There’s nothing Majestic about burlesque

Turn‐of‐the‐century vaudeville and movie palaces initially seem to lend themselves to use as concert halls or multipurpose theatres. Basic features, including existing structure, appropriate location, and desirable seat count, already exist. But, upon further investigation, these palaces present both acoustical and theatrical limitations. Specifically, shallow stage depth, undersized stage wings, small orchestra pit, deep balcony overhangs, and low ceiling height in stage house and/or audience chamber are common deficiencies which must be addressed in successful conversions. Despite these challenges, converting an existing building is often a viable option for many communities. This paper will investigate several representative palaces which were modified to accommodate modern symphonic and theatrical productions between 1959 and the present.