Paramount Theatre
169 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
169 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta,
GA
30303
7 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., Paramount-Publix
Architects: J. Neel Reid, Philip Trammel Schutze
Firms: Kontz, Reid & Adler
Styles: Baroque, Italian Renaissance
Previous Names: Howard Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Howard Theatre was built as a live theatre and opened in December 13, 1920, with movies on the opening program:- Wallace Reid in “Always Audacious” and Harold Lloyd in “Number Please”. On the stage was a Grand Opera Presentation: a scene from Act III from “Faust”. It was equipped with an organ (make not specified). In 1925 it was equipped with a 3 manual Wurlitzer organ. Built for the S.A. Lynch Enterprises chain, seating was provided for 2,700, with 1,700 in the orchestra, 900 in the balcony and 100 in loges and two boxes. In 1929, it was renamed Paramount Theatre. The Wurlitzer organ was removed in the 1950’s. The Paramount Theatre was demolished in 1960. In May 2019 a new home was found for the Wurlitzer organ in the Oriental Theatre, Milwaukee.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 68 comments)
Thank you, Jester, for sharing those great memories!At that time, I was just about to enter the 3rd Grade at East Lake Elementary. Later, I went on to attend Murphy High School for two years, before transferring to another school. So, I knew East Lake and Kirkwood very well. The Paramount and the Fox were my favorite Atlanta theaters. Yes, I remember the Paramount ushers with their flashlights! If memory serves, their jackets were a wine color, like the ushers at the Fox!
Hi Don, My mom attended the concert. After she passed away, I found the ticket stub, paper handout with the songs and order printed on them. I also found a scarf that I once remember her telling me she caught when he threw it to the crowd. Do you happen to remember him throwing a scarf into the crowd?
Thank you so much
Patti
Hi, Patti – Since I was just a bit too young to have seen Elvis at the Paramount, I can’t honestly say if he threw a scarf into the crowd at any of the shows in that engagement. In later years, I believe that became a routine part of his shows. Those shows at the Paramount & the Fox in Atlanta must have been enormous fun in those days. Elvis was still fresh and in the process of making his mark. My dad told me about seeing Frank Sinatra at the New York Paramount Theater back in the 1940’s. The bobbie soxers screamed very loud, but there was no doubt that “Frankie” could sing!
Best,
Don
http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/downtown/vj_day.htm
Great picture from VJ day 1945. On the far right, Loew’s Grand, next to it is the Paramount / Howard, and up Peachtree on the left is the Roxy marquee. Just below the Roxy sign you can just make out the top of the marquee of the Capitol.
Sensational photo! Before my time (I’m a Baby Boomer), but really great! Thanks, Stan!
GREAT PHOTO, Stan! Thanks for sharing it! My dad remembered this era. He saw a lot of movies at both the Howard & the Capitol! There aren’t many people alive today who can remember the Atlanta of the 1920’s!
Perfectly wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I have a number of happy memories associated with attending the Paramount in the 1950’s! Going to the movies was special in that era. Something about the experience was lost with the decline & fall of the great movie palaces. Going to a multiplex simply does not compare!
1957 photo added via Shorpy website below. Image can be enlarged there.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/23150?size=_original#caption
opening article
Howard theater opening · Sun, Dec 12, 1920 – Page 2 · The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) · Newspapers.com
Look for my new book to be published by Amazon.com before Christmas: “The Paramount, The Palazzo, and The Passion.” After collecting materials for over 60 years on the theatre and the residence for Robert Wright fashioned from the Paramount’s facade (adapted by my uncle William F. McCall, Jr. FAIA), I have finally put all of this history together in one volume. Many new photographs—never before published—along with new findings should make it a worthwhile read. Also, before Christmas, look for the release of the companion “Twice Told Tales of a Southern Palazzo,” which focuses on the human side of The Palazzo in Moultrie, GA inspired by the Paramount’s limestone facade. This book is an expanded version of the earlier title with several new chapters and additional photographs.