Palace Theatre

100 East Main Street,
Waterbury, CT 6702

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Palace Theater (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Loew's Inc., Loew's-Poli

Architects: Thomas White Lamb

Functions: Performing Arts

Styles: Adam

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 203.756.3214

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News About This Theater

Poli's Palace Theatre, Waterbury, CT -- 1929

Built in 1922 by renowned architect Thomas W. Lamb, the Poli’s Palace Theatre, nationally recognized as the flagship theatre of the Loew’s Poli chain, is an exquisite example of one of the last great move palaces which flourished during the golden age of cinema.

Registered as a National Historic treasure, the Palace’s elegant lobbies, crystal chandeliers, gold detailing, almost 3,500 seat capacity auditorium, along with its Broadway-sized stage, make this the largest seating capacity theatre of its kind in all of New England.

The theatre has undergone a massive restoration and renovation project that expanded the theatre’s stage and reduced seating capacity to 2,900. The Palace Theatre reopened in November of 2004.

Contributed by Greg Lontkowski

Recent comments (view all 95 comments)

anexwaterburian
anexwaterburian on February 28, 2010 at 6:04 pm

Poli’s Palace Theatre marquee sometime in the 1920s.

anexwaterburian
anexwaterburian on February 28, 2010 at 6:10 pm

The Palace Theater marquee in October 2009.

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on March 18, 2010 at 1:43 am

There’s a vintage postcard exhibit of Waterbury life at the nearby Mattatuck Museum until May 30. It’s only $5 for admission. I plan to go when I’m next in town, which is April 10, to see if there’s any old theatre pix.

Brad Smith
Brad Smith on April 2, 2010 at 11:33 pm

Click here for a photograph of Poli’s Palace taken in 1929.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on June 29, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Nice vintage photo Brad.

Patsy
Patsy on September 28, 2012 at 2:57 am

Learned of this theatre when seeing that the Fireball Run (missing children) visited Waterbury CT today and toured the theatre. They posted a photo of the awesome lobby on their FB link.

Patsy
Patsy on September 28, 2012 at 2:59 am

Do wish though that this theatre still had its original marquee.

DonaldKirk
DonaldKirk on August 12, 2015 at 6:56 am

I was just at the Waterbury site and it says 2700 seats. The Bridgeport Palace is 3600 and history records show it was and still is the largest theatre built in CT. BTW… I am a concert & event producer and I have started talks with the City of Bridgeport to acquire the city’s Palace, Majestic (2200 seats) theatres and the 109 room Savoy Hotel; to restore and operate, bringing in name acts and shows. If anyone knows people in Bridgeport that are willing to help with fundraising events (concerts, etc. or grant-writing), please send them my way Don Kirk

Note: Yes both theatres and the hotel are in “BAD” shape and will take extensive work to get restored; although they can be opened before all restoration is done.

Cinerama
Cinerama on February 26, 2016 at 1:45 pm

The link below says that the theatre was once a Cinerama theatre in the 1950’s. I don’t know where he gets his info.

http://www.victoria-adventure.org/water_gardening_images/lou_palace_theater/page1.html

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