Old Theatres Charming but Challenging

Palace Theatre - Louisville

As a guest blogger I really didn’t know what to write about. Then we arrived at our weekend location and I realized I know old theatres are a pain in the butt to deliver to.

Which brings us to the Palace Theatre in Louisville Ky. Built in 1928 and refurbished in the 1990’s it is a real theatre. The lobby and the theatre are both very colorful and ornate. The vaulted ceiling has little twinkling lights that look like stars when the lights dim. There are sculptures on the velvet covered walls; it is actually a real treat to come to these time capsules.

Alley leading to loading area

2nd Alley leading to loading area

Loading area

That is until we load in. The first task happens a week before the show is scheduled to appear at the theatre. Our lead driver Vic tells the Head Carpenter for the show, we will need a single axle tractor to get the trailers into the unloading area. Single axles are smaller cabs not used for long hauls. Our road tractors are too long to maneuver through the alleys. That’s right I said alleys, plural, more than one. First you have to make a hard right turn into the first alley missing the building on your left and the old time light pole on your right. Then proceed down the alley just barely missing the dumpster and fire escape to make a hard left to the end of the building then another hard right to the open area in the back of the theatre for the unload.

Once here the crew has their own kind of fun. They must push heavy crates, light racks and set carts over broken and cracked asphalt, down a ramp and onto the stage to set up the show.  Then since there is no place to put the empties they have to reload them back onto the trailers until Sunday. Tonight they will unload the empties, this is known as a box call, push everything back inside, load it up push it back up the ramp to reload the trucks.  Throw in some snow, ice or rain and it is a real good time.

This set up was probably pretty good for the trucks of the time, but not so much for us. I really love visiting the old theatres, but I don’t look forward to loading in and out of them.

 Vince Connell