Paramount Theatre
4717 50th Street,
Red Deer,
AB
T4N 1X2
4717 50th Street,
Red Deer,
AB
T4N 1X2
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The Paramount Theatre opened its doors on November 21, 1955 with Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin in “You’re Never Too Young” (unknown if extras added). During its days as a single-screener, it originally housed 924 seats (with 540 seats on the main floor and 384 seats in the balcony). With the building measuring 130x65ft, the main body of the theater stretched 115ft.
Some of its original installations as of 1955 include a 22x50ft vinyl plastic CinemaScope screen with aluminum coating with 64/1 square inches for true sound reception. In the projection booth contains three projectors, with two running at all times providing 20-minute changeovers for smooth operation. The third projector that was used is a latest model but unfortunately I cannot find any information about its manufacture and model. Using electronic devices at the time with a total of more than 50 tubes, the machine is able to convey background sound to speakers placed in the side walls and the ceiling. There are three main speakers in the front in the left, center, and right portions. The lobby measures 65x40ft which contains furniture and carpeting.
The Paramount was twinned on January 22, 1975 reopening with “The Tamarind Seed” in Screen 1 and Screen 2 (its main auditorium) continued showing “Airport 1975” during its twinning, which at the time was under its 4th week. The Paramount Theatre closed for the final time on February 7, 1985 with “Beverly Hills Cop” in Screen 1 and “Micki & Maude” in Screen 2, with both films moving to the Park Plaza nearby after the Paramount’s closure.
One more note to add – the Paramount should now be listed as Demolished, as its former site is now the location of the Red Deer Remand Centre.
New photo of the Paramount added in the photo section. The movie listed on its marquee (partially obscured by the Safeway store sign in front of it) is Lawrence of Arabia, indicating that the photo was taken around 1962, the year of the movie’s release.
The Paramount’s address was 4717 50th Street (originally known as Ross Street, as listed in the 1975 grand opening ad posted by Mike Rivest).
More:
Paramount theatre and Prunell Family. Wed, Jan 22, 1975 – 27 · Red Deer Advocate (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada) · Newspapers.com
The Paramount opened on November 21st, 1955 and reopened as a twin cinema on January 22nd, 1975 and closed in 1985. Grand opening ads posted.
Paramount twin opening Wed, Jan 22, 1975 – 26 · Red Deer Advocate (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Thw 1963 IMPA shows the Paramount as part of Purnell & Sons, headquartered in Red Deer. Purnell also ran the Red Deer Drive-in at that time.