Bet you didn’t know this spot was once home to a theater that could hold 4000 people. Right here stood the Teatre Balear. It was more than just a theater. It was a cultural hub.
The Teatre Balear’s story begins in the early 20th century. Construction started in May 1908. It finished in November 1909. Antoni Vaquer designed it. Manuel Joaquim Raspall i Mayol created its modernist facade. The Zanoguera family owned the 1164 square meter plot.
Imagine the grand opening on December 4 1909. The zarzuela Los hombres alegres de Paso i Abati played. Vicent Lleó wrote the music. Miquel Miró’s company performed.
Many famous artists graced the stage of the Teatre Balear. Enric Casals and Marta Cazorla performed here. They staged works by Frederic Soler and Àngel Guimerà. Raquel Meller also performed here in September 1912. The Teatre Balear wasn’t just about classic theater. It embraced popular entertainment. It showed cinema and hosted variety shows. Christmas campaigns became a tradition from 1915.
In 1918 Josep Tous Ferrer took over. He increased film screenings. In 1922 reforms accommodated circus acts and cinema. The Andreu Brothers performed that year. Charlie Rivel led the group.
After the Spanish Civil War humorous performances became popular. Famous comedians like Zori Santos and Codeso appeared in 1957. Mary Santpere performed in 1960. Rafael Farina entertained in 1965. Juanita Reina took the stage in 1966. Variety shows thrived.
Big names like Luis Cuenca Tania Doris and Lina Morgan performed here. Sara Montiel Juanito Navarro and Toni Leblanc also appeared. Even Andrés Pajares graced the stage of the Teatre Balear.
However in 1968 the square was redeveloped. The Teatre Balear lost its modernist facade. In the 1980s it became a bingo hall. Before that in 1980 it had already been a cinema.
Recently the Teatre Balear was going to be converted into a casino. It would have been the second one in Palma. But in November 2016 a judge halted the works. Palma City Council opposed the casino. They said it couldn’t get a license.
Today the Teatre Balear is gone. Its legacy remains. It reminds us of Palma’s vibrant cultural past. The Teatre Balear was a place where laughter music and drama filled the air. Its story is a testament to the power of theater.