Big Flicks at Paramount

posted by Michael Zoldessy on November 24, 2009 at 3:45 pm

RUTLAND, VT — In an area starving for a movie theater, citizens are getting the best of both worlds with a new lease on life at the Paramount with the Big Flicks film series.

When the area lost its only movie theater a month ago, a concerned group offered a solution: Instead of going to a new theater to watch new movies, why not go to an old theater to watch old movies?

And so, Big Flicks at the Paramount was born.

While the timing may be fortuitous, the planning has been ongoing for months. Fitted with a gigantic new screen and state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment, the Paramount Theatre is ready to display motion pictures for the first time in nearly 35 years.

Read the full story in the Rutland Herald.

Theaters in this post

Comments (12)

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on November 24, 2009 at 3:51 pm

The article says “state of the art projection” Does that mean 2 k, 4 k, 35 mm, or showing a DVD on a giant screen?

danpetitpas
danpetitpas on November 24, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Yeah, the term “state-of-the-art” is overused. It can mean anything. Usually it just means “new.”

If a theater is only going to show movies 10 nights a year, it’s cheaper to rent a projector rather than buy one. Boston Light and Sound, for example, has a wide variety of movie projectors for rent.

But, hey, with a non-profit, who knows?

The writer, who says he’s a film buff, should have asked a few more questions about what is installed in the theater.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 24, 2009 at 5:24 pm

In addition, that closed multiplex referred to in the article is re-opening in December.

DonHirsch
DonHirsch on November 25, 2009 at 1:23 pm

I’m amazed at the tone of these comments. We have a story of a restored historic theatre committed to surviving and serving the community and the commentors are throwing cold water on the effort.

movieguy
movieguy on November 25, 2009 at 7:14 pm

I think it is Fantastic that old movies will be shown here for ALL to enjoy! Why the NEGATIVE NELLY COMMENTS!?!?!?

danpetitpas
danpetitpas on November 25, 2009 at 7:33 pm

I think, as theater buffs, we just like having details as to what kind of equipment was installed and what the theater is doing to be viable. For example, do you go out and spend $50,000 on projector and sound equipment just for 10 showings a year?

Also, we see 2-3 stories a day about theaters reopening, and 90% of them are closed 11-18 months later after sucking out the life savings of some well-meaning family. So we’re interested in what the business model is and whether it has a chance of succeeding.

Additionally, I’m critical of the non-profit model because those theaters don’t have to make a profit and often schedule things like Mongolian film festivals that don’t really serve the community, just the elites. And they sometimes have state-of-the-art equipment just going to waste.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 25, 2009 at 9:03 pm

I will speak only for myself, but I hope this classic series packs the house and were I anywhere near I certainly would attend, That said, my comment was that on the article’s content and headline regarding the “void” left by the closing of the area’s multiplex and the opportunity it seemed to offer to launch this venture. The reality is now that this “fortuitous” situation is about to evaporate.

MPol
MPol on November 26, 2009 at 12:06 am

Me too, CWalczak!!

Hey—what are some of the other flicks playing there besides “Gone With The Wind”? Just curious. Will they play movies such as West Side Story as well? That, too, would be cool. Again, if I were in the Rutland area, I’d attend this Big Flick Series at the Paramount in a heartbeat.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 26, 2009 at 4:06 am

Here is the film schedule from the theater’s website: http://www.paramountlive.org/filmseries.php

downloadmoviesfree
downloadmoviesfree on November 26, 2009 at 4:28 pm

It’s a brilliant idea to watch old movies into an old theater. You can also watch old movies at home. Through online sources like http://downloadmoviesfree.net/ and the good thing is its for free.

MPol
MPol on January 2, 2010 at 5:09 am

Hey…thanks, CWalczak! Maybe, just maybe, when the weather gets warmer and the winter passes, I just might drive up to this VT Cinema to see a classic sometime! Who knows?

download free online movies: Regarding watching old movies at home, whether it be via DVD or downloading them online; I say…thanks but no thanks. First of all, I prefer to watch great old classics on the great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre with the lights down low, when they come around, and, secondly, I really have absolutely no wish to partake of the kind of piracy that’s involved in downloading movies online.

MPol
MPol on January 7, 2010 at 1:14 am

download free online movies; I just looked at the link. Not withstanding that I do not wish to contribute furthur to the death of the movie business, the vast majority of the movies available for downloading on that website seem rather junky…and not worth watching. Just saying.

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