Palace Theater **Permission Visit**

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BritishAtHeart

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** Permission Visit**

I meant to post this earlier, but I was having issues with my Flickr account. These photos were taken back in July with a Fujifilm S8200 series camera, with permission of the owners. At the time, they were having the place surveyed and gave me permission to have a look around. They have also given permission to use their names and tell a bit of their story here.

The Palace Theater was built in the 1950's when Ernest was 19. They used to haul materials from the nearby train station over to the building site by horse and cart. The trenches to pour the foundation were dug by hand by Ernest and his crew. He is in his 80's now and still loves to tell the story as he is proud of his accomplishment.

The Grandparents (Ernest's parents) lived in the small apartment upstairs above the theater. Ernest's daughter, LeeAnne showed me around and told me personal stories of the time spent there with her Grandparents; helping to run what was then the family buisness. Many dinners at the dining room table, the couch with the fold out bed. As the family grew, there wasn't enough room in the apartment so some of the kids acutally slept in the space behind the screen (which also happened to be where their Grandmother kept some of her preserves.) Sometimes when she had to go get a jar of preserves for her Grandmother, her brothers would turn the lights out on her from the office downstairs.

Ernest operated the projectors while their Grandpa sold and collected tickets. Grandma operated the concession stand selling sweets and popcorn. When LeeAnne was young, her parents would let them watch some of the movie from the apartment upstairs before they went to bed.

Now, unfortunately, the building sits in a state of disrepair. Water leaks have caused a considerable amount of damage and they are not sure if they will be able to save it. It was great to get a tour around and hear the family's personal stories of the place when it was open. It bought some life back to the structure and I could almost smell the popcorn in the air as I imagined the theater openining up in the afternoons and evenings for a showing.

These, I feel, are the pictures that are most interesting and turned out best. If you want to see all of them, please go here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskK1AMT5

**Pic Heavy**
These beautiful double doors once held frosted glass - they were beautiful.
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The screening room with remaining seats. This was actually taken from the projection booth upstairs.
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The seats sit in various stages of decay...
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The projection room:
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Found this stashed away on a shelf. LeeAnne was close by, going through stuff as well that she hopes to preserve.
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And finally,, here is the 'living room' of the apartment. The window on the left is where LeeAnne and her siblings used to sit.
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As always, thanks for looking!

Brit At Heart
 
Last edited:
I've figured out how to add more photos. Flickr changed things up a bit, added a few steps.
 

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