The theater originated as Sugar’s Opera House, built in 1915 by Barney, Sam and Isador Sugar on the corner of Jefferson and Walnut. In 1921, the brothers sold it to the Saenger Amusement Company who relocated the building to the corner of N.3rd and DeSaird in the downtown area.
In it’s early days of Vaudeville, the Saenger/Paramount was host to many famous actors such as Al Jolson, Jack Benny, W.C. Fields, George Burns and Gracie Allen, just to name a few. Entertainment at the theater ranged from the Zigfield Follies to local high school talent shows and amateur nights. The very first “Miss Monroe Beauty Pagent and Bathing Girl Revue” was held in 1925. The theater also facilitated the first dance floor in the southern United States. During the 1930’s, the theater’s Moller Pipe Organ entertained radio audiences on station KMLB.
On Wednesday, September 9, 1970, the theater closed it’s doors permanently that evening after the final showing of its last movie, ‘Easy Rider’. The theater fell into disrepair in its latter years and as a result of the opening of the Monroe Civic Center in 1965, it was decided that the Paramount would be demolished to make room for “economic growth” in the downtown area.
1915-1921 Sugar’s Opera House
1921-1927 Saenger Theate
1927-1932 Ballaban and Katz Publix Theater (a Paramount subsidiary)
1932-1935 Paramount Theater
1935-1950 Paramount-Richards Theater
1950-1961 ABC Paramount Theater
1961-1970 ABC Mid-South Theater
The theater originated as Sugar’s Opera House, built in 1915 by Barney, Sam and Isador Sugar on the corner of Jefferson and Walnut. In 1921, the brothers sold it to the Saenger Amusement Company who relocated the building to the corner of N.3rd and DeSaird in the downtown area.
In it’s early days of Vaudeville, the Saenger/Paramount was host to many famous actors such as Al Jolson, Jack Benny, W.C. Fields, George Burns and Gracie Allen, just to name a few. Entertainment at the theater ranged from the Zigfield Follies to local high school talent shows and amateur nights. The very first “Miss Monroe Beauty Pagent and Bathing Girl Revue” was held in 1925. The theater also facilitated the first dance floor in the southern United States. During the 1930’s, the theater’s Moller Pipe Organ entertained radio audiences on station KMLB.
On Wednesday, September 9, 1970, the theater closed it’s doors permanently that evening after the final showing of its last movie, ‘Easy Rider’. The theater fell into disrepair in its latter years and as a result of the opening of the Monroe Civic Center in 1965, it was decided that the Paramount would be demolished to make room for “economic growth” in the downtown area.
1915-1921 Sugar’s Opera House
1921-1927 Saenger Theate
1927-1932 Ballaban and Katz Publix Theater (a Paramount subsidiary)
1932-1935 Paramount Theater
1935-1950 Paramount-Richards Theater
1950-1961 ABC Paramount Theater
1961-1970 ABC Mid-South Theater