Palace Theatre
32 E. Forsyth Street,
Jacksonville,
FL
32202
32 E. Forsyth Street,
Jacksonville,
FL
32202
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The Palace was first operated by George H. Hickman, who only operated for almost or possibly enough around 2 years, before being shot and killed by a suspect who shortly later was caught by Jacksonville Police on September 4, 1921, charging the suspect as an attempted robbery and first-degree murder.
So very sad that all theatres except the Florida Theatre still stands on Forsyth which was once “The Great White Way” with many theatres. And to learn that the theatre architect, Roy Benjamin’s home on Riverside was demolished is truly a crime. Benjamin built a theatre in Lake Worth FL which still stands today!
From the the 1940s a postcard view of a busy Jacksonville street along with the Palace Theatre.
i’m searching for some information about a Vaudeville show that may have performed at the theatre in the late 1920’s somewhere between 1927-1929. The show was called “Jungleland” which was a traveling contortionist show. If anyone could help out, that would be great.
Link to Palace pictures here (sorry for bad repro):
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I saw the first 3-D film here —“Bwana Devil” and the theatre was packed. I also saw “The THING"
which to me (at eleven) was so scary. To advertise the film I rmember they had a coffin outside the theatre with a voice coming from inside with screams saying the thing is coming.
I was an usher at the Palace Theater from 1946-1948. It was one of the many theaters iin jacksonville that was owned by Paramount theaters, Inc. Paramount owned all the downtown Jax theaters except the St John (WB) and the Casino (ind). The palace was remodeled in the early 1940’s. The second balcony was blocked off with a drop ceiling. Air conditioning was added and the theater took on an art-deco/modernist theme. Periodic stage shows (Eddy Arnold, Blackstone the Magcian and others) continued until I left in Oct. 1948, EDDY66
The street address for the Palace Theatre was 32 East Forsyth Street. It had a seating capacity of 1,878