he curtain is closing on the Palace Theater. The property where the 1920s-era auditorium sits in Lansford is being eyed for redevelopment as a new medical office building. According to developer Joseph Bennett, the state of the building leaves him with little option other than to take it down.

That news has prompted many current and former residents to share their memories of the theater, which showed movies through the 1960s, and later served as a restaurant, a club for teens, and even a furniture showroom.The Palace opened as a 900-seat theater for live productions in the early 1920s. Longtime residents will remember the theater when it later operated as a movie house. During that time, two large murals depicting coal miners sat on each side of the stage.Diane Jacobs recalled the opulent interior of the theater. She said that extended to the ladies restroom, which had a lounge with a red carpet and a large mirror."If the movie wasn't interesting, you could be sure to find a group of young women sitting in the lounge talking and laughing," she recalled.It was a haven for the young people of the town. Martin Ditsky recalled watching horror films like "Mr. Sardonicus" and "Village of the Damned."Jacobs said that kids tried to find all kinds of mischief, to the chagrin of the usher, Pete."Pete had a flashlight that he used to shine on young couples in the back row doing what came naturally - major lip lock! He also used it to find the kids who threw candy, bubble gum (chewed), etc. from the balcony onto the people sitting on the main level," she recalled.In the late '60s, the owner of the Ridge Center store, Bill McDonald, opened a furniture showroom in the theater and took out the old seating.Doyle Dietz recalled when he and his wife lived in an apartment upstairs during that time, and hosted many friends to watch a new show called "Monday Night Football." He said the apartment was so large he had to actually get rid of things when he eventually moved to a new house.Ultimately, a fire closed the furniture showroom. Damage to the theater was estimated at $200,000.The entire interior of the building, owned by William J. McDonald, was gutted and a large stock of new household furniture was destroyed.According to Times News archives, Sgt. Joseph Delpero and patrolman Francis Karnish of the Lansford Police Department were patrolling in the area and heard an explosion when the doors of the building were blown open.Edward Kanick, who owned the theater between 1984 and 1996, said the fire severely damaged the murals, stage, and the entire interior of the building.Despite that, the brick exterior was not affected. Kanick renovated the building with an eye toward making it a bar and restaurant. He and his family lived in the building's apartments as well.But when it opened, he did not have a liquor license. So it became an under-21 club called The Jungle."I had so many kids - I call them kids, they're older now - that have contacted me recently in regard to all the good times, that they're so sad to see it coming down," he said.Eventually, Kanick secured a liquor license and opened the Palace Restaurant. He said the restaurant was a destination for holiday parties during that time. Many times, companies had to book a date in December up to a year in advance. Eventually, Kanick sold the business and moved on, but he said running it was a lifelong goal."I remember being 8-10 years of age and sitting up in that balcony and watching movies like the great escape, I remember seeing those movies there. I was really proud to own that building, turn it into something nice," he said.The Palace restaurant continued to be a destination for locals and natives returning to the area up until it closed in 2010. Kanick said that he has been inside several times since then and unfortunately, the building's condition has deteriorated.He said despite the memories that it carries for himself and many other residents, demolishing the building for redevelopment may be better than watching it continue to deteriorate for decades to come."I really have mixed emotions about it, I really don't see anyone bringing it back, and it would just be another blighted building," he said. "I think it's the lesser of two evils right now."