Paramount Theatre (Asbury Park, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Paramount Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey |
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| Part of | Asbury Park Convention Hall (ID79001512) |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1979 |
The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey, is a cool old building. It sits right on the boardwalk next to the Atlantic Ocean. The theatre is connected to the Asbury Park Convention Hall by a special covered walkway. This walkway goes over the boardwalk. On one side is the ocean, and on the other is Bradley Park. You can see a statue of Asbury Park's founder, James A. Bradley, facing the theatre.
The theatre has recently been updated by Landmark Studio.
History of the Paramount Theatre
In 1916, the mayor of Asbury Park, Clarence E.F. Hetrick, wanted a big meeting place. He asked famous architects to design a convention center. They planned a large building that could hold 5,000 people. However, the land belonged to James A. Bradley, who owned the old Asbury Park Auditorium there. Bradley refused to sell his land to the city.
After Bradley passed away in 1921, a businessman named Arthur Steinbach bought the property. He tore down the old auditorium. Then, he built the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel on that spot.
Other cities like New York and Atlantic City were building big venues. This made Mayor Hetrick feel pressure to build something similar for Asbury Park. He wanted the city to have a grand entertainment spot too.
In 1927, a fire destroyed another building on the boardwalk. After this, people in Asbury Park voted to build a new convention center. Mayor Hetrick hired new architects, Warren and Wetmore. Their plan included a theatre with 1,600 seats. This theatre was built where the old building used to be.
The theatre was connected to a covered arcade that went over the boardwalk. This arcade then led to a larger convention center. The whole complex looked like a mix of Italian and French styles. It also had many ocean-themed decorations because it was by the sea. Inside the theatre, you would see lots of gold, black, and purple colors. A huge flower design was on the ceiling.
Walter Reade, who owned other theatres in Asbury Park, first thought the town had too many theatres. But before the Paramount Theatre was finished, he made a deal. He got the job to show movies there. As part of this deal with Paramount-Famous Players–Lasky, the new theatre was named the Paramount Theatre.
The first movie shown at the theatre was Wings on New Year's Day, 1930. But the real "grand opening" was on July 11, 1930. They showed Wings again, and many famous people came! These included the movie's star, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, the Marx Brothers, Ginger Rogers, Ed Wynn, Fredric March, and Carole Lombard. From 1930 into the 1980s, the theatre showed both movies and live shows.
In 1979, the 1,600-seat Paramount Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building.
From 2007 to 2015, a group called The Premier Theatre Company performed at the Paramount Theatre. They were recognized for helping to improve Asbury Park.
The theatre also hosts a special event each year for the Greek Orthodox Church. It's called the Holy Cross celebration. Services are held inside the theatre. Then, young people from the Greek Orthodox Youth Association go to the beach. They dive into the ocean to find a cross. This event happens on the third Sunday in September.
See also
- New Jersey music venues by capacity
