Palace Theatre
115 N. Main Street,
Rockford,
IL
61101
115 N. Main Street,
Rockford,
IL
61101
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Other images here. Copy & Paste to view.
http://rockfordreminisce.com/Entertainment_Venues_2.html
Added image. Palace sign in 1940, photo courtesy of the RockfordReminisce.com Facebook page.
I uploaded an grand opening ad from March 15th, 1915.
According to a 16mm movie my uncle, Tony Maar, took in 1948, the following vaudeville entertainers were on the bill for shows spanning February 6-9, 1948:
“On The Stage Hit Parade:"
-Manuel Vieira and His Monkeys
-John Laurenz
-Bill Dornfield
-Jim Penman & Company
-The Lancasters (Tony and Mary Maar, husband and wife hand balancing act)
*it’s difficult to tell from a silent film but between Laurenz, Dornfield and Penman, at least one one did magic, one juggled and another did standup comedy.
According to The Rockford Morning Star newspaper the Palace Theatre opened on February 22, 1915. Part of an article from February 21, 1915 reads:
“…Messrs. George and C. L. Rapp have specialized in theater designing and among their latest masterpieces are the New Oprheum in Champaign, the Orpheum in Quincy, the Columbia in Davenport, Ia., the New Palace in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Hippodrome in Chicago, the Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wis., and the Palace in Rockford. They also have theaters under construction in Louisville, Ky. and Grand Rapids, Mich.”
This was one of Rapp and Rapp’s earliest.
In the 50s the Palace was converted to a F W Woolworth store in the late 70s or early 80s it was torn down