Paramount Theatre
1577 Barrington Street,
Halifax,
NS
B3J 1ZH
1577 Barrington Street,
Halifax,
NS
B3J 1ZH
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This was a very typical purpose built Famous Players Theatre built in 1949. In the mid-seventies when this theatre was twinned it was done by making the balcony a separate theatre with the main floor theatre separate from the balcony!! John Joseph Fitzgibbons was President of Famous Players Canadian Corporation when this theatre was built and the Maritimes District Manager was Mr.Bob Roddick!!
A couple of notes and corrections:
The Paramount Theatre closed on October 27, 1988, the same day as the Scotia Square Cinema, because of the opening of the Park Lane 8 Cinemas the next day. The last films shown were “Bat*21” and “The Kiss.” Also, when the theatre was twinned, the balcony was turned into the second auditorium.
Also, the street name is indeed “Blowers,” not “Bowers.”
A few errors…The google satellite/hybrid and street view names the next street (to the right of the theatre) as Blowers. The correct name is Bowers (see the street sign). The satellite shot points to the wrong building as the Paramount. It is the third roof from Sackville St.
You can see the facade of the Paramount on the google street view, above. The canopy over the sidewalk still exists. I guess this must have been an entrance to the theatre, with the auditorium further back. It appears the auditorium had been demolished to make way for the Mountain Equipment Co-Op.
This camcorder footage was taken in 1989, and at the 04:48 mark, drives by the Paramount Theatre, which had been closed the previous year. Although the front of the theatre is obscured by a bus, the marquee is clearly visible, with a “For Sale” message on it.
YouTube video
Operated from 1935 until 1988 and had 1162 seats.