Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre is Rutland's cultural anchor: a restored 1914 movie palace on Merchants Row that hosts live music, comedy, film screenings, and community events through the year. The interior was restored with care in the early 2000s and retains its atmospheric gilded plasterwork and the character of a small-city venue that people actually use rather than simply preserve.

Check the schedule before visiting — the building is worth seeing for its architecture but the experience is better with a show. The theatre seats around 800 and programmes range from national touring acts to local theatre groups to classic film screenings. The downtown location makes it easy to combine with dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.

things to do sight architecture
A story
The Paramount opened in 1914 as a vaudeville house and movie theatre, survived the decline of downtown Rutland through the latter half of the 20th century, and was restored in 2000 after a community fundraising campaign. The building's atmospheric 1930s movie palace interior — all gilded plasterwork, red velvet, and a ceiling meant to suggest an outdoor evening sky — was faithfully preserved during the restoration. It now hosts concerts, comedy, and community events alongside film screenings.