According to the above article, they are replacing all the carpeting throughout the theatre will replicas of the five original designs/colors – basded on Louis Tiffany’s original sketches in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a single surviving piece of original cartpet. Much of it has already been installed, with the rest to be completed by opening gala on September 11, 2009. They are also replacing the m,essage board with a new LED-based one, and doing exterior painting.
One of the photos on their website showed the organ console raised during a wedding reception. I don’t know if the organ is actually playable at present (an earlier post said it was not in playable condition), but at least the console has been cleaned up enough to be presentable. Hopefully someone can get it in condition to have organ concerts.
Owners Michael Barasso and Steven Stein announced they have closed on a loan that will allow them to pay off the Hippodrome’s tax liens and upgrade the sprinkler system to meet the new codes and allow them to reopen the venue! The loan will also be used to buy out the other owners, and complete the Phase II renovations. The name is being changed back to the Paramount.
Phase I was the extensive renovation done before the place opened as the Hippodrome in 2000. Phase II will complete interior renovations started in Phase I, as well as upgrad restrooms, construct a new marquee and renovations to the outer facade.
Once Phase II is completed, the Paramount will re-open (sometime in late 2009)
Phase III will involve renovating the upper floors of the lobby portion of the building into offices, housing and Artisan “live-work” space.
Barasso and Stein have long and successful histories in managing a number of major nightclubs in massachusetts including the Roxy in Boston and Palladium in Worcester among others.
The website above finally got updated – the association disbanded because of obstacles being put up by the city. They said the city apparently wants the theatre to be renovated by a commercial developer.
Interesting photos – some show areas I’ve never seen before – shows more original plaster remain than I had realized, particularly the inner promenade between the grand lobby and auditorium area, especially ornate ceilings, and it looks like a fair amount of the upper lobbies still remains (even some carpeting on the staircase!) Even the top part of the balcony remains (although minus seats).
I read in the United Artists entry that Illitch has done some major repairs to the roof – and possibly renoavting the building. I wonder if the roof for the Michigan has been or will be repaired.
I wonder if the projectors are still in the projector booth. Apparently the original screen is still handing. If the projectors are there, they could put a railing on the balcony remainder, raise the screen to the top of the proscenium and have occasional movie showings at the world’s first multi-level drive-in! (sit in the balcony or in your car — but no honking!)
The Kuhn-Riddle page has a nice photo of the main auditorium. Sleek modern decor, black walls with horitontal silver lines and stylish square white lights across the walls. Bright blue stadium-style seating. Large screen, with great sound and projection. Seats about 175 (the other cinemas are around 80 and 45 seats.) Even the smallest one is stadium seating.) The other two screens have the same style decor. Film fare is first run, primarily of the art and foreign film genres.
More updates on the organ! On March 3, the console was installed, and at present (3/10/09), 16 of the 35 ranks have been installed; the left chamber is about 95% complete. Donald Phipps is overseeing the effort, and was the one who built up and donated the organ. When operationmal it will be the largest theatre organ in New England, just slightly bigger than the 4/34 at Shanklin conference center.
Plans are for the installation to be completed by December 2009.
More details in the feature article at the Hanover’s web site at:
Their website has some good virtual tours of the various interior spaces. The original ornate pressed-tin ceiling is still intact. It was a fairly long and narrow theater. The triangular marquee is still there, redecorated. The rest of the original decorations are all gone, all new elements and some bare brick. It’s quite a fancy place now.
Now open as the Park Cinema. Shows 1st run south asian films (i.e. Indian subcontinent). They have installed state of the art projection and DTS equipment and stadium seating.
You can click on the Google Maps link at the top of the page to get both aerial and street-level views of the site. The red pointer will point to the entrance at the Taft hotel. The auditorium was just to the right, between the Taft Hotel and the Time-Life building. It is a very plain modern building about 7 floors high, the facade all large glass rectangles. You can still see the arched and circular windows on the TGIF restaurant facade, although the marble paneling appears newer.
has a good photo from the back of the auditorium showing ceiling to be intact. The sunlight I referred to in my previous post may simply be from the media lighting. Fire officials are suspecting arson.
I certainly hope the insurance settlement is generous so they can restore this wonderful place.
The Boston Globe article (linked above) has a better picture shoring the roscenium and left side wall. It is definitely restorable – the decorative plasterwork is singed, but largely intact, although sunlight is clearly coming in through the parts of the roof that collapsed.
According to the above article, they are replacing all the carpeting throughout the theatre will replicas of the five original designs/colors – basded on Louis Tiffany’s original sketches in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a single surviving piece of original cartpet. Much of it has already been installed, with the rest to be completed by opening gala on September 11, 2009. They are also replacing the m,essage board with a new LED-based one, and doing exterior painting.
Looks like the Jewell has been dwemolished. A google maps view of the area shows an empty lot turned into a small park.
I forgot to mention…
One of the photos on their website showed the organ console raised during a wedding reception. I don’t know if the organ is actually playable at present (an earlier post said it was not in playable condition), but at least the console has been cleaned up enough to be presentable. Hopefully someone can get it in condition to have organ concerts.
Big updates!
Owners Michael Barasso and Steven Stein announced they have closed on a loan that will allow them to pay off the Hippodrome’s tax liens and upgrade the sprinkler system to meet the new codes and allow them to reopen the venue! The loan will also be used to buy out the other owners, and complete the Phase II renovations. The name is being changed back to the Paramount.
Phase I was the extensive renovation done before the place opened as the Hippodrome in 2000. Phase II will complete interior renovations started in Phase I, as well as upgrad restrooms, construct a new marquee and renovations to the outer facade.
Once Phase II is completed, the Paramount will re-open (sometime in late 2009)
Phase III will involve renovating the upper floors of the lobby portion of the building into offices, housing and Artisan “live-work” space.
Barasso and Stein have long and successful histories in managing a number of major nightclubs in massachusetts including the Roxy in Boston and Palladium in Worcester among others.
Read more at their page at:
http://paramounttheater.blogspot.com/
It will once again me known as the Paramount Theatre
Here are some new photos I took July 2009 of the Palace Theatre:
Exterior (front and side):
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Lobbies:
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Auditorium:
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Here are some new photos I took July 2009 of the State Theatre:
Exterior (Front and Side):
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Outer Lobby:
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Main Lobby:
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Inner Lobby
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Auditorium:
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Here are some new photos I took July 2009 of the Allen Theatre:
Lobby and Rotunda:
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Auditorium:
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Exterior, front and back:
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Looks like it has reopened – they currently have an art exhibit which opened June 12.
Here’s a nice gallery of photos:
http://www.brattleboroarts.org/galleryext.html
Here’s a closer link for Aparofan’s photos of the Empire/Main St Theatre:
View link
The website above finally got updated – the association disbanded because of obstacles being put up by the city. They said the city apparently wants the theatre to be renovated by a commercial developer.
According to the article posted by Ken MC on February 24, repairs are scheduled to start in summer 2009.
Interesting photos – some show areas I’ve never seen before – shows more original plaster remain than I had realized, particularly the inner promenade between the grand lobby and auditorium area, especially ornate ceilings, and it looks like a fair amount of the upper lobbies still remains (even some carpeting on the staircase!) Even the top part of the balcony remains (although minus seats).
I read in the United Artists entry that Illitch has done some major repairs to the roof – and possibly renoavting the building. I wonder if the roof for the Michigan has been or will be repaired.
I wonder if the projectors are still in the projector booth. Apparently the original screen is still handing. If the projectors are there, they could put a railing on the balcony remainder, raise the screen to the top of the proscenium and have occasional movie showings at the world’s first multi-level drive-in! (sit in the balcony or in your car — but no honking!)
Another website for the Madison Theater:
View link
Actually, I don’t think it is. The addresses are different. Perhaps the photo above was misattributed.
Recent (post-renovation) photo of the Allen Theatre Lobby:
View link
The Kuhn-Riddle page has a nice photo of the main auditorium. Sleek modern decor, black walls with horitontal silver lines and stylish square white lights across the walls. Bright blue stadium-style seating. Large screen, with great sound and projection. Seats about 175 (the other cinemas are around 80 and 45 seats.) Even the smallest one is stadium seating.) The other two screens have the same style decor. Film fare is first run, primarily of the art and foreign film genres.
Here is what is probably the most official website – – The Capitol is park of the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts:
View link
More updates on the organ! On March 3, the console was installed, and at present (3/10/09), 16 of the 35 ranks have been installed; the left chamber is about 95% complete. Donald Phipps is overseeing the effort, and was the one who built up and donated the organ. When operationmal it will be the largest theatre organ in New England, just slightly bigger than the 4/34 at Shanklin conference center.
Plans are for the installation to be completed by December 2009.
More details in the feature article at the Hanover’s web site at:
View link
Their website has some good virtual tours of the various interior spaces. The original ornate pressed-tin ceiling is still intact. It was a fairly long and narrow theater. The triangular marquee is still there, redecorated. The rest of the original decorations are all gone, all new elements and some bare brick. It’s quite a fancy place now.
Now open as the Park Cinema. Shows 1st run south asian films (i.e. Indian subcontinent). They have installed state of the art projection and DTS equipment and stadium seating.
Actually, my mistake — the circular windows are not original.
You can click on the Google Maps link at the top of the page to get both aerial and street-level views of the site. The red pointer will point to the entrance at the Taft hotel. The auditorium was just to the right, between the Taft Hotel and the Time-Life building. It is a very plain modern building about 7 floors high, the facade all large glass rectangles. You can still see the arched and circular windows on the TGIF restaurant facade, although the marble paneling appears newer.
More info: Boston Herald has related articles that you can link to from the one above (links on right). One of them:
View link
has a good photo from the back of the auditorium showing ceiling to be intact. The sunlight I referred to in my previous post may simply be from the media lighting. Fire officials are suspecting arson.
I certainly hope the insurance settlement is generous so they can restore this wonderful place.
The Boston Globe article (linked above) has a better picture shoring the roscenium and left side wall. It is definitely restorable – the decorative plasterwork is singed, but largely intact, although sunlight is clearly coming in through the parts of the roof that collapsed.