Paramount Center for the Arts
518 State Street,
Bristol,
TN
37620
518 State Street,
Bristol,
TN
37620
3 people
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Closed as a cinema on October 4th, 1979.
1931 grand opening ad posted as well.
Remodeled August 13th, 1954.
Is the bio box still there and anything in it?
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).
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.
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.
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.
1931 photo added copyright K&G, courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Faceboook page. Paramount blade sign down the street.
From the 1950s a newsprint photo of the Paramount Theater in Bristol.
Very Nice.
I was in Bristol on Saturday and saw this lovely theatre. I have taken a picture to post, but unfortunatley I don’t know how to do it since the add a photo link is offline.
A 1992 view of the Paramount Theater in Bristol.
You can read about the theatre and the organ with lots of pictures of the renovation and the theatre today at
http://www.piedmont-theatre-organ-soc.org/
Without question the Paramount is one of the most beautiful theatres on this planet! Support it, visit it. It is a true gem. The following photos from August 2008 do not do justice to the Paramount, but a least give a taste of what it has to offer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
View link is a slide show on the theatre and the present organ, which does rise from the pit. This organ came from the Paramount Theatre in Charlottesville, Va., which due to the renovation lost their organ chambers and can no longer support a theatre organ.
I’ll look around and see if I have any.
Anyone have any interior photos of the Paramount?
Nothing on their website.
Thanks.
Theatre Bristol is a performing group not an actual theatre. The building in question at 512 State Street, just up from the Paramount, contains the offices for Theatre Bristol as well as a smaller venue (about 125 seats) know as the “Art Space” created for smaller productions.
Here are photos of the Paramount 1, 2, 3
The Bristol Paramount has had another Wurlitzer organ installed: not the original instrument but one of similar design.
“….the Paramount contained a Mighty Wurlitzer, which was lifted hydraulically from the orchestra pit to stage level…..” and I’m sure the residents of Bristol wish that this Mighty Murlitzer were still in residence at the Paramount!
“In the 50s, when a CinemaScope screen was installed, the ornate proscenium arch was damaged and its organ taken out.” So many theatres were changed due to the word….CinemaScope and in this case the ornate proscenium arch damaged which is such a shame along with the fact that the Wurlitzer was ‘taken out’! I’ve been in Bristol, but at the time did not have the old movie palace bug so didn’t make note of its presence.
As to whether the Theatre Bristol is an actual theatre and a performing group, I do not know. I came across an old listing of properties on State Street and happen to notice that the only building noted as a theatre was the Bristol. I have yet to travel to the area and haven’t had much luck to date locating anyone with an exacting knowledge of this theatre.
There is a Bristol Theatre (currently the Theatre Bristol) which was built in 1900 in the 506-510 block of State St. Are the Bristol and Paramount one of the same?