Danbury in Fairfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Danbury Entertainment
Danbury, Connecticut
— The Museum in the Streets —
Entertainment in Danbury has taken many forms. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and traveling circuses that passed through town competed with church-related activities and civic events.
The Taylor Opera House, built in 1870 provided first class entertainment in the form of plays, musicals, minstrel shows and speeches by popular public figures. Damaged by fire in 1884 and quickly rebuilt, it burned to the ground in 1922. The following year, a business block replaced this local landmark.
Kenosia Park officially opened on Memorial Day each year. The arrival of the first theatrical company drew a crowd at the railroad station to welcome the actors and elaborate scenery. Twenty-five cents bought admission to the Kenosia Park open-air theater that hosted plays, operettas and vaudeville acts. A high wooden fence surrounded the theater that could accommodate 1,000 people.
A booming city and the advent of motion pictures warranted theaters to host entertainment events. The Palace, Empress and Capitol Theaters all graced Main Street. Early editions of the Danbury Evening News are filled with advertisements for theater and motion pictures showings in a column dubbed, "What's Happening."
The Palace Theater opened in 1928 and was Danbury's largest auditorium. The Palace could seat 2,000 people
this page online
the Palace is the only one of the three original Danbury theaters still functioning as an entertainment venue downtown.
Erected 2010 by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 15.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Danbury, Connecticut series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 41° 23.594′ N, 73° 27.047′ W. Marker is in Danbury, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. Marker is on Main Street (Connecticut Route 53) just south of West Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 167 Main St, Danbury CT 06810, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Danbury Public Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Old City Center Square (within shouting distance of this marker); War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Sybil Ludington (within shouting distance of this marker); To Our Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Danbury City Hall Wall
Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 7, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
