THE PALACE

by Marian Spitzer ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 19, 1969

The Queen of Vaudeville in its munificent heyday, the Palace Theatre has become theatrical legend. Along with impressive research, the author brings an insider's view to its history--she was one of its resident press agents. The Palace got off to an inauspicious start in 1913; it was the brain child of Martin Beck who almost immediately was out-maneuvered by the notorious entrepreneur E. F. Albee who ruled like a spiteful monarch until after the depression when he was, in turn, slyly dethroned by Joseph Kennedy (father of John and Robert). This alone is an interesting record of Show Biz shenanigans and merciless in-fighting. But in the meantime there were the stars--Sarah Bernhardt (who actually launched the legend), W. C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, The Marx Brothers, Gallagher & Sheen, Fred Allen, Bob Hope and an array of names, some still famous, many now forgotten, and the acts and jokes that dominated the spotlight. Mrs. Spitzer recalls Monday morning rehearsals, the great matinees, the pressured excitement of the Sixth Floor ""Command Post"" and the menacing Albee (whose greatest contribution to the theatre has been an adopted grandson--Edward). Then there was the decline with the advent of the talkies and the regeneration with headliners like Judy Garland, and finally the new era of the musical. A competent time-step back along Broadway for soft-shoed nostalgics.

Pub Date: March 19, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION