Paramount Center for the Arts

The Bristol Paramount Theatre opened on February 20, 1931 with Carol Lombard in “It Pays to Advertise”. It is unusual for the fact that it sits right on a state line, on State Street, which is appropriately named, because it divides the states of Tennessee and Virginia.

Seating 765, the Paramount Theatre originally hosted both stage shows and motion pictures, and also contained a Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which was lifted hydraulically from the orchestra pit to stage level, played at the opening by organist Jean Van Arsdale. In April 1932 the Wurlitzer console was destroyed by a fire and it was replaced by a Kimball console. By the early-1940’s it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Wilby-Kincey.

The Paramount Theatre is decorated in a stunning Art Deco style, with touches of Venetian Renaissance décor inside.

In August 1954, when a CinemaScope screen was installed, the ornate proscenium arch was damaged and the Wurlitzer organ was taken out. The theatre continued to screen movies until October 4, 1979, when it was shuttered after decades of being the premier entertainment venue for Bristol.

The Paramount Theatre’s restoration began in the 1980’s, and more than $2 million was spent on returning it to its former splendor, including enlarging the depth of the stage to 36 feet (by knocking out a rear wall), recreating the long-lost marquees, including a two-story tall sign spelling out the theatre’s name which soars over State Street.

The Paramount Theatre now rents a Wurlitzer 3 manual 16 ranks organ from the Piedmont Theatre Organ Society, which is a chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, for $1 a year to replace its own lost Wurlitzer.

For over a decade now, the Paramount Center for the Arts, which it is now officially known as, has hosted everything from Broadway shows like “Annie Get Your Gun” to concerts by Hootie and the Blowfish and Emmylou Harris, and is also the home of several local organizations, including Theatre Bristol, the Piedmont Theatre Organ Society, the Bristol Ballet Company and the Bristol Concert Choir. The Paramount Center for the Arts is also used for civic functions and conferences.

The Paramount Center for the Arts is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Recent comments (view all 26 comments)

Don Lewis on November 19, 2010 at 4:28 pm

From the 1950s a newsprint photo of the Paramount Theater in Bristol.

DavidZornig on December 8, 2015 at 2:47 am

1931 photo added copyright K&G, courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Faceboook page. Paramount blade sign down the street.

Joe Vogel on December 8, 2015 at 3:47 am

The NRHP Registration Form for the Bristol Commercial Historic District, which includes the Paramount, attributes the design of the theater to an Atlanta firm called McDonald & Company.

50sSNIPES on June 22, 2020 at 3:04 am

CinemaScope Is Installed At The Paramount Sometime In August 1954. Various Places (Including The World Famous Snipe Maker Filmack Of Chicago) Congratulated The Paramount Theatre For Their CinemaScope Installation.

richardg on April 15, 2021 at 10:18 pm

I first saw this theatre in the late ‘70’s and was told by the owner that it was the second to last Paramount built. The theatre does not have a true balcony but does have raised seating in the rear rows. I don’t remember if the raised seating had always existed or if it was created during the 80’s renovations. I do remember though that the theatre was in reasonably good shape when I saw it in the 70’s. The staff at the Paramount is friendly and gave me a tour of the theatre when I visited 2 years ago.

50sSNIPES on February 27, 2022 at 3:36 pm

The Paramount-Publix Operated Paramount Theatre Opened On February 20, 1931 With “It Pays To Advertise” Along With A Talkartoons #17: Betty Boop And Bimbo In “Teacher’s Pest”, And Paramount News (Including Performances By Jean Van Arsdale In The Paramount’s Organ).

Kenneth Bennett on February 28, 2022 at 2:07 am

Is the bio box still there and anything in it?

rivest266 on June 21, 2023 at 9:12 pm

Remodeled August 13th, 1954.

Paramount theatre reopening 13 Aug 1954, Fri The Bristol Herald Courier (Bristol, Tennessee) Newspapers.com

rivest266 on June 21, 2023 at 9:14 pm

1931 grand opening ad posted as well.

rivest266 on June 22, 2023 at 1:08 am

Closed as a cinema on October 4th, 1979.

Paramount theatre closing 04 Oct 1979, Thu The Bristol Herald Courier (Bristol, Tennessee) Newspapers.com