Palms Theater
2612 N. Central Avenue,
Phoenix,
AZ
85004
2612 N. Central Avenue,
Phoenix,
AZ
85004
1 person
favorited this theater
The Palms Theater opened on March 23, 1945 with “Bring on the Girls”. It was built for and operated by Paramount Nace Theatres Inc. Designed by Lescher & Mahoney, with Pereira & Pereira as consulting architects, all seating was on a single floor.
The Palms Theater was closed in 1981 and has since been torn down.
Contributed by
robert emerson
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
I see Ennis' question was from 11/3/05…so this will be either old news or on deaf ears if he doesn’t return to the site. The Vista was on south Central near the Adams Hotel, now both gone. It was’t “very close” to the Palms, which was at Central near Virginia. The Fox was on Washington or Van Buren—I don’t remember which, east of Central Avenue. About 30 blocks southeast of The Palms, which was my neighborhood theater as a kid. It wasn’t until around 1953 that the Palms began selling candy and popcorn. Prior to that, it was pristine, clean and elegant place. When they did open a concession counter, we would take our candy wrappers, cups and popcorn boxes to the trash can in the lobby. I saw some great films there—the last being “Bridge on the River Kwai” one Xmas when I was visiting my grandparents in Phx. I had moved to Encinitas, California by then. Several friends and I went to the 8:00 show and paid for one kid to get in, as the rest of us waited at the exit for him to open the door once the show began. He did, we crawled in and to our consternation found that the show was nearly sold out! We scattered to seats all over the theater and enjoyed the film. Fortunately, the statute of limitations have run out on our larceny.
Hi Slick, I remember the Palm well. If I remember well, when it first opened NO CANDY, POP CORN, OR SOFT DRINKS ALLOWED. I think by the time I first went there, circa 1947, they had acquiesced to public demand, because I have a faint recollection of a candy counter in the lobby.
It was a great theatre
There was a candy, drink counter right in the center of the lobby, on the wall, as you walked in; the aisles to the theater were on either side. The little lobby has alcoves in the walls with Kachina dolls I believe. An old time restaurant called Durant’s was across the street and is still there. Up the Street a bit was the Polar Bar, a popular ice cream drive-in restaurant that featured the Zombie, a quart of ice cream with everything but the kitchen sink on it for $1.
I was the Assistant Manager of the Palms in the early 50’s and my Uncle was projectionist throughout the theatre’s years. Beautiful theatre, very unique. Departing the parking lot, you passed the exterior part of the March of Dimes pool. You then passed through a arbor of Jasmine, a touch of heaven when blooming. Next is the entrance lobby, all in glass, where future posters were displayed with the inner part of the pool, there were always fresh flowers donated by Norman’s Flower Shop, south of the theatre. Also overhead music played by phone from the Adams Hotel, I believe this was one of Dwight (Red) Harkin’s first endeavors, not sure. This lobby led to the inner lobby which featured a collection of Indian pottery, the concession, and a kind maid keeping everything tidy. Popcorn was popped and bagged in the basement to avoid odors in the lobby. Entering the auditorium you observed beautiful contour curtains under gold ceiling lighting, soft house lights and music. Soon the house lights dim with blue lighting on the walls. The gold contours rise slowly, in loops, into the ceiling, leaving some gold loops hanging after rising. The contours extended nearly half way to the back of the auditorium. A thin title curtain covers the screen upon which opens to reveal the short subjects of Newsreel, Cartoon and Previews. The title curtain closes, gold lights come up, and feature film covers the title curtain as it opens, gold lights dim down. At completion of the feature, title closes and the contours drop in full gold. Leaving the theatre you have choices of Durant’s, Mexican Food, Polar Bear or Golden Drumstick next door. I MUST NOT forget to say that there was parking right on North Central. I remember the Fox, Vista, Rialto, Aztec (spanish, Strand and Phoenix theaters with fondness, downtown was safe and wonderful.
View link
if link doesn’t work, google search exactly Boxoffice April 3, 1948
insert 102 in page box
World Premiere in Phoenix of Fort Apache at two theaters: downtown Orpheum and neighborhood Palms.
E. Freeman, speaking of the Palms, reminded me that the fresh flowers always present in the lobby were donated by Norman’s Nursery. W.H. and Isabel Norman were best friends with my grandparents (Isabel was known as Aunt Isabel to me). They lived in north Phoenix and traveled extensively. Both are gone now, as are my grandparents. The Palms was unique among theaters in Phoenix, with no refreshments and in pristine condition from the first time I went to the last, when we criminals snuck into “Bridge on the River Kwai.” Of all the theaters that existed when I was a kid, only the Orpheum (once the Paramount) still stands.
Ads appearing in March, 1945 issues of The Arizona Republic newspaper show that the Palms opened Friday, March 23, 1945, with “Bring on the Girls.” Harry L. Nace was the theater manager. Ticket prices from 1PM to 6PM were children 17¢, adults 50¢, and after 6PM, children 20¢, adults 65¢.
I remember see the awful movie Cher made called Chastity here in 1969. The great thing about it was The Palms Theatre was actually in that movie. For a moment, Phoenix seemed a little glamorous.
Many pictures of the Palms is at http://www.calameo.com/read/000247928e0dbc194128a
I was at the Palms the last night it was open. The last film they showed was “Gone With The Wind”.