Paramount Theatre
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
35 people
favorited this theater
The Paramount Theatre on Times Square opened on November 16, 1926 with Lois Moran in the Paramount Picture “God Gave Me Twenty Cents”, plus a stage show. The Paramount Theatre lobby was modeled after the Paris Opera House with white marble columns, balustrades and an opening arms grand staircase. Inside, drapes were red velvet, the rugs were a similar red. The theatre also had a Wurlitzer 4 manual 36 ranks organ, made famous by organist Jesse L. Crawford and later by Don Baker. There was also an orchestra pit that rose up to the stage level. The ceilings were fresco and gilt. The railings were brass, and the seats plush. There were Greek statues and busts in wall niches. The rest rooms and waiting rooms were as grand as any cathedral. In the main lobby there was an enormous crystal chandelier.
Over the years, many of the top stars performed there, including Frank Sinatra and dozens of the era’s luminaries. After years of showing movies and shows, the Paramount Theatre was closed on February 21, 1966 with the James Bond movie “Thunderball”. The auditorium was destroyed and converted into office space, and the entrance and lobby areas were gutted to make way for office and retail space.
Today, the Paramount Building is occupied in part by the Times Square location of the Hard Rock Cafe.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 713 comments)
“Automatic vending” pictured in the Paramount’s grand lobby in 1959:boxoffice
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.
Seventy years ago tonight, Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn,” the B&W musical with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire which introduced “White Christmas,” had its world premiere at the Paramount Theatre as a benefit for the Naval Relief Society. A special stage show for that night only was emceed by Irving Berlin himself, with performances by Alice Faye, Connee Boswell, Carol Bruce, Betty Hutton, Jan Peerce, Ann Miller, Zero Mostel, and the orchestras (or bands) of Xavier Cugat, Benny Goodman, Phil Harris, and Phil Spitalny. Regular performances of “Holiday Inn” started the next day, with stage show topped by Skinnay Ennis & Band and the Ink Spots.
Here’s a rare view of the Paramount Pictures Preview Theatre, which was on the ninth floor of the Paramount Building. All new Paramount films were screened there for home office executives, and the publicity department also used it for press showings. When Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” had its first executive screening there, everyone attending first had to sign a pledge to not reveal the surprise ending. That included elderly Adolph Zukor, who was observed sleeping through most of the film: Boxoffice
I’m surprised nobody mentioned it or that it is not among the theatre listing, but there was another “Paramount Theatre” operated by Cinema 5 (Rugoff), during the early to late 70’s. This later incarnation was located on the corner of 60th St. & Broadway as part of the plaza of the then Gulf and Western Bldg (now Trump International). It had a unique design. The top area was a glass enclosed circular building containing the box office and theatre marquee. After purchasing your ticket, you took an escalator down to a subterranean level which housed the actual theatre and concession stands. I worked there in 1978 before moving over to The Plaza on 58th. Theatre was closed and disappeared while I was living abroad. Came back to see an empty spot where this theatre once stood. Worked many shows but the two that stand out are “Foul Play,” and “Up In Smoke.” I remember the long lines outside of it when “The Exorcist” was playing.
Yes, I remember it..the walls looked like the inside of a poloroid [spell check if needed] camera..
Of course the other Paramount is listed – as Sony Columbus Circle – http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2654
Sixty years ago today, WB’s “House of Wax,” in 3-D Natural Vision, WarnerColor, and with Warner Phonic Sound, opened its world premiere engagement at the Paramount Theatre. Recording sensation Eddie Fisher, who’d once been an intermission singer at the Paramount, returned to top the stage bill, with support from Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra, the Beachcombers, and comedian Joey Forman. On that night only, “Wax” stars Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, and Paul Picerni made guest appearances during the stage shows.
With four projectors in the booth no 3-D reel change intermission was necessary at the Paramount
And glorious 4 channel Warnerphonic sound!