Paramount Theatre

lost Memory, Gosh what a sad picture,
Do you or anyone else have any pictures from the days when the theatre was open? I used to have a great 8x10 shot of the marquee taken during the mid 40s, but I can’t find it any longer.

vito yes the staircase was indeed intact but at the top were barriers preventing entry to the balcony. it looked like they had originally cleaned out the interior lobby , but they were now using it to store a large amount of used furniture they are selling. the person also told me all the buildings on the block had suffered water damage not long ago ,due to a street drainage problem.

for some odd reason they were recently selling used furniture out of the place. i pretended to be an interested buyer and talked my way into the interior lobby. it was a shambles as vito has said. i then told the gentleman i was a movie theatre enthusiast who had spent many hours there in my youth ,and would like to see the auditorium. however , he was having none of it…

driving by the other day i noticed it looked like panel boards had been put up over some of the interior lobby doors , could they be fixing up the place? obviously it wouldnt be a theatre , but maybe they have some other use in mind?

I am seeking information on the names of the movies highlighted during a film marathon at the Paramount Theatre during the late 60s or early 70s which offered $50 to anyone who could sit through all five movies without leaving the theatre. This was similar to the Mark of the Devil film that handed out vomit bags. These movies were VERY intense and probably were foreign films dubbed. Any info from a former usher or employee would be greatly appreciated :) I saw these movies when I was in grade school and the memories of the event are still subject of debate with my former Staten Island friends.
Thanks very much!

Not yet Gus.

Garth, you are correct, the sign referes to the empty store fronts.
I was told that some sort of apartment complex was planned for the area that was the Paramount theatre.
Oh yeah, just what Stapleton needs, Madness if you ask me.

I would agree, but to be fair the biggest fault with the death of the Paramount has to be laid at the feet of the Steckman family, the previous owners. Their total ignorance of what was going on inside the theatre allowed tenants using the facility for concerts and a dance club to basically destroy it.
I know of two parties, including the owners of the St George, who were interested in saving the Paramount until they saw the horrible condition that it was in. As one gentlemen told me, “ the theatre is dead”
I toured the building several times between 1982 and 2002, and was appalled by the disrespect of that once grand theatre. I actually scolded one of the Steckman brothers for allowing the desecration to occur.

whatever plans the owner has for the site , it seems to be taking forever. i pass by frequently and have seen no further activity. anyone have updates?….

Gus, please see my post /theaters/3414/

jean i didnt realize it until i read your post but i believe you are right , the box office is gone. i’m gonna drive by tomorrow to check.

the interior doors are now either open or gone altogether , and you can see the entire lobby thru the mesh gate. the only thing intact is the staircase leading up to the balcony. i’m still gonna try to get in there if i see the workers there. i don’t have a digital camera but anyone who does can contact me.