The Paramount Theatre has anchored the Congress Avenue entertainment corridor since 1915 — a grand 1,200-seat vaudeville house that survived the transition through movies, concerts, and the long decline of its block before emerging as one of Austin's most beloved performance venues. The interior retains its original Beaux-Arts ornamentation: the proscenium arch, the plaster reliefs, the painted ceiling, and the tiered balconies are all intact.
The theatre hosts a mix of film screenings (including the Summer Classic Film Series of restored prints shown on 35mm), live concerts, comedy, and theatrical productions. The stage show schedule mixes national touring acts with Austin performers; the atmosphere of the old house — intimate, slightly faded, acoustically excellent — makes it one of the better places in the city to see a live performance. The Paramount is a few blocks from the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony and is a natural combination for an evening out.