Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at the northern end of Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Its auditorium occupies the southeast corner of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and West 47th Street, facing Duffy Square. Designed by the Milwaukee architectural firm Kirchhoff & Rose, with James J. F. Gavigan as associate architect, the theatre was financed by vaudeville entrepreneur Martin Beck and opened in 1913. The venue became one of the most prestigious houses in American vaudeville. From its opening through the 1910s and 1920s, performers regarded an appearance at the Palace as a career milestone, and the theatre was closely associated with the Keith–Albee booking organization. Its location, scale, and elaborate auditorium made it a particularly visible New York venue at a time when vaudeville was a dominant form of mass entertainment. The original complex combined an 11- or 12-story office wing facing Broadway with a theatre wing on West 47th Street. The auditorium originally contained approximately 1,820 seats, double balconies, numerous boxes, and extensive plaster ornament. Changing entertainment economics altered the Palace's role after the vaudeville era. Under RKO Theatres, it operated as the RKO Palace Theatre and was used primarily as a movie palace during the 1930s. Vaudeville performances continued intermittently into the 1950s. The Nederlander Organization acquired the venue in 1965, carried out alterations, and reopened it as a Broadway theatre in 1966. The auditorium's orchestra pit and other backstage and audience facilities were modified during this period. The building underwent a major structural and architectural transformation between 1987 and 1991. Much of the original office wing was removed and replaced by a large hotel, first operated as Embassy Suites and later as DoubleTree Suites Times Square. The historic auditorium was retained inside and around the hotel structure, while the theatre lobby and backstage facilities were adapted to the new configuration. The auditorium itself is the principal surviving historic interior and was designated a New York City landmark. The Palace closed again in 2018 for the construction of TSX Broadway, a mixed-use development built around, above, and below the theatre. The project required the auditorium to be raised roughly 30 feet so that retail, hotel, and public spaces could be constructed beneath it. Engineers supported the enclosed auditorium on new structural columns and deep caissons, while the theatre was expanded from approximately 40,000 to 80,000 square feet and received additional back-of-house space. Restoration work reproduced missing decorative details from historical evidence, and the main entrance was moved to West 47th Street. The renovated theatre was completed in May 2024. As of 2024, it provides approximately 1,648 seats across an orchestra level and two balconies.

Martin Beck and Herman Fehr announced plans for the Palace Theatre in December 1911 after leasing a prominent site at Broadway and West 47th Street. The project was designed by Kirchhoff & Rose, with James J. F. Gavigan serving as associate architect. Building plans were filed in February 1912. Beck initially suggested that the theatre would operate independently of the Orpheum interests, but he later agreed to use it for vaudeville. Because of the competitive relationship between the Orpheum and Keith–Albee circuits, the venue's booking arrangements became strategically important. Edward Albee required Beck to transfer a substantial ownership interest before Keith–Albee acts could appear there, and offices associated with the booking organization occupied part of the building. The theatre opened in 1913 as part of a large complex consisting of an office wing along Broadway and a theatre wing on West 47th Street. Its richly decorated auditorium contained an orchestra level, two balconies, side boxes, and an oversized stage. The design used French-inspired ornament, plasterwork, marble finishes, stained-glass and bronze lobby screens, and a prominent chandelier. With its large capacity and location beside Times Square, the Palace quickly became a premier vaudeville house. From the 1910s through the 1920s, performers and agents treated a Palace engagement as one of the highest distinctions available on the vaudeville circuit. The decline of vaudeville led to a change in use. In the 1930s, under RKO Theatres, the venue became known as the RKO Palace Theatre and operated primarily as a cinema palace. The building nevertheless retained connections to live variety entertainment, and vaudeville appearances continued occasionally into the 1950s. In 1965, the Nederlander Organization purchased the theatre. After alterations to the auditorium and technical facilities, it reopened as a Broadway house in 1966. The changes included a new orchestra pit and modifications to the historic boxes and other interior elements. A more radical physical transformation took place from 1987 to 1991. The original Broadway-facing office wing was largely removed and replaced by a high-rise hotel designed by Fox & Fowle. The hotel, initially an Embassy Suites and later a DoubleTree Suites, was constructed above and around the retained auditorium. The theatre lobby from the earlier complex was preserved in altered form, while hotel rooms were supported by major structural columns and trusses that spanned around the theatre. The arrangement allowed the historic auditorium to survive despite the replacement of much of its surrounding building. The auditorium was designated a New York City landmark and remained the defining historic component of the venue. It retained its three-level configuration, curved balconies, side boxes, decorative proscenium, plaster ceiling, and other elements associated with its 1913 design, although portions of the interior had been changed or removed over time. The theatre closed in 2018 for the construction of TSX Broadway. The hotel and surrounding structures were subsequently redeveloped, while the auditorium was preserved as an independent structural enclosure. The project raised it approximately 30 feet on new supports and caissons, added substantial backstage and public space, and relocated the entrance to West 47th Street. Restoration during the 2020s used historic photographs and molds to recreate missing decorative work. The renovated theatre was completed in May 2024 and continued the Palace's role as a Broadway venue.

1. 2024Renovation completed

   The renovated Palace Theatre was completed with restored ornament, a new entrance, and expanded theatre facilities.

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2. 2022Auditorium raised

   The auditorium was lifted approximately 30 feet as part of the structural work for TSX Broadway.

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3. 2018Closure for TSX Broadway

   The Palace closed for a redevelopment that would place a new mixed-use tower around the historic auditorium.

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4. 1991Theatre reopens inside hotel complex

   The Palace reopened within the newly completed Embassy Suites/DoubleTree hotel structure.

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5. 1987Major reconstruction begins

   The theatre closed while its surrounding building was replaced by a large hotel development.

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6. 1966Palace returns as a Broadway theatre

   Following renovation and alterations, the venue reopened as a Broadway house.

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7. 1965Nederlander Organization acquires the theatre

   The Nederlander Organization purchased the Palace and prepared it for renewed use as a Broadway theatre.

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8. 1930Conversion to RKO Palace

   Under RKO Theatres, the venue became primarily a movie palace while retaining occasional live entertainment.

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9. 1913Theatre opens

   The Palace opened as a major vaudeville venue financed by Martin Beck.

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10. 1912Architectural plans filed

    Kirchhoff & Rose and James J. F. Gavigan filed plans for the Palace Theatre building.

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11. 1911Palace Theatre project announced

    Martin Beck and Herman Fehr announced plans for a new theatre at the Broadway and West 47th Street site.

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Historic Broadway theatre and landmark live-performance venue

• Broadway productionsLive theatre1966

  The Palace Theatre's principal modern offering is the presentation of commercial Broadway productions. Its auditorium provides an orchestra level and two balconies, while the stage, orchestra pit, backstage areas, and audience circulation spaces support large-scale musical and theatrical productions.

• Vaudeville performancesVariety entertainment1913

  During its first decades, the Palace was a leading vaudeville venue. Its reputation among performers and agents made an appearance there a notable professional achievement. The building was designed for large audiences and touring variety acts, with extensive dressing-room and stage facilities.

• RKO Palace film presentationsCinema1930

  During the 1930s and subsequent years under RKO Theatres, the Palace operated primarily as a movie palace. A projection booth was installed for film screenings and remained part of the theatre's history until later restoration work removed it.

• 2018Preserve and raise the auditorium within TSX BroadwayStrategy

  The TSX Broadway project required extensive redevelopment of the hotel and retail structures around the landmark theatre.

  What changed. The theatre closed, was placed on new structural supports, and was raised approximately 30 feet to permit construction below it. The project also relocated the entrance and expanded public and backstage areas.

  Aftermath. The renovated venue was completed in May 2024 with approximately 1,648 seats and restored historic interior features.

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• 1987Integrate the auditorium into a hotel developmentOther

  The surrounding property was redeveloped while the historically significant auditorium was retained.

  What changed. Much of the original office wing was replaced by a hotel constructed around and above the theatre auditorium.

  Aftermath. The Palace reopened in 1991 inside the new hotel complex, preserving the auditorium while substantially changing its surrounding architecture and circulation.

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• 1965Return to Broadway operationStrategy

  After the vaudeville and cinema eras, the theatre required a new operating model suited to the modern Broadway market.

  What changed. The Nederlander Organization acquired the Palace and renovated it for Broadway presentations.

  Aftermath. The theatre reopened in 1966 as a Broadway venue and continued in that role for subsequent decades.

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• 1930Shift from vaudeville toward cinemaStrategy

  The decline of vaudeville and the growth of motion pictures changed the commercial role of many major theatres.

  What changed. Under RKO Theatres, the Palace was operated as the RKO Palace Theatre and used primarily for film presentations, while some live variety programming continued.

  Aftermath. The venue remained associated with both film exhibition and occasional live entertainment until its later return to Broadway use.

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• 2024Renovated Palace Theatre completed

  The Palace Theatre's redevelopment and restoration were completed in May 2024, with a relocated entrance, expanded support areas, and restored historic ornament.

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• 2022Historic Palace Theatre auditorium lifted during redevelopment

  As part of the TSX Broadway project, the theatre auditorium was raised by approximately 30 feet to create space for new retail and building infrastructure below it.

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• 2018Palace Theatre closes for TSX Broadway redevelopment

  The Palace Theatre closed as work began on the TSX Broadway mixed-use development, which required the historic auditorium to be retained and structurally integrated into the new building.

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1. Palace Theatre (New York City)
2. Palace Theatre venue information