Palace Theatre

276 W. Center Street,
Marion, OH 43302

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The Palace Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Young Amusement Co.

Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson

Functions: Movies, Performing Arts

Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Moorish

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 740.383.2101

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News About This Theater

Palace Theatre exterior

John Eberson designed this beautiful Atmospheric style theatre which opened on August 30, 1928, with William Haines in “Excess Baggage” on the screen and Keith-Albee vaudeville on the stage. It had 1,548 seats. The Palace Theatre also houses a 3/10 Wurlitzer theatre organ. It was restored and reopened July 4, 1976 with a production of the stage musical “1776”.

Contributed by Evan J. Chase, Tom Plassman

Recent comments (view all 28 comments)

richardg
richardg on April 8, 2010 at 2:05 am

I returned to the Palace on April 3, 2010 and saw the movie, Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief. I can only add, “This is how movies should be shown” I bought a good size drink and popcorn for a grand total of $3.00. The lobby of the Harding Hotel (now a Senior’s home and directly across the street from the thatre) is also a must see.

Patsy
Patsy on April 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm

Richard G: I, too, have visited the Palace in Canton though didn’t see the Harding Hotel lobby…sounds like I missed a “must see”.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 19, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Nice photo Wallyum.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on September 8, 2010 at 12:58 am

From the 1920s a postcard view of the Palace Theatre in Marion.

obie
obie on November 10, 2013 at 2:03 am

The view of the marquee and upright is now a little bare. During an inspection the facade holding both the marquee and upright was found to be unstable and both were removed and repaired while the facade was torn down brick by brick, the large I-beams replaced and will be restored to original build. Donations would be appreciated. marionpalace.org for contact information.

AtmosphericTheatre
AtmosphericTheatre on February 14, 2015 at 2:59 pm

“Designed for “talkies,” the Palace had to open [in 1928] with a silent motion picture [Excess Baggage] because the needed equipment for sound motion pictures had not arrived. The success of talkies, a new technology only two years before, had been widely successful. Vaudeville could not compete, and its own stars contributed to the demise of its popularity as they recorded their acts on film, resulting in no demand to see live acts that had already been seen on film.” Hoffman, Scott, A Theatre History of Marion, Ohio: John Eberson’s Palace & Beyond, p. 11 (History Press 2015).

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 18, 2019 at 1:34 am

Construction photo added courtesy Jim Smith.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 9, 2023 at 6:55 am

The Palace Theatre was built for V. U. Young’s Young Amusement Company, according to this item from Motion Picture News of January 7, 1928:

“John Eberson to Plan Theatre at Marion, O.

“John Eberson, prominent Chicago theatre architect, has been selected to develop the plans for the new Palace Theatre, to be built at Marion, Ohio, by the Young Amusement Co., V. U. Young, president, Gary, Indiana, in which project Ed. E. Bender and Sol Bernstein, Canton, Ohio, are also interested. The building is to house five stores and seven apartments in addition to the theatre”

Patsy
Patsy on May 9, 2023 at 2:02 pm

Been to this theatre. An amazing theatre worth visiting. Hats off to the people of Marion for preserving this cinema treasure.

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