About this property
The Paramount Theatre is a live theatre venue/movie theatre located in downtown Austin, Texas. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1976. In more than a century of operation, the Paramount has hosted vaudeville, silent and sound films, live theater, musical performances, comedians, and public events. Its film history includes premieres such as the 1966 world premiere of Batman: The Movie. The four-story theater was conceived as the Gaiety Theatre and built by Austin businessman Ernest Nalle, who commissioned architect John Eberson to design the building in January 1915. Construction was announced in February 1915 and completed later that year. The theater opened as the Majestic Theatre on October 11, 1915, as part of the Interstate Vaudeville Circuit, and was intended to bring major touring acts to Austin. It hosted vaudeville performers including the Marx Brothers and later also presented silent films with live musical accompaniment. In 1930, as the theater shifted more heavily toward motion pictures, it underwent an extensive remodel and reopened as the Paramount Theatre, a name connected to Paramount-Publix, the theater's new owner. The renovation added carpeting, upholstered seating, air conditioning, a sound system, and a large illuminated blade sign reading "Paramount". The theater subsequently presented Paramount studio films and premieres, often alongside live performances or stage appearances. In 1941, the theater was purchased by the Margaret Reed Estate. In 1957 and 1958, the facade was redesigned, a marquee was installed over the canopy, and the seats and concession stand were replaced or expanded. In November 1963, the building's facade received another renovation, during which the signature blade sign was removed for refurbishment; the sign was never reinstalled, and its fate was not determined. By the 1970s, the popularity of television and suburban movie theaters had contributed to declining attendance at the Paramount, and the building had fallen into disrepair. According to the theater's history, the building had been slated to become a Holiday Inn before preservation efforts began. In 1975, proprietors John M. Bernardoni, Charles Eckerman, and Stephen L. Scott formed a nonprofit group to restore the building. Local philanthropist Roberta Crenshaw, who owned a 50% stake in the building through her late husband's estate, donated her half of the trust to the nonprofit, while the other half of the trust offered a 99-year lease. In 1976, the theater's listing on the National Register of Historic Places qualified the venue for federal restoration funds. Renovations began in September 1977 following a $1.85 million grant from the federal government, which was also used to spur economic development in Downtown Austin.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Paramount Theatre listed on the National Register?
Paramount Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1976.
What type of historic resource is Paramount Theatre?
Paramount Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Paramount Theatre?
The period of significance for Paramount Theatre is recorded as the civil_war era.
Can I research the history near Paramount Theatre?
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