More questions on the Palace Theatre Sydney

It appears the Palace was mainly headed with vaudeville acts in the early 2oth century. Yet, J.M.Barrie's drama, mentioned in the previous post, is not vaudeville? Was there an interchange between shows?

When I worked at the Palace, there were a network of dressing rooms round the back of the stage. What fascinated me were two huge mirrors, facing each other, taking up the whole wall and floor to ceiling. They were surrounding with light. Just the grand setting of these rooms seemed to imply important shows, attracting importing actors, were staged here.

How big was the orchestra playing here? A regular orchestra?

Palace Theatre Shows early 1900's

Does anyone know any details of the following?

Arnold, Charles; Hans the Boatman (Clay M Greene); Palace Theatre; Sydney; December 1901.
Arnold, Charles; The Professor's Love Story (J M Barrie); Palace Theatre; Sydney; 20 January 1902.
Arnold, Charles; An Empty Stocking (Fred Wright); Palace Theatre; Sydney; 17 July 1902.
Arnold, Charles; The Professor's Love Story (J M Barrie); Palace Theatre; c. 1902.
Arnold, Charles; Why Smith Left Home; Palace Theatre; Sydney; 1902.
Baine, Florence; Miss Lancashire Ltd; Palace Theatre; Sydney; c. 1905.

Weird Tales of the Palace Theatre, Sydney

In the 1970's, when I worked casually at the Palace Theatre, I heard many strange tales.

One, in particular, fascinated me.

The Palace Theatre still retained the orchestra pit in front of the stage. I would walk down past the stalls, past the orchestra pit, through a side door near the stage. Finally I passed a narrow, black, spiral, wrought iron staircase.

And here is where the tale begins.

Often, I would feel a chill pocket of air. It was not a draught. It was like the air, in a particular spot, was a decidely lower temperature than the surrounding air. It was almost as if the air was wrapping around me.

Usherettes told me they had heard that a ringer (a curtain ringer) had always wanted to be an actor. For some reason, the closest he could get to the stage was his job as a ringer. One night, when he finally brought down the curtain after a live show, he was caught in the ropes, swung to the top of the curtain, and then plummeted to his death in the orchestra pit.

Apparently, he used the spiral staircase to check the ropes and curtain.

Was the chill in the air, his presence still in the theatre?

When the Palace was demolished, I believe the Menzies Hotel near Wynyard Station, bought the spiral staircase. I wonder if "the chill" went with it?

Any information on old Palace Theatre Pitt Street Sydney?

If any one can help with information on the Palace Theatre, Pitt Street Sydney - origins etc.- please help! I have sourced the internet, but can only find a programme mention for 1880!

When was it built? By and for whom?

In the 1970's, to support my study at Sydney University, I worked with the chain of Hoyts Theatres. One theatre always fascinated me - the Palace Theatre.

Dressed in a hideous yellow uniform, I served refreshments (alone) from a small table in the lounge area of the Palace Theatre. Everything had to be all packed away before I ran to the next theatre, just in time to help others working at the Embassy or Mayfair theatres. Yes!!! It was a great "keep fit" job!

In future posts, I will include some memories of the Palace!