The Paramount is the grande dame of Austin theatres, the crown jewel of Austin’s Downtown arts panoply. For nearly 100 years, the palatial theatre has stood in the heart of Austin’s Downtown. Renovations in recent decades have kicked the dust from its jambs and put a shine on its patina (though some resilient ghosts may continue to lurk in the rafters). Originally opened in 1915 as the Majestic Theatre, the stage hosted traveling vaudeville acts and silent movies before changing over to a first-run movie theatre in the 1930s and changing the name to the Paramount Theatre. Renowned in the 21st century as Austin’s foremost cultural purveyor, the Paramount presents a year-round program that caters to an immense variety of artistic experience. Live theatre performances and one-person shows; music acts, dance companies, and comedy troupes; national touring shows and homegrown productions; red-carpet premieres of new films, an annual summer schedule of movie revivals, and gala film-festival events – all find berths on the Paramount’s graceful stage. And have we mentioned that the Paramount Theatre includes beer, wine, and liquor at its concession stands and that the volunteer ushers are among the most dedicated and helpful aisle assistants in the business? Here’s to another 100 years of Paramount glory.
