Jamestown Magazine. Vol. 1 No. 2, March 1984 

The Return of the Palace
by Carol Svenson Smith

    Midway into Harry Chapin's concert at the Palace in June 1981, it began to rain heavily -- on the stage and on the audience.  The show went on.  The audience was undeterred though one or two people hoisted open umbrellas, to laughs and applause.  Chapin was undaunted.  He voiced what many area residents had long felt: "You'd better take care of this theater or you may lose it.  I'll make you an offer," he said.  "If you can get together a plan to save this theater, I'll come back and do a benefit."  The motion was passed--the audience response was loud, sustained, and unanimous.

    In five minutes, both the problem and the solution were demonstrated.  The leaking roof signified the physical obstacles to be overcome and the audience response was a clue to the determination of Jamestown people to save the Palace. 

    The Palace is a relic, to be sure; but it is a reminder of the pleasures of intimate scale in theater design from a time, 1923 to be precise, when grace and elegance of detail included some flamboyance.  Its spaces evoke a sense of community, as audiences at that concert and at events since will testify.

    For many years local citizens had explored the idea of turning the former vaudeville and movie house into a civic center. A CETA-sponsored project studied the feasibility of conversion to an arts center.  The Jamestown Planning Commission in their Comprehensive Plan recommended that "the city should support and encourage the development of the Palace Theater into a Civic Arts Center."  In June 1982 a study sponsored by Chautauqua County Association for the Arts delineated the pros  and cons of the project.  Later that month, people interested in the future of the Palace met to discuss their ideas.  They felt that the building held great potential as a civic center-for community-wide service, not exclusively arts-and were strong enough in their convictions to pursue the project.  After the city gained title to the building, this group, under the auspices of Chautauqua County Association for the Arts, obtained a lease in order to conduct a one-year pilot project.

    1982-83 was the year of that project.  The first volunteer work session was held on October 2, and the group found much to be done.  Roof repairs were critical and were begun immediately.  With increasing momentum, volunteers came forward to offer professional services to help ready the building for its opening.  First, individuals pitched in to  clean debris and broken plaster.  Then, an electrician arrived, offering help.  A BOCES carpentry class volunteered to build a new box office.

    The first group to formally volunteer professional services was the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Machine Operators, who voted to donate their labor to restore the stage to operating condition.

    Businesses contributed such services as cleaning the carpets, checking the heating and cooling systems, and others contributed prizes to be awarded for the gala fundraiser.  Food and beverages were donated to feed the many volunteer workers.

    The Palace became a rallying point for community spirit.  As passers-by saw the marquee lights blazing, many stopped by to see what was happening--and returned, bucket and cleaning rags in hand, to help.

    The reasons for helping were as varied as the volunteers themselves.  Some felt that the downtown area revitalization would be furthered by the activity a civic center can generate.  Others wanted fight the trend of urban decay by the restoration rather than demolition of sound buildings.  Interest in  expanding local entertainment potential brought some people to help, and others came simply because they love the building.  Whatever their reasons, people worked.  They donated time, money, materials, expertise, and support for the project in a demonstration of community unity.

    During the year, the city used the rent for patching the roof.  Water damage was such that the building was in danger of being beyond repair.

    As the work went forward, more and more events were scheduled.  The Buffalo Philharmonic appeared "Live at the Palace," along with Judy Collins, Terri Gibbs, and Buddy Rich and his band.  There were movies for the March of Dimes Benefit, a St. Patrick's Day party, an evening of jazz with Norm Paduano, a "1940's Radio Hour," a children's matinee series.  Chuck Mangione played to a packed house.  A Jamestown Nostalgia Day brought a silent movie and the American Eagle Band.  The Chautauqua Chamber Singers presented a Gilbert and Sullivan program.

    At the end of that year of experiment, an evaluation committee took a hard look at the Palace.  It was clear that the project should be continued.  Community interest and enthusiasm had been amply demonstrated.

    It was also clear that the work of reclamation was only begun.  Subsidies would be needed to stabilize the building and to accomplish technical and physical upgrading, with full restoration further down the line. 

    As the hundreds of volunteers took a "leap of faith" in committing themselves to the survival of the Palace, the Gebbie Foundation provided a solid vote of confidence in the form of a $100,000 challenge grant.  Of this amount, $70,000 was directed toward capital improvements and $30,000 toward the Civic Center's operating budget.  The Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency contributed $38,000, with additional grants from the T. James and Hazel C. Clarke Foundation, the Hultquist Foundation, and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

    Another $57,000 must be raised from the community this year, and the Palace Civic Center's Board of Directors has undertaken this task, with a successful patron drive in the fall and a raffle planned for April.

    Meantime, essential-and permanent-repairs have been done.  The roof, previously patched, has now been repaired to last for 25 years, at a cost of $58,000.  Backstage, repairs costing $3,500 have been accomplished and $4,000 has been expended on bathrooms and dressing rooms.  Technical repairs have accounted for an additional $6,000, with $13,000 required for the stabilization of interior and exterior walls.  Insulation of the dome has been budgeted at $5,000, and the repair of the parapet at $6,000.

    The Palace sign over the marquee, considered a landmark by Jamestown residents, was found to be beyond repair and had to be removed at a  cost of $700.  To rebuild and replace it, $17,000 must be found.

    Most of these critical repairs to stabilize the building are unfortunately not visible to audiences.  But with these for the most part completed, interior reclamation can now be considered.  A committee is at work researching the original decor, and planning to bring the interior gradually back to its earlier splendor-or to its 1984 equivalent.

    Under the management of CCAA, and with professional staff programming for the spring of this year will bring to the Palace Civic Center a wonderful array of events.  On March 15, the Jamestown concert Association will present the Vienna choir Boys, and on May 13 the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.  The Concert Association has found the acoustics at the Palace such that they have already booked their 1984-85 season here.  On March 31, "The P-J Jamboree" with Grand Ole Opry stars Minnie Pearl and Tom T. Hall will bring the best of country western entertainment to the Palace.  The warm-up band for this event will be the winner of radio station WHUG's Country Talent Search, to be held at the Palace each Sunday in March.

    Pianist Misha Dichter will present his pre-Carnegie Hall concert at the Palace on April 27, to be followed on May 6 with the great Count Basie.

    As a civic center, the Palace is open for programming by local organizations and presenters, as well as by CCAA.  As a result, there is an air of excitement--new events are booked in each week.   

    As a civic center, the Palace can also be the site for lunch-hour seminars, business and educational conferences, art exhibits, meetings, benefits, wedding receptions, classes, workshops.

    The community's vision, hard work, and financial support have brought the Palace a long way.  The potential benefits to the community are clear.  The community's continuing involvement is needed.

10/31/2003