Louisville Palace Theatre
625 S. Fourth Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
625 S. Fourth Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
16 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 92 comments found
If anyone is interested in some excellent color photos of this theatre which you can purchase prints of at reasonable prices,check this out – www.sniperphotography.com/keyword/palace+theater
Recent photos of this theatre are HERE
Here is a recent photo of the Palace Theater.
Johnny D. You can contact me at I’d be glad to answer any questions I can.
Johnny D…I was associated with the Palace for about 5 or 6 years and may be able to answer your questions. Drop me a line at I also worked for a few years at the Old Seelbach Bar and can attest to the fact that Capone did indeed use the hotel and underground passages. There is a false wall in the Oakroom at the hotel which could be used to make a quick getaway (on the southwest corner of the private dining room if memory serves).
I am trying to contact Charles Zoeller.I noticed you use to be a manager at the Palace. I am a current manager at the Palace.I have a few questions about this grand theatre that only a previous manager could answer.Looking forward to your reply.Thanks for your time.
Interesting Capone story and connection to this theatre via tunnels.
This place brings back very fond memories. Having grown up in the Louisville area, as a teen I had the pleasure of seeing Heart play live on the Palace stage. This was during the 1980 to 1985 period when the venue was open but undergoing slow restorations. The ceiling in the auditorium was faded and chipped in some places, but the warmth and glow of the place overwhelmed any feeling of age.
What truly amazed me about this theater was the sound quality. The accoustics were so good that early in the opening set, Anne and Nancy Wilson of Heart actually had their sound crew turn off most of the speakers and amps for the show. Even with these shut down, it literally felt like the music was coming from all sides of me equally, clearly and with a richness that nearly 20 years later still resonates in my memories.
The show was only one of a few visits there; however, let me add to the view of it. To the left side of the main lobby, there is (or was depending on renonvations) an employee access that led to the backstage areas. It also accessed a narrow stairwell that led to storage rooms and dressing areas one and two floors below street level. Given Louisville’s history, they likely also offered access to the steam and delivery tunnels under the street of the City. It was said that during Prohibition, Al Capone would stay at the Seelbach Hotel (now Seelbach Hilton) and use the tunnels to avoid notice and take in a show or two while in Lousiville checking on his ‘business.’
This place has one of the best sky effects I have seen in a restored movie house. Usually it seems the sky is cut at some point to allow for modern lighting. At least from the pictures I have seen, the ceiling in this place has not been altered.
I love the Palace so much, but this breaks my heart: classic movies are still shown during summers, but in 2005 they started projecting them from consumer grade standard def DVDs rather than film. One exception: during the Hitchcock series in 2005, they had to show Lifeboat from VHS tape because the DVD hadn’t been released yet! Surely a low point for this beautiful cinema…
The National Register of Historical Places apparently uses a 25 year time frame for their “Period of Significance”. Here are examples: “1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949”. In the case of this theater, 1928 would fall within the 1925-1949 Period of Significance.
If the theatre first opened in 1928, how could its “Period of Significance” be from 1925-1949? I have noticed a similar error in many of the listings of the National Register of Historical Places.
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1982
Theater Building (added 1982 – Building – #82002726)
625—33 S. 4th St., Louisville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Eberson,John
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade
Historic Sub-function: Specialty Store
Current Function: Commerce/Trade
This is a grand old atmospheric and one that I’d love to see, in person someday! Perhaps a good time would be during the Kentucky Derby.
Here is a colorful post card rendition of the Loews/United Artist theater on 4th Avenue in Louisville. Mickey Rooney in “Boys Town” appears to be the evening movie feature.
The Rialto is accross the street featuring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in “Carefree"
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/319625969
This website has six interior photos dated at 1928. Click each photo to expand it.
This site has some recent photos of the Louisville Palace Theater. Click each photo to expand it.
I was assistant manager of the Louisville United Artist Theatre (now the Louisville Palace) from 1958 to 1967. The theatre’s 13 rank Wurlitzer Organ was not removed from the theatre until 1978. A local coal operator had purchased the theatre “to restore it†sold the organ to a pizza parlor in Atlanta. The organ was removed in the middle of the night to avoid criticism. He also auctioned the original furnishings and accessories of the theatre’s lobby and mezzanine. I was fortunate enough to purchase a bench and chair which I still own.
The theatre was originally named the Lowe’s and United Artists’ State Theatre when it opened on September 1, 1928. I have an original of the full-page newspaper ad for the opening that lists the contractors and suppliers for the theatre.
I was also assistant manager of Louisville Rialto Theatre during its last year, 1968.
Lost Memory: Great shot of the marquee, but too bad that it’s only lighted when there is a performance at the theatre. Someday I want to see this theatre and catch the Kentucky Derby while in “Lou-ville”. When I read “One of the greatest of John Eberson’s theatres and considered to be "the finest Theatre in the South” I knew that this theatre is a must see for any John Eberson theatre follwer/fan. Also recall that the great- grandson of John Eberson is a CT member which is great news for us Ebersonians!
This is a recent photo of the Louisville Palace Theater.
This Loew’s Theatre opened on September 1st, 1928.
There are many photos at the Library of Congress website. Just do a photo search on John Eberson and the link should come up.
Those not lucky enough to visit Louisville can get some sense of the experience of being in one of Eberson’s most beautiful theatres by seeing the DVD “Alison Krauss & Union Station Live (2003)” which was filmed in High Definition at the Louisville Palace. See the Amazon website description of the video at:
View link
This place to my heart as I spent my teens growing up in Louisville and I had the pleasure of restoring its cousin, the Akron Civic Theatre by Eberson in Akron, Ohio as a member of Wilson Butler Lodge Architects.
Anthony Vogel, designer/graphic artist/journalist, Arlington, MS
Lost Memory: Great night photo as the facade is so beautifully ornate above the marquee!
Here is a night photo of the Louisville Palace Theater.