jamestownguy: And it would be interesting to learn how it came to be that a PJ journalist decided to write about the Winter Garden! What is the name of the journalist as an email is usually provided with the article as contact information?
Ian: How was it that “there was very little left for Emerson to restore”? Was their vandalism or did the elements get to things such as rain through a leaky roof, etc. that destroyed gilding and paint? So when I read “almost identical” my heart sank. And hen was the last time year theatre operated as a theatre? A previous talks about the year 1983 and that it was “a mess” so it had to be prior to that year. I lived in Boston in the mid 60’s and wish I had seen this theatre then.
Or these inside the Paramount/Denver!?! If any of these photos are anything like what the Paramount/Boston had, then Boston has really lost an INTERIOR “gem” though they restored the marquee to enjoy…doesn’t make awhole lot of theatrical sense, imo! Emerson College is left is a gutted building. I certainly hope that certain artifacts were saved and will be incorporated into the new auditorium, at least!
JTFox: Did the Paramount/Boston have this art deco ceiling that appears on the Paramount/Aurora link? And thanks for the Marquee correction year as I was looking under 2006 and couldn’t fine the issue that features a photo of the Paramount/Boston auditorium.
Ron: Well, all I can say is that this restoration process was certainly different. Was glad to read that it once had a Wurlitzer organ and that you were actually “inside the theatre in 1983” though “it was a total mess after being closed for several years”. If “the City was primarily interested only in the preservation of the facade, marquee and vertical”, then the City accomplished their goal…I guess! But I still wonder if there are visitors to the City of Boston who come to the theatre district and see that beautiful marquee thinking they can enter a restored theatre, too!?!
And what really fascinates me in some of the photos is the Paramount logo on the concrete facade as I’ve never seen that before on or in a theatre with the Paramount connection!?!
After searching the many posts there seems to be many photo links that can’t be accessed and it would be wonderful to see these “behind the facade” photos……… at different stages of “restoration”. I just can’t believe that a facade would be restored to such extent and let the back of the theatre go! What exactly are Emerson College’s plans for this part of the theatre that is gone!?!
How did Emerson College get involved with this Paramount project? And more importantly, how and why was the facade saved and the back destroyed? I would have thought the whole thing would have come down in that narrow space 2 doors down from the Opera House!?! Or the entire theatre would have been restored!?!
The June 3 2004 post shows how the facade looked before restoration, but are there any photos of earlier “behind the facade” photos on this link? If not, perhaps someone could provide them?
This is all very interesting to read in regards to what is going on behind that restored marquee facade. I don’t recall a theatre having a restored facade and the rest gone to “rack and ruin”!
“I had some hope after those relatively recent interior photos were posted a while back showing that some of the original interior had survived.” What photos are these? Are they some that were posted before the post recent one? Can those be found on this link in an earlier dated post(s)?
Does this Paramount marquee light up at night? And why is the facade finished and not the back of the building or behind the facade. It'a like a movie set with all fake fronts!
“first run”….clever! LOL
jamestownguy: And it would be interesting to learn how it came to be that a PJ journalist decided to write about the Winter Garden! What is the name of the journalist as an email is usually provided with the article as contact information?
jamestownguy: Please email me with more PJ Winter Garden article details as I’m sure it goes into the history of the theatre with possible photos?
I just checked the Post Journal website and didn’t see the Winter Garden article. In the meantime, I will find someone who will save the paper for me.
Ron: Thanks for this “walk through history” post which is appropriate since Boston has quite an historical past which includes many of its theatres.
Great photo and taken just yesterday!
JTFox: I just ordered the Marquee issue. Thanks and I can’t wait to see the auditorium photo of what it “once was”.
JTFox: Would the Fourth Quarter 2005 of the Marquee be Vol. 37 #4? That issue lists Lost Theatres of Boston (10 theatres profiled).
Ian: How was it that “there was very little left for Emerson to restore”? Was their vandalism or did the elements get to things such as rain through a leaky roof, etc. that destroyed gilding and paint? So when I read “almost identical” my heart sank. And hen was the last time year theatre operated as a theatre? A previous talks about the year 1983 and that it was “a mess” so it had to be prior to that year. I lived in Boston in the mid 60’s and wish I had seen this theatre then.
http://www.paramountdenver.com/photogallery.aspx
Or these inside the Paramount/Denver!?! If any of these photos are anything like what the Paramount/Boston had, then Boston has really lost an INTERIOR “gem” though they restored the marquee to enjoy…doesn’t make awhole lot of theatrical sense, imo! Emerson College is left is a gutted building. I certainly hope that certain artifacts were saved and will be incorporated into the new auditorium, at least!
http://www.paramountarts.com/aboutphotos.php
Please don’t tell me that these photos on the above link are similar to how the auditorium looked in the Paramount/Boston!?!
JTFox: Did the Paramount/Boston have this art deco ceiling that appears on the Paramount/Aurora link? And thanks for the Marquee correction year as I was looking under 2006 and couldn’t fine the issue that features a photo of the Paramount/Boston auditorium.
View link
Sill hope to see a photo(s) here soon!
JTFox: Thanks as I shall look at the comparative auditoriums and order the THS issue.
Just clicked on the Cutler Majestic Theatre link that is connected with Emerson College…very nice.
…restored to its original “look”!
Ron: Well, all I can say is that this restoration process was certainly different. Was glad to read that it once had a Wurlitzer organ and that you were actually “inside the theatre in 1983” though “it was a total mess after being closed for several years”. If “the City was primarily interested only in the preservation of the facade, marquee and vertical”, then the City accomplished their goal…I guess! But I still wonder if there are visitors to the City of Boston who come to the theatre district and see that beautiful marquee thinking they can enter a restored theatre, too!?!
And what really fascinates me in some of the photos is the Paramount logo on the concrete facade as I’ve never seen that before on or in a theatre with the Paramount connection!?!
Ron: Your March 27, 2008 photos are fascinating to view, but I thought I was perhaps looking at the “big dig” in some of them!?!
After searching the many posts there seems to be many photo links that can’t be accessed and it would be wonderful to see these “behind the facade” photos……… at different stages of “restoration”. I just can’t believe that a facade would be restored to such extent and let the back of the theatre go! What exactly are Emerson College’s plans for this part of the theatre that is gone!?!
How did Emerson College get involved with this Paramount project? And more importantly, how and why was the facade saved and the back destroyed? I would have thought the whole thing would have come down in that narrow space 2 doors down from the Opera House!?! Or the entire theatre would have been restored!?!
The June 3 2004 post shows how the facade looked before restoration, but are there any photos of earlier “behind the facade” photos on this link? If not, perhaps someone could provide them?
This is all very interesting to read in regards to what is going on behind that restored marquee facade. I don’t recall a theatre having a restored facade and the rest gone to “rack and ruin”!
“I had some hope after those relatively recent interior photos were posted a while back showing that some of the original interior had survived.” What photos are these? Are they some that were posted before the post recent one? Can those be found on this link in an earlier dated post(s)?
Does this Paramount marquee light up at night? And why is the facade finished and not the back of the building or behind the facade. It'a like a movie set with all fake fronts!
I’ve sent a fax to “a Beth Dunlop” in Miami, but no word as yet. The phone number went to a fax ring so I had to send word to her via the fax machine.