History & Archives
History
There have been several theatres named "Palais" in St Kilda, the first of which opened in 1914. At the end of World War I, the Palais de Danse site became Palais Pictures. In 1919, a steel-framed, arched truss structure was built over the old dance-hall and the Palais de Danse was relocated next door to a building that was later destroyed by fire. In 1922, Walter Burley Griffin began designing a remodeled Palais Pictures. Construction of Griffin's plans began in 1925, but a spectacular fire engulfed the stage in February 1926, just before completion, bringing a halt to work. When the Griffin's moved on to Sydney, the developers commissioned a new architect, Henry E. White to build a larger, more grand theatre.
When Palais Pictures was built it was one of the largest theaters in the southern hemisphere. It opened on 11th November 1927 with Janet Gaynor in "Seventh Heaven". It was (with the Regent, South Yarra and the Victory 
(National) St Kilda) the first suburban cinema to screen talkies on 3 July 1929, five months after their first Australian exhibition at the Athenaeum. Until the fifties, it was the place to go to the movies. You saw two full-length films, preceded by Harry Jacobs and his Band with 30 minutes of singers, music, dancers or other variety performers.
In 1962 there were the first musicals at the Palais Theatre, revivals from the 1920s: the Desert Song, New Moon and the Student Prince. The Royal Ballet appeared with Margot Fonteyn. In the sixties, the Palais Theatre was seldom dark. In the seventies, it was alive with Edgely spectaculars, The Bolshoi, The Kirov, ‘Stars of World Ballet' and the Australian Ballet, regularly. There were more musicals, with two long seasons of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1978, the Australian Opera appeared at the Palais Theatre, with a lavish Nabucco starring Joan Sutherland. It was only at the Palais Theatre that audiences could be large enough to pay for such productions. Soon rock and roll's biggest stars were here, including The Rolling Stones. It was also frequently the venue of the Melbourne International Film Festival.
The Palais Theatre is currently the largest theatre in Australia seating 2896 patrons. The building is considered one of the finest examples of Art deco architecture in Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Under new management, the theatre is again in frequent use for local and international live performances and has undergone some much needed repairs.
Since July 2007 Palais Theatre Managment has brought almost 150 events to the Palais Theatre. Live music, International legends, the best Australian bands, comedy events, television broadcasts, community events, music video clips location, student films, television segments, artist interviews, supported charity fundraising events and after an absence of many years again brought The St Kilda Film Festival and a full scale ballet back into the theatre.
Palais Theatre Management has been thrilled to bring the best International and Australian events back to this iconic St Kilda and Victorian heritage theatre and is now looking to the future. We look forward to all Victorians and visitors from Australia and around the world joining us on our journey.
References: Wikipedia, http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/3.htm
Neil Croker, CEO Palais Theatre Management Pty Ltd
Neil Croker has tour directed, co-promoted and executive produced events by some of the biggest artists in the world including AC/DC, Dire Straits, Michael Jackson (NZ), Riverdance and Steel City, managed major events including the Barcelona Olympic Games' merchandising and consulted to a wide range of prestigious organisations including the Australian Film Institute, Victorian Arts Centre Trust, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and Department for Victorian Communities.
Neil's major skills include management of creative relationships with artists, detailed understanding of tour promoting, ticketing, planning and management, access to a strong global network of industry organisations and personnel, and sound business management and organisational skills.
In recent years, Neil has been Commercial Consultant for the 2004 World Track Cycling Championships, acted as Associate Producer of La Fura's XXX, Executive Produced Shoosh, the Christmas Spectacular Santa's Kingdom, the equine arena show Cavalcade - Reins of Fire and the Herald Sun Cycling Tour. Neil Tour Directed John Farnham and Tom Jones Together in Concert and Bette Midler's first Australian tour in 26 years, Kiss My Brass and also consulted to the Australian Pavillion at the World Expo in Aichi Japan, Bowls Australia and Athletics Australia including the 2007 World Athletics Tour.
Archives
If you have any photos, programmes, documents or stories relating to the Palais Theatre we would love to hear from you. Contact Us.Events
Palais Theatre Management -July 12 2007
| 2007 |
|
| Mon 20 August | Ryan Adams & the Cardinals |
| Thu 23 Aug | John Butler Trio |
| Wed 5 Sep | City of Port Phillip function |
| Fri 21 Sep | Suzi Quatro |
| Fri 28 Sep | Kelly Clarkson |
| Sat 29 Sep | Randy Crawford |
| Sun 21 Oct | Concert for Max (fundraiser for Max Merritt) |
| Fri 2 Nov | The Beach Boys with Daddy Cool & Christopher Cross |
| Thu 15 Nov | St Kilda Triangle Community Information Night |
| Wed 21 & Thu 22 Nov | Bryan Ferry with Joan Armatrading & Daryl Braithwaite |
| Fri 23 Nov | Shannon Noll |
| Wed 28 Nov | The RocKwiz Christmas Show |
| Thu 29 Nov | Local Government Chief Officer's Group Conference |
| Sun 2 Dec | Dancentre @ Bayside Annual Concert |
| Sun 9 Dec | Crosby Stills and Nash |
| 2008 | |
| Wed 30 Jan | Nightwish |
| Sat 9 Feb | St Kilda Laughs Festival Gala Show |
| Sun 10 Feb | Chill Out @ the Palais Theatre (St Kilda Festival Day) |
| Sun 17 Feb | United Artists (Co production with Linden Gallery) |
| Tue 26 & Wed 27 Feb | Cyndi Lauper |
| Thu 28 Feb | Incubus |
| Fri 29 Feb | Margaret Cho |
| Sat 1 Mar | Guy Sebastian |
| Sun 2, Mon 3 & Tue 4 Mar | Russell Peters |
| Fri 7 Mar | Toto |
| Tue 18 Mar | Buddy Guy |
| Wed 19 Mar | Ray Davies |
| Tue 25 Mar | Sinead O'Connor |
| Wed 26 & Thu 27 Mar | Harry Connick, Jr. |
| Fri 28 Mar | Patty Griffin |
| Sat 29 Mar | The Black Crowes |
| Wed 2 Apr | Air |
| Thu 3 Apr | Duran Duran |
| Fri 11 Apr | José Feliciano |
| Sat 26 Apr | Eels |
| Sat 3 & Sun 4 May | The Kiev Ballet (Swan Lake & The Sleeping Beauty) |
| Tue 6 May | St Kilda Film Festival Opening Night |
| Wed 21 May | Jessie Sparks "Breate Easy" music video shoot |
| Fri 23 May | Sacred Heart Mission's Heart of St Kilda Concert (fundraiser) |
| Tue 27 May | Joe Jackson |
| Fri 19 Sep | The Pink Floyd Experience |
| Fri 3 & Sat 4 Oct | Morning of the Earth (original film & music in concert) |
| Tue 28 Oct | Kenny Rogers |
| Sat 1 Nov | Beyond the Darkside (Pink Floyd spectacular) |
| Wed 19 Nov | Zucchero |
| 2009 | |
| Sun 11 Jan | The Black Keys |
| Tue 20 Jan | The Cinematic Orchestra |
| Wed 21 Jan | The Swell Season |
| Sat 24 Jan | Arctic Monkeys |
| Mon 26 & Tue 27 Jan | Jeff Beck |
| Fri 30 Jan | Ani di Franco |
| Sun 8 Feb | St Kilda Festival Theatre Tours |
| Tue 10 & Wed 11 Feb | Simply Red |
| Sat 14 Feb | Umberto Tozzi |
| Tue 24 & Wed 25 Feb | The Veronicas |
| Thu 26 Feb | Alice in Chains |
| Thu 5 & Sun 8 Mar | Jackson Browne |
| Wed 11 & Thu 12 Mar | Chris Isaak |
| Fri 21 Mar | Russell Brand |
| Thu 26 Mar | Eric Bibb |
| Fri 27 & Mon 30 Mar | Counting Crows |
| Wed 1 Apr | Rita |
| Tue 2 Apr | Snow Patrol |
| Thu 16 Apr | Zappa Plays Zappa |
| Fri 17 & Sat 18 Apr | Cheech & Chong |
| Mon 20 Apr | Jason Mraz |
| Thu 7 May |
Dylan Moran |
| Sat 9 May | Joe Camilleri |
| Fri 22 May | Paul Kelly |
| Sat 23 May | Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu |
| Mon 25 May | Johnny Clegg |
| Thu 4 Jun | Heart of St Kilda Concert - Sacred Heart Mission |
| Fri 12 Jun | Billy Ocean |
| Sat 13 Jun | Bjorn Again |
| Tue 26 May | St Kilda Film Festival Opening Night |
| Fri 29 & Sat 30 May | Yo Gabba Gabba! Live on Stage! |
| Wed 15 - Tue 21 Jul | French & Saunders |
| Fri 14 Aug | Ross Wilson |
| Fri 31 Jul | Jimmy Barnes |
| Sat 22 Aug | All-American Rejects |
| Thu 27 & Fri 28 Aug | Alice Cooper |
| Thu 3 Sep | Ben Folds |
| Sat 5 Sep | Aimee Mann |
| Fri 11 Sep | Jimmy Barnes |
| Sat 12 Sep | Suzi Quatro |
| Sat 19 Sep | Chris Isaak |
| Fri 2 Oct | Helmut Lotti |
| Sat 10 & Tue 13 Oct | Elvis Costello |
| Mon 19 - Sat 31 Oct | John Farnham |
| Fri 13 Nov | Seal |
| Tue 24 - Thu 26 Nov | RocKwiz Christmas Special |
| Sat 28 & Sun 29 Nov | Ry Cooder & Nick Lowe |
| Fri 4 Dec | Tim Minchin |
| Sun 6 Dec | Glen Campbell |
| Mon 7 & Tue 8 Dec | Dream Theatre |
| 2010 | |
| Tue 5 Jan | Rodrigo Y Gabriela |
| Thu 14 & Fri 15 Jan | Al Green |
| Fri 22 Jan | Australian Rock Symphony |
| Thu 4 Feb | Echo & the Bunnymen |
| Sun 14 Feb | St Kilda Festival - Palais Pictures |
| Fri 19 Feb | Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs |
| Thu 25 Feb | Tim Minchin |
| Fri 5 Mar | Wayne Shorter |
| Sat 13 Mar | Status Quo |
| Wed 17 Mar | Melbourne International Comedy Festival - The Gala proudly supporting Oxfam |
| Fri 19 Mar | The Eagles Experience |
| Wed 24 Mar | Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Opening Night |
| Thu 25 Mar | The Swell Season |
| Fri 26 Mar | Jeff Beck |
| Wed 31 Mar & Thu 1 Apr | Gipsy Kings |
| Tue 6 Apr | Roger Hodgson |
| Thu 8 Apr | Newton Faulkner |
| Fri 9 & Sat 10 Apr | Dave Hughes |
| Tue 13 - Mon 19 Apr | Ross Noble |
| Fri 30 Apr & Sat 1 May | Regina Spektor |