Palace Theatre

235 College Avenue,
Athens, GA 30601

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 24, 2022 at 10:06 pm

Numerous items in trade journals starting in the mid-1930s indicate that the Palace at Athens was then a Lucas & Jenkins house. A July 13, 1935 Motion Picture Herald item noted that Paramount partners L&J had just taken over two houses at Athens. The item didn’t give the names of the theaters, but the Palace was likely one of them. Lucas and Jenkins didn’t enter the theater business until 1934, when they took control of the Atlanta Fox.

vertair7
vertair7 on February 7, 2021 at 3:50 am

I created a Facebook group tonight on the 100th anniversary of the Palace theatre Grand opening Feb 7, 1921. To find the group search Palace theatre Films Athens,Ga 1921-87 or use the link below I’m having an event Watch for the very first film the Mark of Zorro 1920. https://www.facebook.com/groups/333343894627252/?ref=share

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on November 14, 2017 at 10:38 pm

At the 1921 opening there was a II/10 Moller pipe organ to accompany the silent pictures. While Loews was spending a lot of money on new buildings just after World War I, they skimped on their organs, buying Mollers instead of the more expensive makes. In larger markets many of Loew’s Mollers were replaced after just a few years. Here in Athens it seems the Moller survived to the sound era, at which point Loews fired all their organists and left to the organs to the mice. There is no record of what became of this one but it would not be unusual if it went to the landfill.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 9, 2017 at 2:52 pm

WELL into the 80’s, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN opened there sidkcols…

SidKCols
SidKCols on May 6, 2015 at 10:40 am

It was still going strong with first run pics in the late 60’s. My wife and I attended this theater often.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 13, 2012 at 8:45 am

The Film Daily of February 9, 1921, said that the Palace Theatre in Athens had opened on February 1. The Palace was a Loew’s house.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 20, 2011 at 7:06 pm

Any old employees can check out REMEMBERING PLITT THEATRES on Facebook,Great place to see for old theatre folks in the real days of the Theatre Business.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 25, 2011 at 8:52 pm

Summer Prices for the PALACE 1 and 2 Theatres will be “BLUE THUNDER” at $4,00 a seat and Child $2.00 a seat, “SUPERMAN” has Adults paying $4.00 a seat, but the kids tickets go up to $2,50 a seat.This from the 1983 Knoxville Home Office admission Prices Memo.Still under the Plitt banner.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 27, 2010 at 6:05 pm

Yeah,I should have taken a few since no one in Athens ever gets on CT.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on December 28, 2009 at 1:48 pm

Too bad there are no pictures of this “PALACE”.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 5:07 pm

These letters were found by me in the old MILLER theatre in Augusta. I have too many to print and most are hard to read. But Ernest and T.O. had some good old letters.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 5:05 pm

More letters from the DISTRICT MANAGERS DESK of the Palace Theatre in Athens.

Mr. Ernest Woods
Royal theatre
Gainsville,Ga.

Dear Mr. Woods.
Each week your reports are coming in three cents postage due. This causes a delay in us getting them. Please check your postage befor mailing them.So we will avoid a delay.

Kindest Regards.

Very truly yours
T.O. Tabor
District Manager Palace .

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 4:58 pm

Another Mr.Tabor letter from the desk of the PALACE.

Mr. Ernest Woods
Lucas and Jenkins Theatres
Gainsville,Ga.

Dear Ernest.

Sometime shortly the great movie “WILSON” will be booked in Gainsville. I have gotten information that two of President Wilson’s children were born in Gainsville. This information i am sur you will use in your exploitation of this picture when it is booked there.

Yours very cordially
T.O. Tabor jr.
District Manager Palace theatre

August 17 1944

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 4:50 pm

ANOTHER IN the exciting Letters of Mr. Tabor

Mr. Ernest Woods
Royal Theare
Gainsville,Ga.

Dear Mr. Woods:
on my return to Athens found a letter awaiting me from the Public Health. stating they had checked the STATE and RITZ theatres and giving us hell, which was entirely in line. On the way we are handling POPCORN at both these theatres. They state that anyone can reach in with their hands. I am asking you to install any glass in doors or at sides that might be out. Also the popcorn pots must be cleaned and kept in that condition.

Until you put both of these machines in shape I am going to ask you that you make no further sales of popcorn.

Very truly yours
T.O. Tabor Jr.
District Manager
May 22 1944

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Ernest Woods was the City Manager of THE ROYAL THEATRE in Gainsville .GA. It also inclueded THE RITZ and STATE THEATRES.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 24, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Here is a letter typed Oct.31 1943 to Mr.Tabor.PALACE THEATRE Athens,Ga.

Dear Mr. Tabor,
I am planning on going to Atlanta on Wednesday of the coming week and if it meets with your approval I would like very much to go from Atlanta to Macon on Thursday. I will be back on Thursday night.

With kindest regards and best wishes ,

Very truly yours,
ERNEST WOODS

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 20, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Yes it was a Plitt theatre.Charles Bruni and myself were thinking if we went to UGA we could transfer to this theatre as assistants never thinking i am sure they probably had one or two.It had beautiful huge glass entry way .
I think in 1983 i was working at GCC’s GEORGIA SQUARE CINEMAS and remembered that THE PALACE played NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN 007.with SEAN CONNERY and Athens native KIM BASSINGER. They certainly played up the Athens connection and you can not blame them.

Broan
Broan on August 29, 2009 at 9:16 pm

The Palace opened in February 1921, was split in 1971, sold to Plitt in 1977, and closed in May 1987.