Paramount Theatre
1114 Main Street,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
1114 Main Street,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
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Walt Disney’s first cartoons “ The Newman Laugh-O-Grams” were shown at this theater back in 1921.
from D23 - https://d23.com/this-day/the-first-newman-laugh-o-gram-premieres-at-newman-theater-in-kansas-city/
SilentFilm.org - https://silentfilm.org/walt-disneys-laugh-o-grams-1921-1923/
In 1970, AMC Theatre and architects Lund-Balderson won a Quigley Award for Theatre Design in the conversion of the Paramount Theatre into the Towne 4. But the theatre failed to attract moviegoers to downtown ending its run after just three years on February 6, 1972. An urban re-development plan was announced followed by auctions of the AMC Towne 4 and the Roxy Theatre. Both theatres were then razed.
Reopened as the Towne 4 theatres by American Royal Cinema (another name for Durwood Theatres) on January 29th, 1969. Ad in the photo section.
Became Paramount on June 15th, 1947. Another ad in the photo section.
The projection booth was specked by Edwin S. Porter, legendary director of “The Great Train Robbery” (see photos)
1957 photo added, courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Facebook page. Partial marquee image.
I can remember as a child, being downtown with mom, standing on the east side of Main street, watching them take down the Newman Theatre sign, and starting to put up the Paramount sign.
Don H.
I recently was watching a deluxe DVD of the film “Funny Face” from about 1956. The secondary DVD goes into a elaborate description of the VistaVision film process. I worked at the Plaza theater, among others, and never realized what that process entailed. I found out it requires a special projection system and a VERY large screen, which most theater owners balked at buying because of the cost. I just wondered if anyone knows if the Paramount theater had one. Anyone know?
Thanks.
Don H
I worked at the Paramount in 1965 abd early 66. The wonderful secrets that builting had especially behind the screen on the old stage. It was a large performing arts stage and much of the organ pipes and effects were still there. No one knew that the organ was downstairs on a lift until the theater was demolished. There was a grand piano, drums and a harp behind the screen sitting to the side of the stage. Also, we went into the ceiling where you could see the equipment to lower the beautiful lights for cleaning. A very young Thomas Hart Benton painted most of the murals that were pricesly and simply demolished. No one cared, not even the so called Landmarks Commission. Stan Durwood knew about them when he had it converted to the Towne IV and was careful to not destroy them but cover them up. I doubt that he woudl see that theater demolish 4.5 years later for one of the uglist buildings in downtown KC. The Roxy went too and could have been a wonderful playhouse incorporated into the City Center Project. No vision aat that time.
Thanks for posting the photo Don.
From the 1920s a postcard view of $2,000,000.00 Newman Theatre in Kansas City.
Here is a Boxoffice ad featuring the Paramount in June 1952. I have never heard of this film.
http://tinyurl.com/ycu9zml
Vintage shot from the J.K. Redmond archives -
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Here is a 1925 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/l8h67u
The Newman Theatre witnessed the world premiere in 1920 of cartoons drawn by young starving artist named…..Walt Disney. The then 18/19-year old Disney drew advertising cartoons for that theatre’s “Newman’s Laugh-O-Grams”.
Crime in 1929:
http://tinyurl.com/59trg5
When it was the Newman Theater.
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Postcard from around 1948.
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Photo: View link
Postcard: View link
I only had the privilege of attending the Paramount once…and that was a “Life Altering” experience for me seeing, at the tender age of 15, “Damn Yankees” with Gwen Verdon in October, 1958! WOW! Also the theatre was spectacular inside…from the center dome hung a hugh chandelier 20 feet long, 12 feet wide and had 220 candles! There were hand painted murals and a decorated dome and the theatre walls had cherubs and Greek figures! It was a rather large theatre and I’m guessing that it could seat approximately 2200! Sometimes it takes only “One Visit” to make a memory last a lifetime!
My best…William Hamilton!