Paramount Theatre
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
38 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 508 comments
A nice view of the Paramount’s flashing marquee in color in the movie “Stage Struck”. 1958 directed by Sidney Lumet starring Susan Strasberg. Just screened at Portage Theater in Chicago.
Soupy Sales was last to do rock show there..
May 1965, the premiere of the first HARLOW starring Carol Lynley. This was the quickly filmed B&W Electronovision bio rushed into theatres to beat the Joseph E. Levine/Paramount HARLOW. Sharing the bill with the film was a Rock and Roll stage show hosted by, I believe, Clay Cole.
Thanks Brad…
Click here for an exterior view of the Paramount Theatre in 1929.
Here is a link to the New York Times review of Strategic Air Command. And here is an excerpt from that review, reporting on both the film and surrounding hoopla. Sounds like it was a helluva night:
“NEVER, in many years of looking at Air Force and aviation films, have we seen the familiar wide blue yonder so wide or so magnificently displayed as it is in the Vista-Vision process used to project "Strategic Air Command.”
“This latest Paramount service picture, which received a full-dress première under the sponsorship of the Air Force Association last night at the Paramount Theatre, is far and away the most elaborate and impressive pictoral show of the beauty and organized power of the United States air arm that has yet been put upon the screen.
“But, certainly, an equal measure of credit for the pictorial impressiveness of this show must go to the Vista-Vision process, which is here being revealed for the second time. The first use of Vista-Vision was in "White Christmas,” several months ago, but that use was technically less finished and on a subject of less scope than is shown here.
“Now the full advantage of the Vista Vision wide film in giving size, depth and clarity, as well as fidelity of color, to big and detailed outdoor scenes is richly and dramatically apparent. The great panoramic shots of air fields, crowded with colorful equipment, betoken the precision and clear focus of the large Vista Vision lens. And the scenes in the air of cloud formations, of planes venting feathery vapor trails and of in-air refueling operations, all graphically shown, attest to the new dramatic potential of the sharp and well-proportioned image on a large scale.
“Vista Vision, in this particular showing, appears as grand as Cinerama, more felicitous and free than CinemaScope.
“But, above all, there are those airplanes, the roaring engines, the cluttered cockpits, the clouds and sky. These are the things that make your eyes bug and your heart leap with wonder and pride.
“The invitational world première of "Strategic Air Command” was held under the auspices of the Air Force Association.
“A large crowd thronged the Times Square area before the theatre, where searchlights heralded the occasion. The spectators watched the arrival of 3,500 guests, who included personalities in the armed services, politics, entertainment and business.
“Interviews with James Stewart, co-star of the picture, and other attending celebrities were telecast from the theatre lobby to a national audience on the Arthur Godfrey program. Mr. Godfrey served as moderator.
“In a stage ceremony prior to the screening, Mr. Stewart accepted a citation of honor from Maj. Gen. C. R. Smith, representing the A. F. A., for "distinguished public service and outstanding artistic achievement” in connection with the film."
Tinseltoes that House Of Wax 3-D showing was one the few that were done without intermision. The Paramounts four projector booth made that possible.
bobmarshall-we are looking for information on Arthur Brounet a decorator for the Hanover Theater.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/14285
As Chevalier sang in “Gigi,” I remember it well. I sat in the first row for three showings of “Sincerely Yours,” and Liberace played my request each time!
Tinseltoes, totally agree with you. I have written comments in the Times and Post. Emperor Bloomberg and his lunatic transportation commissioner should be committed to a hospital for the insane.
I belive this was the engagement that was so sucessful an additional stage show was added to the day. In order to accomplish this Lewis personally cut “Irma” on a moviola in the booth by about 10 minutes in order to make up time to squeese in a another stage show each day. I am doing this from memory so if anyone recalls more or can correct me kindly do so.
It closed In August 1964 with “The Carpetbaggers”. It then re-opened for three weeks in May 1965 when it showed the Electrovision “Harlow”, “operation Snafu” and “Black Spurs” each for one week, then closed again. It opened “Thunderball” in December of 1965 and closed for good in February 1966.
Somewhere in past comments someone said “Thunderball” was a four-wall deal on the house.
In the 1973 movie “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams”, the Joanne Woodward character comments that when her mother and her walked by the Paramount on 43rd street and the doors were opened to let the patrons out, the whole street would smell like ice cream.
My mother saw Sinatra there……anyone who was there are in the late 80’s or 90’s now..
Error:should be “bobby sox” concerts.
DAVDJDO
is there anyone who was at one of the Sinatra “booby sox"riot concerts at the Paramount?
DAVJDO
When I was a youngster my parents took me to the Paramount. Don’t remember what the movie was but Gene Krupa was the featured live performer. We were sitting in the last row of the balcony. But not for long. My mother had height issues and we left. Many years later we had a similar experience at the outdoor Jones Beach Marine Theatre.
Wasn’t “Meet Danny Wilson” a 1951 release?
Sinatra was really down on his luck in those early ‘50s years. My dad used to talk about a benefit concert he gave at the Union Club in Hoboken NJ (Sinatra’s home town, and mine) around this time. The audience heckled him and made fun of his singing voice. “From Here to Eternity” turned his career around and put him back on top shortly afterwards, but he never forgave Hoboken and didn’t return there for many years. I think the next time he came back there publicly was for his honorary doctorate from Stevens Institute of Technology, in (I think) 1985.
William… that would have been the Hotel Claridge where Voight’s character first stayed after arriving in New York in “Midnight Cowboy.”
Tinseltoes… you describe two different programs as opening the Paramount’s 1952 Easter Holiday Show, in your posts above dated March 26 and April 9th. Which was the official Easter attraction?
Watch Midnight Cowboy. In the very beginning, John Voight looks out a hotel window onto Broadway. Across the street & on the left hand side is what looks like a big drop cloth. Behind that is the demolition of the Paramount taking place.
By the way, that hotel was also the site of a nother NYC landmark -the Camel sign with the guy blowing smoke rings.
I knew someone that attended one of these shows and said the theater was only about 40% filled.
Boy, Dean and Jerry sure got around!
Tinseltoes: you always post such fascinating and important information. Thank you SO much for sharing!