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Paramount Theatre (Denver, Colorado)
Encyclopedia
The Paramount Theatre is a concert venue in Denver, Colorado
, located on Glenarm Place, near Denver's famous 16th Street Mall
. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,870, but is a popular destination for large acts looking for a smaller concert setting. With spelling as Paramount Theater, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
. The theatre itself was designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp
, with decorations by designer Vincent Mondo. The original main entry to the theatre was at 519 16th Street, where an entrance lobby was cut through an existing commercial and office building. The three story office and commercial building featuring what was then the theatre's secondary entrance on Glenarm Place, now the main entrance, was designed by the local architect Temple H. Buell. Buell's design is a modernized, art deco
interpretation of the Gothic style, executed largely in cast concrete and white terra cotta
.
For several decades the Paramount enjoyed success as one of the premier movie houses in the Rocky Mountain region. Then, like other large movie theatres, its patronage declined as population and commerce dispersed into new suburban areas. The venue has survived and evolved, and now plays host to numerous concert and performance acts. The theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980, and the city of Denver recognized it as a historic landmark in 1988. Eight years later, Sinbad
performed his HBO comedy special "Son of a Preacher Man" here.
theatre organ
s in the United States. (The other one is located in New York City
, at Radio City Music Hall
.) With four manuals and twenty ranks, and over 1600 pipes, the Paramount's instrument is one of the largest ever installed in the Rocky Mountain region. It is opus 2122 of the Publix#1 style Wurlitzer, a type designed by the theatre organist Jesse Crawford
. It was installed in the theatre on July 23, 1930.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, located on Glenarm Place, near Denver's famous 16th Street Mall
16th Street Mall
The 16th Street Mall is a pedestrian and transit mall in Denver, Colorado. The mall, 1.25 miles long, runs along 16th Street in downtown Denver, from Wewatta Street to the intersection of 16th Avenue and Broadway...
. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,870, but is a popular destination for large acts looking for a smaller concert setting. With spelling as Paramount Theater, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
History
The Paramount opened in 1930 as a movie theatre, part of the Paramount-Publix Theatre Circuit, the exhibition arm of Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. The theatre itself was designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp
Rapp and Rapp
The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp was active in Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The brothers Cornelius W. Rapp and George Leslie Rapp of Carbondale, Illinois were the named partners and 1899 alumnus of the University of Illinois School of Architecture...
, with decorations by designer Vincent Mondo. The original main entry to the theatre was at 519 16th Street, where an entrance lobby was cut through an existing commercial and office building. The three story office and commercial building featuring what was then the theatre's secondary entrance on Glenarm Place, now the main entrance, was designed by the local architect Temple H. Buell. Buell's design is a modernized, art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
interpretation of the Gothic style, executed largely in cast concrete and white terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
.
For several decades the Paramount enjoyed success as one of the premier movie houses in the Rocky Mountain region. Then, like other large movie theatres, its patronage declined as population and commerce dispersed into new suburban areas. The venue has survived and evolved, and now plays host to numerous concert and performance acts. The theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980, and the city of Denver recognized it as a historic landmark in 1988. Eight years later, Sinbad
Sinbad (entertainer)
David Adkins better known by his professional name of Sinbad, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became well known in the 1990s from being featured on his own HBO specials, appearing on several television series, and starring in the films Necessary Roughness, Houseguest, First Kid,...
performed his HBO comedy special "Son of a Preacher Man" here.
Wurlitzer organ
The Paramount also hosts one of two remaining twin-console WurlitzerWurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
theatre organ
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
s in the United States. (The other one is located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
.) With four manuals and twenty ranks, and over 1600 pipes, the Paramount's instrument is one of the largest ever installed in the Rocky Mountain region. It is opus 2122 of the Publix#1 style Wurlitzer, a type designed by the theatre organist Jesse Crawford
Jesse Crawford
Jesse Crawford , was a US pianist and organist. He was well known in the 1920s as a theater organist for silent films and was avery popular gramophone record recording artist. In the 1930s, he switched to the Hammond organ and became a freelancer...
. It was installed in the theatre on July 23, 1930.