Palace Theater
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at 605 Market Avenue North in Canton, the Palace Theater is a brick movie house designed by Chicago architect John Eberson. Its facade combines terra cotta pilasters, turrets, a Dutch gable and a 56-foot "PALACE" sign. Inside, the 2,100-seat auditorium is made to look like a Spanish garden under a Mediterranean night sky, with false terraced walls, painted shrubbery, star-like lights and a domed ceiling. Canton businessman Harry H. Ink, who made his fortune from the sore throat remedy Tonseline, financed the project but died in February 1926 before it opened, and his son oversaw completion. The theater opened on November 22, 1926, and went on to host films, vaudeville, road shows, civic programs and big band performances. It was listed because it is a nearly unaltered example of Eberson's atmospheric design. At the time of listing it stood vacant, and a committee had formed to restore its role in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a virtually unaltered, outstanding example of Eberson's 1920s "atmospheric" movie theater design. It was one of Canton's major movie palaces and hosted films, vaudeville, live theater and civic events. It is also a well-executed example of the Spanish motifs common in 1920s American architecture.
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 79001949, listed April 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 605 Market Ave., N., Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | April 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926 |
| Architect / builder | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | "Atmospheric" theater with Spanish Churrigueresque motifs |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant at the time of nomination; the interior is virtually unaltered apart from some seat changes and recent water damage to ceiling plaster. A "Save the Palace Committee" had recently formed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Upper Downtown Canton Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 40.80212, -81.37397 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79001949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7126203
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.