Palace Theatre
Why it's listed
Opened in 1918 at 12 East Sixth Street in Cincinnati, this theatre and office building was designed by Chicago theatre architect George Rapp and built by the Ohio Construction Company for $500,000. Its five-story office front is faced in white glazed terra cotta with Neoclassic and Italianate details, while the interior combines Neoclassic and French Baroque decoration, heavy plaster relief, grand twin staircases and crystal chandeliers. Arched and vaulted ceilings and two large domes give the hall notable acoustics, and about 2,600 seats fit in a space without pillars blocking sight lines. Built for vaudeville under Keith interests, it passed to RKO in 1925 and became a flagship house for first-run films and live stars. It closed in 1976, was bought in 1978 and restored for live entertainment, reopening that October. The nomination describes it as the last great theatre left in the city. A note later in the file reports that it was demolished.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last great theatre still standing in Cincinnati and the last legitimate theatre built there before films arrived. It cites the ornate plaster work, vaulted and domed ceilings with outstanding acoustics, and an efficient use of space as marks of early 20th century theatre design. It also notes its later role as a flagship RKO house.
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 80004067, listed March 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 E. 6th St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004067 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918 |
| Architect / builder | George Rapp (architect); Ohio Construction Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassic with French Baroque influence; Italianate motif on the facade |
| Areas of significance | Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form describes the building as completely restored and reopened in 1978 after closing in 1976. A later note in the file says the theatre has been demolished and should be removed from the Register. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.10257, -84.51274 (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 80004067.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7126205
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.