Work of art.

Byline: Maria Lockwood

Sep. 3--Public art changes the way you see things, according to Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton. It can make you look twice, put a smile on your face, inspire you to create or bring back memories. The new Palace Mural Project, coming to life one brushstroke at a time on the back wall of the Douglas County Historical Society, does all of the above.

"We really feel like it puts us on the map now," said DCHS President Valerie Hiatt Burke. For many, the mural at 1101 John Ave. is a link to the past. The Palace Theater, built in 1917, provided entertainment that spanned generations. The vaudeville and live stage show era included visits by Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, the Little Rascals and the Dionne Quintuplets. "Tyrone Power and Charles Lawton did readings at the Palace Theater," said Richard "Dick" Sandeen, who …