Palace Theatre

A Glimpse at History: The Palace Theatre

The last of the four principal PlayhouseSquare theaters (and the most expensive to build at $3,500,000), the Palace Theatre opened Nov. 6, 1922 as the flagship of B.F. Keith’s vaudeville chain. The sign atop its building advertising the Palace was “the world’s largest electrical sign” circa 1921. The Palace’s elegant lobby was highlighted by a million-dollar art collection and another “world’s largest”…the largest woven-in-one-piece carpet. The venue showcased the likes of Fanny Brice, Bing Crosby, Houdini, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and The Three Stooges before changing over to films. In its current role as a “legit theater,” the Palace seats 2,800.