The Paramount Theatre is a 1928 movie palace in downtown Cedar Rapids, restored and still in active use as a performing arts venue. With nearly 1,700 seats, ornate plasterwork, and a full orchestra pit, it is the kind of theatre that used to anchor every American city and has largely been demolished elsewhere.
The Paramount hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts, and the local symphony. Even if you don't catch a show, it's worth walking past for the exterior — the elaborate Baroque facade is the most theatrical piece of architecture on Third Avenue SE. Check the schedule at the Paramount Cedar Rapids box office; touring shows often stop here on their way between Chicago and Kansas City.