The Theater
The Palace Theatre was built in 1921 as a vaudeville house and part of the Orpheum theatre chain. In its early days, vaudeville shows ran continuously with a new act every ten minutes. Patrons could obtain admission for just 22 cents and enjoy the day’s new acts as they made their way on and off the stage.

At its inception, the interiors of the theater were glorious. Old roses, blues and creams predominated and not one singular architectural style could define the whole of the structure. The architect, J.S. Aroner from Chicago envisioned the theater as a little palace; a place in which theatergoers could feel as if they were royalty. A trip through the theater was intended to make a patron feel as if she had just made a trip through Europe. With many different architectural styles including Baroque, Spanish Renaissance, Greco-Roman and even a little Art Deco, patrons entered intricately detailed and carefully planned interiors when they entered “The Palace.”

The theater has seen its good days and its bad days. Through the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, the theater hosted such guest artists as Amos and Andy, Houdini, Imogene Coco, and even Frank Sinatra; crowds would attend in staggering numbers. The Palace even hosted the world premier movie “Knute Rockne: All American” starring Ronald Regan, Rudy Vallee, Bob Hope and Kate Smith in 1940. Twenty-four hundred people enjoyed the premier inside the theater and twenty-four thousand gathered outside the theater with the hope to catch a glimpse of the big stars. But with the advent of television, Uncle Milte and the nightly news became family rituals and low attendance records at the theater threatened the livelihood of the Palace. In 1959, the board of the Palace Theatre voted to demolish.

Later that same year, however, the theater was saved from the wrecking ball by Mrs. E.M. Morris. Mrs. Morris purchased the Palace for an undisclosed sum and sold the building to the city for $1.00. In recognition of her valiant efforts, the theater was officially renamed the Morris Civic Auditorium.

Although the theater underwent a small renovation in the early 1960’s, the years had not been kind to the Morris. After a lengthy planning and fundraising process, the theater began a complete restoration and renovation process in May of 1998. At the end of its restoration and renovation in 2000, the new Morris Performing Arts Center boasts a brand-new, state-of-the-art stage house and the interiors have been restored to their original 1921 splendor.

The Palais Royale
From the 20’s to the 50’s the Palais Royale Ballroom played a vital role in the daily lives of the people in South Bend and beyond. The ballroom, attached to the southern side of the theater, was opened in 1922. The ballroom is located over the storefronts on the corner of Michigan Street and Colfax.

The Palais featured dances every night of the week. The music was live and it was lively and at 10 cents and dance, the fun was accessible. A patron of the Palais once said, “Those were the days when I would rather dance than eat.”

Through the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, the Palais hosted dances, celebrations, and gatherings of all kinds. During W.W.II, the venue became a serviceman’s center. After the war, the venue was used for boxing matches and even became a bowling alley.

In 1968, the Palais became “The Top Deck,” a psychedelic teen dance club. 140 gallons of black paint covered the ornate painting and neon cartoon decals decorated the walls. After one year, two boys were killed outside the club and the venue was shut down. The Palais has remained closed for 32 years only opening for fundraising events as community leaders work to restore the facilities.

The only venue of its kind in South Bend, the Palais is undergoing restoration now. The decorative details will be restored to their original 1921 grandeur. Kitchen facilities, new restrooms and mechanical systems will be added or renovated. The original grand staircase will be restored and the Palais will be a remarkable venue for celebrations and gatherings of all kinds.