Palace Theatre

Before it's demolition this theatre was on the National Register of Historic Places.

What's in its place?

I grew up in the New Britain area, and recall that the Palace spent it final years showing 'action films,' and finally X-rated fare. In the end the place was pretty threadbare. An ignominious end for a building whose brownstone front bore the words 'Opera House.'

I don't know what sits there now, maybe it's the building that houses the new location for Hole in the Wall Theatre?

East Main Street used to end at Main Street. The Palace Theatre sat on Main Street directly across from where East Main ended. After the Palace was demolished, the city continued 'East Main' across Main, although I don't think the portion west of Main is called 'East Main.' I left Connecticut 30 years ago.

I'm not familiar with the 'Hole in the Wall Theatre.' Where is it?

Oh, it's on Main Street, I think it's in the Andrews Building. The Hole in the Wall Theatre Group uses it as their new home.

If he kept driving into the marquee, why didn't he figure out a different route?
http://tinyurl.com/yfq4pt

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1977

New Britain Opera House (added 1977 - Building - #77001421)
Also known as Palace Theater
466-468 Main St., New Britain
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Hill,Robert W.
Architectural Style: Other
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1875-1899
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Music Facility
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater

Info from Images of America: New Britain, Volume I. Picture on page 96, close up of the Sullivan (Big) Band. Page 122, a fan with Beatles pins in front of the Palace's 3-sided marquee.

Images of America: New Britain, Volume II. Page 39, top, removing the chandelier for the Palace in 1981. The refurbishing was halted in 1980 because of fire damage and water damage.

It was originally called Hanna's Opera House and opened in May 1981 with Faust which was the only time the opera was there.

This is a photo of a fire at a Palace Theater in New Britain, CT. Caption reads:

Palace Theater fire in New Britain. New Britain Chief William B. Noble giving orders to men operating pipe from the ladder of a Seagrave aerial truck. Jan. 8, 1926.

Oops. I meant 1881.

I am a member of the Hole in the Wall Theater at 116 Main St. Alas, we are not in the space of any prior theater. HITW is a performing arts theater located in a building immediately adjacent to the Andrews Building. The building we are in is a three story office building, with the theater occupying the ground floor. In the late 1800's a wood frame church sat on this site and interestingly enough vestiges of that structure still are part of the current building. It if makes anyone feel better, the Andrews building has been renovated into office space and a restaurant is moving into the ground floor. Another community organization has purchased the Trinity Methodist church and is preserving the building while converting it to a Performing Arts Center. The RAO building is also being renovated into apartments, so at least in downtown New Britain, once vacant old buildings are being saved and renovated for new uses.Several years ago, the City of New Brtiain renovated the Gates building downtown to house the Board of Education. So, while all the old theaters have gone, there is a renewed attitude about preserving what is left.

The year given for this photo is 1969.

There is only one theater listed under New Britain CT in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, the "Russwin Lyceum". Unfortunately, there are no street addresses in this Guide. The Russwin Lyceum was on the ground floor of its building, had a stage which was 42 feet deep and had 1,138 seats. There was also a Hotel Russwin in New Britain. Curiously, the list of people associated with this theater states that the advertising agent for the Russwin Lyceum is the "manager of Opera House."