Paramount Theatre

798 Main Street,
Moncton, NB E1C 1E6

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Famous Players

Functions: Bar

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Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre opened on May 1, 1951 with Bob Hope in “The Lemon Drop Kid”. Located on Main Street in downtown Moncton. Originally a single-screen venue with 1,176 seats, it was divided on July 4, 1975 into two theatres seating 418 and 248 respectively. Famous Players ran the Paramount throughout its existence.

The Paramount Theatre closed on April 24, 1997 when the Famous Players 8 (now Cineplex Trinity Drive which has its own page on Cinema Treasures) opened. The final movies were Mel Gibson in “Ransom” & John Travolta in “Michael”. The auditorium was demolished in early-2020. The front theatre entrance was occupied by a sports bar and restaurant called Bubba Ray’s which closed in March 2017. By 2022 the space is a Happy Craft Brewing brewdog bar.

Contributed by Mark

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

popcorn_pete
popcorn_pete on February 15, 2018 at 2:21 pm

Bubba Ray’s closed March 2017.

ScreenClassic
ScreenClassic on December 30, 2022 at 6:35 pm

According to this CBC article from 2020, the Paramount Theatre was mostly demolished in early-2020 with plans for redevelopment of the site:

Moncton builders consider delaying projects as pandemic continues

The old Paramount lobby, however, has been retained and is now the home of the Happy Craft Brewing brewpub (per current Google Maps street views).

rivest266
rivest266 on October 4, 2024 at 6:26 pm

Opened on May 1st, 1951 with Bob Hope in “The Lemon Drop Kid.” English and French grand opening ads posted.

Famous Players Paramount openingFamous Players Paramount opening 01 May 1951, Tue The Moncton Transcript (Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada) Newspapers.com

rivest266
rivest266 on October 5, 2024 at 10:31 am

Closed April 24th, 1997, after everyone went to the Famous Players 8 and the Empire Dieppe 8 instead.

Paramount theatre closingParamount theatre closing 24 Apr 1997, Thu The Times-Transcript (Moncton, Moncton Parish, New Brunswick, Canada) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 5, 2024 at 4:30 pm

Information about the Paramount Theatre as of 1951 goes as follows:

William C. Gates, the manager of the Imperial Theatre also in Moncton, served as the original manager for the Paramount. The dazzling marquee features a grand total of 2,400 lightbulbs spelling out Paramount creating a waterfall effect. The ticket booth features both an automatic vendor and an automatic changemaker being located in the outer lobby which is arranged so that way tickets may be purchased in the open air during the summer months, and inside the doors in colder weather. The walls are dipped with rose and green with a border of flowers make an attractive entrance to the Paramount. In the inner lobby is a sky blue luxuriously rug with a starlight effect. There is also a confection bar, featuring a maroon leather bar with large mirrors and glass shelves on a wall of sky blue matching the ceiling add to the attractive appearance of the bar. Comfortable chesterfield suits have been installed for the comfort of patrons who are waiting.

The original auditorium housed an original capacity of 1,176 modern special push-back holstered seats (with more space to add more but was unknown if the management did that) alongside the management adding a policy designed to prevent overcrowding and space has been left in the two aisles and at the sides. The walls of the auditorium are dipped in turquoise with light and dark shades of old roses at the front supplying a string accent to the color scheme. There is also a motif in gold line panels the walls, as in the lobby starlight lighting is featured in the ceiling. At the stage, a flowing arch with indirect lighting forms a striking frame for the screen, with golden curtains to protect the screen when not in use and a porthole design is used to camouflage the air conditioning system with which the air is kept pure, fresh, and the right temperature. The drinking fountain at the rear of the auditorium is a black marble with a lighted “goldfish bowl” backdrop, and a stepping stool was used for the kiddies.

  • On grand opening night before “The Lemon Drop Kid”, there was a special ceremony delivered by the eastern supervisor of Famous Players R.S. Roddick. The occasion features the Moncton Salvage Corps, officers of the Moncton Police Department, members of the Moncton Fire Department, Mayor T.B. Parlee along with his wife, and people who worked with the theater.
50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 7, 2024 at 6:38 pm

Closed on April 24, 1997 with “Ransom” in Screen 1 and “Michael” in Screen 2.

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