 At some point in the 1950s, the name was changed from Palais Pictures to Palais Theatre, reflecting its new role, and the neon sign on the front was changed accordingly.In the 1960s and 70s, the Palais hosted live acts, films, opera and ballet.The Bolshoi Theatre, the Kirov Ballet and the Stars of World Ballet performed, and it was the Melbourne venue for The Australian Ballet, who premiered Anne Woolliams' production of "Swan Lake" on 19 October 1977, and its first commissioned "Nutcracker" choreographed by Leonid Kozlov and Valentina Kozlova on 8 October 1982.