Paramount Theatre (Abilene, Texas) facts for kids
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| Address | 352 Cypress Street Abilene, Texas United States |
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| Coordinates | 32°27′8″N 99°44′2″W / 32.45222°N 99.73389°W |
| Capacity | 1,187 (Originally 1,500) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | May 19th, 1930 |
| Architect | David S. Castle & Co., Abilene, Texas |
| Website | |
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Paramount Theatre
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001739 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1982 |
The Paramount Theatre is a historic movie house and performance venue. It is located in downtown Abilene, Texas, at 352 Cypress Street. It's a special place where people can watch movies, enjoy live plays, and see many different kinds of shows.
Contents
A Look Back: The Paramount's Story
The Paramount Theatre was built in 1930 by H. O. Wooten. It opened its doors on May 19, 1930. The first film shown was Safety in Numbers. A cool fact is that on February 12, 1931, the Paramount was one of the first theaters to show the famous horror movie Dracula. This was even before its official premiere on Valentine's Day!
The theatre continued to be a popular movie spot for many years. However, in the 1970s, fewer people were visiting downtown Abilene. This meant fewer people bought tickets. The theatre closed in 1979 for the first time since it opened.
Saving the Paramount
A group called the Abilene Preservation League formed a committee. They worked to save the building from being torn down. The theatre was later restored in 1986. This was possible thanks to funding from Julia Matthews and the Dodge Jones Foundation.
Today, the Paramount Theatre is a lively place once again. It has 1,187 seats and a beautiful Spanish-Moorish style inside. The ceiling is like a dome with moving clouds and sparkling stars.
What You Can See at the Paramount
The Paramount Theatre hosts many different types of performances. Visitors can enjoy shows by local groups. These include the Abilene Ballet Theatre and the Abilene Opera Association. You can also see the Celebration Singers and the Abilene Children's Performing Arts Series. The Abilene Community Band and the Classical Chorus of Abilene also perform here. Plus, there are many other professional and amateur shows.
Live Theatre Productions
The theatre also creates its own live plays. In 1993, the Paramount started its annual Summer Musical. Every summer, the theatre puts on big productions. They cast local amateur actors. They also hire talented musicians, choreographers, and designers from the area.
The theatre works closely with local university theatre departments. In 2003, the Paramount began an annual children's show. This show happens every January. Since 2016, they have also staged a play each September.
Movies at the Paramount
Even with all the live shows, the Paramount is still best known as a movie house. The annual Paramount Film Series has shown hundreds of films. This series started when the theatre reopened in 1987. In 2019, over 14,000 people came to watch a movie at the Paramount!
See also
