Paramount Theatre

I can scan the articles in and post a link to them. One article mentions an artesian well- which was connected to natural springs and was used for ‘air conditioning’. Apparently the well and pump- doesn’t work but is still intact today. The area was known for spring water, with local beer breweries in the Stapleton area. Also, the opening day event was described with multiple article the day before and after. Originally there were two Wurlitzer organs on movable faux marble consoles- long gone… When the theatre opened, they turned away 2,000 people.
I am involved with the Preservation League and Coalition to Save the Si Castle- old SI Hospital- so give me a week and I will scan/post articles.

The theatre is being restored and the owner is doing a great job, considering years of neglect by Steckman’s Sporting goods- it takes a NON-Staten Island native to do the RIGHT THING. A fresh outlook helps!
A reporter from the Si Advance was kind enough to give us an assortment of early articles on the theatre which includes descriptions of the Art-Deco interior- Modernistic- Egyptian designs. There are many great details remaining- such as a mural on the ceiling greens and blues…The exterior terra cotta will be landmarked in the near future…

I hope it revitalizes the area, it’s kind of seedy.

garth, As I mentioned in another post, it would be a good idea to introduce the new owner to Cinema Treasures. Fill him in on what we are about. Perhaps he would log on, read this thread, and perhaps contribute. We would love to hear what his plans are for the theatre.
As to the pit, we tried in vain to get it up and running it was in desperate state of disrepair. The stage is in much beter shape, other than the main curtain which was removed in the 80s, much of the rigging was still operational. Only the floor concerns me, due to the rain faling down on the wood surface it will need to be replaced.
My other concern would be, as you mentioned, the parking. That will be a problem. An upscale club would be nice, but if the club were better run than the last two were it has a shot. In fact the club that operated in the early 80s was very successful, one of the best dance clubs on the island. unfortunatly the folks running it began allowing bad things to occur, drug sales etc and then as I understand began having problems with paying their taxes. The tax thing is what I am told I have no positive evidence of that. but the drugs were definatly an issue. I even went so far as to scold Steckman, who owned the building at the time, for not keeping closer tabs on his tennant.
Please try and convince the new owners that we wont bite and he should stop by and tell us a bt of his plans.

They tried the dance club idea befoe and with not much success.
I hope it will be more of an upscale venue this time.
In addition to the new floor in the main auditorium they will need to replace the entire floor of the stage. When last I stood on it I felt an errie creaking sound and felt like it was going to give way. Lots of water damage to the stage floor befoe the roof was repaired.

I wonder if they will make use of the orchestra pit.

Glad to read/hear that progress is being made on the Restoration of this handsome-looking theatre.

Sorry garth I can not figure out what door is being used to deliver concrete. I wish I were on SI so I might go there and look into that. Perhaps you might ask to speak to a supervisor at the site and explain that you are doing research for a report you are doing for Cinema Treasures and would appreciate any information you might acquire. Ask nicely and perhaps you might get lucky and speak with someone who likes to talk. I world imagine the folks behind this project are very proud of what they are doing and world be anxious to share information.
I would encourage all that post here to get to the theater and see what you can find out as Cinema treasures “reporters"

I understand this project is being called a restoration, however, during the time I spent volunteering at the St George during the restoration there, we often visited the Paramount, and as I have reported here before what we found was there was nothing really left of what was the Paramount. It will be a difficult task to restore with so little left to actually restore. Perhaps we could call it a recreation of the theatre. And that ain’t bad.

The landmarking will of course be a giant step; for one thing the Art Deco Facade which is the cornerstone for the argument for the land marking must be preserved. Does anyone know if the theatre façade has been given exterior landmark designation? My understanding is that the auditorium is not being considered for landmarking. Most of the space was altered or removed by previous, let’s call them tenants, you can still see the original design on the ceiling and I imagine can be restored. In addition there was still some plaster made designs around the stage, I wonder if those still remain.

I am of course thrilled by the prospect of the return of this once grand theatre, but having seen first hand what it looks like now I can only say it will b an enormous undertaking

When I noticed Cinema Treasures has changed the theatre’s status to “Closed/Restoring” it made me feel good.

Vito can you tell me , if you were to enter through those side doors on Union Street what part of the theatre is that? I don’t think they were ever open when the place was operating.

Today workers were pouring cement from a truck down a ramp thru one of the side doors (a new floor?). The area that was visible from outside had all fixtures removed and was totally vacant. I figured what the hell, I might as well ask to have a look around and got the usual response.

The owner is getting a liquor license to make the space an entertainment venue- not to compete with the St. George Theatre. I just got to see the ceiling in full light- it was always partially lite. It has the original blue and green paint and art deco drawings. There are also 7 original light fixtures, more than I previous stated. They are doing a great restoration of the site.

The owner is seeking interior photos for restoration efforts- email me if you have any please…

Sad story abou the mirrors. Steckman told man the madmen who had leased the theatre in the 80s as a nightclub had removed and destroyed them and painted the area with black paint.
Another sad story involves the original blue travelor curtain.
When I asked what happened to it I was told that during one of those live rock shows the “artists” got irrated whern no one opened the curtain as they were about to “perform” and they simply tore it down and threw it into the howling savages attending the show. It was later descarded with the garbage.