The Palace Theatre in one quick read
Short on time and curious about Calgary’s Palace Theatre? This one rewards a quick read.
It’s a movie palace on Stephen Avenue Mall in downtown Calgary, and it opened in 1921. The Allen family built it (Bernard and his sons Jay and Jule) and C. Howard Crane designed it.
What happened inside
Quite a lot. In 1922 it hosted the first public exhibition of radio in Calgary. From 1925 to 1927, William Aberhart’s Back to the Bible broadcasts came from its stage. After that came theatre and concerts, right up until the Jubilee Auditorium opened in the mid-1950s.
A National Historic Site
The Palace is a National Historic Site of Canada, designated in 1996. You can check the details in the Alberta Register of Historic Places and the Parks Canada listing.
Then take the longer way round with everything else the Palace did.
Quick answers
The Palace Theatre opened in 1921 on Stephen Avenue Mall in downtown Calgary. The Allen family built it, with Bernard and his sons Jay and Jule, and C. Howard Crane designed it. It hosted the first public exhibition of radio in Calgary in 1922.
Yes. The Palace Theatre is a National Historic Site of Canada, designated in 1996. You can check the details in the Alberta Register of Historic Places and in the Parks Canada listing. It stands on Stephen Avenue Mall in downtown Calgary.
In 1922 the Palace hosted the first public exhibition of radio in Calgary. From 1925 to 1927, William Aberhart’s Back to the Bible broadcasts came from its stage. Theatre and concerts followed, right up until the Jubilee Auditorium opened in the mid 1950s.
Sources: Alberta Register of Historic Places, Parks Canada.
Keep going with The Garneau Theatre Edmonton Is an Art Deco Cinema From 1940 and The Plaza Theatre Calgary Opened in 1935 With Will Rogers.
