• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Palace Theatre

By MarionMade! on July 7, 2017

THE MARION PALACE THEATRE.
.
For some time, Downtown Marion has been said to be the heartbeat of Marion. Many would say that heartbeat began in 1928 when John Eberson designed and built the Palace Theatre. This magnificent theatre remains an anchor in downtown Marion and hosts more than 65,000 guests each year.
.
Today, the Palace operates under the direction of a board of trustees. Currently, Bev Ford, who started at the Palace in 1998 as a part-time ticket office agent, serves as the Executive Director. When Ford began working for the Palace, she was simply looking for a little extra income. After one year, Bev was promoted to Marketing Manager. After her second year, Ford was again promoted to Director of Theater operations and, in 2011, became the Executive Director.
.
The Palace Theatre has overcome many setbacks since it was first built in downtown Marion. After some years of hard use and neglect, in 1975, a group called the Palace Guard joined forces with the community and raised funds to purchase and restore the Palace. The love of the Palace was strong and, in 2008, the addition of the May Pavilion was realized, again through community support. Then, in 2013, it was discovered that the structure steel was failing and the front facade was deteriorating. A fundraising campaign was introduced and the community responded once more. Not only was the façade restored, but a new digital marquee was unveiled to the applause of the crowd.
.
The Palace is a great addition to our community due to its economic value and the experiences it shares with both its audience and performers. Sometimes the results of these shared experiences are life changing. According to the American’s for the Arts Economic Impact Calculator, in communities the size of Marion, every person who attends an event at the Palace is spending on average $22.50 in addition to the price of their ticket. This adds up to spending more than $1.4 million in our community.
.
Last year, The Palace had more than 8,000 volunteer hours–the equivalent of a $188,000 donation. The Marion community has proven time and again that it is willing to do whatever it takes to preserve this landmark to be enjoyed for generations to come.
.
#MarionMade #WeAreThePalaceTheatre

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Pleasant Robotics

    PLEASANT SCHOOLS ROBOTICS TEAMS ROCK! Two teams from Marion County went to the Vex IQ Challenge World Championship for robotics in April. The competition was held in Louisville, Kentucky this year. The “Duckster” team, from Pleasant Elementary, was comprised of Anna Songer, Maddie Murphy, and Josiah Reed–all fifth graders; Team “Fish & Beef” included Pleasant […]Read More »
  • Tara Dyer

    Tara Dyer has been a lifelong resident of Marion. While she has many significant contributions to our community, she is largely known for her time as an educator at Marion City Schools for 35 years. Dyer is a graduate of Marion City Schools. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from Defiance […]Read More »
  • Women’s Enrichment Day Sparks New Interests

        Women and teens had an opportunity to explore new interests, including sewing, knitting, photography, skincare, music and dance at the Women’s Enrichment Day at Tri-Rivers in September. In addition, the founder and speakers highlighted living a life of purpose. They encouraged attendees to use their skills to build up Marion and each other. […]Read More »
  • Marion Victim Assistance Program Helps Local Survivors of Crime

    For 35 years, the Marion Victim Assistance Program (VAP) has been a support and guide to local victims of crime. Betsy Abbott and Courtney Rittenour connect crime victims to resources including emergency assistance, emotional support, and guidance through the court system. These women have helped thousands of local victims of all types of crime, including […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image