Paramount Theatre (Austin, Texas)

The Paramount Theatre is a live theatre venue/movie theatre located in downtown Austin, Texas. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1976.[2]

Paramount Theatre
Entrance to venue (c.2006)
Former namesGaiety Theatre (planning/construction)
Majestic Theatre (1915-30)
Paramount Theatre (1930-76; 2000-present)
Paramount Theatre for the Performing Arts (1976-2000)
Address713 Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-3216
LocationDowntown Austin
OwnerParamount, Inc.
OperatorAustin Theatre Alliance
Capacity1,270
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 1915 (1915-02)
OpenedOctober 11, 1915 (1915-10-11)
Renovated1930, 1957-58, 1978-80, 2000, 2015
Construction cost$150,000
($3.79 million in 2019 dollars[1])
ArchitectJohn Eberson
Website
Venue Website
Paramount Theatre
Built1915
NRHP reference No.76002072[2]
RTHL No.14684
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 23, 1976
Designated RTHL1976

In the Paramount's 100-year history, it has played host to a wide variety of acts ranging from vaudeville, musicals, legitimate theater, and movies,[3] including premieres of such films as 1966's Batman.[4]

History

The four-story theater was built by Ernest Nalle, who commissioned architect John Eberson to design the building in January 1915.[5] The theater opened under the name "The Majestic" on October 11, 1915 and hosted various vaudeville performers including the Marx Brothers. In 1930, the theater was purchased by Karl Hoblitzelle, who renamed it to the "Paramount Theatre" and added carpeting, upholstered seating, and the addition of a giant lighted blade sign reading "Paramount".[5] In 1941, the theater was purchased by the Margaret Reed Estate.[6] In November 1963, the building's facade received a renovation. The renovation included the removal and reprogramming of the signature blade sign. However, the sign was never re-installed and its fate was never revealed.[7]

By the 1970s, the popularity of television and suburban movie theaters led to a decline in theater attendance. In 1975, proprietors John M. Bernardoni, Charles Eckerman, and Stephen L. Scott formed a nonprofit group to restore the building, which was in deteriorating condition.[5] Local philanthropist Roberta Crenshaw, who owned a 50% stake in the building through her late husband's estate, donated her half of the trust to the nonprofit, meanwhile, the other half of the trust offered a 99-year lease.[6] In 1976, the theater's listing on the National Register of Historic Places qualified the venue for federal restoration funds. Renovations began in September 1977 following a $1.85 million grant from the federal government, which was also used to spur economic development in Downtown Austin.[5]

In 2015, the theater embarked on an effort to recreate the signature blade sign that was lost in 1963. Since there were no known architectural or engineering plans for the original sign, the designers analyzed old footage of the theatre that included the sign. On September 23, 2015, the blade sign was lit for the first time in over 50 years.[7]

  • Paramount Theatre in 2015
  • Marquee sign detail
  • Architectural elements
  • President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the theatre in 2014

References
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. "Paramount Theatre". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  4. "Paramount Theater Centennial Celebration". The Paramount Theatre. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  5. Orbock, Joseph A. "Paramount Theatre". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  6. Barnes, Michael (September 23, 2016). "How Roberta Reed Crenshaw became the Paramount's patron saint". Austin 360. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  7. "The Paramount Blade". The Paramount Theatre. Retrieved January 14, 2020.


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