Paramount Theatre

1300 Ocean Avenue,
Asbury Park, NJ 07712

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., Walter Reade Theatres

Firms: Warren & Wetmore

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News About This Theater

Paramount Theatre

Opened on July 11, 1930, the Paramount Theatre in the 2000’s became a concert venue on Asbury Park’s long suffering boardwalk area. The building also contains a Convention Hall, that is equipped with a theatre organ.

It was restored in 2007. It had closed by early-2023.

Recent comments (view all 43 comments)

spectrum
spectrum on September 29, 2007 at 12:05 pm

According to the American Film Review of 1936 the Paramount seated 1,995. It opened in 1930.

GaryCrawford
GaryCrawford on October 17, 2007 at 11:10 am

Other sources have the Paramount seating 1600 (the loge-level love seats took up a lot of room, could seat more with convention seating) and opening in 1929, the same year Convention Hall opened next door. This was opened WITH sound, the Western Electric standard bases are still in the booth. The entire complex was built of fireproof terra cotta brick and tile from the Raritan Valley clay companies, for those into such trivia (same material Empire State Building was built from).

The scope screen, with masking in place, was 20h x 40w. The fire curtain still hangs over the stage. 60 rails, was the best stage in Asbury.

For HVAC buffs (is there such a thing?) the entire orchestra has a “cellar”, where ice was poured in from an outside door and air circulated over it for cooling. Very efficient for its day.

I worked there as projectionist part time from 72-74, then full time from 74-78. Love that place!!!

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 17, 2007 at 11:25 am

HVAC buffs? Is there an “HVAC Treasures” website? That would be interesting reading.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Nice photo Lifes too short.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on June 22, 2011 at 6:40 am

Friends: a bit of clarification please – I just found this link to a theatre organ, currently located in the Asbury Park Convention Center. The photo certainly does not seem to be the Paramount auditorium. Is the organ over in the other part of the building? Out over the water? http://www.gstos.org/asbury.htm

avguy
avguy on January 27, 2012 at 10:13 pm

The organ is in Convention Hall, not the Theater.

The Paramount will be featured in an episode of Fact Or Faked on SyFy sometime in the next two months.

I still have to stop for a moment sometimes first thing in the morning to just sit alone in the middle of the auditorium and appreciate just how lucky I am to play a small part in the history of this grand theater.

-Philip LaDue

avguy
avguy on January 28, 2012 at 10:32 am

I was a member of Cinema Tresures a few years ago when I was working in another Vaudeville house in Upstate NY.

Thanks for the posters.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on January 28, 2012 at 7:55 pm

I saw a comedy show here a few years ago — majestic space, with the salty sea air a nice touch.

avguy
avguy on April 2, 2023 at 10:31 pm

Status should be closed. The developer and local government are deadlocked on a failed redevelopment plan and have revoked occupancy permits.

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