Paramount Theatre
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1501 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
34 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 689 comments)
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.
Bruce McCall’s color drawing on the front cover of the October 3rd issue of The New Yorker pokes hilarious fun at the modernization of midtown. Sidewallks are divided into lanes for locals and for tourists. The local lanes are practically empty, but the tourist lanes are so packed that police are required to keep them orderly. Signs on buildings have messages like “Eat Fat,” “Spend! Spend! Spend!,” “Clip Joint,” and “Ugly Junk.” Here’s a link. You need to enlarge the image to enjoy all the details: newyorkerstore
Glimpses of the Paramount Theatre and office building can be seen throughout this vintage B&W newsreel clip: britishpathe
Sixty-seven years ago today, Paramount’s “I Love a Soldier,” a B&W romantic comedy with Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, and Barry Fitzgerald, opened its NYC premiere engagement at the Paramount Theatre. Tony Pastor & His Orchestra, described as “THE band of 1944,” topped the stage bill, which also featured comedian Bert Wheeler, singer Marion Hutton, and tap dancer Hal LeRoy.
Fifty-six years ago today, WB’s eagerly-awaited “Sincerely Yours,” the first starring movie of the flamboyant pianist singularly known as Liberace, started its NYC premiere engagement at the Paramount Theatre. On opening day only, Liberace performed on stage prior to every screening of the Warner Color musical-drama, with an orchestra conducted by brother George Liberace. By this time in its history, the Paramount had shifted to an “everything on the screen” policy, with Warner Bros. as a main supplier due to the Strand/Warner’s conversion to Cinerama.
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!
bobmarshall-we are looking for information on Arthur Brounet a decorator for the Hanover Theater.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/14285
Sixty-nine years ago today, the Paramount Theatre opened a holiday program which advertising claimed would never be topped, including the world premiere engagement of Paramount’s B&W musical spectacular, “Star Spangled Rhythm.” The all-star cast featured most of the studio’s contract roster, including Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, Alan Ladd, Paulette Goddard, Veronica Lake, Ray Milland, Mary Martin, Fred MacMurray, Victor Moore, Eddie Bracken, Dick Powell, and Vera Zorina. Heading the Paramount’s stage show was Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, with Peggy Lee as vocalist. The comic Radio Rogues and dancers Moke & Poke provided support, with a skinny crooner named Frank Sinatra as “Extra Added Attraction.” On New Year’s Eve only, the Paramount Theatre would grind until dawn, with complete stage-and-screen shows starting at midnight and 2:45am.
Seventy-five years ago today, Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Plainsman,” a B&W western epic based on the relationship between Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, opened its NYC premiere engagement at the Paramount Theatre. The Paramount release teamed Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur for the first time since their smash hit in “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.” The Paramount’s stage show gave top billing to Ray Noble & His Band, featuring the Merry Macs, Howard Barrie, Lynn Martin, and Edna Sedgwick. Comedienne Sheila Barrett provided an “Extra Added Attraction.” Don Baker was the Paramount’s resident organist at the time.
This is to honor the incomparable French bombshell, Denise Darcel, who died last month at age 87. But sixty years ago today, Darcel opened on Broadway at the top of the Paramount Theatre’s stage bill, with comedian Jack Carter and Blue Barron & His Orchestra, also on the program. Filling the Paramount’s screen was RKO’s “The Las Vegas Story,” a B&W melodrama teaming Jane Russell and Victor Mature, in its NYC premiere engagement.