By Kate Bartlett
This Sunday, Feb 5th, the historic Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown will begin a yearlong celebration of the Palace Theater with a free public event at 2pm. 100 years ago to the day, in 1923, the Palace Theater opened at 116 E 3rd Street in the heart of Jamestown. The theater has been entertaining families for generations, from silent films and variety shows in the 20’s to movies in the 50’s to live events and concerts in recent years, the Reg Lenna is a historic landmark with a story to tell.
The Palace Theatre opened with a program featuring live music, public officials and a screening of the Lionel Barrymore Film A Face in the Fog. The theater originally opened as a vaudeville house with more movie showings added as the years went on. It was an entertainment hub of films and live events through 1956. The theater showed cartoons and movies all day and kids frequently spent their days at the Palace. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz chose the Palace to premiere their film “Forever Darling”, a major event for the Jamestown area including a parade and other celebrations.
It began to fall into disrepair, and a memorable concert in 1981 highlighted the need for reconstruction. “Harry Chapin performed a solo concert at the Palace during a rainstorm, with buckets collecting rainwater surrounding him,” recalls Len Barry, director of marketing and communications with Reg Lenna. “The public finally realized the need to restore the Palace, and it sparked the need for renovation to the theatre. Harry promised to come back to perform another concert, once the theater was repaired.”
The community began collecting funds in the early 80’s to renovate the Palace. Reginald and Elizabeth Lenna provided a generous amount of funding to complete the renovations, and therefore the theater was renamed in his honor to be the Reg Lenna Civic Center. The theatre reopened in 1990 and has continued to be a hub of entertainment and programming showcasing The Arts with over 60 films and 30 live events annually. In 2014, Harry Chapin’s family and musician friends held a celebration concert at the Reg Lenna in his honor, fulfilling his promise to return. Harry had passed away shortly after his performance at the Palace in 1981.
“The theater has been such an important landmark in Jamestown” says Len. “It’s truly a multigenerational performance space for our community members. Many children have enjoyed their first film in here, then they return as students, they may even perform on stage through organizations like the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet. They may become parents and return with their own children, beginning the cycle again. The one thing the Reg Lenna always offers is a live community audience experience. It’s classic and timeless.”
Len describes the theater as an elegant and enticing masterpiece, luring it’s guests in with every step. “It is a classic theatre experience. Guests are greeted with the brightly lit marquee from the street into the lobby where they find our box office. They’re guided over to our refreshment stand, anticipation building as they enter the inner lobby and mezzanine with its grand chandelier. Finally, they enter the main theater, the grand space of over 1,000 seats, including mezzanine seating and grand architecture. The screen is flanked by beautiful large curtains in a classic proscenium.”
The Centennial Celebration kicks off Sunday, February 5th at 2pm. Before a free screening of the 2003 Jack Black comedy, School of Rock, Executive Director Hillary Meyer will speak, along with special guests from the community. Treats for those in attendance include cake and other snacks. A larger commemorative event recognizing the Palace will take place this fall, along with special events and movie showings throughout the year. Len invites readers to “come experience the theatre and help us celebrate this great milestone.”
This milestone is a great opportunity to reflect on the past. “The past is very important” says Len. “It gives us the opportunity to look back over 100 years and look forward to what’s next in the future of the arts.”
Other upcoming events at the Reg Lenna include a variety of opportunities to experience the theater. March 18 features Colin Mochrie in Hyprov: Improv Under Hyposis, March 23 will host The Beatles Experience: Yesterday and Today, and on May 6 the one-woman play All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Visit https://reglenna.com/ for more information, tickets, and full schedule of events.