Then and Now - The Paramount Theatre - Boston, MA

The Paramount Theater in Boston, Massachusetts, is a historic theater at 559 Washington Street in the city’s Theater District. The theater was originally designed by the Elkus Manfredi architecture firm. and opened on February 26, 1932. It was designed in the Art déco style and the only one in downtown Boston built only for talking motion pictures.

It closed in 1976. Much of the interior detail was lost due to water damage and asbestos abatement. The auditorium was eventually demolished.

In 2005, Emerson College announced that they would redevelop the former Paramount Theatre into two performing arts stages. One would take the place of the former Bijou Theatre, and the other the B.F. Keith’s. Both theaters had long been demolished. 

The new development is called the Paramount Center. It reopened on March 6, 2010, with a 590-seat theater designed in the art déco style of the original Paramount. It hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, comedy shows, and other live performances.

Check out the full event calendar on the official website.