There’s an article about this theatre in – View link
“In April 1915, the film "Cinderella” screened in Greenwich Theatre. It starred Mary Pickford and was filmed at the estate of Commodore Benedict in Greenwich…Greenwich Theatre’s initial run as a vaudeville and performing arts stage lasted only from 1914 to 1930, before being reopened as a cinema."
“The theater in Town Hall had its own tragedy in store. In 1904, it burned to the ground, as did the Grand Opera House – which stood at the site of today’s Palace Theatre.”
There’s a great article about vaudeville and theatre here – View link
“For many years, the Alhambra Theatre, on what is now Washington Boulevard, hosted almost daily vaudeville shows. Some are documented in the program collection of the Stamford Historical Society, which dates to 1909.”
Thanks for beating me to the punch. I was there the other day. What the assessor shows is a brick building, but the one I saw was a church but a flat 1 story building at 588 Naugatuck Avenue.
Right on the attendance. It looks like 75 could fit at most.
The author of a new history book for the section of Devon is out. I talked to her on the phone and she said she had a section of the theatre and that there were wooden seats, approx. 200-300. The library has a copy but it’s being bound and the 2 other bookstores in town are out. Apparently, it wasn’t even a book, rather stapled pieces of paper and pictures, but hey, it’s still history. Ditchkus Real Estate office at the corner of Naugatuck was closed and I’m told the owner had some on hand and donated money to finish the research.
Right Roger. I came up with that too. Originally Broadway stretched to the other end of town, to the east thru what is now that horrific stretch of condos. That’s Broadway and this is East Broadway. City Directories also rarely lie.
Right. I spoke with the historical society about this last week as they only work one day a week and took a while to get back to me. The building does stand.
Also, I’ve been re-writing an old article on the history of the Danbury music scene (1960-present) and there’s a nice tidbit. The Palace was used as a live music venue from 1968-1970. The shows were produced by Mike Farmer, a local and there were many local bands playing there as well as national bands like Rhinoceros and MC5.
Alright folks! Looks like it’s underway. All the letters on the marquee are now up and repainted. Beams are exposed, ladders are onsite. Only a few days left. If you want to see the theatre on Dec. 31, spend $5 on a button that gets you to all the venues downtown. It’s from 4-8pm. I’ll be there with camera in hand.
Yeah, I realized I made that mistake. I went by the City Directory but obviously today it’s different. In the directories, they have a tendency to change year to year, even though it’s the same spot.
Yes it is, but it looks a little different than one would imagine. Newer 70s-ish tile facade, apartments upstairs. It’s not too traditional looking since it’s on the ocean.
There was an article in Danbury’s News-Times this past Monday about reviving the First Night.
The new ED of City Center (Andrea Gartner) is a really cool lady and she’s not like the past ED’s. She’s progressive and honest and she even acquired a huge side of a building where there is now a gigantic mural in the center of town. That building is owned by DaSilva and she had to meet with him several times just so she could realize her vision. She plans to do a new one each year.
At least 5 or 6 years ago, the Palace was one of many venues for First Night and the marquee was turned on but the slap in the face to the community was half the letters had already fallen off and the others were lit up. It was half assed.
Now…the headline.
“First Night to put theater in the spotlight
Multimedia show to reveal what lies behind the Palace Theater facade”
Performance artist and designer Carter Boyajian’s sound, light and video montage will highlight the architectural jewels of the building, which include plaster cornices, murals, brass fixtures and satin wall coverings.
DaSilva said, “While there have been First Night events in the theater in the past, this will be a more artistic approach of the theater itself…It’s something that’s long overdue and necessary to add some life into the revitalization of the downtown. There is a lot of positive energy surrounding the theater in recent months.”
There’s been positive energy ever since it closed in 1995 and even more so in the 70s when Mayor Dyer wanted to use it for the community but was rebuffed!
Btw, the touchups that I’ve been seeing were for this event on First Night. Except the marquee is still dilapidated!
DaSilva also said there had been recent explorations into the possibility of opening the building as a community theater to showcase live performances and films.
Sure he’s turned a leaf, but I don’t buy it. We used to sublet from him and he’s not so good.
Alright folks, these quotes by DaSilva are either BS or BS. He never speaks publicly about the Palace or anything and has always refused to turn over the Palace to the community. Of course as stated above, I know 1 person who is restoring the place and has for the last 5 years. From a capitalistic standpoint, if you own so much property in Danbury, why give it up and instead you can make millions if you sell it to an outside interest. I understand. But seriously, check the next post out.
I was watching “Ray” last night. I noticed the marquee of the Saenger and they did a performance inside the theater in 2004. You can just make out that it’s atmospheric from the stage looking out on either ends of the walls leading up to the balcony. Wish you could see it all, though.
There was a Smith’s Auditorium in the 1898 City Directory located at 265 Main Street and in 1900 it moved to 847 Main Street under the same name. In 1902, it changed names to Smith’s Colonial Theatre. In 1910, it again changes names to Jackson’s Theatre. In 1911, it becomes the Park Theatre. It closes in 1927.
Originally located on 35 Fairfield Avenue and run by WL Rowland according to the City Directory in 1898. In 1900, it changes hands to GB Bunnell. Then Park City disappears and comes back in 1909 at the above address.
There was an article in today’s local section of the News-Times about the new seats and eventual restoration of theater.
The new seats replace the ones installed in 1960 and they are red and plush with cup holders. Last week there was an invite only gathering for those who donated money for the new seats, totalling $124,000. 441 people donated money. It took a year to install the seats in the orchestra and balcony and they are ADA compliant.
There is now new carpeting and heavy-duty vinyl flooring, and the theater manager Tom Mahoney wants to repair the plaster, have a new paint job, new acoustic paneling, a new movie screen, upgrade the stage lighting and have a new curtain for the stage and would like the upgrades to be in the same 1932 art deco style as the original.
Per the article – Anyone interested in contributing to the continued renovation of the Edmond Town Hall theater should call Gordon Williams at (203) 426-6443 or Tom Mahoney at (203) 270-4285.
There’s an article about this theatre in – View link
“In April 1915, the film "Cinderella” screened in Greenwich Theatre. It starred Mary Pickford and was filmed at the estate of Commodore Benedict in Greenwich…Greenwich Theatre’s initial run as a vaudeville and performing arts stage lasted only from 1914 to 1930, before being reopened as a cinema."
“The theater in Town Hall had its own tragedy in store. In 1904, it burned to the ground, as did the Grand Opera House – which stood at the site of today’s Palace Theatre.”
There’s a great article about vaudeville and theatre here – View link
“For many years, the Alhambra Theatre, on what is now Washington Boulevard, hosted almost daily vaudeville shows. Some are documented in the program collection of the Stamford Historical Society, which dates to 1909.”
Some nice insight into local vaudeville. View link
Thanks for beating me to the punch. I was there the other day. What the assessor shows is a brick building, but the one I saw was a church but a flat 1 story building at 588 Naugatuck Avenue.
Right on the attendance. It looks like 75 could fit at most.
The author of a new history book for the section of Devon is out. I talked to her on the phone and she said she had a section of the theatre and that there were wooden seats, approx. 200-300. The library has a copy but it’s being bound and the 2 other bookstores in town are out. Apparently, it wasn’t even a book, rather stapled pieces of paper and pictures, but hey, it’s still history. Ditchkus Real Estate office at the corner of Naugatuck was closed and I’m told the owner had some on hand and donated money to finish the research.
Right Roger. I came up with that too. Originally Broadway stretched to the other end of town, to the east thru what is now that horrific stretch of condos. That’s Broadway and this is East Broadway. City Directories also rarely lie.
Yeah, I know. But they assured me it was a theatre and a supermarket.
Thanks for the heads up. I was going to check it out in the early Spring.
Right. I spoke with the historical society about this last week as they only work one day a week and took a while to get back to me. The building does stand.
Also, I’ve been re-writing an old article on the history of the Danbury music scene (1960-present) and there’s a nice tidbit. The Palace was used as a live music venue from 1968-1970. The shows were produced by Mike Farmer, a local and there were many local bands playing there as well as national bands like Rhinoceros and MC5.
Alright folks! Looks like it’s underway. All the letters on the marquee are now up and repainted. Beams are exposed, ladders are onsite. Only a few days left. If you want to see the theatre on Dec. 31, spend $5 on a button that gets you to all the venues downtown. It’s from 4-8pm. I’ll be there with camera in hand.
Yeah, I realized I made that mistake. I went by the City Directory but obviously today it’s different. In the directories, they have a tendency to change year to year, even though it’s the same spot.
Yes it is, but it looks a little different than one would imagine. Newer 70s-ish tile facade, apartments upstairs. It’s not too traditional looking since it’s on the ocean.
Cheshir, do we know each other? I was the drummer in Phoenix Tree and worked with the Hat City Free Press.
There was an article in Danbury’s News-Times this past Monday about reviving the First Night.
The new ED of City Center (Andrea Gartner) is a really cool lady and she’s not like the past ED’s. She’s progressive and honest and she even acquired a huge side of a building where there is now a gigantic mural in the center of town. That building is owned by DaSilva and she had to meet with him several times just so she could realize her vision. She plans to do a new one each year.
At least 5 or 6 years ago, the Palace was one of many venues for First Night and the marquee was turned on but the slap in the face to the community was half the letters had already fallen off and the others were lit up. It was half assed.
Now…the headline.
“First Night to put theater in the spotlight
Multimedia show to reveal what lies behind the Palace Theater facade”
Performance artist and designer Carter Boyajian’s sound, light and video montage will highlight the architectural jewels of the building, which include plaster cornices, murals, brass fixtures and satin wall coverings.
DaSilva said, “While there have been First Night events in the theater in the past, this will be a more artistic approach of the theater itself…It’s something that’s long overdue and necessary to add some life into the revitalization of the downtown. There is a lot of positive energy surrounding the theater in recent months.”
There’s been positive energy ever since it closed in 1995 and even more so in the 70s when Mayor Dyer wanted to use it for the community but was rebuffed!
Btw, the touchups that I’ve been seeing were for this event on First Night. Except the marquee is still dilapidated!
DaSilva also said there had been recent explorations into the possibility of opening the building as a community theater to showcase live performances and films.
Sure he’s turned a leaf, but I don’t buy it. We used to sublet from him and he’s not so good.
Alright folks, these quotes by DaSilva are either BS or BS. He never speaks publicly about the Palace or anything and has always refused to turn over the Palace to the community. Of course as stated above, I know 1 person who is restoring the place and has for the last 5 years. From a capitalistic standpoint, if you own so much property in Danbury, why give it up and instead you can make millions if you sell it to an outside interest. I understand. But seriously, check the next post out.
I was watching “Ray” last night. I noticed the marquee of the Saenger and they did a performance inside the theater in 2004. You can just make out that it’s atmospheric from the stage looking out on either ends of the walls leading up to the balcony. Wish you could see it all, though.
The Fairfield City Directory shows the Fairfield Theatre opened in 1920 at 859 Post Road and becomes the present incarnation on 7 Unquowa Road.
There was a Smith’s Auditorium in the 1898 City Directory located at 265 Main Street and in 1900 it moved to 847 Main Street under the same name. In 1902, it changed names to Smith’s Colonial Theatre. In 1910, it again changes names to Jackson’s Theatre. In 1911, it becomes the Park Theatre. It closes in 1927.
Originally located on 35 Fairfield Avenue and run by WL Rowland according to the City Directory in 1898. In 1900, it changes hands to GB Bunnell. Then Park City disappears and comes back in 1909 at the above address.
The original address was 1241 State Street and it opened in 1910 according to the City Directory.
It’s been steady ever since I can remember and the crowds have no problem and the food’s cheap.
There was an article in today’s local section of the News-Times about the new seats and eventual restoration of theater.
The new seats replace the ones installed in 1960 and they are red and plush with cup holders. Last week there was an invite only gathering for those who donated money for the new seats, totalling $124,000. 441 people donated money. It took a year to install the seats in the orchestra and balcony and they are ADA compliant.
There is now new carpeting and heavy-duty vinyl flooring, and the theater manager Tom Mahoney wants to repair the plaster, have a new paint job, new acoustic paneling, a new movie screen, upgrade the stage lighting and have a new curtain for the stage and would like the upgrades to be in the same 1932 art deco style as the original.
Per the article – Anyone interested in contributing to the continued renovation of the Edmond Town Hall theater should call Gordon Williams at (203) 426-6443 or Tom Mahoney at (203) 270-4285.
Oops. 6.
The owner back in 1987 planned to expand to 8 cinemas, according to View link