[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PALACE THEATER

 Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, today I rise to recognize the 
Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT as it celebrates 100 years of artistic 
achievement and advocacy.
  The Palace Theater originally opened on January 28, 1922. With the 
culmination of a $1 million investment in decor by Sylvester Z. Poli 
and the remarkable architectural work of Thomas Lamb, the theater soon 
became a hub for cultural activity in Waterbury before the onset of 
World War II.
  The ornate building started as a movie and vaudeville house. Over the 
past century, the Palace has hosted a wide breadth of performances and 
productions, from silent films to rock concerts and everything in 
between. In 1983, the U.S. Department of the Interior honored the 
Palace Theater by listing it on the National Register of Historic 
Places.
  In 1987, the theater closed for 18 years. However, a 3-year, $30 
million restoration, renovation, and expansion project impressively 
reshaped the Palace. When it reopened, the theater was a state-of-the-
art, 90,000-square-foot arena. Now a vast complex, the Palace is known 
as Greater Waterbury's Center for the Performing Arts.
  In its current state, the Palace hosts educational programming, 
Broadway tours, and a variety of family entertainment. The theater's 
team is committed to serving the greater Waterbury community by 
establishing not just a magnificent artistic site but also a highly 
regarded educational and cultural center.
  The Palace Theater is recognized as one of the premier arts 
facilities in New England, and I have had the privilege of visiting on 
a number of occasions to speak with the staff there. I am continuously 
impressed by the Palace's record of achievement and the tireless 
dedication of everyone involved to furthering arts education and 
advocacy for countless Connecticut residents and visitors.
  I applaud the theater on its extraordinary history of accomplishment, 
and I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Palace 
Theater on 100 years of excellence.

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