Paramount Theatre (Boston) facts for kids
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The Paramount Theatre in 2019
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| Former names | Paramount Theatre |
|---|---|
| Address | 559 Washington Street |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Public transit | Boylston, Chinatown, Park Street |
| Owner | Emerson College |
| Operator | Emerson College |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | Robert J. Orchard Stage: 596 Jackie Liebergott Black Box: 150 Bright Family Screening Room: 170 |
| Construction | |
| Architect | Arthur Bowditch |
The Paramount Theatre is a famous building in Boston, Massachusetts. You can find it on Washington Street, between Avery and West Streets. Today, it is part of Emerson College.
Contents
A Look Back: Paramount Theatre's History
Opening Day: A Movie Palace
The Paramount Theatre first opened its doors in 1932. Back then, it was a huge movie theater with 1,700 seats. It was one of the first places in Boston to show movies with sound! The theater got its name from its original owner, a company called Paramount Pictures.
Changes Over Time
The Paramount Theatre closed in 1976. In the 1980s, much of its beautiful Art Deco style inside was removed. This happened when workers took out asbestos, a material that can be harmful. In 1984, the building was officially named a special Boston Landmark. This means it's an important historical place.
Bringing the Paramount Back to Life
In 2002, a company called Millennium Partners agreed to help. They fixed up the outside of the Paramount, including its famous sign. This was part of a deal to build the Ritz-Carlton Towers nearby. For a while, the city would light up the sign at night.
In 2005, Emerson College announced exciting plans. They decided to renovate the Paramount Theatre. They wanted to turn it into a modern performing arts center. This big project cost $77 million.
What the Renovation Included
The renovation brought many new things to the old building. It now has a 550-seat theater for performances. There's also a Performance Development Center. Students can even live in a residence hall right there!
The new Paramount also includes a 125-seat black box theater. This is a flexible space for smaller shows. There's a 170-seat room for showing films. Eight rehearsal studios are available for practicing. There are also six smaller practice rooms.
For film students, there's a sound stage. A scene shop helps build sets for plays. The building also has classrooms, a restaurant, and offices. The design was done by Elkus Manfredi Architects.
Grand Re-opening
The renovation was finished in early 2010. On March 18, 2010, Emerson College celebrated. They had a grand re-opening with Mayor Thomas Menino. The Paramount Theatre is now a busy and important part of Boston's arts scene.
