HISTORY

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The Paramount Theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of just 300 movie palaces left in the United States according to a story in USA Today.  Built in the architecturally extravagant 1920's, the theatre annually hosts concerts, fundraisers, corporate meetings, dance recitals and a Broadway Series. It is home to Orchestra Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society and Cedar Rapids Community Concerts.

Cedar Rapids is extremely fortunate to have the Paramount Theatre as a performing arts center.  In November 1926, a conference was held discussing plans to build the theatre.  By April 1927, work was well underway on the foundation of the building, and by September 1, 1928, the theatre opened as the Capitol Theatre.  For one year the Capitol provided a live stage show with a full range of comedians, singers, dancers, acrobats, along with an audience sing-along, the Wurlitzer organ and a film.  When the theatre was built, they wanted to make it like a palace, with everything being high class.

The theatre was bought by Paramount Studios and renamed the Paramount Theatre in 1929.  It was then gifted to the City of Cedar Rapids in December 1975. At that time, a fifteen-member Commission was named and it was decided the theatre should be restored to its original state. No tax money was spent on the restoration. Instead, a fund drive conducted by the Commission raised over $400,000 in pledges and donations from industry, businesses, and individuals.

In 2001, a committee, Friends of the Paramount, formed to discuss plans and begin fundraising for a second renovation. In 2003, the Paramount Theatre underwent a $7.8 million dollar renovation. Updates included: a 57' wing space addition, new HVAC system, new restrooms, existing restrooms renovation, new carpet, new seat coverings, plaster work repair, electrical and fire system updates and the Guaranty Bank Reception Hall addition. A key funding source of the renovation came from the Culture's Alive project, the State of Iowa Cultural Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant.  Along with the CAT grant many businesses and individuals also showed their support of the Paramount Theatre renovation by donating money.

LOBBY/ HALL OF MIRRORS

The half-block long hall of mirrors, culminating in the grand staircase, is patterned after the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles in France. The lobby was originally filled with treasures - oil paintings from Europe, gilt mirrors, chests with marble or bronze busts, statues on pedestals, tables, sofas upholstered in blue and green velvets and guilded lamps. Most of these things were removed in the fifties and the remaining furnishings were sold in 1973.

HVAC SYSTEM/ OLD JOE

The Paramount Theatre was the first large air-conditioned and dehumidified building in the Midwest. The same air-conditioning plant, better known as Old Joe was used right up to the 2003 renovation. The CO2 system was originally installed at the Hubbard Ice Co. in Cedar Rapids and was relocated to the Paramount Theatre during the Theatre's construction in 1928. During the renovation in 2003, a new HVAC system was installed.  The new system is a 350-ton air conditioning plant with about five times the cooling capacity of Old Joe.