Paramount Theatre | |
 Paramount Theatremarquee in 2007 | |
| Location | 17 South St.,Middletown,NY |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°26′44″N74°25′16″W / 41.44556°N 74.42111°W /41.44556; -74.42111 |
| Built | 1930[2] |
| Architect | Rapp and Rapp |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Website | www |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000136[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 6, 2002 |
TheParamount Theatre is a historic theater located at 17 South Street inMiddletown,New York, United States. It was built in1930 in anArt Decostyle, a twin to the Paramount Theater inPeekskill, across theHudson River.[2] It was included in theNational Register of Historic Places in 2002.[1][3]
Paramount-Publix Corporation (nowParamount Pictures) built and opened the building on June 12, 1930, with a celebration that included a parade at noon, a musical performance by the Paramount Symphony Orchestra, and the first movie,The Big Pond, starringMaurice Chevalier andClaudette Colbert at 6 p.m. The feature film was preceded by anewsreel, a short film about Middletown and its citizens and a welcome film starringBuddy Rogers.[2]
Paramount-Publix sold the theater after theU.S. Supreme Court's 1948United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. decision, which required the movie studios to divest themselves of their theater chains.ABC, a successor corporation, owned the Paramount until 1973 when it sold it to Hallmark Releasing. After several other owners, it closed five years later. In 1979, the city took title when backtaxes went unpaid.[2]
Two years later, the Arts Council of Orange County bought the building and renovated it into a performing arts center. Anapron was added to the stage, and apavilion on the back of the building provideddressing room space. It was reopened in 1985. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[2] The theatre hosts a variety acts and events, as well as art exhibits, lectures, civic fundraisers, dance recitals, business receptions, school theatre series, performing arts summer camp and some film features.
The New York Theater Organ Society installed theWurlitzerorgan from the Clairidge Theater inMontclair, New Jersey. The Paramount's organ's original keyboard is now part of the organ at the Orpheum Theater inPhoenix, Arizona.[2]
TheHoboken International Film Festival takes place annually at the theater.
