Paramount Theatre
727 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37203
727 Church Street,
Nashville,
TN
37203
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 142 of 142 comments
Jack, you are correct that Variety has long called indoor movie theatres “hardtops” to distinguish them from “ozoners” or “passion pits” (Variety nomenclature for drive-ins.) Variety has always had a language of its own, and even has its own name for that language, and now features a web page with a handy glossary of its terms: Slanguage. Many terms originated at Variety have made their way into general use (“sex appeal” being an example), and there are others that deserve to. I’m particularly fond of “sprocket opera” for film festival, and “zitcom” for a T.V. comedy aimed at a teenage audience.
Well at least give me credit for being kinda half right. I was going by what a former writer (or so she said) for Variety told me. By chance does anyone know if the AIA maintains any type of listing of works by its members (I am assuming Mr. Eberson was part of the association)? I have heard that he designed a few smaller scale theatres.
Will: I’ve been studying and admiring theatres with the Eberson connection as the atmospherics are my favorite theatre interiors. Thanks for the thorough explanation. When I find and read about an Eberson atmospheric theatre that has been demolished I am saddened because these theatres will never be reproduced only restored IF they are saved by a particular town or city!
Jack, tisk, tisk, tisk: “hard top” as opposed to “atmospheric.” Patsy, John Eberson developed a style of movie palace architecture inwhich the plaster ceiling was a dark blue dome representing the sky, the side walls were designed with highly orate “exterior” details to create the impression that the audience was sitting in an open courtyard. The sky would have twinkling stars and clouds floating past, the court yard would have trees, shubs, birds and vines (all fake of course). Eberson’s name became synonomous (sp?) with what he called the “atmospheric style.” He did design more traditional theatres, the Nashville Paramount for example. When talking about one of his non-atmospheric theatres one describes them, with tongue firmly in cheek, as a hard-top. Eberson’s career was long and fruitful. He was designing theatres at least into the 1950’s. He may have even designed drive-ins (don’t know).
The Cinema Treasures lists can be sorted by architect. Give it a try and look up some of Eberson’s halls. There will be lots of examples. He really was one of the best.
Eberson is the architect. Hardtop is a “trade term” to distinguish an indoor theatre from a drive-in or “ozone”.
What is an Eberson “hardtop”?
Here are a couple of photos made during the demolishion of the Paramount: View link
The vintage section of the Grannis Photography website (http://grannisphotography.com/)contains photos of many of the old downtown theatres along some shots of a few in the outlining area of Nashville.
You are indeed correct Will; I meant to type Loews Crescent but I omitted the second name. The Vendome that was operated by Loews opened at the turn of the century and showed its first moving picture around 1903. The Vendome was located at 615 Church Street. The Vendome burned in 1967 and Loews took over the Crescent Theatre located at 415 Church Street.
Patsy, Tom, et al, All the downtown movie palaces in Nashville are gone. The only old venues in Nashville are the Ryman Auditorium (which is actually a former church, longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry) and the lovely, but seemingly un-loved, War Memorial Auditorium. Neither of which showed movies to my knowledge.
Knoxville’s recently – and splendidly – renovated Tennessee Theatre has a completely new marquee and vertical sign to replace the 1950’s marquee and long lost 1928 vertical. The Nashville “Tennessee Theatre” signs didn’t make it to Knoxville, though it was discussed at the time.
Tom, you might note that in downtown Nashville, Loew’s operated the Crescent and the Vendome for a while. While not trying to be picky I don’t recall there being a theatre with the singular name “Loew’s”.
Patsy – a new auditorium was indeed built for the Grand Ole Opry. (in 1973?) It was part of a theme park named Opry Land which has since been demolished. The G.O.O. theatre is now part of an enormous shopping mall called Opry Mills which includes the Opry Land Hotel.
Back to the Paramount: did any photos ever surface? I’ve never found any, though to be honest, I haven’t tried too hard. Has anyone checked with the Theatre Historical Society?
Thanks Tom! Are these additional theatres that you have listed all gone now? The one called the Tennessee is also the name of the recently restored theatre in Knoxville TN and supposedly the Nashville Tennessee marquee is now at the Knoxville theatre since it was the same name!
The Paramount Theatre in Nashville Opened November 14, 1930 with seating for 2000 patrons. The last year I show for this theatre is 1978. Other theatres listed for this area are Tennessee; Crescent; Lowes; and Knickerbocker theatres.
And with Nashville being “Music City USA” it’s really hard to believe that these entertainment theatres were all demolished! They even built a ‘new’ Grand Old Opry, didn’t they?
atmos, this was definately not an atmospheric. It would be an interesting footnote in movie palace history to know who made the choice of “clouds or chandeliers.”
It is ironic that Nashville lost all its movie palaces just as the city (and state) were building the brand new Tennessee Performing Arts Center with three variously sized halls just blocks from the “threatre strip” along Church Street. Having been in all three of the TPAC halls many times, I can only sigh and wonder how anyone ever thought that was better than saving -even one of – the old palaces.
Does anyone have a website address with photos of the Paramount and the others on Church that were razed in Nashville over the years?
this theatre could have been an atmospheric as all the other theatres mentioned are with the exception of the orpheum in wichita.
atmos.
The organ was still visible in the 1950’s and 1960’s when I was a child and went to this theater. The old Vitaphone box speakers with their heavy cables were also visible on their track on either side of the screen.