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 Interactive map of Paramount Theatre | |
| Address | 23 E. Galena Blvd. |
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| Location | Aurora, Illinois |
| Owner | Aurora Civic Center Authority |
| Capacity | 1,885 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1931 |
| Renovated | 1978 |
| Website | |
| paramountaurora | |
Paramount Theatre | |
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| Coordinates | 41°45′27.6″N88°18′52″W / 41.757667°N 88.31444°W /41.757667; -88.31444 |
| Architect | Rapp and Rapp |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001371 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1986 |
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TheParamount Theatre, also known as theParamount Arts Center, opened inAurora, Illinois, in 1931. It was designed byRapp and Rapp in theArt Deco style withVenetian elements. Over the years, it has hosted films, plays, musicals, concerts, comedy shows, and other acts.[1] The structure was restored in the 1970s and added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1980.[2] It is part of theStolp Island Historic District.
In the 1920s,Paramount Pictures began to construct theaters that could accompany their latest films.Talkies had just begun to appear in theaters, and Paramount executives predicted exponential growth in the industry. Older theaters had acoustics and audience accommodations ideal for live theater, but advances in film technology required new trends in these areas. However, since all new theaters showed the same performances, theater design could streamline by having similar visual design.Vaudeville was now only shown on weekends and was no longer a medium for nationally recognized talent.[citation needed]
The Paramount Theatre in Aurora was commissioned in 1931 by J. J. Rubens for one million dollars. It was designed by esteemed theater architectsC. W. and George Leslie Rapp. It was the firstair conditioned building built outside ofChicago. Paramount intended to bring such large theaters to all large cities across the country, but theGreat Depression effectively ended these plans. The theater opened in September 1931 with appearances from Paramount film stars includingThe Marx Brothers,Jack Benny,Jeanette MacDonald andBurns and Allen. It is capable of holding 1,843 people; originally it held 2,125, but capacity had to be reduced to conform to fire codes.[citation needed]
In 1976, the theater closed for renovation following its sale to the Aurora Civic Center Authority. It re-opened on April 19, 1978. On September 10, 1986, it was recognized as aHistoric Place by the United StatesNational Park Service, and was simultaneously recognized as contributing property of theStolp Island Historic District. A lobby was added in 2006, and it remains an important part of the downtown Aurora economy.[citation needed]
In March 2020The Secret of My Success, based on the 1987movie of the same name, was mid-run for its world premiere andpre-Broadway tryout withSydney Morton (Christy Lockhart) and Billy Harrigan Tighe (Brantley Foster/Carlton Whitfield) as leads andGordon Greenberg directing when production was shut down due to thecoronavirus pandemic.[3][4][5] It had been scheduled to run from February 21 – March 29, and the final performance was March 12, as Illinois governorJ. B. Pritzker shut down all performance venues starting March 13.[4][6]
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