Palace Theatre
Also known as: Albany Civic Auditorium
Why it's listed
Built in 1930 and opened in 1931 at 19 Clinton Avenue, the Palace Theatre in Albany began as a vaudeville and movie house. It was designed by John Eberson, an architect credited with more than five hundred theatres, and built by M. Shapiro and Sons. A two-story block with shops and the entry fronts the large auditorium mass behind it. Inside, a single-balcony hall in the Austrian Baroque style features molded entablatures, engaged statuary, boxes framed by arches and a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier. The grand foyer has matching red marble staircases and murals by Andrew Karoly and Jules Zarlot. On opening it ranked as the third largest theatre in the world and was owned by Jacob Fabian under RKO auspices. The city bought it in 1969 after it closed, and it has since served as a concert hall and civic auditorium, home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra. It is the last movie palace in Albany and one of three in the capital district.
Significance in brief: The Palace was the third largest theatre in the world when it opened in 1931. It is an excellent example of John Eberson's work, in an Austrian Baroque interior. It is the last movie palace in Albany and one of only three in the capital district.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79003235, listed October 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 19 Clinton Ave., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | October 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003235 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Eberson (architect); M. Shapiro and Sons (builder) |
| Architectural style | Austrian Baroque (interior, by John Eberson) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Albany and used as a civic auditorium and concert hall; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65448, -73.75003 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79003235.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7126201
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.