The Providence Performing Arts Center was first opened on October 6, 1928 as a Loew’s Movie Palace. The theatre was designed by brothers George and CW Rapp of Chicago, who became known as one of the finest theatre architects in America.

The Movie Palace intended the design to sell tickets to theatres and not movies. This was the building’s inspiration that lead to the opulent theatre’s cost of $2.5 million. On its opening day, over 14,000 people saw Joe Stoves on the Robert Morgan organ, costing $90,000, together with the film “Excess Baggage.”A big percentage of those who came actually just wanted to see the theatre’s interior.

The theatre has survived a lot of changes over the years. In the 1970’s, it was almost demolished. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as it has played a significant role in the City’s renaissance. In 1995, the stage house was expanded and a year after, a state-of-the-art sound system was installed. After the restoration of the Grand Lobby and the Arcade, it is now considered as a world-class facility hosting a lot of events like Broadway shows, plays, concerts and a whole lot more.