A jewel in Marlin’s crown

Sitting rather unassumingly at 133 Heritage Row is the Palace Theater, a hidden gem supporting the arts in Falls County. The Palace was built in 1925 by Mr. J.C. Chatmas, Sr. This gentleman came to Marlin in the early 1900’s and was soon involved in running a local movie theater, the Majestic.

Over the years, Mr. Chatmas proved to be Marlin’s movie theater entrepreneur as he came to three different movie houses and a drive-in theater. One theater, the Orpheum Opera House burned down in 1921, and the Majestic Theater was torn down to build the “fire proof” Palace Theater. Its construction was completed in 1925.

Mr. Chatmas operated the Palace until his death at the age of 80 in 1966. His family continued to operate the theater until 1975. In 1980, the Chatmas family donated the theater to the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin.

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