A restored 1931 movie palace on the Downtown Mall, now operating as a performing arts venue with a 1,073-seat capacity. The Rapp and Rapp interior — gilded plasterwork, proscenium arch, original marquee — was meticulously restored in 2004. The Paramount programmes a mix of classical music, dance, comedy, and theatrical productions. Tickets through the Paramount website; the box office opens two hours before shows.
Paramount Theater
A story
The Paramount opened in 1931 designed by Rapp and Rapp, the Chicago firm responsible for many of America's finest movie palaces. It closed in the 1970s when the crowds stopped coming, fell into disrepair, and was eventually restored and reopened in 2004 as a performing arts venue. The restoration was thorough: the ornate plasterwork, the gilded proscenium arch, and the original marquee were all brought back to their 1931 condition. The acoustic improvement over the Jefferson Theater — the Paramount was purpose-built for performance — is noticeable.