Paramount Theatre

Hmmmm. That’s a shame, Warren. Public access is certainly something to consider. I hope it’s something that is in the AMMI’s future plans. Perhaps they are waiting to amass a sufficient amount of material to warrant some sort of Library? They might consider a partnership with Lincoln Center since they already have facilities – though I know how bad the politics can get sometimes between these kinds of institutions.

Just a thought, but it occurs to me that the American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria Queens might also be interested in ActorGuy’s collection of material on the Paramount. They have a reasonable collection of material on display regarding the theatrical presentation of film over the last century. The collection includes tons of advertising material (programs, magazines, matchbooks, posters, lobby cards, etc.) and scores of photographs from the Loew’s organization. They also have an incredible cutaway scale model of the Roxy Theater on display that will absolutely knock your socks off if you ever make it down to Astoria to visit the Museum. I highly recommend it.

Anyway… they might be very interested in ActorGuy’s documentation.

ActorGuy, if you advertise anywhere, you can probably sell the collection off in pieces, which may make money for you, but which will render the collection much less valuable to any institution. If your motive is profit, then you probably will not care who gets the materials, but if it is for the love of this theatre and others, then do consider the viableness and accessability of the materials for generations to come.

One reason I suggested the Theatre Historical Society is that it is devoted to THEATRES, whereas in contrast, other institutions are not so specialized and have to therefore spread their maintenance funds out over a number of collections. Most any institution will accept a collection if for no other reason than to be able to list it on their credits as being part of their documentary base, but that doesn’t mean that they will fully process or accession the items after they have been received by them. The Library of Congress, for example, received a huge collection of trade catalogs 50 years ago, but it has never been fully accessioned or catgaloged due to “lack of funds.” Large institutions tend to have a world-weary disdain for the enthusiasts and their ‘hobbyist’ documents, and therefore may treat your collection slightingly in favor of larger or more popular collections now and later donated to be cared for by scarse funds. Theatre Historical is by no means rolling in funds, but since this is their sole field of interest, it is likely that their assurances as to processing and openness of the collection will have a lot more weight in fact. They will also cross-index to the many other items in their collection about the NY PARAMOUNT, whereas a local institution of other focus may not have much to cross-index to, if they even care to.

Another factor to consider is what record exists for posterity if some disaster should befall New York city. When the hurricanes destroyed many libraries in the south, the records there were often destroyed, and any memories of lost theatres there are now also lost to everyone! A Chicago suburb is far from NYC, and thus more likely to be able to keep such vital history should something happen in Gotham. Those without foresight will poo-poo such a possibility, but realists will not. Examine your motives and think ahead. Should copies on DVD be made of the items so that the DVD copies can be sent to archives in the NYC area? That is something for you to explore, if preservation is more your aim than profit.

ActorGuy, I have to agree with Warren that the material should remain in New York, but then I am a rather biased native New Yorker. I urge you to contact Warren and consider his suggestion before you take the material elsewhere. The New York Historical Society or even the Musuem of the City of New York come to mind as possible alternatives to Lincoln Center, should they elect to pass on the material.

“Actor Guy,” you indeed have a treasure there! I am sure that the Theatre Historical Society of American in Elmhurst Illinois would be interested. They have thousands of records of theatres across the nation but could probably find more room. Contact their Executive Director, Richard Sklenar, at: or phone him at their numbers given on their web site: www.historictheatres.org during business hours. Try to give him an idea of the extent and nature of the collection. Their Archive is above the YORK theatre in Elmhurst, about 15 miles west of Chicago and hosts many hundreds of researchers every year.

On the off chance that they cannot accept your gift, or transportation problems loom, it is quite possible that the Theatre Collection of the City of New York at the main Library would also be interested. For both groups it will depend upon space available, and staff resources to catalog and package the collection for preservation. If you encounter such problem, consider retaining portions of the collection until they can accept more. They will probably offer to name the collection after you, but you can be anonymous if you choose.

By the way, I know how you feel finding such a trove in a dumpster. I came upon such regarding an abandoned local feed mill that had several unique buildings from the 1870s, and could only rescue some photos and the like. I am so glad that you had the foresight and determination to save what you could; after I joined the staff of the PABST theatre to reconstruct its history in my native Milwaukee, I was told of how many file cabints of documents and boxers of “old stuff” were discarded during the “restoration” of the 1895 theatre long before I was hired, and so one can only guess at what was lost —and shake one’s head at the shortsightedness and laziness of the city supervisors that allowed the contractors to simply dump all that history rather than rent a semitrailer to hold it until space could be found. I cringe at the thought to this day! More power to you! Jim Rankin, former Archivist/Historian to the Pabst Theater, and member of the Theatre Hist. Soc. since 1976

Back in the 1970s I was a struggling actor in NYC, one of my agents was located in the Paramount Theatre building. One evening as I was leaving the building I saw a dumpster cart, with a bunch of old documents, and rolled up tattered papers. I was curious and being an old hand at “Dumpster Diving” I investigated. (I had furnished 2 apartments that way) I began pulling things out… I thought someone was going to yell at me so I tried keeping it neat.
What I found KNOCKED My Socks Off… It was a veritable history of the building being THROWN OUT. I had always been interested in theatre history, so I went back to my agents office and got some garbage bags. The dumpster cart had a lot of stuff, and I could only fit so much. I stuffed as much as I could, into the garbage bags and left the rest behind, it more than I could carry!
I have been carrying that stuff around for over 25 years. I decided to put “Paramount Theatre” in a search engine and found this site.
I have read with great interest the postings and realized I have a major part of theatre history. The rolled up papers I found were Blue prints of the Paramount building including the theatre, (including the Paramount’s marquee) also postcards and promotional material for the opening of the office building.
I always thought they had some value, but until I found this sit…
I HAD NO IDEA!
Any offers ? ? ?

OK…. Now what to do with them

Many other Martin and Lewis films opened at the Paramount, including MY FRIEND IRMA.

You think word ever got back to the director of “Dear Brat” that his work had been mutilated by Lewis? I say that as facetiously as one can imagine!

They did cut into the proscenium when they installed the screen.

Thanks William.

Great images, thanks Warren. Any idea what the dimensions are?

I notice in the ARTISTS AND MODELS ad it states “See it on the worlds largest theater screen.”

Does anyone know the size of the Paramount Theater’s VistaVision screen?

artists and models-1954
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