Palace Theatre History

Part of the Historic Broadway Theatre District

By Karen Kaye:
Hollywood Happenings

The Palace opened in 1911 as the third home of the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in Los Angeles. It is one of the oldest theatres in Los Angeles and the oldest remaining original Orpheum theatre in the U.S. The Palace opened in 1911 as the third home of the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in Los Angeles. It is one of the oldest theatres in Los Angeles and the oldest remaining original Orpheum theatre in the U.S.

Loosely styled after a Florentine early Renaissance palazzo, the façade of the Palace features multicolored terra-cotta swags, flowers, fairies, and theatrical masks illustrating the spirit of entertainment. Four panels depicting the muses of vaudeville — Song, Dance, Music, and Drama — were sculpted by noted Spanish sculptor Domingo Mora.

Palace oldest Theatre Built 1911

Interior at the Palace

The theatre structure displays had Italian influences, and its interiour decoration is distinctly French, with garland-draped columns and a color scheme of pale pastels. It was even designed with excellent acoustics for a pre-amplified age.