dennis James playing. What a beautiful place!

jon6444
jon6444 on March 28, 2005 at 3:22 pm

I believe it does, I saw it in the pit covered by a tarp….not sure how oftern it is used.