Was it Versailles or Seattle? That question likely swirled in the minds of theatergoers on opening night at the Paramount Theatre. The year was 1928. The Paramount Theatre, originally named the Seattle Theatre, opened its doors on March 1.
The Paramount Theatre stands at 9th Avenue and Pine Street. It is a landmark in downtown Seattle. Seattle businessman L. N. Rosenbaum and East Coast investors built it. They envisioned a grand movie palace.
Adolph Zukor, head of Paramount Studios, leased the venue for 25 years. This helped secure investors for Rosenbaum. The Paramount Theatre was designed in part after New York’s Paramount Theatre. Chicago firm Rapp & Rapp were the architects. Seattle resident B. Marcus Priteca designed the adjacent building.
Stepping inside the Paramount Theatre was like entering another world. The interior design was Beaux-Arts. It reminded people of the Palace of Versailles with Italian influences. Ornate plaster moldings adorned the four-tiered lobby. Spectacular chandeliers illuminated the space. Gold leaf covered elaborate ironwork and wall medallions. Morris Greenberg selected rugs and tapestries. He incorporated exotic accessories from East India. High-backed settees, chairs, and corner pieces furnished the grand foyer.
The Paramount Theatre had separate lobby areas on the upper levels. A grand lounge was below the main entrance. Alcoves offered intimate spaces for smaller groups. The proscenium arch spanned 54 feet. It rose 32 feet high. The auditorium ceiling had hollow areas for special lighting. Rose, gold, and ivory were the predominant colors. Almost three tons of white paint coated the walls. Workers applied 200 packs of gold leaf by hand. The two foyer chandeliers cost 5,000 dollars each. They contained about 52,000 crystals.
The Seattle Theatre boasted the title of the largest and most beautiful theater west of Chicago. Newspapers were equally enthusiastic. One Seattle writer compared the new house to Kubla Khan’s pleasure dome. Another described it as a magnificent cathedral of entertainment.
Opening night featured selections from Faust. The Seattle Grand Concert Orchestra performed. A Technicolor short film, Memories, followed. Don and Ron played the giant Wurlitzer organ. A Publix road show, A Merry Widow Revue, entertained the audience. The night closed with the film Feel My Pulse.
The Paramount Theatre had a staff to match its style. Ushers directed patrons to open seats. Electronic callboards aided their efforts. The theater was equipped to present combination shows. These drew from both stage and screen. The venue had a flying stage and 41 dressing rooms.
The Paramount Theatre also stood out because of its musical accompaniment. It boasted four Knabe grand pianos. A custom Knabe player piano was in the Salon de Musique. The Wurlitzer 4/20 Publix No. 1 organ cost about 46,500 dollars. It could be raised to the stage or lowered to the orchestra pit.
The Seattle Theatre changed its name to the Paramount Theatre on March 14, 1930. The Great Depression caused temporary closures. In June 1931, the Paramount suspended regular operations. It reopened with films and organ music.
The Paramount Theatre sustained itself by showing films and occasional live productions. Danny Kaye, Betty Hutton, and Ella Fitzgerald performed there. In 1956, the theater was leased to the Stanley Warner Cinerama Corporation.
In 1971, the theater reopened as Paramount Northwest. It became a leading music venue. Rock bands, jazz, and soul performances graced the stage. In 1974, the Paramount earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Paramount Theatre continues to be a destination. It hosts Broadway musicals, concerts, and other entertainment. The Paramount Theatre stands as a testament to Seattle’s vibrant arts scene.