Palace Theater
Why it's listed
Marion's Palace Theater, at 272 West Center Street, opened on August 30, 1928, as a movie house with about 1,500 seats. Its exterior is a fairly plain, irregularly massed brick building with a marquee, storefronts, round-arched second-story windows, and a decorated gable-like sign front. The interior is far more elaborate. Architect John Eberson designed it as a Spanish patio, with garden walls, classical statues in niches, and a domed ceiling meant to look like a starry sky with drifting clouds. Eberson was among the foremost theater designers of the 1920s and is credited with developing the atmospheric theater. The Palace cost roughly half a million dollars, was built for sound films but opened with silent pictures, and featured a Page organ and early air conditioning. In the 1930s and 1940s it hosted well-known entertainers and big bands. The nomination records that the building was in good condition, with restoration under way by local supporters.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the last movie houses built during the golden age of silent cinema. It is an example of the work of John Eberson, a leading theater designer of the 1920s known for the "atmospheric" theater. Its Spanish patio interior, with a starlit domed ceiling, is described as the defining achievement.
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 76001486, listed March 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 272 W. Center St., Marion |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | March 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001486 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Spanish Rococco interior (atmospheric theater design) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, with restoration work in progress; the owner is a cultural arts association and a group called the Palace Guard hopes to restore it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.58879, -83.13787 (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 76001486.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19817700
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.