It’s amazing what some people will do for an encore.
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In 2014, the curtains of the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs closed for what seemed to be the final time. In a city that adores theatre, it was a historic gem that continued to earn its adoration. Regardless, it was also coasting by on programming primarily held aloft by its popular (but long-running) Fabulous Palm Springs Follies theatre troupe. When financial strain capsized the Follies, the ship went down with the crew, so to speak. Now, a decade and several million dollars later, the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs is just months away from opening, bigger and (hopefully) better than ever before.
The History of the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs
Everyone in Palm Springs knows the Plaza Theatre, the historic structure reliably standing at 128 South Palm Canyon Drive since 1936. It rose along with La Plaza, Southern California’s first intentionally designed shopping center, where the theatre served as an anchor. On December 12, 1936, it opened strong with the romantic drama Camille, starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor, but it quickly proved it was more than an elaborate movie house.
As the Plaza picked up steam, it also diversified its programming, becoming a beacon in the area for live theatre, cinema, and even the taping of popular radio shows. During the Golden Age of Radio, the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs became something of an outpost for celebrities to host their radio shows. The likes of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Amos ‘n’ Andy broadcast live shows from the Plaza, beaming an authentic piece of Palm Springs into the living rooms of families across America.
The Follies Era
While the Plaza Theatre served as a reliable fixture of life in Palm Springs through the decades, it finally faltered into a hiatus in 1989. It turned out to be a short-lived break. Less than a year later, TV producer Riff Markowitz chose the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs as the perfect home for a troupe he was putting together with the intention of bringing Broadway-level productions to a city that would certainly appreciate it.
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Dubbed the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, the theatre group would offer a “celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 30s, 40s, and 50s with a cast old enough to have lived it”, according to the Follies’ Facebook page. Markowitz invested in renovations, and by the end of October 1990, the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs re-opened as the official home of the Follies. And they continued to propel the theatre into the modern era, performing for audiences new and returning until financial strains forced a disbanding in 2014. Without the Follies to hold it up, the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs had its final curtain call as well. Or so it seemed.
Efforts to Save the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs
It feels like plans have been in the works to reopen the Plaza Theatre since the day it closed. But those plans became official in 2019 with the establishment of Save the Plaza Theatre, an official push to fund the renovation and re-opening of the historic fixture of Palm Springs entertainment. With an aim to raise $34,000,000, Save the Plaza Theatre started strong but then stumbled in the early days of the unforeseen COVID-19 global pandemic. Yet, when restrictions began to lift, the organization resumed its mission in earnest, valiantly striving to raise almost 70% of renovation costs despite the city technically owning the theatre.
With enough funding collected to “get this show on the road”, construction for the restoration efforts officially began in March 2024. In addition to extensive remodeling, the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs is expanding to house a museum displaying everything from authentic and iconic movie props to memorabilia. The renovation crew also uncovered original murals once thought lost to time. Planners hope that the updates will return the theatre to a design similar to its original incarnation.
However, mounting costs have now pushed the renovation price tag $3,000,000 higher than originally estimated. Therefore, Save the Plaza Theatre is still hard at work, soliciting donations. The organization is also on the hook to repay $10,000,000 in construction costs fronted by the city.
Legal Roadblocks to Renovation
That’s not to say that the path to reopening the Plaza Theatre has been smooth sailing. The city ran into controversy (among other things) when it attempted to invoke eminent domain to commandeer Italian restaurant Kalura Trattoria’s patio. The reason? According to City Attorney Jeff Ballinger, the land was needed to expand an easement from 10 feet to 20 feet to satisfy California’s building codes.
Despite a unanimous City Council vote, the mere mention of eminent domain instigated a passionate response from business owners and citizens alike. In the end, the city settled with Kalura Trattoria to the tune of $500,000 and a replacement outdoor seating area for 60 guests.
On the Other Side of the Curtain
Yet, civic pride remains high over the restoration efforts, with Mayor Ron deHarte highlighting the numerous job opportunities that will come from the reopening. Once the dust settles and the doors reopen, the theater will be managed by Oak View Group. A grand opening of the Plaza Theatre Palm Springs is tentatively slated for December, preceding the inaugural show: An Evening with Lily Tomlin. This kicks off a stacked calendar of programming, including A John Water’s Christmas, Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas, and regular appearances from the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus. And it seems like all of Palm Springs is lining up to see what’s behind the historic curtain.
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