Palace Theatre
137 King Street E,
Hamilton,
ON
L8N
137 King Street E,
Hamilton,
ON
L8N
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 61 comments
What should have happened is that one of the two theatres should have been retained and subdivided internally as a multiplex. This is what happened to very similar Thomas Lamb theatres like the Loews in Montreal, the Uptown and Imperial in Toronto.
I know for sure that the two theatres (Palace and Capitol) were torn down in 1973. There are very sad pictures in HPL Special Collections taken from the Spectator building next store of the roof coming off the Capitol. Also the Palace’s entire front section was demolished. The Beauty salon is a whole new construction from 1973.
Somewhere I have a file with all of the photocopies of the clippings I did twenty years back when I first got interested in these fine lost buildings.
If this had happened then the Palace might have lasted until the late 1980’s as a cinema, likely closing at the same time as the Century and Tivoli (September 1989).Both of the theatres ended up owned by the same company who was not affiliated with Famous Players or Odeon (later Cineplex).
The advantage of this is that it could be reversed. Both the Imperial in Montreal and Toronto were restored this way. Even the Mtl Loews (which is a cool health club gym) survives as single auditorium.
I’d say ‘No’. (I’ve lived in Hamilton or surrounding environs most of my life. I was there when the Century went dark, the Tivoli, the Hyland, the Towne, the Avon, Main West, Delta, Centre Mall, the Cinema Theatre…even the SkyWay Drive-in.)
There was too much behind supporting Hamilton Place, no concessions would have been granted along the way, etc. Politicians wanted “New, new, new!‘ Hamilton, by the time the early 70s arrived, was, paradoxically, heading into its decline.
To think, this location now houses a beauty supply shop. Sad.
The mayor at the time of Jackson Square’s building eerily predicted that unless development was effected east of this downtown development…where the Palace stood…then nothing good would, in the end, result from the boom. And wouldn’t ya know it? He was right.
Brian Morton wrote:“ The feeling was that the big theatres had had their day.”
Brian: For sure. The Palace would have made a terrific multi-use theatre but which city councillor at the time would have argued to keep the Palace when a project like Hamilton Place was needed to improve that area of downtown?
I have been gone from the city since the end of 1961 so I am out of touch with the arts scene there (still a Ti-Cat fan though!). Looking back since the demolition of the Palace……can anyone assess today whether there would have been enough events and local use to keep it open along with Hamilton Place?
Hang on… I have the Odeon opening in ‘73. The Palace was gone by then.
At the start of the 70s…right before we have the Palace and Capitol being demolished, the downtown looks like this: The Hyland, the Century, the Tivoli. The Odeon has yet to open, as does the Jackson Square two-plex. The periphery markets, extending down Barton, out towards the east end, and out towards Mac, are another story entirely.
Well Joe Buttinski’s the bar that most recently occupied the Capitol Theatre’s lobby has gone out of business this past few months. I remember that Grapes and Things lasted somewhat longer.
The Palace was regularly used for Stage shows.. (HTI used to do musicals there in the 50’s and 60’s)… The feeling was that the big theatres had had their day. Jackson Square cinema hadn’t opened in 1973 but the Odeon 2 right across the street was the death of the Palace.
The parking lots where both auditoriums stood must have made some money over the years
Actually, I rather doubt that Hamilton Place (live entertainment) had much to do with their (movies) demise. The Jackson Square cinemas (initially operated by Famous Players), perhaps. But at the time, the downtown was in fact over-screened, all things considered, and the landscape was changing.
I have a small pet project I’ve been wanting to get around to: finding out just how ‘profitable’ the businesses have been that went into the locations where the Capitol and the Palace existed. I rather doubt much revenue has been generated by either over the ensuing 35+ years. Sad, really.
Also the Downtown, the Grenada, the Grand Theatre and the Grand Opera House were all the same theatre. This can be confirmed by photos at the Hamilton Public Library special collections on the third floor.
The Capitol and Place were built four years apart (1917 and 1921)..
Both were designed by Thomas Lamb, who designed thousands of theatres across Britain and North America. There is a section on him in John Lindsey’s book TURN OUT THE STARS BEFORE LEAVING, also in the book about the Elgin and Wintergarden. The recently demolished Uptown in Toronto was another of his theatres, as was the Capitol in Ottawa.
Lamb designed theatres for many of the vaudeville chains including BF Kieth, Alexander Pantages and Marcus Loews. He had an office in NYC and took commissions from whoever had the ability to pay him.
Sadly both the the Capitol and Palace ended up being owned by the same company that demolished them both in 1973 when Hamilton Place opened.
I thought it was a bit odd too.
However it looks like Thomas Lamb made a career of building theatres for different chains close together in Canadian cities.
I found three examples.
The Capitol in Hamilton was originally the Loews which competed with Pantages.
In Toronto he designed the Pantages and the Loews/Winter Garden just down the street.
In Montreal he designed the Loews and the Capitol (Famous Players) which were very close to each other on Ste Catherine Street.
I’m sure there are more examples in U-S cities.
He sure made his mark.
Yeah, I saw the mention in Brian’s post.
I was wanting to confirm that both the Capitol and Palace were Lamb designs. A friend and I were trying to figure out the time-line that allowed two Lamb buildings to be built a block apart, by presumably competing chains.
There doesn’t seem to be any Lamb biography out there…and there’s a dearth of general resources about Lamb, specifically what he designed, and where.
schmadrian:
On page 47 of John Lindsay’s book “ Palaces of the Night”, he mentions that Thomas Lamb was the architect for the Pantages in Hamilton. It was later re-named the Palace.
He also mentions( as Brian has posted above) that the Pantages/Palace “ bore a strong resemblance to the Capitols in Windsor and Winnipeg and all three owed something in their design to the Capitol in Brantford.”
Can anyone confirm that this was a Thomas Lamb theatre?
Getting back to the Palace…..I was recently in the Ontario Archives building in Toronto and found some great interior photos of the Palace. I did not get them reproduced because I was on a mission to get some stuff on the Odeon Carlton in Toronto. There is a great shot of the auditorium from the stage.
If anyone has some time to kill in Toronto its worth a look through the old Ontario Theatres photo file. There are also some photos on the net under Ontario Archives at:
View link
hamiltonmark: Thanks. I saw the postcard with the terminal building showing the Savoy yesterday. Thats when I knew I had it wrong. The library researcher (and what you posted on the Tivoli site) said the Downtown was the old Grand Opera House and Granada. Its been over 40 years since I was in the place so my recollections are a bit fuzzy. I would sure like to see a photo of the Grand or Granada before it was the Downtown.
mjc. It was the Bennett theatre that was next to the terminal building off King street not the Temple. Sorry about that. Both these building where torn down to make room for the building that now sits on the site. Check out the post cards and let me know. Mark
mjc. if you go to http://wwwpostcardsofhamilton.com and search the post cards. click on “t” and then theatres you will find a picture of the Savoy Theatre next to the Hotal Stoud on Merrick Street off McNab Street. There is also postcards showing the Temple theatre which is next to the terminal building. This theatre is not listed. All have been demonished. the Temple I believe was off King Street. is this of any help. Mark
Ooops!
I have just been looking at two other pieces of information..the Pringle Papers and World Theatres..and they both refer to the Savoy as being on Merrick Street.It was pulled down in 1955. The World Theatres page also lists the Downtown as a separate movie theatre at 102 James St.
Still confused.
Hamilton Mark:
I think I can now answer my own question about the Downtown Theatre. I have been looking through John C Lindsay’s book on movie theatres in Canada (Palace’s of the night) and there is an interior shot of the old Savoy. Thats exactly how I remember the stage of the Downtown.
It does not look like the entrance to the Palace on King Street. There were other buildings adjacent to the Palace entrance, which was much bigger, with no space in between. Your building looks like it is on a corner. Also your picture has some buildings at right angles which would not jibe with King Street.
Maybe this is a neighbourhood theatre in the west end…or the old CHCH building which used to be a theatre?
I have a photo from an elderly lady whose father boarded in Ontario with my grandfather’s stepmother and half-siblings. Since one of my grandfather’s half-brothers ran a drugstore in Hamilton for many years, I’m wondering whether the photo is in front of the Palace Theatre discussed on this Web site. The words “The Pa” are visible in a window next to the box office, and admission prices are visible. This is a total long shot, but if anyone would care to take a look, the photo is here:
View link
Thanks…
Mark:I checked out the sites you have mentioned.Maybe these comments should be on the Granada site but neither of the theatres are what I remember as the Downtown.
The next time I am in the Hamilton area I will check the clippings file in the Library on the Downtown/Granada to make sure it is what I remember as the Downtown. I want to make sure my mind is still intact.
Hello again mjc. there is a theatre that was post by Chad Irish called the James Street theatre. It was located on the corner of James Street North and Cannon Street. Check out this site for your theatre. Mark
There is a picture of this theatre(Palace) with the Pantages sign on King Street at www.postcardsofhamilton.com Click on postcards,subject is theatres and then look for post card of King Street. Mark
There is a picture of this theare with the Pantages sign on King Street at www.postcardsofhamilton.com Click on postcards,subject is theatres and then look for post card of King Street. Mark
I think I may have information on this theatre that MJC is talking about. The always forgotten about Red Mill Theatre is on James before you hit York Blvd. It is above what is now Harvest Moon Restaurant (formerly Fortune Village and also the Tivoli Restaurant.) It wasn’t a movie house but a vaudeville theatre that has connections to the Tivoli and I’m assuming the Grand Opera Hotel as there are rumours of a tunnel that ran under James Street connecting the two locations so performers could get from spot to spot without heading outdoors. The Red Mill was used recently as a banquet hall for the chinese restaurants that have occupied the location, also a performing space for rock bands (i’ve played the stage) and there was a time in the late 90’s where it became the Red Mill Dinner Theatre. The stage is small width wise but very high – it has a very detailed wreath like design that surrounds the edging of the stage and what appears to be a woman’s face at the very top. The more recent decor includes golden dragons at the back of the stage with glowing red eyes and vintage Chinese lanterns that serve as chandeliers. It’s been years since I’ve been there – most definitely one of Downtown’s hidden treasures!