Originally built as the lobby and retail frontage for the Electric Theater in 1912, the Paramount Building at 507-513 South Main Street is a two-story commercial block that has brown brick walls, a concrete foundation and a flat roof. In 1966 and 1967 flat metal sheathing was applied to the front facing upper story to give it a more modern look, but this has since been removed and the front of the structure has been restored to a more original appearance.Originally a large theater auditorium that could seat more than 1,500 was attached to the back of the existing building, but it was demolished in November and December 1965 and the theater lobby was reassigned as a retail space. Prior to the introduction of sound films in the late 1920s, the theater showed silent films and hosted vaudeville acts. In 1930 the theater changed its name from the Electric Theater to the Paramount and ended all silent films and vaudeville acts. In 1926 Wurlitzer Opus organ #1443 was installed in what was then the Electric Theater, but it was later removed and sold.
I found a Picture of the Wasson Vaudeville Theater
http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?sid=bde0f3e51f758d69f6b4048d1c136297;med=1;q1=jplzincic;rgn1=jplzincic_all;size=20;c=jplzincic;lasttype=boolean;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;subview=detail;cc=jplzincic;entryid=x-zinc000001p0012;viewid=ZINC000001P0012;start=1;resnum=19
another Joplin Mo Theater not listed here was the Pershing theater at 308 Main st
Originally built as the lobby and retail frontage for the Electric Theater in 1912, the Paramount Building at 507-513 South Main Street is a two-story commercial block that has brown brick walls, a concrete foundation and a flat roof. In 1966 and 1967 flat metal sheathing was applied to the front facing upper story to give it a more modern look, but this has since been removed and the front of the structure has been restored to a more original appearance.Originally a large theater auditorium that could seat more than 1,500 was attached to the back of the existing building, but it was demolished in November and December 1965 and the theater lobby was reassigned as a retail space. Prior to the introduction of sound films in the late 1920s, the theater showed silent films and hosted vaudeville acts. In 1930 the theater changed its name from the Electric Theater to the Paramount and ended all silent films and vaudeville acts. In 1926 Wurlitzer Opus organ #1443 was installed in what was then the Electric Theater, but it was later removed and sold.
added to photos
I found a Picture of the Wasson Vaudeville Theater http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?sid=bde0f3e51f758d69f6b4048d1c136297;med=1;q1=jplzincic;rgn1=jplzincic_all;size=20;c=jplzincic;lasttype=boolean;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;subview=detail;cc=jplzincic;entryid=x-zinc000001p0012;viewid=ZINC000001P0012;start=1;resnum=19