Paramount Theatre
3300 Washington Avenue,
Newport News,
VA
23607
3300 Washington Avenue,
Newport News,
VA
23607
2 people
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The Paramount was constructed in 1930 on the corner of Washington Avenue and 29th Street in downtown Newport News. It was built on the site of the Academy of Music. A 3/10 Barton theatre organ (stop for stop identical to a Wurlitzer of the same size) was installed in 1931. House organists were Sid Lindsey and Gladys Lysle. I had the pleasure of meeting Gladys in the 60s when I was playing an electronic theatre organ at another venue. I also had the pleasure of playing the Barton organ on Saturday mornings while the maintenance people were getting the theatre ready for the first show (11 AM as I recall).The organ was maintained by Dick Charron..who was a good theatre organist. The organ was sold in the early 70s and went first to Maryland, then Kansas City, and finally to Las Vegas.
The Paramount featured two balconies accessible by a ramp as opposed to steps. I fondly remember the drink machines on the second level… where you put in your nickel, then watch the cup drop down and then two jets (carbon dioxide) and (the flavor desired) mixed together. Occasionally the cup would not center and you’d watch your drink go down the drain!
The Paramount closed in the late 1970s and was demolished around 1990.
Contributed by
Terry Jordan
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
righter40….I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. I don’t think the Palace theater is listed on here yet. I’ll double check and if it isn’t, I will add it when I get to chance to do so.
Here is an old pic
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Sadly the location today
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Here is a photo of a pass for the Paramount Theater.
lost memory, where did you get that picture of the pass? I may have donated a pass like that to the Newport News Historical Society
righter40
The photo of the theater pass came from a Newport News High School Class of 1965 website. This is the main page for that site. The photo is on that website somewhere and you will have to search for it.
Mr.Memory,you never fail to amaze.How the heck would you ever stumble across a 1965 year book page?Sometimes you’re scary.Not retired from the NSA?I guess you’d have to kill me if you told me.
Well, back on my home planet of Kodak I am known as a seeker of lost photographs. Seriously, sometimes I amaze myself. If I search for photos of a Strand theater, I wind up finding photos of a State theater. When I search for a Heights theater, I find a High School Alumni site. Either I can’t spell very good or my search engine is out of this world. :)
Hello everyone. Can anyone please help me find An Elvis Presley concert poster from his show at the Paramount Theatre? The date was 2/13/1956. I am willing to pay top dollar. Or if you guys could help me contact someone who might know where I could find one of these? An original? My contact info is:
Its a shame that the paramount is no more. My dad used to see elvis movies there all the time. Thanks for your time.
-Heather
This was the Paramount in 1985.
Original seating for the Paramount Theatre was listed at 1241 and from looking at the size of the building I would say that that would be closer than the 900 listed in the header.