Harvey: And now I am trying to locate and contact the Beth Dunlop who wrote the Paramount 1982 article. If I reach her, I will let you know via email though only a My Space came up when clicking on your name and not a regular email address.
“It has been the subject of protracted negotiations between the owner, First Southern Holdings, and the Palm Beach Town Council, but that didn’t save the movietheater as a theater.”
I can’t believe that the Palm Beach Town Council with all of their “island” wisdom couldn’t figure out a way to save their Joseph Urban designed theatre for future generations and future residents. At least the Miami Herald knew the importance of this theatre to take the time to write the 1982 article. In fact, I lived in the West Palm Beach area in 1982 and don’t recall the article though I wasn’t into theatres back then.
Harvey: Very insightful article from 1982 yet the first paragraph really jumped out at me as the theatre did sit in Palm Beach where many wealthy residents could have figured “out a good way to save it”. A theatre with such “rich” illustrious history that became doomed and is now gone forever on Palm Beach!
Consider the plight of the Paramount: Nobody really wants to lose it, but nobody can figure out a good way to save it, either. It is a movietheater with no movies , a historic work of architecture with too few champions, an illustrious piece of Palm Beach’s history that may be doomed.
The Jordan is featured with several b/w photos on Cinema Tour. The PA community of Greenville has forever lost their “gem”. And this summer I plan to pay Greenville a visit to see just where this theatre once proudly stood.
“The design was very similar to Rapp & Rapp’s Paramount in Aurora, Illinois, which opened the previous year. Both had interiors that were a mix of Art Deco and French Renaissance.”
Ron: Thanks so very much as this trip to Boston will be a trip down memory lane for me. I attended and graduated from the former Chamberlayne Junior College in 1966 on Commonwealth Avenue which are now very expensive brownstones according to the internet.
Still no reply from Organ Supply Industries so may give them a phone call since they have an 800 number on their website. On the site there is a message from the president so will ask to speak with him. Stay tuned.
I just sent Organ Supply Industries an email about the organ that was once in the Paramount Theatre and will await a reply. If I don’t hear from OSI in a few days (or hours), I will give them a phone call. Stay organ tuned!
I would like to know how it came to be that the Paramount was allowed to be sold? After viewing the b/w interior photos on the freenet site I am truly amazed that this Lempert theatre with such rich history was drastically converted.
This link shows what is at the former Paramount Theatre location today and was the Nemmer Furniture location until the building was converted into condos by a local developer.
Below are the words in a recent email sent to me from a local Buffalo resident:
I would have to do some digging to see what address the Paramount Theater used. It became Nemmer Furniture, and then was vacant for many years before Doug Swift bought it and turned it into City Centre Condos. Yes, we did discuss this a while ago, and I think I forwarded Doug’s reply to saythat there was basically nothing left of the theater, but he did manage tosalvage some columns and the ticket booth.
T.M.S.: Below is an email that I rec’d with a contactphone number. Hope this helps…keep us posted. Thanks.
The phone number on the marquee is 217/549-3000. We are delighted someone is at least interested in it. It is an historical landmark here and everyone would dearly like someone to take it and get it back to working condition.
T.M.S.: Try this link which is the Chamber of Commerce site for Effingham. They might be able to help you locate someone connected to the Heart Theatre.
Harvey: And now I am trying to locate and contact the Beth Dunlop who wrote the Paramount 1982 article. If I reach her, I will let you know via email though only a My Space came up when clicking on your name and not a regular email address.
“It has been the subject of protracted negotiations between the owner, First Southern Holdings, and the Palm Beach Town Council, but that didn’t save the movietheater as a theater.”
I can’t believe that the Palm Beach Town Council with all of their “island” wisdom couldn’t figure out a way to save their Joseph Urban designed theatre for future generations and future residents. At least the Miami Herald knew the importance of this theatre to take the time to write the 1982 article. In fact, I lived in the West Palm Beach area in 1982 and don’t recall the article though I wasn’t into theatres back then.
Harvey: Very insightful article from 1982 yet the first paragraph really jumped out at me as the theatre did sit in Palm Beach where many wealthy residents could have figured “out a good way to save it”. A theatre with such “rich” illustrious history that became doomed and is now gone forever on Palm Beach!
Consider the plight of the Paramount: Nobody really wants to lose it, but nobody can figure out a good way to save it, either. It is a movietheater with no movies , a historic work of architecture with too few champions, an illustrious piece of Palm Beach’s history that may be doomed.
The Jordan is featured with several b/w photos on Cinema Tour. The PA community of Greenville has forever lost their “gem”. And this summer I plan to pay Greenville a visit to see just where this theatre once proudly stood.
The above link should be this one (Paramount/Aurora Illinois):
/theaters/445/
“The design was very similar to Rapp & Rapp’s Paramount in Aurora, Illinois, which opened the previous year. Both had interiors that were a mix of Art Deco and French Renaissance.”
/theaters/24/
When I clicked on the architect’s name only this theatre was listed.
hvsteve1: Well, maybe our paths crossed back then in 1966 and now our paths have crossed again via CT. Small world…sometimes.
Ron: Thanks so very much as this trip to Boston will be a trip down memory lane for me. I attended and graduated from the former Chamberlayne Junior College in 1966 on Commonwealth Avenue which are now very expensive brownstones according to the internet.
Is there anything to see if one were to stop by this theatre site? I hope to be in Boston this May and will be visiting the Wang Theatre.
Thanks for your insightful post from beginning to end!
Still no reply from Organ Supply Industries so may give them a phone call since they have an 800 number on their website. On the site there is a message from the president so will ask to speak with him. Stay tuned.
I just sent Organ Supply Industries an email about the organ that was once in the Paramount Theatre and will await a reply. If I don’t hear from OSI in a few days (or hours), I will give them a phone call. Stay organ tuned!
Thanks men for your posts and organ information. I just might contact Organ Supply Industries and see what they have to say to me.
And where in Erie PA is the original Paramount Theatre organ? I would love to see and hear it IF it isn’t in a private home!
I would like to know how it came to be that the Paramount was allowed to be sold? After viewing the b/w interior photos on the freenet site I am truly amazed that this Lempert theatre with such rich history was drastically converted.
This link shows what is at the former Paramount Theatre location today and was the Nemmer Furniture location until the building was converted into condos by a local developer.
http://www.cityviewbuffalo.com/citycentre.html
Below are the words in a recent email sent to me from a local Buffalo resident:
I would have to do some digging to see what address the Paramount Theater used. It became Nemmer Furniture, and then was vacant for many years before Doug Swift bought it and turned it into City Centre Condos. Yes, we did discuss this a while ago, and I think I forwarded Doug’s reply to saythat there was basically nothing left of the theater, but he did manage tosalvage some columns and the ticket booth.
It never became a parking lot.
This is a special theatre and one that was saved by the late Reginald Lenna and his generous contribution. Thanks Reg.
T.M.S.: Below is an email that I rec’d with a contactphone number. Hope this helps…keep us posted. Thanks.
The phone number on the marquee is 217/549-3000. We are delighted someone is at least interested in it. It is an historical landmark here and everyone would dearly like someone to take it and get it back to working condition.
Pat Copple
Program Coordinator
LOUB: Great improvements have been made in restoring the original look of this theatre in downtown Buffalo.
Lost Memory: Your “another angle” photo is spectacular! Thanks for sharing…again!
LOUB: Thanks so much for these photos as I have never seen them before!
I’m somewhat familiar with this theatre south of Buffalo. It has an interesting history.
T.M.S.: Try this link which is the Chamber of Commerce site for Effingham. They might be able to help you locate someone connected to the Heart Theatre.
http://www.effinghamchamber.org/