A merica has a long line of historic old theaters. Some were playhouses, others strictly cinema. But all are loved pieces of a national culture long gone. Blame progress or credit lifestyle, but for some reason more of these architectural gems have survived on the West Coast than the East. The Paramount is a great example. Its marquee hangs over the street as a matter of necessity -- it's the only way to be seen. That illustrates the fact that this is a theater that is at one with the urban core, and not an afterthought. It was a magical place with gold leaf accents, ornamental wrought iron, beaded light fixtures, and details upon details. This level of extravagance was necessary. It was erected in the days before the stock market crash that precipitated the Great Depression. In that era -- known historically as the "roaring 20's" -- America was full of optimism. Hollywood was blossoming into a major force, thanks to the newly invented motion picture machines. People flocked to movie houses and vaudeville shows not only to escape reality, but to enhance their own reality. This was America's first multi-media frenzy, and it was unlike anything the nation had experienced before. People had voracious appetites for entertainment, and where there is a demand, there is money to be made. That is why these movie palaces went up. Sometimes more than one on the same block. Sometimes across the street from each other. Competition was fierce, and the films crude, so the proprietors had to make the entire experience a grand event. Red carpets. Ornate chandeliers. Staff in tuxedos. And each customer treated like a king or queen. These weren't merely perks; the customers expected it. The Depression put an end to all that. Far worse than the 1990's dot-com bust, millionaires found themselves in soup lines, unemployment was epidemic , and the movie palaces closed their doors one after another. Today, the Paramount isn't at the hart of the city, but it is still a very active performance hall with a large number of stage shows and concerts scheduled each year. It has managed to survive changing times, and in the 1990's underwent a massive renovation that made it a modern facility while preserving all of the architectural details that made it special. The entire back wall of the building was removed, and a new addition tacked on to accommodate the demands of modern stage performances. With any luck, these changes will help the Paramount Theater outlive the next big entertainment fad, and remain a center for performing art and artists.
