Another fine example of Louisville’s short sightedness. Next you’ll tell me they’ve closed the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown road, or maybe even the Vogue on Lexington road.
My first movie date was with a girl named Bridgitt at the Alpha one. We saw “Top Secret” and after all these years we still communicate. I did catch “Babe” at the Dixie Dozen, though not with Bridgitt.
A great neighborhood movie house, one that is not afraid to show foreign films, Anime, non-mainstream, and just plain kooky. Thanks to the local neighborhood association they had to discontinue showing Rocky Horror but I heard word that they were trying to reach an accord. This theater, love it as I do, was a major factor is shutting down of my two favorite Louisville movie houses, the Vogue and the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown road. Hopefully they can revive the midnight movies in Louisville. I’d not be the same person I am today without the Vogue & midnight movies…not just Rocky Horror but The Wall, Heavy Metal, The Song Remains the Same, A Clockwork Orange….damned…why do times have to change????
WOW! I cannot wait…this will help me get over the fact that I can’t jot down to the Louisville Palace anytime I want to! This sucker’s only 90 minutes away…and in terms of Washington DC traffic that’s like a trip to the grocery store. I will keep an eye on this one!!!
Bill, the stage is apx. 50" x 25" and when the screen is lowered I’d say there is about a 5" border on the sides. Guessing thataway, I’d say apx. 40 x 15 (maybe 35 x 20?). I might be way off…however…compared with the average screen size at a “large” mutiplex I’d say it’s at least 50% larger than your average “stadium-seating” type screen that’s become the new standard. The only larger screen in Louisville that I can think of belonged to the (now closed but not demolished) National Amusement’s Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road. The Showcase started out as a twin screen art-neuvo (?) complex (white, angular with lots and lots of glass for a facade) and sometime during the multi-plexation of the facility the 2nd screen was divided into two small theaters…just what the moviegoing public wants, apparently, is a lot of small screens. Before it closed last year the complex was up to 13 screens…the one MASSIVE screen, two others that were almost as big, and the rest were little boxes. However, to their credit, NA left screen #1 alone and it was simply enormous. I never saw an actual Cinemascope screen but this screen came real close. It was convexed/concaved (I get them confused) so it may have actually been Cinemascope. Aside from that one particular screen (on which I saw my first movies “Bambi” & “The Towering Inferno”…complete with intermission! as well as Star Wars, Raiders…) there is not a screen in town to compare to the Palace. I have not seen the summer lineup just yet (it has not been posted on the website) but it is sure to be a killer. If you want to be in absolute envy of another town, their Eberson theater and it’s summer movie lineup, go over to Austin TX’s Paramount theater and prepare to be green with envy. Hope this was helpful and not too long winded!
Additionally, the theater is a non-smoking venue so you kids shouldn’t be smoking in the venue, anyway. For a full list of theater policies, not to mention a jaw-dropping virtual tour of the theater, please visit www.louisvillepalace.com
Words cannot describe what this theater means to me. I began attending shows there starting in 1994, and in 1997 I was lucky enough to be employed by the theater wich was then helmed by the esteemed Terry Hennessey (now at the Murat in Indy) and remained employed there for three years, after which time I began volunteer work for the peerless Mr. Bob Marx. It was while doing this work that I met my wife-to-be (on her first night of volunteering, no less). As much as I despise Clear Channel, their management flunkies and homogonized radio playlists, I will give them credit for restoring and preserving this one-of-a-kind landmark. Be it Allison Krauss (who recorded her “LIVE” CD/DVD here…a wonderful documentation of the facility) or Alice Cooper (or the Louisville Pops, touring Broadway productions, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Widespread Panic, Elvis Costello, Garrison Keillor, Ani DiFranco, Motley Crue, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, The OJays, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash…the list is just ENDLESS!) this is THE PLACE to take in a show when in Louisville. Oh, yeah…during the summer months the Palace STILL shows classic movies on perhaps the largest screen in town. Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone with the Wind etc. to the more modern films such as The Godfather and ET…there’s just nothing like watching these classics with 1300 or so of your fellow moviegoers. In one weekend we had over to 3000 people in to watch “The Wizard of Oz”. Now that I reside in Washington DC one of the things I miss most from Louisville is the Palace. By all means if you find yourself lucky enough to catch a performance there, DO SO. You will not regret it. The best seats are in the front/center of the Balcony IMHO. With seating for just under 2800 patrons there is not a bad seat in the house. The House staff and volunteers are as friendly as they come and words just cannot do justice the the beauty of the facility itself. Mr. Eberson did himself proud with this structure. It is indeed an “Atmospheric” theater with a Spanish-Freso theme. In fact, after viewing the Allison Krauss DVD my boss remarked “I didn’t think (the Palace) was an outdoor theater”…the effect of sitting under the stars (blinking lights recessed into the curved, midnight blue ceiling) is just that believable. Do not miss the “faces” lobby…a sight that has to be seen…unlike any other theater I know of. My best wishes go out to the theater as well as to Mr. Bob Marx…Bob, Jill and I miss you all and will come calling next time we are in town. A request to all the “Jam-Band” fans who frequent the theater…please respect the place…don’t burn the seats with your cigarettes (or whatever else you may be smoking). Another note for historical clarity…the carpeting in the theater was recently replaced using a custom-made pattern that was the original design when the theater opened in 1927. Also, in the Balcony Women’s restroom there is a mother-and-child toilet stall with a standard sized toilet for Mom and a ¼ size toilet for Junior…this alone is worth stopping by to see! And I could go on and on…but just go and see it for yourselves! Ask for Bob Marx and tell him Brian & Jill sent you. Gawd how I miss that place…
What a waste! All in the name of parking. I, too, would like to see the documentary…can anyone help a brother out?
Will this theater reopen? Does anyone know a time schedule?
Another fine example of Louisville’s short sightedness. Next you’ll tell me they’ve closed the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown road, or maybe even the Vogue on Lexington road.
My first movie date was with a girl named Bridgitt at the Alpha one. We saw “Top Secret” and after all these years we still communicate. I did catch “Babe” at the Dixie Dozen, though not with Bridgitt.
A great neighborhood movie house, one that is not afraid to show foreign films, Anime, non-mainstream, and just plain kooky. Thanks to the local neighborhood association they had to discontinue showing Rocky Horror but I heard word that they were trying to reach an accord. This theater, love it as I do, was a major factor is shutting down of my two favorite Louisville movie houses, the Vogue and the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown road. Hopefully they can revive the midnight movies in Louisville. I’d not be the same person I am today without the Vogue & midnight movies…not just Rocky Horror but The Wall, Heavy Metal, The Song Remains the Same, A Clockwork Orange….damned…why do times have to change????
WOW! I cannot wait…this will help me get over the fact that I can’t jot down to the Louisville Palace anytime I want to! This sucker’s only 90 minutes away…and in terms of Washington DC traffic that’s like a trip to the grocery store. I will keep an eye on this one!!!
Bill, the stage is apx. 50" x 25" and when the screen is lowered I’d say there is about a 5" border on the sides. Guessing thataway, I’d say apx. 40 x 15 (maybe 35 x 20?). I might be way off…however…compared with the average screen size at a “large” mutiplex I’d say it’s at least 50% larger than your average “stadium-seating” type screen that’s become the new standard. The only larger screen in Louisville that I can think of belonged to the (now closed but not demolished) National Amusement’s Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road. The Showcase started out as a twin screen art-neuvo (?) complex (white, angular with lots and lots of glass for a facade) and sometime during the multi-plexation of the facility the 2nd screen was divided into two small theaters…just what the moviegoing public wants, apparently, is a lot of small screens. Before it closed last year the complex was up to 13 screens…the one MASSIVE screen, two others that were almost as big, and the rest were little boxes. However, to their credit, NA left screen #1 alone and it was simply enormous. I never saw an actual Cinemascope screen but this screen came real close. It was convexed/concaved (I get them confused) so it may have actually been Cinemascope. Aside from that one particular screen (on which I saw my first movies “Bambi” & “The Towering Inferno”…complete with intermission! as well as Star Wars, Raiders…) there is not a screen in town to compare to the Palace. I have not seen the summer lineup just yet (it has not been posted on the website) but it is sure to be a killer. If you want to be in absolute envy of another town, their Eberson theater and it’s summer movie lineup, go over to Austin TX’s Paramount theater and prepare to be green with envy. Hope this was helpful and not too long winded!
Additionally, the theater is a non-smoking venue so you kids shouldn’t be smoking in the venue, anyway. For a full list of theater policies, not to mention a jaw-dropping virtual tour of the theater, please visit www.louisvillepalace.com
Words cannot describe what this theater means to me. I began attending shows there starting in 1994, and in 1997 I was lucky enough to be employed by the theater wich was then helmed by the esteemed Terry Hennessey (now at the Murat in Indy) and remained employed there for three years, after which time I began volunteer work for the peerless Mr. Bob Marx. It was while doing this work that I met my wife-to-be (on her first night of volunteering, no less). As much as I despise Clear Channel, their management flunkies and homogonized radio playlists, I will give them credit for restoring and preserving this one-of-a-kind landmark. Be it Allison Krauss (who recorded her “LIVE” CD/DVD here…a wonderful documentation of the facility) or Alice Cooper (or the Louisville Pops, touring Broadway productions, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Widespread Panic, Elvis Costello, Garrison Keillor, Ani DiFranco, Motley Crue, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, The OJays, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash…the list is just ENDLESS!) this is THE PLACE to take in a show when in Louisville. Oh, yeah…during the summer months the Palace STILL shows classic movies on perhaps the largest screen in town. Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone with the Wind etc. to the more modern films such as The Godfather and ET…there’s just nothing like watching these classics with 1300 or so of your fellow moviegoers. In one weekend we had over to 3000 people in to watch “The Wizard of Oz”. Now that I reside in Washington DC one of the things I miss most from Louisville is the Palace. By all means if you find yourself lucky enough to catch a performance there, DO SO. You will not regret it. The best seats are in the front/center of the Balcony IMHO. With seating for just under 2800 patrons there is not a bad seat in the house. The House staff and volunteers are as friendly as they come and words just cannot do justice the the beauty of the facility itself. Mr. Eberson did himself proud with this structure. It is indeed an “Atmospheric” theater with a Spanish-Freso theme. In fact, after viewing the Allison Krauss DVD my boss remarked “I didn’t think (the Palace) was an outdoor theater”…the effect of sitting under the stars (blinking lights recessed into the curved, midnight blue ceiling) is just that believable. Do not miss the “faces” lobby…a sight that has to be seen…unlike any other theater I know of. My best wishes go out to the theater as well as to Mr. Bob Marx…Bob, Jill and I miss you all and will come calling next time we are in town. A request to all the “Jam-Band” fans who frequent the theater…please respect the place…don’t burn the seats with your cigarettes (or whatever else you may be smoking). Another note for historical clarity…the carpeting in the theater was recently replaced using a custom-made pattern that was the original design when the theater opened in 1927. Also, in the Balcony Women’s restroom there is a mother-and-child toilet stall with a standard sized toilet for Mom and a ¼ size toilet for Junior…this alone is worth stopping by to see! And I could go on and on…but just go and see it for yourselves! Ask for Bob Marx and tell him Brian & Jill sent you. Gawd how I miss that place…