Paramount Theatre

518-520 Adams Street,
Toledo, OH 43604

Unfavorite 8 people favorited this theater

Showing 26 - 50 of 61 comments

Patsy
Patsy on November 18, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Linda: Yes, it is a shame and I didn’t even grow up in the Toledo area. When I read about the velvet curtains and the grand staircase it really makes me wonder why this theatre couldn’t have been saved and bring back those ticket takers in uniforms, too!

justlinda1952
justlinda1952 on November 18, 2008 at 12:38 pm

I fondly remember going to all of the original Disney movies (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) at the Saturday matinee. It was a gorgous theatre, with velvet curtains, a grand staircase up to the balcony and the ticket takers wore uniforms! I’m sure you’ll remember the Commodore Perry hotel and the Lion Store (THE place to shop back in the day). It is a shame that these historic buildings are gone.

Patsy
Patsy on August 14, 2008 at 3:51 pm

This auction is for an LP of the last concert in the old Paramount Theatre in Toledo, OH. The organ this concert was played upon is one of the best in the world as were the acoustics inside the Paramount Theatre.

View link

Jules
Jules on April 8, 2008 at 9:40 pm

My grandfather, Ora L Brailey owned the Paramount and the Princess theaters at one time. My mother, Carolyn Williams has many fond memories of that era. It is such a shame that these magnificent structures were not preserved.

Patsy
Patsy on July 22, 2007 at 2:35 pm

Bob Wasserman: Your memories of by-gone theatres in Toledo were wonder to read yet bittersweet when I read your use of the words, “opulence” and “red velvet ropes”! Even as a child of 6 or 7 you were impressed and recall your time spent there with your stepmother. I’m sure there are many other Toledo residents or former residents who recall this theatre as you do.

Patsy
Patsy on July 21, 2007 at 4:09 pm

Lost Memory: I don’t know how you do it, but you always come through for me and I truly appreciate it every single time! These photos of a long ago Paramount Theatre in Toledo OH are sadly all that remains of a Rapp & Rapp atmospheric theatre which is such a shame and beyond reason why and how that city would demolish a theatre has palatial as that one! Lord have mercy!

Patsy
Patsy on July 21, 2007 at 7:29 am

The following is an email that I rec’d from a former Toledo resident and his memories of the many Toledo theatres including the Paramount:

I not only know where it stood… I used to see movies there a couple times a month as a kid growing up in Toledo. It was next door to the Palace Theatre (not as nice)… and across the street from the very old and extremely beautiful [Lowes] Valentine Theatre built in 1895. The Valentine is the one that I want you to visit. It’s very nice inside. They restored it to “original”, as much as possible. It was never as big as the Paramount (torn down in 1965), but the Valentine was still very nice with a lot of old charm and style. Like I said, you can still see much of that charm & style… but the main entrance is on the other side of the building now. The lobby and theatre remain the same. You will enjoy it. They have a lot of shows there. When it reopened a few years ago, I was in Toledo and saw the Hoagy Carmichael Tribute Show there… (Stardust, etc.) Anyway, thanks for the great old photo of the popular Rivoli Theatre. Lots of great memories: “Snow White”… “Old Yeller”… “Lady & the Tramp”… “Auntie Mame”… “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”… “Absent-Minded Professor”… and many, many more!!!

Patsy
Patsy on July 21, 2007 at 7:22 am

A March 10, 2006 demo photo is just the worst to view!

Patsy
Patsy on July 21, 2007 at 7:20 am

The July 29, 2004 doesn’t seem to show the grand staircase, auditorium and lobby…help, Lost Memory! And March 18, 2005 doesn’t show a demolition photo though not sure I want to see it! Have viewed other demo photos on this link and just can’t believe my eyes!

Patsy
Patsy on July 21, 2007 at 7:16 am

Lost Memory: Thanks once again for a stunning b/w photo of this theatre marquee. What a loss for the City of Toledo.

Mish87
Mish87 on June 5, 2007 at 3:05 am

I just received my copy of the 1992 annual of the Paramount and it is very very nice. Well worth the money. It has pictures in it I had not seen before.

Patsy
Patsy on May 30, 2007 at 7:03 pm

How could anyone demolish a Rapp & Rapp built theatre?

Patsy
Patsy on May 30, 2007 at 7:02 pm

Jerry: Thanks for the follow-up information on this person and his efforts though it’s sad that this theatre and the beautiful marquee were demolished.

Mish87
Mish87 on May 30, 2007 at 5:07 pm

Patsy He was the one who Guided the effort to get the organ working again after many years of sitting silent.

Patsy
Patsy on May 30, 2007 at 4:56 pm

Jerry: I’d try eBay even though you might not be interesting in selling it. Was this organist, Virg Howard connected with the Paramount in Toledo?

Mish87
Mish87 on May 30, 2007 at 4:14 pm

I have an album of Now is The Hour recorded by Virg Howard of the organ and I was wondering how much it might be worth? Not that I would sell it but just in case.

Patsy
Patsy on May 23, 2007 at 11:30 am

Bryan: Can the grand staircase, auditorium and lobby photos on your July 29, 2004 post still be viewed?

Patsy
Patsy on May 23, 2007 at 11:25 am

It’s a shame that this City lost this theatre, but there is always the newly opened Johnny’s Lunch. The original one started in 1936 in Jamestown NY and is still operating today. Stop in a have a great hot dog when in Toledo Ohio.

Mish87
Mish87 on May 23, 2007 at 11:06 am

The first organist at The Toledo Paramount was Dwight Brown who had been the organist at the Palace in Dallas TX.

atmos
atmos on August 28, 2006 at 7:57 am

chuck1231 – that photo you entered on 10 mar from 1940 is Eberson’s Riviera Theatre in Omaha,Nebraska.

Patsy
Patsy on June 10, 2006 at 9:30 am

I just rec’d #19 Annual published by THSA (Theatre Historical Society of America). THSA founder, Ben Hall in 1969 is a theatre historian and author of The Best Remaining Seats. I was astounded to see the beauty of this theatre (1929-1965) depicted in the Annual. “The identical vertical signs over the main entrance and the side exit add considerable impact to the somewhat restrained elevations. Ben Hall noted that these signs are the only instance in the PARAMOUNT circuit where the name of the city appeared with the PARAMOUNT appellation.” “The Paramount’s last regular organist, Virg Howard who plays the final chords on the Wurlitzer Publix #1. Mr. Howard’s LP recordings, now in the hands of collectors, capture the essence of the instrument’s presence in the building.”

Patsy
Patsy on May 31, 2006 at 8:14 pm

Bryan: I would still like to see the photos that were mentioned in your July 29, 2004 post! Thanks.

presario
presario on May 11, 2006 at 11:39 am

I was honored to work at the PARAMOUNT 1958 1959 started with showing
of “ONIONHEAD” left during “SOUTH PACIFIC” did see cinerama before
closing.Marvin S. Harris was manager.
the only other theatre that was more breath taking in splendor and beauty would be the FOX theatre in detroit.

jwarren
jwarren on May 5, 2006 at 9:57 am

To Patsy & list: The Gateway Theatre in Chicago is the sole remaining fully atmospheric Rapp & Rapp theatre. Although the exterior has been altered, the original facade stoneworrk remains underneath, rather well intact. The theatre’s original capacity was 2,045, presently it is 1,904.

JimRankin
JimRankin on May 5, 2006 at 9:03 am

Buy the 1992 ANNUAL by the Theatre Historical Soc. titled “The Toledo PARAMOUNT.” It is on their page of BACK ISSUES at www.historictheatres.org Not only is it crammed with photos, but there are wonderful drawings by artist Mark Hylton of Columbus Ohio.