Palace Theatre
12 Maiden Lane,
Bound Brook,
NJ
08805
12 Maiden Lane,
Bound Brook,
NJ
08805
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Lyric Theatre, New Palace Performing Arts Center
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Old silent era movie theatre open from at least May 1, 1922. It had closed by 1933 and still listed as (Closed) in 1935. By 1937 it had reopened as the Lyric Theatre and was destroyed by a fire on December 9, 1956. It was rebuilt, but by the 1960’s it was converted into office space, and later the upper floor became a teen club, selling non-alcoholic drinks.
It operated as the New Palace Performing Arts Center from 1997 until 2000 and after that, was used for a time by a church. By 2017 it is in use as a technical training center.
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tc
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Another tel # 732-560-7450
http://www.newjerseyrocks.com/clubs.htm
Closed in the mid 1940s after a fire. Opened in 1999 as the New Palace Performing Arts Center.
see page 4 http://members.aol.com/njskydance/newsletter.pdf
The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Nov 30, 1997 p040
Bound Brook looks to become class act with theater revival. (SOMERSET)
Byline: Cathy Bugman
Bound Brook, once home to three vaudeville theaters that drew women in glittering gowns and men in tuxedos, wants to regain the renown it had then as an entertainment hub.
Nearly a century after that heyday, the dream has taken on new life with the renovation of one of those theaters and the restoration of another.
Renovations already have begun at the old Palace Theater on Maiden Lane, where an executive of an entertainment production company is planning to open a performing arts center.
Marc Calamaras, 25, of Scotch Plains sees the upper level of the two- story building once again becoming a lively night spot, featuring live acts of multi-generational appeal.
“We want to cover a broad base – theatrical events, bands,” he said. “We’re getting an overwhelming response from rock bands. I want to do jazz, string quartets and symphony stuff. We want to make the space available to other promoters to rent.”
Calamaras, president of American Company of Entertainment and Sound, plans to bring in a new stage that is portable – “so we can be flexible for the shows” – and install 250 to 300 seats.
He said he is anticipating opening the second week in January.
“We chose Bound Brook because the train station was right nearby, and it’s close to Rutgers, New Brunswick,” Calamaras said. “And we feel the New Brunswick area has a lot of artists in it and it’s a good location. I like the town. They have such a good attitude of welcoming the arts. They’re very open-minded.”
Borough code enforcement officer Michael Gupko said the concept of a new theater in the old vaudeville building is a positive one.
“The borough is very excited about him coming into town,” he said. “I wish Marc well. I hope it’s a success and also a success for the borough – that’s the important part.”
The restoration of the Brook Theater on Hamilton Street is planned as part of a borough takeover of the now privately held property.
The borough, in cooperation with its Downtown Management Corp., has applied for $1.5 million in economic-development funding from Somerset County to create what is being billed as the Brook Theater Arts Center.
The 70-year-old, 825-seat theater now shows primarily art films, but the restored theater would be home to live performances, including Broadway revivals and children’s classics, as well as art movies and classic Hollywood oldies.
Along with the restoration, the town also would like to establish an “art incubator,” or group that would provide technical and business tips to artists and nonprofit artistic groups.
“The town is a center of a growing art and entertainment core,” said downtown planner Mary Moody.
She said the borough hosts the Somerset Valley Orchestra, artists' lofts, the Palmyra coffee house and Jacob Swerdlow art gallery, both of which offer cafe-type music programs.
Evan Carzis, who owns the third former vaudeville theater in the imposing Voorhees building across from the train station on Main Street, does not have any plans for the theater, which is on the top floor and is being rented to an artist, who is using the space for a studio.
“But I fully support the town’s efforts to make Bound Brook a destination for entertainment,” he said.
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO BY TONY KURDZUK
Article CJ81907709
Hi This is Marc Calamaras and I renovated and operated the Palace Theatre as “The New Palace Performing Arts Center” from 1997-2000. In Sept 99, Hurricane Floyd put a hurting on the operation and I ended up selling my lease to a Latin production company who I think turned it into a church. I miss the space very much! I actually had my wedding in the Palace on New Years Eve 1999 and I will never forget it! I am always looking to operate another great old theatre.
If any one comes across any prospects, email me at
I live in Middlesex and my husband is renovating our kitchen. During demolition we found a playbill from the Palace Theater. It featured a movie called Beverly of Graustark, starring Marion Davies. It did not a year on it, only a date, but I looked up the movie and found it was released in 1926. I didn’t even know the Palace Theater existed until now.
Marc:
Do you have any interior photos before/after the renovation that you can post?
Old postcard:
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Great Post Card TC! Thanks for sharing!
My photo from 4/19/08:
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Destroyed by a fire on December 9, 1956.