Ed: The Grand Foyer was certainly beyond grand! And I’m sure many of the Hard Rock Cafe patrons don’t know that Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis played the Paramount in the 10 years they were together! They’d know the Lewis name because of his MS Telethon, but not sure if many would know the name, Dean Martin. And thanks for posting the wonderful Paramount photos as I’m sure they brought many wonderful memories for many New Yorkers!
Vincent: Interesting insight and now when I see photos and live scenes of Times Square I will know that the former and grand Paramount was once within its midst.
“The recently replaced arched window above the marquee is much more shallowly set then the original arched window, which featured a stained-glass Paramount mountain in its center.” Where on this link is there a possible picture of the original arched window with the stained-glass mountain in the center?
RobertR: How does one view the NY Times photo of the Paramount being gutted on the site you listed 4/18/05? Would also like to view any and all interior photos if someone could direct me to where they are on this link. Thanks.
While scanning this link I read where the Paramount Mighty Wurlitzer is located today…..Wichita Kansas so glad to know that it is in existence somewhere!
TomPaine: I am reading Dean and Me and would love to have you include on CT any information about M&L and their performances at the Paramount Theatre. Now that the location is a Hard Rock Cafe I wonder if the Cafe has photos of M&L on display and their connection to that theatre? Hope so! On page 144 it talks about their dressing room being on the 6th floor and that the Paramount’s stage door was on Forty-fourth Street. There was “a crowd of at least 20,000 people, waiting to catch a glimpse of us.” “Up in our dressing room, we’d throw up the sash, sit on the ledge, and bask in the excitement. We would yell jokes, sing (both of us!), play our horns, throw stuff down to the crowd: T-shirts, hats, handkerchiefs. And thousands upon thousands of black-and-white, five-by-seven publicity photos.” “The crowds were backed down Forty-fourth Street and around the corner onto Broadway.”
I just clicked on the Hard Rock Cafe link and viewed the color photo so I guess I answered my own question though still wonder why this theatre is listed as “Closed/Demolished”?
Is this Rapp and Rapp theatre a Hard Rock Cafe now or was it demolished according to the information given on this link at the top after the word…Status.
williamlambert: Thanks for the compliments to Buffalo and the area. I know what you mean when you say “the hurricanes in these parts of late are much more harrowing than any blizzard…also the people are nicer and warmer…” Alot of truth in those words! I love the beautiful Shea’s Theatre and the Hall of Fame in the lobby which includes Lucille Ball as its first inductee though she died before making the trip to Buffalo and to her hometown of Jamestown to receive this honor and many others. BTW, I don’t recall the castle that you speak of where the Big E building went up, but can find out through a long time Buffalo resident who will more than likely have the answer!
In Dean and Me written by Jerry Lewis the Palace is mentioned as being one of the many theatres that Martin & Lewis performed over their 10 years together. Is this the theatre?
Kurt: I plan to write the Mayor of Anna, Steve Hartline a letter in support of saving the Rodgers Theatre and I hope that many other fellow CT members and especially those who are in the Anna Illinois area will do the same as the Mayor’s address can be found on your June 29, 2005 post. Thank you as your support could possibly make the difference between a bad decision and a good decision.
MikeR: I’m in favor of the original organ being replaced in the Stanley theatre. It was disturbing to read that a small number of theatre organs are in their original locations! This is the case of a theatre near my hometown in western NYS, Reg Lenna(formerly the Palace)in Jamestown NY. When it was restored there was no organ and the benefactor for some reason didn’t pursue this and find out where it went…have heard that years ago it was taken to nearby Olean NY, but a lead via a phone call didn’t produce any former Palace Theatre organ evidence. And one of the reasons I want to see the Stanley, in person, is…..“One of the highlights of the Stanley is a grand staircase in the main lobby which was based upon one that was on both the Titanic and its twin, the Olympic.”
Such a shame that this Paramount is gone to make way for office space, but thanks to Jerry’s book about dear his friend, Dean Martin the Paramount lives again within the pages of Dean and Me.
After scanning this link for information on Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis I have read a few posts that mention these men and their historical connection to this Paramount. At the moment I am reading Dean and Me which mentions several other theatre appearances in their illustrious careers.
I am reading Dean and Me by Jerry Lewis and a Paramount Theatre was mentioned along with the Roxy Theatre. Is this Paramount the one or was there a Paramount on Manhattan in the 40’s? Dean and Me is a wonderful read and a wonderful tribute to Dean, Jerry’s partner of 10 years from 1946-1956.
Kurt: CT only lists 3 Rodgers Theatres and besides the Rodgers in Illinois and the one listed in MO there is one listed in Corning California. Could this one be a Issac Rodgers theatre even though you didn’t include CA as one of the States “between IL, MO, and KY”.
“Isaac Walter Rodgers owned this theatre along with about 5 others spread out between IL, MO, and KY.” Are any of the other Rodgers Theatres still open and have any of them been restored? If so, it might be wise to contact these other theatres and see if they can be of any help in saving and restoring the Rodgers in Anna! BTW, I’m trying to find an email address for the Mayor of Anna!
In the book, Dean & Me a theatre by the name of St. James is mentioned so is (or was) that one in the NY/NJ area?
Ed: The Grand Foyer was certainly beyond grand! And I’m sure many of the Hard Rock Cafe patrons don’t know that Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis played the Paramount in the 10 years they were together! They’d know the Lewis name because of his MS Telethon, but not sure if many would know the name, Dean Martin. And thanks for posting the wonderful Paramount photos as I’m sure they brought many wonderful memories for many New Yorkers!
Vincent: Interesting insight and now when I see photos and live scenes of Times Square I will know that the former and grand Paramount was once within its midst.
EdSolero: Found the link to your NY Times gutted photo as I thought maybe it was a different one. Thanks.
“The recently replaced arched window above the marquee is much more shallowly set then the original arched window, which featured a stained-glass Paramount mountain in its center.” Where on this link is there a possible picture of the original arched window with the stained-glass mountain in the center?
RobertR: How does one view the NY Times photo of the Paramount being gutted on the site you listed 4/18/05? Would also like to view any and all interior photos if someone could direct me to where they are on this link. Thanks.
While scanning this link I read where the Paramount Mighty Wurlitzer is located today…..Wichita Kansas so glad to know that it is in existence somewhere!
The man in the photo with his construction hat on and his hands on his hips seems to say…..“All in a day’s work and just another job.”
Yes, what a shame!
TomPaine: I am reading Dean and Me and would love to have you include on CT any information about M&L and their performances at the Paramount Theatre. Now that the location is a Hard Rock Cafe I wonder if the Cafe has photos of M&L on display and their connection to that theatre? Hope so! On page 144 it talks about their dressing room being on the 6th floor and that the Paramount’s stage door was on Forty-fourth Street. There was “a crowd of at least 20,000 people, waiting to catch a glimpse of us.” “Up in our dressing room, we’d throw up the sash, sit on the ledge, and bask in the excitement. We would yell jokes, sing (both of us!), play our horns, throw stuff down to the crowd: T-shirts, hats, handkerchiefs. And thousands upon thousands of black-and-white, five-by-seven publicity photos.” “The crowds were backed down Forty-fourth Street and around the corner onto Broadway.”
I just clicked on the Hard Rock Cafe link and viewed the color photo so I guess I answered my own question though still wonder why this theatre is listed as “Closed/Demolished”?
Is this Rapp and Rapp theatre a Hard Rock Cafe now or was it demolished according to the information given on this link at the top after the word…Status.
It was a Thomas Lamb theatre which makes reading about any demolition very hard to accept.
In the book Dean and Me written by Jerry Lewis a St. James Theatre is mentioned and I wonder if it was this theatre?
DUnks: Interesting to read that you have the organ that was once in the Shea’s Great Lakes. How did you happen that you became its current owner?
williamlambert: Thanks for the compliments to Buffalo and the area. I know what you mean when you say “the hurricanes in these parts of late are much more harrowing than any blizzard…also the people are nicer and warmer…” Alot of truth in those words! I love the beautiful Shea’s Theatre and the Hall of Fame in the lobby which includes Lucille Ball as its first inductee though she died before making the trip to Buffalo and to her hometown of Jamestown to receive this honor and many others. BTW, I don’t recall the castle that you speak of where the Big E building went up, but can find out through a long time Buffalo resident who will more than likely have the answer!
In Dean and Me written by Jerry Lewis the Palace is mentioned as being one of the many theatres that Martin & Lewis performed over their 10 years together. Is this the theatre?
Kurt: I plan to write the Mayor of Anna, Steve Hartline a letter in support of saving the Rodgers Theatre and I hope that many other fellow CT members and especially those who are in the Anna Illinois area will do the same as the Mayor’s address can be found on your June 29, 2005 post. Thank you as your support could possibly make the difference between a bad decision and a good decision.
MikeR: I’m in favor of the original organ being replaced in the Stanley theatre. It was disturbing to read that a small number of theatre organs are in their original locations! This is the case of a theatre near my hometown in western NYS, Reg Lenna(formerly the Palace)in Jamestown NY. When it was restored there was no organ and the benefactor for some reason didn’t pursue this and find out where it went…have heard that years ago it was taken to nearby Olean NY, but a lead via a phone call didn’t produce any former Palace Theatre organ evidence. And one of the reasons I want to see the Stanley, in person, is…..“One of the highlights of the Stanley is a grand staircase in the main lobby which was based upon one that was on both the Titanic and its twin, the Olympic.”
Such a shame that this Paramount is gone to make way for office space, but thanks to Jerry’s book about dear his friend, Dean Martin the Paramount lives again within the pages of Dean and Me.
After scanning this link for information on Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis I have read a few posts that mention these men and their historical connection to this Paramount. At the moment I am reading Dean and Me which mentions several other theatre appearances in their illustrious careers.
Bryan: Many thanks! BTW, I’m enjoying Dean and Me very much.
I am reading Dean and Me by Jerry Lewis and a Paramount Theatre was mentioned along with the Roxy Theatre. Is this Paramount the one or was there a Paramount on Manhattan in the 40’s? Dean and Me is a wonderful read and a wonderful tribute to Dean, Jerry’s partner of 10 years from 1946-1956.
Kurt: CT only lists 3 Rodgers Theatres and besides the Rodgers in Illinois and the one listed in MO there is one listed in Corning California. Could this one be a Issac Rodgers theatre even though you didn’t include CA as one of the States “between IL, MO, and KY”.
“Isaac Walter Rodgers owned this theatre along with about 5 others spread out between IL, MO, and KY.” Are any of the other Rodgers Theatres still open and have any of them been restored? If so, it might be wise to contact these other theatres and see if they can be of any help in saving and restoring the Rodgers in Anna! BTW, I’m trying to find an email address for the Mayor of Anna!