Palace Theater, El Paso

The Palace Theater opened on August 1, 1914, originally under the name Alhambra Theatre. Commissioned by brothers Rodolfo and Manuel Cruz and designed by architect Henry C. Trost, the theater was built at a cost of about $150,000. In November 1920, after renovations that rebuilt the lobby and rearranged the seating, it was renamed the Palace Theater. During the early twentieth century, it served as a popular venue for both live performances and motion pictures.

The building reflects Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with strong Moorish influences. Its façade features arabesque patterns and stylized script inspired by Islamic design. Inside, a large auditorium and stage hosted both vaudeville acts and films. In 1918, a large pipe organ, then one of the largest theater organs in the Southwest, was installed to accompany silent movies.

Over time, the theater followed the same pattern as many historic cinemas. By the mid-1970s the theater shifted to adult films and closed as a cinema in 1984. Later, the building housed several nightclubs, including the music venue Tricky Falls from 2011 to 2018. Purchased in 2019 by Abundant Living Faith Center, it reopened on September 3, 2023, as a church and ministry space while preserving features such as the original gilded stage frame.