Paramount Theatre
25-29A Courtney Place,
Wellington
6003
25-29A Courtney Place,
Wellington
6003
1 person
favorited this theater
The Paramount Theatre is only within a few minutes walk down Courtney Place, from the Embassy Theatre. This theatre was built in 1917 and is one of the oldest cinemas in Wellington. It has always been used to show slightly unusal films and the Film Festival is held here annually. It is not an extremely fancy theatre inside, rather plain.
Contributed by
Michael Day
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This theatre is currently being renovated, but it is still showing movies at the same time. This theatre is protected by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust with a Grade 2 classification.
The Paramount Theatre opened on 4th August 1917 screening Mary Pickford in “Less than the Dust”. The architect was James Bennie and there were 885 seats in the orchestra stalls and 626 in the circle.
In 1926 the theatre closed for a complete alteration to the interior by the original architect James Bennie and C.A. Martin. The alterations reduced the seating capaity to 1,394 and it re-opened on 20th May 1927 with Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Volga Boatman starring William Boyd. In 1934 a Wurlitzer organ was installed. It had originally been shipped from the USA in 1927 and installed in the Paramount Theatre, Nelson. NZ in 1928 but was removed from that theatre in July 1928 when it was taken over by another company and re-named the Regent.
The interior was re-designed yet again by architect James Bennie in 1943, but due to war-time restrictions, not all the plans were carried out and this may give the rather plain look that the theatre has today.
Even more drastic alterations were carried out in 1961 when the circle was floored forward to the proscenium to create a 710 cinema, whilst the orchestra level was converted into offices. The facade remains virtually unaltered since its 1927 make-over.
This theatre is currently undergoing restoration. At the same time as showing movies. The theatre’s website has photo’s of the renovations. http://www.paramount.co.nz
I think they are trying to turn the theatre back to it’s original 1917 glory. The most ornate theatres here in Wellington are the State Opera House (1913) and the lovely St James Theatre (1912) both are now used for opera, ballet and symphony concerts and stage shows and live theatre.
The renovations are finished now. I don’t know what the theatre looks like inside now?
May 2008 article about digital cinema and the Paramount:
http://tinyurl.com/7n6uvf
Historical information and photos on the Paramount:
View link