In seven
short years, The Palace Theatre in downtown Vinton has become a true center of
the cultural life of the Vinton community! The latest films can be seen with
only a $2.00 admission charge and several times a year live productions are performed there by ACT
I. Many additional live performances have taken place there as well.
At
the conclusion of our twenty-sixth anniversary season, ACT I TAKE II, we have chalked up
over 150 performances in the Palace Theatre in thirty-four different staged play
productions, children's theatre productions, and vocal recitals since November,
1999. This season, ACT I will perform five shows in the theatre,
including our children's theatre production of Calamity James, our Events
Series Variety Show, and our Main Stage productions, 110 in the Shade,
The Cemetery Club, and Moon Over Buffalo.
Take a virtual tour of ACT I's resident performance facility! At right is a floor plan of the ground floor of the Palace Theatre featuring hot spots with links to interior and exterior photographs of the theatre. Click each hot spot for a link to pictures and descriptions of each location! You will also see shots of that area of the theatre during the time in which the renovation of the theatre was taking place! (Please note that there are a few very slight variations between the architect's original plan below and the final product.)
Working from the bottom of the graphic (the front of the theatre) upward, the following links can be found:
1.
Front Facade (Click the very bottom wall of the graphic)
2. Box Office (Click the left circular area)
3. Concessions (Click the right circular area)
4. The Staircase (Center curved area, lower half of the graphic)
5. Lobby (Central open area of the graphic)
6. Light Booth (Center square above the stairway)
7. Passage (Click the long, narrow space right of the auditorium)
8. Auditorium (Click the upper portion of the seating area)
9. Proscenium and Apron (Open space above the seating area)
10. Stage (Click the open space above the proscenium area)
11. Green Room, Shop area (Click the rear rest room space)
12. Green Room, Makeup and dressing room area (Rear open space)
13. Back Alley and Stage door (Click the back or right side outer wall)
14. Projection Room (Click the very bottom of the seating area)
15. Balcony (Click the lower seating area)
This multiple purpose facility officially opened in mid November, 1999. It is available to a wide variety of area groups.
The Fourth Street entrance to the Palace Theatre, shortly before the facility's opening!
In September and October of 1999, as work on the Palace was racing toward its conclusion, Vinton's massive downtown street construction project being carried out during the summer of 1999 reached the Palace, with the street and sidewalk torn out and water lines exposed. Many feared that the timing of the street project would delay the long anticipated opening of the Palace. But with the city determined to have the street project finished before winter, the street in front of the building was ready at exactly the same time as the building itself.
Fourth Street, just west of the Palace Theatre.
The Palace Theatre, built in 1915, served Vinton as a 500 seat theatre for over 50
years. Helen Keller once lectured there. Twice gutted by fire, the theatre was
closed in the 1970s, the floor leveled, and it was converted into a gym.
When the Old Creamery Theatre closed its
Garrison facility in 1996 to be in permanent residence in Amana, it offered the
enormous building to ACT I, which frequently performed
there when the professional company was in its off season. After making the
difficult decision to turn down the gift because of structural problems, ACT I began
to explore various options for acquiring its own performance space. In 1997, after
seriously considering the option of new construction on donated land as well as renovating
various existing buildings, the ever ambitious community theatre opted
for a link with the past by selecting the Palace, then known as Hummel's Total Workout, as
its future home. Vinton is a community of modest economic means with just
5,000 residents in a county with a total population of only 27,000, but support for the
project was quick and decisive. Enthusiastically the community embraced this move
to preserve a piece of its historical heritage. Fundraising began in summer
while a production of Oliver! was in rehearsal. By the time that show's
run had concluded in mid September, over $130,000 had been raised. ACT I purchased
the building in December of 1997 after fundraising was sufficient to proceed with the
project. Nearly $600,000 was ultimately raised, with many
additional in-kind donations of labor and services.
Kurt and Lu Karr and Julie Zimmer, long time ACT I members and supporters, took charge of making this happen, Kurt serving as general contractor and Lu and Julie handling fund raising details. Many ACT I volunteers worked long hours volunteering their labor for completing the building. Kurt and Lu did much of the work hanging the wall covering in the auditorium themselves; and volunteers such as Kevin Bookmeier, Austin Karr, and Matt Salger also contributed hundreds of man hours to see the project completed.
The structure, which measures 120 feet by 40 feet,
opened in November of 1999 as a performing arts center and public cinema. The renovations, rather than being
historic restoration, created a completely new facility within the 85 year old
shell. The entire building was gutted, with only the walls and roof
remaining before construction began. The original interior configuration would not be viable for the demands the
theatre must now meet as both a public cinema and a venue for live performances. In the interest of comfort and other space needs,
the auditorium is significantly smaller than the original, allowing for more intimate
performances. The new Palace features a significantly larger stage and
a larger lobby, as well as a green room backstage that was non existent in the original
design. There is full compliance with current code requirements.
From Fourth Street patrons enter under a marquee
into a two story lobby with concession and office areas open to view. The lobby balcony adds to the space patrons will have for casual mingling during intermissions. At a mezzanine
level is found the light booth for live performances. A projection
booth for the cinema is on the balcony level. Behind the stage (in the same space occupied by the original
stage) will be a room that will serve as both scene shop and green room, as well as two
dressing rooms. An enclosed passage runs the length of the auditorium on both
levels.
A look back at Vinton's Palace Theatre ...
The Palace once sported a classic art deco front with overhanging marquee, a common style for movie theatres of the 1930s.
An unfortunate 1967 renovation robbed the building of the marquee and art deco character and cheapened its look, both inside and out. Below, like the new exterior makeover, the non-descript lobby decor lacked any kind of design integrity and looked uninviting, even when new. Little had changed on the front facade when ACT I purchased the building late in 1997.
The following passage was written by General Contractor Kurt Karr, who supervised the 1999 reconstruction of the Palace, and appeared originally on our website during the construction phase of the theatre. It now appears here again as a reminder to patrons and ACT I members of the work that went into this facility by our many volunteers. Kurt has long been active with ACT I, and served on a voluntary basis as general contractor for the Palace Theatre Project.
"Looking at the
Palace Theater today it is difficult to realize how much like a fantasy this all
seemed at the outset. I will always remember our first meetings in the summer of
1997 and the way Linda's face looked when we suggested raising $350,000; she was
showing on the outside what all of us secretly thought on the inside. It doesn't
seem at all possible that we've made it this far, but of course, we have.
Most of the financial resources are now in place. The demolition of the interior
is done, the old concrete I helped pour in 1981 has been removed and in its
place is the new stage front wall and the auditorium seating area. The water and
sewer lines have been hooked-up to the mains thanks to Hessenius Plumbing and
Heating. At this writing Karr Mobile Concrete is ready to pour the concrete
steps to the projector and light booth, the same steps that may provide access
to the balcony we hope to construct. Finally, the front of the building has been
removed; the first big sign to the public that we have been at work.
For the Facilities Committee it has been a voyage into areas of knowledge that
none of us would otherwise have cared to learn about. Does a movie projector
need 220-volt service? How much additional space between rows of seats do cup holders require? How many……speakers, microphones, toilets, sinks, steps,
feet of space, and of course, dollars?
Among our big struggles was the effort to keep the stage height as low as we
could. Every available inch was shaved-off by slightly raising the concrete
walks at the entrance, putting a slight slope inside the building, and juggling
seat layout. Close behind was the effort to solve the dilemma of providing
access to the stage for handicapped individuals. Architect John Shaw's design
providing a walkway screened from the audience's view was an excellent response
to that need, for handicapped access and for actors to move through the theater
while staying out of audience view.
The struggles never seem to end, however, and there are many yet to go. We're
now looking for someone to fabricate and install the structural steel components
to be followed by rough carpentry and HVAC. Small groups are continuing to work
on options for lighting, sound, and projection equipment.
It continues to be a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of people, and
speaking for all of us, to work toward creation of such a valuable community
asset."
Kurt
Kurt Karr of Vinton, whose local companies include Karr Tuckpointing, Apex Office Supply, and Karr Properties, is pictured above in his role as J. Bruce Ismay in our recent readers' theatre production of The Titanic Disaster Hearings, held at the Vinton City Hall.
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