Paramount Theatre (Austin, Texas)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Paramount Theatre
| nickname =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| fullname =
| former names = Gaiety Theatre {{small|(planning/construction)}}
Majestic Theatre {{small|(1915–30)}}
Paramount Theatre {{small|(1930–76; 2000-present)}}
Paramount Theatre for the Performing Arts {{small|(1976–2000)}}
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| image = Paramount austin 2006.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
| caption = Entrance to venue (c.2006)
| address = 713 Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-3216
| location = Downtown Austin
| coordinates = {{Coord|30.2694668|-97.7442607|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| type =
| genre =
| broke_ground = {{Start date|1915|02}}
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1915|10|11}}
| renovated = 1930, 1957–58, 1978–80, 2000, 2015
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Paramount, Inc.
| operator = Austin Theatre Alliance
| surface =
| scoreboard =
| production =
| cost = $150,000
{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|150000|1915}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}
| architect = John Eberson
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| seating_type =
| capacity = 1,270
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
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| acreage =
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| embedded =
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| name = Paramount Theatre
| nrhp_type = nhl
| built = 1915
| added = June 23, 1976
| refnum = 76002072{{NRISref|version=2010a}}
| designated_other1 = RTHL
| designated_other1_date = 1976
| designated_other1_number = [https://atlas.thc.texas.gov/Details/5507014684 14684]
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.austintheatre.org/|Venue Website}}
| publictransit =
}}
The Paramount Theatre is a live theatre venue/movie theatre located in downtown Austin, Texas. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1976.
In the Paramount's 100-year history, it has played host to a wide variety of acts ranging from vaudeville, musicals, legitimate theater, and movies,{{cite web| url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=2076002072&site_name=Paramount+Theatre&class=2002| title=Paramount Theatre| access-date=2015-05-26| publisher=Texas Historical Commission}} including premieres of such films as 1966's Batman.{{cite web|title=Paramount Theater Centennial Celebration| url=https://www.austintheatre.org/site/PageNavigator/shows_events/Paramount_100_years.html| publisher=The Paramount Theatre| access-date=26 June 2015}}
History
The four-story theater was built by Ernest Nalle, who commissioned architect John Eberson to design the building in January 1915.{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/klp01 |title=Paramount Theatre |author=Orbock, Joseph A. |work=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=January 14, 2020}} The theater opened under the name "The Majestic" on October 11, 1915, and hosted various vaudeville performers including the Marx Brothers. In 1930, the theater was purchased by Karl Hoblitzelle, who renamed it to the "Paramount Theatre" and added carpeting, upholstered seating, and the addition of a giant lighted blade sign reading "Paramount". In 1941, the theater was purchased by the Margaret Reed Estate.{{cite web |url=https://www.austin360.com/news/20160923/how-roberta-reed-crenshaw-became-the-paramounts-patron-saint |title=How Roberta Reed Crenshaw became the Paramount's patron saint |author=Barnes, Michael |work=Austin 360 |date=September 23, 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2020}} In November 1963, the building's facade received a renovation. The renovation included the removal and reprogramming of the signature blade sign. However, the sign was never re-installed and its fate was never revealed.{{cite web |url=https://www.austintheatre.org/the-paramount-blade/ |title=The Paramount Blade |work=The Paramount Theatre |access-date=January 14, 2020}}
By the 1970s, the popularity of television and suburban movie theaters led to a decline in theater attendance. In 1975, proprietors John M. Bernardoni, Charles Eckerman, and Stephen L. Scott formed a nonprofit group to restore the building, which was in deteriorating condition. Local philanthropist Roberta Crenshaw, who owned a 50% stake in the building through her late husband's estate, donated her half of the trust to the nonprofit, meanwhile, the other half of the trust offered a 99-year lease. In 1976, the theater's listing on the National Register of Historic Places qualified the venue for federal restoration funds. Renovations began in September 1977 following a $1.85 million grant from the federal government, which was also used to spur economic development in Downtown Austin.
In 2015, the theater embarked on an effort to recreate the signature blade sign that was lost in 1963. Since there were no known architectural or engineering plans for the original sign, the designers analyzed old footage of the theatre that included the sign. On September 23, 2015, the blade sign was lit for the first time in over 50 years.
The professional production staff for The Paramount Theatre has been continually provided by the members of Local 205, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees {{cite web |url=http://iatse205.org/ |title=IATSE, Local 205}}
since opening day, 110 years ago.
Gallery
File:Paramount Theater - Austin, Texas - DSC08308.jpg|Paramount Theatre in 2015
File:Paramount Theatre Austin TX (877324112).jpg|Marquee sign detail
File:One of three architectural elements above the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin, Texas LCCN2014632643.tif|Architectural elements
File:P071014CK-0099 (14992504778).jpg|President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the theatre in 2014
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Paramount Theater (Austin, Texas)}}
- [http://paramountaustin.org/ Paramount Theatre History]
{{Downtown Austin}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paramount Theatre, The (Austin, Texas)}}
Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Texas
Category:City of Austin Historic Landmarks
Category:Culture of Austin, Texas
Category:Buildings and structures in Austin, Texas
Category:Theatres completed in 1915
Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Texas
Category:Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
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