Deep in the heart of the modern Times Square, right across from the ever-popular TKTS counter, lies one of Broadway’s largest and most storied venues. Built as the flagship theatre of the west-coast Orpheum theatre circuit, The Palace was meant to challenge the dominant Keith and Albee brand in vaudeville space. Before long, Keith and Albee acquired the Orpheum, Palace and all, but in the meantime the stage would become synonymous with success in vaudeville.

On this day, March 25, the Palace theatre opened its doors to Vaudville for the first time. It would become, through tireless self-promotion, what Carnegie Hall is to musicians.

Many of the artists still remembered today “played the Palace” at the height of their careers: musician Will Rogers, pioneering radio man Ed Wynn, and “Jiminy Cricket” voice Cliff Edwards. In 1920 a quartet of relatively unknown brothers passed through, to become the venue’s biggest act. They were named Leonard (Chico), Adolph/Arthur (Harpo), Julius (Groucho), Milton (Gummo), and Herbert (Zeppo), and collectively known as the Marx Brothers.