Paramount Theatre
518-520 Adams Street,
Toledo,
OH
43604
518-520 Adams Street,
Toledo,
OH
43604
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 59 comments
Final operator - Armstrong Circuit
The Old Wurlizer 4-20 Organ Was Later Taken By Virgil Howard In Lombertville, Michigan In The 1980’s. A Segment Of WTOL Channel 11’s Heartland From August 15th, 1986 Was Found On YouTube.
The original Rapp & Rapp auditorium was one of the most magnificent in the atmospheric style by any architectural firm. I would guess that it must have been hacked-to-death for the installation of Cinerama and reduction of seating capacity. I hope that I’m wrong.
I had read that the Block family of the Toledo Blade had been foremost in rallying to demolish the Paramount for parking for their employees. True or not the Blade layed off their workers after out sourcing their printing, what a shame. Short sightedness led to the loss of a architectural treasure. Toledo tried to make up for their stupidity by remodeling the Valentine. That effort although generally nice was not a restoration but more of an interpretation. They left an open ceiling which I personally thought was tacky. The new glass lobby doesn’t fit with the original architechture. For example they simply painted the old outside brick wall that used to face an alley leaving part of an unused fire escape, tacky again. The Fox in Detroit was a true restoration. It is by far a better example of true theater architecture. Toledo has made several bad descisions when it comes to preservation and revitalizing downtown.
I was born in Toledo and my father was able to get one of the music stands from the orchestra pit. I current have “custody” of it. Unfortunately the paint was removed but is is in good working condition (light works)and decorative trim is great conditions.
Just uploaded two photos and ad from opening of “This is Cinerama.”
February 16th, 1929 grand opening ad uploaded in the photo section. also at http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=k_8v9Q84L5sC&dat=19290216&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Rapp and Rapp also designed the atmospheric GATEWAY Theatre in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
After looking at it you guys are right. I talked to a guy some years ago that worked for the company that demolished it. He was just out of the Army and it was his first job. He remembers it and he said it was shame they tore it down for a parking lot. But at that time there was a lot of movie screens in downtown Toledo and with the drive-ins. Thank God they saved the Valentine and restored it. At one time that was going to be demolished also.
The photo on this page is not what it says underneath.It is actually Eberson’s Riviera Theatre in Omaha,Nebraska which is now called Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center.
Click here for an exterior view of the Paramount Theatre in 1930.
This is a picture of Rapp and Rapp’s Gateway Theater in Chicago. It opened in June of 1930 and was the second of only two atmospheric theaters designed by Rapp and Rapp. The other being the Toledo Paramount Theater. The Gateway is still standing and can be viewed in Cinema treasures. This photo has often been mistaken as the Toledo Paramount but actually was not as ornate or as large as the Toledo Paramount. Sadly the Paramount in Toledo met with the wrecking ball in 1965.
Added some new pictures..Enjoy.
The Wurlitzer was a 4-20 Publix 1 model, a deluxe setup with extra features reserved for upscale theatres. The elaborately embelished console rose from the pit on the left side of the stage on it’s own screw lift. The pipework was housed in two chambers on either side of the stage with a third percussion chamber on the left. The mallet percussions were large scale and quite loud, with a carousel-like timbre that filled the entire theatre and somewhat overpowered the speaking pipes which had a more refined voicing. The Virgil Howard recordings well document the unique sound of this fine Wurltizer setup.
I received a copy of the 1992 Theater Historical Society which is still available…check on Ebay. It is filled with archival photos from Rapp and Rapp. One can appreciate the beauty of this theater. As a child of nine I remember walking past the Paramount on the Huron St. side along with my mom and three siblings. I remember the tall vertical sign and was impressed. Never saw a movie there…probably too expensive for our family. The last time I remember seeing it was during the demolition phase…all that remained was the stage. A great loss for Toledo.
From the early 1920s a postcard view of the Paramount Theatre in Toledo.
Thanks Chris, interesting photos.
I think the three interior photos originally posted by Bryan Krefft and Lost Memory can still be seen here, as well as a picture of the booth set-up for Cinerama: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctparamount.htm
Too bad most of the photos do not work anymore.
And to think this theatre was the only atmospheric built by Rapp and Rapp. The Warner in Erie PA is a Rapp and Rapp.
Jules: Perhaps you can give us some insight since your grandfather owned the Paramount at one time why this theatre was allowed to be demolished as it was a magnificant structure! A theatre similar to the Paramount was the Palace in Youngstown Ohio, but sadly it was also demolished.
View link
Does anyone have any photos at all of the exterior and interior spaces of the Paramount. It appears that all the posted links to the photos are not working any longer. Thanks!
Linda: Yes, it is a shame and I didn’t even grow up in the Toledo area. When I read about the velvet curtains and the grand staircase it really makes me wonder why this theatre couldn’t have been saved and bring back those ticket takers in uniforms, too!
I fondly remember going to all of the original Disney movies (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) at the Saturday matinee. It was a gorgous theatre, with velvet curtains, a grand staircase up to the balcony and the ticket takers wore uniforms! I’m sure you’ll remember the Commodore Perry hotel and the Lion Store (THE place to shop back in the day). It is a shame that these historic buildings are gone.