Pallas Theatre

[David Sechrest]

Please post any information regarding the Pallas Theatre here.

[RER]

Amazing Discovery Of Columbus History (134 Years Ago)

Dedication Program Of The Pallas Theater During 1875
Located In The St. Denis Hotel Corner of 5th & Washington Street
Columbus, Indiana

Pallas Theater Inside St. Denis Hotel (see Ricky Berkey's note @ bottom)

Comment: This is the same time period the Bartholomew County Courthouse was being built. The courthouse clock still had not been installed. This is the "horse and buggy" days and Mr. J. G. Schwartzkopf's beginning his fine opera adventures. They include some owners of Cerealine and other Columbus businessmen of 1875.

Honorable: J. G. Schwartzkopf (Tipton Mound Home Owner)

Event After Program: A Grand Ball followed immediately after the program.

The Program Follows (3 pages):







Historical Comment By Ricky Berkey: According to vol 2 of the Bartholomew County History Book, the theater in the St Denis building was very upscale and called the "Pallas Theater". According to that account it burned in a fire earlier than the one in 1894 that started in the livery. The theater was never rebuilt after that first fire.

[RER]

"The Grand Masked Ball Of 1877"

During 1877 right after the Bartholomew County Courthouse construction was completed, a grand ball was conducted at the Pallas Theater in the St. Denis Hotel building. The ball was just one of many and sponsored by the Jewish community of Columbus. There were many Jewish owned and operated stores that started operations around 1857. Mr. Samuel Samuels was the first opening a store called Trade Place during 1857.

The Jewish congregation and business owners counted the Christians among their patrons at all the shops and stores. They hosted a “Grand Masked Ball” on February 14, 1877 at the Pallas Theater to raise funds. The Columbus community, without regard to denomination, heavily attended the ball. This was the fourth ball they had sponsored at the Pallas Theater.

The Columbus newspaper, called The Weekly Republican stated the function was “the hit of the season” and further said that the newspaper readership had improved.

The newspaper said that people attending the “Masked Ball” traveled as far away as New York, Louisville, and Cincinnati to enjoy the orchestra, dance, masked processions and desserts.


Source: Indiana Government historic files for Bartholomew County. Bartholomew County Jewish history summary.