A rare, 104-year-old Calgary theatre was once the largest in the city
Right in the heart of downtown Calgary sits the iconic Palace Theatre, one of the city’s most historic entertainment venues with an incredibly storied past.
The theatre was constructed in 1921 by the Allen brothers, Jay and Jule, and their father, Bernard, and was designed by the internationally recognized American architect Howard C. Crane.Â
In the early 20th century, the Allen Family ran the largest chain of cinemas in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The Palace Theatre was one of the last they built. With over 1,900 seats, it was the largest theatre in Calgary at the time.Â
The theatre hosted a variety of shows, including movie screenings, organ recitals, orchestral selections, and variety acts, making it a central entertainment hub in the city. It also played a pioneering role in radio in Alberta. In 1922, the first public radio broadcast in Calgary took place at the Palace, when three members of the Palace orchestra performed live over the Calgary Herald’s radio station.Â
In 1923, the Allen family went bankrupt, and the Palace Theatre was sold to Famous Players. Despite the changes in ownership, the Palace remained a hub in Calgary’s entertainment scene.
The Palace Theatre/Facebook
From 1925 to 1927, William “Bible Bill” Aberhart aired his radio show Back to the Bible from the Palace before eventually becoming the Premier of Alberta.
In 1955, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra was established, and the Palace was considered its first home, hosting numerous performances until the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium opened in 1957.
In 1990, the Palace Theatre closed its doors and remained closed until 1996, when it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. The building was then renovated and restored to try and preserve the lavish interior.Â
In 1998, the Palace Theatre reopened, but this time as a nightclub and cigar lounge, called the Palace, which remained open until 2004.
In 2007, the venue opened again, but under a different name, Flames Central. It was a sports restaurant, bar, nightclub, and concert venue partnered with the Calgary Flames. Flames Central operated for roughly 10 years until it underwent a rebrand and returned to its historic name, The Palace Theatre.
Today, it is one of four movie palaces still standing in Western Canada, and a rare surviving example of the once-booming Allen family cinemas. So next time you find yourself on Stephen Avenue, make sure to stop by and appreciate a piece of Calgary’s rich history.