Palace Theater

Here’s another link to a photo of the Palace, in “near-derelict state” in February 1986. http://tinyurl.com/848ay5x

Joe what a story.If only “Poesideon Adventure” had been on the screen. I think i have read it all now.

Here is an August 1965 ad from the Berkshire Eagle:
http://tinyurl.com/ykgsnj3

The Palace in Pittsfield was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. There is a facade photo dated May 1941. The theatre entrance was in the center of a 3-story building. The front corners of the fancy marquee were supported by posts rising from the sidewalk. There was an arch above the marquee and a vertical blade sign affixed to the facade. The attractions posted on the 2 lines of the marquee are not readable in the photo. The Report states that the Palace is at “132 North St.”, that it has been presenting MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; that it’s in Good condition and has 1115 seats on the main floor and 450 in the balcony, total: 1,565 seats.

I took a couple of pictures today, to show what the site looks like at present:

View link

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I saw a movie at the Palace in the mid-to-late 80’s, when it was operating as a discount house. I was facinated that the theatre was still operating in such a poor condition. After entering through the long narrow lobby, I approached the concession stand. They were selling tickets at the stand as the outside box office was closed. The whole place smelled very, very musty. As I entered the auditorium in one of the center aisles, I noticed some lamps (like you would see in ones living room) with no shades on them plugged into the side aisles and lit. These were the only lights in the theatre. The guy who ripped my ticket said I had to sit in the back 10 or so rows. I then knew why. It was actually raining inside the theatre, and the only shelter provided to the patrons was the overhang of the balcony! When the feature started water was also running down the screen!!
The place lasted a few years after that, then closed and sat vacant for awhile until it was demolished. At the time of my visit, there were three marquees lighting up that side of North Ave. (Well, had they been in operating condition they would have been lighting up the Ave!) The Palace was the first, and as you continued up the street the Capitol’s marquee was next (altough the Capitol was extant at the time, the auditorium has since been demolished, and the marquee refurbished for use by the Senior Center which occupies the lobby and retail space), and, finally, the Showplace. All three were owned and operated by Western Massachusettes Theatres, whose great palaces were allowed to deteriorate to the point of no return.