I seriously doubt that Scorsese (all of 16 years old in 1958) would have been able to tell the difference between horizontal and standard 35mm presentation of VistaVision on the huge Paramount screen.
I seriously doubt that Scorcese (all of 16 years old in 1958) would have been able to tell the difference between horizontal and standard 35mm presentation of VistaVision on the huge Paramount screen.
An all-time low? The Kettle series was VERY popular with audiences at that time. In fact, they’ve been released to entertain new generations in DVD box sets.
And Percy Kilbride on stage to boot? That was a show not to miss!
The old stage house roof was totally open to the elements, and pidgeons had moved in. We had them in the projection booth at the Loew’s Jersey, and it was not a pretty sight…
In case anyone cares, here’s some interesting trivia: the Paradise Theater was used by Fine Recording as the test venue for their Perspecta Stereophonic sound process. Developed for MGM in 1954, this short-lived 3-speaker sound system was eventually installed in every Loew’s theater. It was pretty much abandoned in 1957.
The Lewis tour was done by bus, and I believe they had a police escort for certain parts of the tour. As far as lunch, they had time set aside on the schedule for meals.
Other tours of that period include Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis in full make-up for MUNSTER, GO HOME. And Adam West with Burt Ward in costume for BATMAN.
Showmanship was alive and well at that time. Those were the days!
Terrific photo Warren. The Central featured many of the great bands during the 1940’s, and was the last place Glenn Miller played before going to Europe.
I really appreciate these photos. Do you have any more?
Yes, the balcony was always closed in the later years. For that reason, the lounge area upstairs was in excellent condition when the theater closed. The audiences for the blaxploitation/kung-fu epics had trashed the once beautiful downstairs lounge, but the balcony area was in great shape. In fact, it still had some of the original art deco furniture and light fixtures.
WOW, thanks Warren. I would sure love to get a good quality print of that image! By the time I was going there in the late sixties, the vertical sign was gone. But it was a huge marquee and could be seen for blocks.
Jeff, the information on the ticket is a little mis-leading. The train station was a block or two north on Main Street, and the tracks continued towards Clifton along the west wall of the theatre.
That’s a great story, thanks for sharing it. Do you have any other recollections of the Paramount, and were you involved with their stage productions?
Many people have said that Martin and Lewis were one of the funniest live shows you would ever see. It’s too bad that their movies never captured that magic on film. About the closest you can get are their appearances on the Colgate Comedy Hour.
Didn’t ANYBODY on this forum go to the grand re-opening of this magnificent showplace?
Yes, please. For those who were not able to attend, we would like to read a complete report of the gala re-birth of our beloved Paradise!
The decorative seat ends look less ornate than I would have expected in the Paramount. Did they install new seats in the 40’s or 50’s?
Oops! How’s this?
I seriously doubt that Scorsese (all of 16 years old in 1958) would have been able to tell the difference between horizontal and standard 35mm presentation of VistaVision on the huge Paramount screen.
I seriously doubt that Scorcese (all of 16 years old in 1958) would have been able to tell the difference between horizontal and standard 35mm presentation of VistaVision on the huge Paramount screen.
“Money from Home” opened flat at the Paramount in 1/54, but it was test screened (previewed) in 3-D at the Criterion in 11/53.
Many other Martin and Lewis films opened at the Paramount, including MY FRIEND IRMA.
The film that Lewis cut was either MY FRIEND IRMA, the first movie in which he and Dean Martin appeared, or AT WAR WITH THE ARMY.
Thanks for that image. Do you also have the inside of the program? I would love to see the program.
An all-time low? The Kettle series was VERY popular with audiences at that time. In fact, they’ve been released to entertain new generations in DVD box sets.
And Percy Kilbride on stage to boot? That was a show not to miss!
Boy, 1972 sure was a terrible year for movies!
The old stage house roof was totally open to the elements, and pidgeons had moved in. We had them in the projection booth at the Loew’s Jersey, and it was not a pretty sight…
In case anyone cares, here’s some interesting trivia: the Paradise Theater was used by Fine Recording as the test venue for their Perspecta Stereophonic sound process. Developed for MGM in 1954, this short-lived 3-speaker sound system was eventually installed in every Loew’s theater. It was pretty much abandoned in 1957.
The Lewis tour was done by bus, and I believe they had a police escort for certain parts of the tour. As far as lunch, they had time set aside on the schedule for meals.
Other tours of that period include Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis in full make-up for MUNSTER, GO HOME. And Adam West with Burt Ward in costume for BATMAN.
Showmanship was alive and well at that time. Those were the days!
Terrific photo Warren. The Central featured many of the great bands during the 1940’s, and was the last place Glenn Miller played before going to Europe.
I really appreciate these photos. Do you have any more?
Thanks William.
Great images, thanks Warren. Any idea what the dimensions are?
Jerry Lewis has 35mm color footage of that tour, and some of it appears on the new DVD of “The Bellboy.”
Wow, Hope and Crosby on the same bill 8 years before their first film together! I wonder if they shared the stage for any portion of these shows?
Yes, the balcony was always closed in the later years. For that reason, the lounge area upstairs was in excellent condition when the theater closed. The audiences for the blaxploitation/kung-fu epics had trashed the once beautiful downstairs lounge, but the balcony area was in great shape. In fact, it still had some of the original art deco furniture and light fixtures.
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?
WOW, thanks Warren. I would sure love to get a good quality print of that image! By the time I was going there in the late sixties, the vertical sign was gone. But it was a huge marquee and could be seen for blocks.
Oops, the train station was on Main Street just south of the Central. Sorry ‘bout that!
Jeff, the information on the ticket is a little mis-leading. The train station was a block or two north on Main Street, and the tracks continued towards Clifton along the west wall of the theatre.
That’s a great story, thanks for sharing it. Do you have any other recollections of the Paramount, and were you involved with their stage productions?
Many people have said that Martin and Lewis were one of the funniest live shows you would ever see. It’s too bad that their movies never captured that magic on film. About the closest you can get are their appearances on the Colgate Comedy Hour.