Palace Theatre
Main Street,
Memphis,
TX
79245
Main Street,
Memphis,
TX
79245
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Hollis Boren built the Palace theatre in 1925. He added sound to the Palace theatre in 1934 when he purchased the Ritz Theatre. In 1936, a new theatre was built on the north side of the square. That theatre burned in January of 1938. The Palace Theatre was rebuilt in the spring of 1938 with the latest RCA sound equipment and International seats. Seven leading film companies were featured by the Palace and Ritz Theaters - Paramount, Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Fox, Warner-First National, United Artists, and RKO pictures . - Memphis Democrat, July 22, 1938 - Mr. Boren ran the two theaters until his retirement in 1961.
The May 29, 1936 item cited above indicates that the Palace Theatre was moved from its original location to a building on Main Street that year. Apparently this was larger location, as the 1936 FDY lists the Palace with 400 seats and the 1937 edition lists it with 500.
Local men began work tearing out the interior of the Hollis Boren building on Main Street in preparation of moving the Palace Theater. - Memphis Democrat, May 29, 1936.
The Memphis Democrat in 1962 announced that Bill Boren had remodeled the Palace Theater. The new 70mm sound heads had been installed. All the seats on the lower floor had been re-upholstered, the new carpet had been installed, the new vinyl floor was in the lobby. The lobby has a new concession stand. A new screen was installed some time ago and a new refrigerated air conditioning system will be ready for the summer. The Tower Drive-in will be remodeled as well. - Memphis Democrat, March 1, 1962.