Paramount Center
549-59 Washington Street,
Boston,
MA
02111
549-59 Washington Street,
Boston,
MA
02111
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 266 comments
Like brucec I’m also disappointed. I didn’t think that Emerson would completely wreck the historic Bijou building between the Opera House and the Paramount, and then demolish the rear half of the Paramount after gutting out the interior. Except for the facades of the two buildings, there is nothing left. So much for “historic preservation”.
If Emerson wanted to restore the theatre they could have but they wanted a smaller venue. They may have saved a few elements from the theatre. The problem I have is that they talked of restoration then I saw the pictures which looks like a complete gutting of the theatre.I love the facade which is the most impressive of the theatres in the district. The Opera House next door should put up a large Vertical and canopy which in its current state looks very drab next to the Paramount. brucec
Ron: Thanks for this “walk through history” post which is appropriate since Boston has quite an historical past which includes many of its theatres.
The photos of the Denver Paramount auditorium posted above are similar to the Boston Paramount. I went to the movies there many times in the 1950s but the houselights were never on so it never looked to me like the Denver photos. After it closed there was no electricity or heat in the building. There may have been some roof leaks as well (which are the death knell of any old building). When I went into it in 1983 with a THSA group we had to supply our own lights. The seats were mostly still in place. There were piles of steel piping and lumber in the aisles making it difficult to walk. We had flashlights plus 2 little floodlights powered by battery packs. The interior was unimpressive at that time. Then it went downhill from there. The City was mostly concerned with the preservation of the facade and marquee as part of the “streetscape” in that section of Washington Street. For a short time there was talk of turning it into the front part of a multiplex cinema, but the cinema was built on Tremont Street instead (Loews Boston Common). The basic problem is that the building was neglected for too long, from 1976 to 2007.
JTFox: I just ordered the Marquee issue. Thanks and I can’t wait to see the auditorium photo of what it “once was”.
According to previous comments here, the theatre closed around 1976.
Patsy- Yes, it is that one…2006 Conclave Issue: Boston – Massachusetts – Rhode Island.
The Paramount is profiled on p.11
JTFox: Would the Fourth Quarter 2005 of the Marquee be Vol. 37 #4? That issue lists Lost Theatres of Boston (10 theatres profiled).
I saw Anthony Mann’s The Tin Star, with Henry Fonda and Anthony Perkins, at the Paramount on a trip up from Providence on November 16, 1957.
Ian: How was it that “there was very little left for Emerson to restore”? Was their vandalism or did the elements get to things such as rain through a leaky roof, etc. that destroyed gilding and paint? So when I read “almost identical” my heart sank. And hen was the last time year theatre operated as a theatre? A previous talks about the year 1983 and that it was “a mess” so it had to be prior to that year. I lived in Boston in the mid 60’s and wish I had seen this theatre then.
Patsy, Those Denver Paramount pics are as close to the Paramount Boston as any I’ve ever seen – almost identical.
However, there was very little left for Emerson to restore… just the shape of things, not the gilding or paint.
http://www.paramountdenver.com/photogallery.aspx
Or these inside the Paramount/Denver!?! If any of these photos are anything like what the Paramount/Boston had, then Boston has really lost an INTERIOR “gem” though they restored the marquee to enjoy…doesn’t make awhole lot of theatrical sense, imo! Emerson College is left is a gutted building. I certainly hope that certain artifacts were saved and will be incorporated into the new auditorium, at least!
Excuse me, I was referring to your first link; the second link was more in line with the Boston Paramount, though the Boston was more narrow than that.
Patsy,
The ceiling of the Boston Paramount was not as circular in nature like that photo; the decor was not as pronounced.
http://www.paramountarts.com/aboutphotos.php
Please don’t tell me that these photos on the above link are similar to how the auditorium looked in the Paramount/Boston!?!
JTFox: Did the Paramount/Boston have this art deco ceiling that appears on the Paramount/Aurora link? And thanks for the Marquee correction year as I was looking under 2006 and couldn’t fine the issue that features a photo of the Paramount/Boston auditorium.
View link
JTFox: Thanks as I shall look at the comparative auditoriums and order the THS issue.
Correction: The Marquee issue is the Fourth Quarter 2005. Sorry for the typo.
There is one small b&w photo of the Paramount’s auditorium in the Fourth Quarter 2006 issue of the Theatre Historical Society’s Marquee along with photos of other Boston theatres. You can order a copy of it online at the THS website.
The original auditorium was a unique variation of the Art Deco scheme found in a number of Paramount theatres during the early thirties. To get a general idea look at the auditoriums of the Paramounts in Aurora, IL and Denver.
actually would ANYbody have any interior photos from some of the boston theaters? I lived there in the 70’s above the old gary theater and reguarley went to the Gary the Savoy the Saxon all those great old Sack theaters.
Just clicked on the Cutler Majestic Theatre link that is connected with Emerson College…very nice.
are there ANY interior photos floating around anywheres? I mean before it was gutted or torn out. All the earlier posts of pics show an error and will not load. thnx marty
…restored to its original “look”!
Ron: Well, all I can say is that this restoration process was certainly different. Was glad to read that it once had a Wurlitzer organ and that you were actually “inside the theatre in 1983” though “it was a total mess after being closed for several years”. If “the City was primarily interested only in the preservation of the facade, marquee and vertical”, then the City accomplished their goal…I guess! But I still wonder if there are visitors to the City of Boston who come to the theatre district and see that beautiful marquee thinking they can enter a restored theatre, too!?!
The Paramount did have a small stage, but I have never found any info that it was ever used for anything. It also had a Wurlitzer organ and I have heard that this organ was recently installed in the Aztec Th. in San Antonio. When I was last inside the theater in 1983 it was a total mess after being closed for several years. Then they had an asbestos-removal project in there which I’m sure did nothing to enhance the already-bad appearance inside. From what I gathered over the last 10 years or so, the City was primarily interested only in the preservation of the facade, marquee and vertical.