Paramount Theatre Illinois

==Paramount Theatre== ===Mission=== The Paramount Theatre, operated by the Aurora Civic Center Authority, is dedicated to making the performing arts accessible to people of every age and socioeconomic background. It aims to introduce the magic of live theater to multiple generations, fostering expansive imaginations and broad perspectives on people and the world. Paramount Theatre is also committed to contributing to the stability and growth of downtown Aurora. ===History=== The Paramount Theatre's story is deeply entwined with the entertainment history of Aurora, Illinois. In the early 20th century, Aurora was a hub for vaudeville and silent films, with venues like Dreamland, The Majestic, The Strand, and The B showcasing performances. By 1915, the Aurora Theater Company was formed, leading the local movie business and anticipating the need for new theaters as films transitioned to "talkies." The vision for a new theater with a Venetian theme was conceived by J.J. Rubens during a trip to Italy. Architects C.W. and George L. Rapp, known for their movie theater designs, were commissioned to bring this vision to life. They created a breathtaking Art Deco palace, which was later referred to as their best Art Deco theater by David Naylor in "American Picture Palaces The Architecture of Fantasy." Originally planned as The Venetian, the theater was renamed to The Paramount after the Aurora Theater Company was sold to the Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corporation in 1930. The Paramount Theatre opened on September 3, 1931, with much fanfare, including a performance by an organist on the Wurlitzer, and telegrams from Paramount Studios stars. The Paramount was not only a movie theater but also a venue for vaudeville, concerts, sing-a-longs, and even circus performances, housed in Illinois' first air-conditioned building outside Chicago. Its acoustics and sightlines were so well-designed that there was not a single bad seat in the house, providing a luxurious escape during the Great Depression. ===The Decline and Restoration=== By the 1960s, the theater showed signs of age, with its once grand interior becoming worn and dirty. The Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) and the Aurora Redevelopment Commission (ARC) were established to spearhead downtown redevelopment, which included the restoration of the Paramount Theatre. The theater was purchased by ACCA in 1976, and restoration began immediately with D’Escoto and Associates as construction managers and Conrad Schmitt Studios restoring the interior based on historical photographs. The restoration involved replacing hand-painted murals, refurbishing original seats, and repairing plasterwork. The ceiling artwork was also restored, with only a small portion needing repainting and the rest requiring cleaning and retouching. ===Paramount Today=== Today, the Paramount Theatre continues to provide a diverse range of world-class entertainment, including dance, music, Broadway-caliber theater, and children's programming, to an annual audience of over 350,000 patrons from more than 250 communities. It boasts over 40,000 subscribers to its Broadway Series and has expanded with the Paramount School of the Arts and the renovation of the Copley Theatre for the Bold Series. Paramount also operates RiverEdge Park, which hosts live music events and free community events, and the theater's opulent interiors serve as a venue for private events. Tours of the historic Paramount Theatre are available, offering a glimpse into its storied past and ongoing legacy in the arts community. ==External Links== * [Paramount Theatre Official Website](https://www.paramountaurora.com/) * [Paramount School of the Arts](https://paramountaurora.com/school-of-the-arts/) * [RiverEdge Park](https://www.riveredgeaurora.com/) [[Category:Theatres in Illinois]] [[Category:Historic American Buildings]] [[Category:Art Deco architecture in the United States]]