Palais Theatre

Infobox Theatre
name = Palais Theatre

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city = Melbourne
country = Australia
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opened = 1914
rebuilt =
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website =www.palaistheatre.net.auThe Palais Theatre is a former picture theatre now functioning as a live performance venue located in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.

The building, which retains all its original features is considered one of the finest examples of Art deco architecture in Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

In 2006 the City of Port Phillip who own the site put out tenders for it to be restored by a private operator as part of the redevelopment of the "Triangle Site" [http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/about_the_triangle_site.html] .

History

There have been several theatres named "Palais" in St Kilda, the first of which opened in 1914.

One of them was on the same site, when at the end of World War I in 1915 the Palais de Danse site became Palais Pictures. In 1919, a steel-framed, arched truss structure was built over the old dance-hall and the Palais de Danse was relocated next door, to the north (this building was also later destroyed by fire).

In 1922, while work commenced on the Capital Theatre, Walter Burley Griffin began designing a remodelled Palais Pictures. Construction of Griffin's plans began in 1925, but a spectacular fire engulfed the stage in February 1926, just before completion bringing a halt to work. When the Griffin's moved on to Sydney, the developers commissiobned a new architect, Henry E. White to build a larger, more grand theatre.

Built in 1927 to the design of Henry E. White, the Palais is situated by Port Phillip Bay, facing the Lower Esplanade, and part of a turn of the century entertainment district.

When built it was one of the largest theaters in the southern hemisphere.

Features

Interiors and exteriors are inspired by Moorish architecture with twin dome towers, a theme shared by many surrounding buildings in the suburb, including Luna Park which is adjacent to the south, the St Kilda Pavilion, St Kilda Sea Baths and Walter Burley Griffin's "Palais de danse" which once stood adjacent to the west but was destroyed by fire. The exteriors also feature faux Egyptian elements, whilst the interiors also include Baroque inspired elements.

In Popular culture

*A digitally modified Palais makes a cameo in the movie Dead Silence as the abandoned and haunted "Theatre at Lost Lake", featuring the top of the building and its towers.

External links

* [http://www.palaistheatre.net.au/ Palais Theatre official website]
* [http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/stkilda_triangle_site.html Redeveloping Triangle site]