Palace Theatre
19 Clinton Avenue,
Albany,
NY
12207
19 Clinton Avenue,
Albany,
NY
12207
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 95 comments
“The original 4/20 (non Publix) Wurlitzer was removed in the mid 1960s. It was playable when removed.”
Why was this Wurlitzer organ removed when it was playable when removed?? Today it would be such an important part of the theatre and its history if it were still there. And did it come out of the stage floor as some did??
Tom Delay: Do you personally think that the Palace would be interested in installing another organ? If so, I know the whereabouts of an Wurlitzer organ….Opus 1616.
The original 4/20 (non Publix) Wurlitzer was removed in the mid 1960s. It was playable when removed.
It was sold to an organ broker by the name of Doug Erdman. He sold the organ to Carsten Hennigsen who was going to install the organ in a new “Pizza Joynt” restaurant in Northern CA that never came to pass.
When Carsten passed away several years ago, the organ was sold to David Packard and is gradually being installed in the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto to replace the 3/20 assembled (parts) Wurlitzer that was installed in 1986 or so for the theatre’s reopening.
It will be a superb installation when completed. Most of the pipework and percussions are already up and playing from the present 3 manual console (from Graumann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywierd.) The 4 manual console from the Palace is the next phase so the entire organ will be playing as a complete unit. All this work was done in stages as the Stanford organ is used just about every time the theatre is open.
Can anyone provide any organ history connected to this theatre? At the present time it does not have an organ.
I’m not sure if the out of date? photo can be changed at this point, but I’ve sent in the theater website correction, and you should expect that will be fixed with a day or two.
actually, the web page and photo are incorrect here and I have tried multiple times to have it changed but can never get a response from whoever runs this site.
Anyone know who to contact. The info they give never responds.
The webpage has changed – it is now http://www.palacealbany.com/
Upcoming Films in the Palace Theatre’s “Classic Movie Series”
A CHRISTMAS STORY
Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 @ 7:00pm
1983, 98 minutes, Rated PG
A Christmas present for the child in all of us! Already a beloved holiday classic, humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir comes to life in tale of young boy’s (Peter Billingsley) desperately craving a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Wonderful fun for the whole family.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 @ 7:00pm
1946, 129 minutes, not rated
11 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
Frank Capra’s sentimental fantasy of small town businessman (James Stewart) whose guardian angel shows him what life would’ve been like without him. A perfect cast, a perfect film.
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1938, 102 minutes, not rated
The ultimate swashbuckling adventure stars Errol Flynn at his dashing best, wooing the fair Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), fending off the evil prince (Claude Rains) and dueling to the death with the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham (Basil Rathbone). Filmed in Technicolor, and the winner of 3 Oscars.
A RAISIN IN THE SUN
Monday, Feb. 4, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1961, 128 minutes, not rated
Lorraine Hansberry’s landmark play about a Chicago family’s struggle to make a better life and find meaning in their constrained existence comes to the screen with a first-rate cast, including Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, Ivan Dixon and Louis Gossett. Powerfully moving.
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1935, 92 minutes, not rated
The Marx Bros. are let loose on the high-falutin’ goings-on of the opera world, with appropriately disastrous results. Widely considered to be their masterpiece. Film comedy doesn’t get any better than this!
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Monday, Feb. 18, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1965, 180 minutes, not rated
39 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
One of the most popular movies ever made, David Lean’s adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel won 5 Oscars. A sweeping saga of tragic love set against the backdrop of the Russian revolution. Starring Omar Sharif, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, and featuring an unforgettable performance by Julie Christie.
SCHINDLER’S LIST
Monday, March 3, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1993, 195 minutes, Rated R
9 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.†Steven’s Spielberg’s remarkable epic masterpiece tells the incredible true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), war profiteer, womanizer, and Nazi Party member who nevertheless saved the lives of more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. One of the most honored films in cinematic history. Presented in collaboration with Holocaust Survivors & Friends Education Center and Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of NENY.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
Monday, March 10, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1940, 112 minutes, not rated
51 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
Brilliant adaptation of hit stage play (specifically written for star Katherine Hepburn) tells the story of a spoiled debutante longing for real romance. James Stewart won an Oscar as cynical reporter whose eyes are opened to society’s wiles; Cary Grant was never more charming as Hepburn’s ex-husband trying to win her back.
WEST SIDE STORY
Monday, April 7, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1961, 151 minutes, not rated
41 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
Landmark musical adaptation of Broadway hit, updating the classic story of “Romeo & Juliet†to late 1950’s New York City, pitting racially divisive elements against one another in an urban setting. Winner of 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
SPARTACUS
Monday, April 21, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1960, 184 minutes, not rated
Stanley Kubrick’s epic saga of rebellious slave turned gladiator (Kirk Douglas at his charismatic best) leading crusade for freedom against the forces of the mighty Roman Empire. Amazing battle scenes, magnificent score, and wonderful performances by Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov all serve to highlight remarkably powerful, provocative film.
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
Monday, May 5, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1962, 216 minutes, not rated
5 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
The only way to see this magnificent desert adventure epic is on a truly big theatre screen. This literate blockbuster tells the true-life saga of enigmatic adventurer T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole in the role that instantly made him a star). Winner of 7 Oscars, including Best Picture.
JAWS
Monday, May 19, 2008 @ 7:00pm
1975, 124 minutes, Rated PG
48 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time
Hold on to your seats! Steven Spielberg’s ultimate fish story comes to the Palace just in time to keep you out of the water all summer long. Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw star in tale of coastal New England tourist beach being terrorized by renegade great white shark.
Tickets are $5 for Adults & $3 for Children. Discounted Season Passes can be purchased for Only Half Price! Tickets are On Sale Now at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave.) or by calling (518) 465-4663.
Don’t forget that The Palace’s Movie Series is currently in full swing. Coming up on Feb. 7th is “Some Like It Hot”. Check out the official website! For $5 a ticket, you can’t beat it! (www.palacealbany.com)
I did notice that and the newer photo is somewhat ‘cleaner’ in appearance without the more than one vertical marquee sign though I do love the vertical marquees that seem to have disappeared with so many historial theatres around the country except the return of the one at the Shea’s theatre in Buffalo NY that reads BUFFALO! It’s great to see that one up and lighted in the theatre district.
Interesting to compare the Sept. 26th photo to the Nov. 19th photo…the ticket kios is gone in the second photo!
The theatre facade in brick is very impressive when looking UP.
Update on Organ Project: Since I was not contacted again by Mr. Kansas, I have dropped the organ project. There have been some good oppurtunities that have been lost. Perhaps someday the managment/ownership may show an interest in restoring an organ.
I visited this theatre last fall while passing through the Albany area enroute to a wedding in CT. A nice young man met us at the theatre on Friday a.m. and took us on a tour. I was surprised to learn that the Palace didn’t have an organ and all efforts should be made to install an organ in this grand theatre once again.
Tom, Mr. Kansas,Director of Development, says he is interested in the organ and will discuss it with the leadership. He will get back to me next mid week as he has a busy schedule right now.
Tom, I appreciate your interest. I will forward this to the Palace.
In the meantime, I am contacting various sources.
At least an attempt is being made. I hope some people in the area will get involved.
I know of an instrument that is available for donation now. However, all the financial “ducks” would need be in order before such a donation could take place. No one needs another instrument sitting in storage; particularly a large one.
Nothing comes easy. If money cold be found to restore the marquee, I am sure money can evenutally be found to put in the organ. A publicity campaign should be started to help this movement get off the ground.
I do not want to toss ice water on this. This is a theatre that should have a concert quality instrument. Getting the organ donated is the easy part. Finding someone to install the organ, professionally, is an easy part.
Getting the funding together for such a project is the hard part.
If Radio City Music is called “the showplace of the nation,” than the Palace is “the showplace of the New York State capital.” With so many influencial people residing in Albany,it surprises me there is a lack interest.
The original organ in the Palace was a 4 manual 23 rank Wurlitzer originally installed in the NYC Hippodrome Theatre. When the Hipp closed in the late ‘20s, the organ was moved to the new Albany Palace Theatre. While one on-line Wurlitzer opus list calls this organ a “Publix #1” organ, the Hipp/Palace organ was not of this style. The Hipp/Palace organ was a one of a kind design with a small 4-rank “floating” string division. The organ was somewhat similar to the 28 rank Wurlitzer that was in the Fabian Theatre in Patterson, NJ.
The Palace organ was removed in the early ‘60s (or late '50s?) and promptly broken up for parts. The console still exisits, but has been used for a large electronic organ. The rest of the organ was broken up and scattered. The 16’ English Horn from the Hipp/Palace organ was, for many years, added to the former Buffalo Shea’s Hippodrome (Center) Theatre organ when it was installed in a Fresno, CA pizza restaurant. I worked with this organ for several years when it “did time” in the restaurant.
Sad to say, but the opus 1460 mentioned above is a style H of 2 manuals and 10 ranks—this organ is far too small for a theatre of 2700 seats. Rather than take the intact opus 1460 and enlarging the organ, it would be better to find an intact, large instrument fitting of a theatre the size of the Palace. There are such instruments “out there” and quite likely capable of donation.
I have forwarded information about some stored theatre organs that may be donated to the Palace to Mr. Kansas. Since there is lack of funding, some skilled people would have to be willing to give their time to install it. It really surprises me that the state capitol of New York can not find people. Proctors' theatre in Schenectady, New York certainly found ways and are now very successful. I guess it depends on the enthusiasm, intelligence, and showmanship of those in charge.
The manager of the Palace theatre recently told me there is no active plan to replace the theatre organ because of lack of funds, however he is willing to work with a grass roots movement to get one.
What a shame this beautiful theatre doesn’t have one. Perhaps there is some member that can help. Contact:George Kansas <>
The Palace Theatre opened on October 24th, 1931.
dyban: Great photos of the Palace on a nice sunny November day!