![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1723737594)
Seeking info on Percival “Patty” Roberts
NEW YORK, NY — Hello, I am looking for information on my great-grandfather, Percival “Patty” Roberts who died on Staten Island in the early 1960’s.
My great-grandfather was the stage manager/electrician at the Palace Theater, I assume on Staten Island, but could be the one in Manhattan?? Possibly at the turn of the century, 19-twenties? I have old photos of him at a switchboard backstage which looks to be about six feet wide by eight feet tall, lots of “Frankenstein” switches.
I remember him smoking cigars and calling me “wildwoman” when I was about three. He died shortly after that. He knew a lot of vaudeville stars, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, etc.
My grandmother, Florence Adelaide Roberts, would fill in between acts singing opera on stage as a little girl.
Thank You!
Florence M. “Rennie” (Castle) Miller
1060 Rock Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
Comments (3)
There were two Palace Theatres on Staten Island, listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;edition 1927. They are not large and may not have been used for stage shows, however here goes:
Palace Theatre, Port Richmond seating capacity 961
Palace Theatre, Tottenville seating capacity 450
The Palace Theatre, Tottenville is the older of these two theatres as it is listed as being open in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915.
Thanks, Ken.