Palace Theater - Peoria, Illinois

The Palace Theatre was built by William Hull and opened in Peoria, Illinois, on January 6, 1921. It was at one time the best known of the many theaters which once stood in downtown Peoria. Originally a vaudeville house, The Palace was remodeled in 1929 into a movie theatre. It was remodeled again in 1936. The Palace played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment of the era, including Burns & Allen, Duke Ellington, and Ozzie & Harriet. The theatre was sold in 1963 and the exterior was given a face-lift and in 1974, Plitt Theatres took over. The theater closed in 1980, and was soon demolished to make way for the Twin Towers.


This photo was taken in 1922 about one year after the Palace Theatre first opened