The Paramount Theatre is one of just 300 movie palaces left in the United States according to a story in USA Today. Built in the architecturally extravagant of the 1920′s, this 1930-seat theatre hosts over 170 event days a year including concerts, fundraisers, corporate meetings, dance recitals and a Broadway Series. It is home to the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, the Cedar Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society and Community Concerts.

Cedar Rapids is extremely fortunate to have the Paramount Theatre as a performing arts center. Mr. & Mrs. Peter Bezanson made a gift of the Theatre to the City in December 1975. A permanent home for the performing arts had long been sought and the Paramount, with its excellent acoustics and fine craftsmanship was a perfect solution.

At the time the Paramount was given to the city, the mayor named a fifteen-member Commission for the Performing Arts. The citizens on the Commission were charged with the supervision and operation of the theatre and with the restoration and renovation of the building. 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, business, and individuals. A large plaque denoting the contributors is presently mounted in the Hall of Mirrors.

The Paramount is included in the National Register of Historic Places which notes buildings of historical or architectural significance. The style is “standard theatre architecture,” a combination of baroque and rococo popular in early twentieth century theatres. When the theatre was built, they wanted to make it like a palace, with everything being high class. When it opened, visitors dressed elegantly.

In November 1926, a conference was held discussing plans to build the theatre. The cost was estimated at $750,000 to construct the building. 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. On opening night, airplanes from CR Airways Inc flew near the Capitol Theatre area. This “Aerial Bombardment” lasted for an hour. Planes released special bombs, two of which carried American flags on parachutes and contained two tickets to the Capitol Theatre.

The opening program included “Warming Up” starring Richard Dix, solos on the mighty Wurlitzer and vaudeville acts. The original owner was A.H. Blank of Des Moines. Peacock and Frank of Milwaukee were the architects and the contractor was the Theodore Stark Construction Company of Cedar Rapids. Joe Hughes painted the entire interior.

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 “non-deluxe” and “deluxe” film. (The “deluxe” film was usually longer, with better-known stars.) Two factors contributed to the decline of the live stage shows-talking pictures and the depression-and in 1929 the theatre was bought by Paramount Studios and renamed the Paramount Theatre.

The restoration Committee of the Commission set as its goal, the restoration of the theatre to its original state, and at the same time, converting it into an outstanding performing arts center. It is “the spirit” of the original building that guided the committee.

Structurally, the building was in good shape when it was acquired by the city. A new roof was the first step, before any damage was done to the ornate plasterwork. Because the stage is five stories high, an acoustical shell was added to project the sound out into the auditorium. The Paramount has been highly complimented by outstanding national and international musical artists for the beautiful acoustics of the hall and the fact that each seat has an unencumbered view of the stage. It is for this reason that when the theatre first opened, all seats were the same price.

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 is being used today.

Outer Lobby

The original box office was in a pagoda style.

The display cases are original but would not have had the red paint.

The inner doors including the brass handles were painted over but have been restored to a metallic finish. The original outer doors were replaced in the fifties but would have been much like the inner doors.

The marquee was rectangular, not triangular as it is now.

Lobby

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 original chandeliers were incomplete at the time of the 1976 renovation, missing three styles of prisms. They were restored. Each cut glass prism cost between $8 and $14 wholesale in 1928 and were Austrian cut glass.

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. One clue the Restoration Committee has had as to what hung where is that where there are electrical outlets on the walls, pictures were hung and where there are simply hooks, mirrors hung.

The carpet was duplicated and replaced in the winter of 1978 by the Cedar Rapids Design Studio. It was woven specially for the theatre and duplicated the original. There are 1600 yards of carpeting.

The walls of the Hall of Mirrors were repainted up to the ceiling in 1976. The painting process involved three steps: 1) a primer coat, 2) the base color and 3) a special process where by the painter sponged a darker tone to give the walls a softer marble texture. Gold leaf paint costing approximately $90 per gallon was used for the ornate trim. The gold leaf was applied, then glazed to give it the antique finish. Mr. Joe Hughes and a few assistants did all of the painting restoration work in the theatre. The tapestry pattern is from the dome ceiling and was done by the C.R. Embroidery Guild.

The small sitting area on the second floor was restored in the original dark brick color. Much of the theatre was originally this color. However, because it is so dark, a lighter color was chosen for painting the rest of the theatre.

Theatre Interior

Most of the 1901 seats were reupholstered with new red velvet upholstery. Originally they were covered with a tapestry fabric which proved too expensive to reproduce in 1976. The end standards have been electrostatically repainted-a process used for painting automobiles.

The draperies are original and only needed cleaning.

The boxes, contrary to popular belief, were never used. The dark curtains on both sides cover the 1000 pipes of the Wurlitzer organ. They are not original but the valances are.

The ceiling was in perfect shape and didn’t even need cleaning because of the unique air-intake system.

The lavish moldings were created by craftsmen who first carved the designs in clay, then made plaster casts. Molding plaster was poured into the casts and hanging wires affixed to each section to attach it to the structure. Cracks between the sections were painstakingly filled to make the moldings appear as one continuous piece. Most are gilded in gold leaf.

The decorative urns and ornate moldings not only visually enhance the interior, but also are a definite factor in the fine acoustics.

The curtain on the stage is not the original but the valences are. The original curtain was the reverse pattern of the valance.

Organ

The Wurlitzer organ has been restored and is maintained by the Cedar Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society. The original cost was $28,000. Each manual of keys has a double track that multiplies the sound possibilities so that nearly 800 instruments can be called into play. The organ can be raised and lowered from the orchestra pit by hydraulic lifts. At the time the Capitol was built, theatres often had both organs with organists and a house orchestra. The organ played from 11:30 am until midnight and accompanied the “deluxe” film. A light show usually went with the organ performance.

Today, Cedar Rapids is one of only two other cities that has two working theatre organs in original installations…the “Mighty Wurlitzer” at the Paramount and the “Rhinestone Barton” at Theatre Cedar Rapids (formerly the Iowa Theatre).

Stage

Originally, it was planned that the stage and orchestra pit would be built on hydraulic lifts so they could be raised and lowered. However, the equipment didn’t arrive on time so a temporary stage was put in its place. Eventually plans were canceled and the temporary stage, which was made with scrap lumber, became permanent. In 1998, the stage floor was replaced with capital funding from the City of Cedar Rapids. The new floor is MarleyPlus.

The theatre has a small stage to which an extension has been added. The extension can be utilized at three levels-stage, main floor, and orchestra pit. The extension floor can be entirely removed or partially removed for just the organ.

The first six feet of the original stage was hard wood for the benefit of tap dancers on early programs.

There are 52 flylines to control scenery.

Part of the original light board remains. It cost $15,000 and, at the time of installation, was one of the most elaborate in the mid-west. There are 900 separate lead wires into the auditorium and lobby with 45 double disk dimmers. 1500 bulbs are used in the concealed lighting system for a total power load of 1000 kilowatts, more than many cities had in 1928.

Dressing Rooms

Three stories of dressing rooms were renovated in 1976. They include six smaller rooms and the star’s suite, which consists of an antechamber to receive friends, and an inner room for dressing. In the early years of vaudeville the more prestigious star received the lower level dressing room, eliminating the need to climb stairs.

Lounge

The Junior League of Cedar Rapids restored the lower lounge in the late 70′s. The hall was furnished much like the lobby with sofas, tables, and chairs done in shades of green. There was a large area rug, perhaps oriental, in front of the fireplace which cannot be used. The rug was ruined in the 1993 flood.

The concept the Capitol was designed to fulfill, as an entertainment center much like the New York Radio City Music Hall, is obsolete. But, thanks to the foresight of many Cedar Rapidians, the preservationist idea of “adaptive usage,” adapting fine, old structures for contemporary purposes, has given Eastern Iowa an outstanding performing arts center.

HVAC System – “Old Joe”

The CO2 air conditioning system that cools the Paramount Theatre was manufactured by Brunswick-Croshell Company. This was a design built project by the equipment manufacturer, Brunswick, and the system design engineer, Croshell. Brunswick was later bought out by Carrier. The system was installed under the direction of the father of Leon “Tunnie” Melsha of Banjo Refrigeration Co., Cedar Rapids, IA. The system is currently serviced by “Pub” Melsha of Banjo Refrigeration Co,. who is the son of “Tunnie.”

The CO2 system was originally installed at the Hubbard Ice Co. in Cedar Rapids, IA and relocated to the Paramount Theatre during the construction of the building in 1927-1928. This made the Paramount one of the first air conditioned buildings west of the Mississippi River.

The CO2 system compressor has two cylinders and is driven by a 200 HP, synchronous, split phase, DC motor. The speed of the compressor is only 150 RPM! A deep well in the basement of the Paramount Theatre building provides the condenser cooling water and also supply for a water wash system which prevents the evaporator coil from over-freezing. The well water is supplied to a single pass heat exchanger for condensing the refrigerant and is discharged to the storm drain. The original well was a vertical turbine type with 9 stages. The well pump operates at a constant head of 28 psig.

The evaporator coil is a DX type with water wash nozzles and sits above a 13 ft. long x 14 in. wide x 24 in. high pan of water. There are a total of 9 expansion valves for the refrigerant distributor at the coil. The water wash system not only provides defrost capabilities, but also acts as an air filter to clean the air.

The system is affectionately known as “Old Joe.” The compressor system discharge pressure is at 60 atmospheres (880 psi) and the suction pressures are 34 atmospheres (500 psi). The refrigerant temperature upstream of the expansion valves is approximately 72°F while the discharge/tank water temperature is about 40°F. The air handler supply air temperature is approximately 48°F when operating under a full load. The air handler system operates with 100% outdoor air and 100% exhaust air. The system piping is Schedule 160 piping.

In its heyday, Old Joe’s refrigerant system produced an estimated 75 tons of cooling capacity and required about 6 hours of operation to pre-cool the auditorium before a performance. Today, Old Joe cranks up 24-48 hours in advance of a performance and is watched 24 hours a day when he is working.

Renovation & Summary

On January 7, 2004 the Theatre reopened following a $7.8 million renovation projection. Construction began on the new addition in December of 2002 while performances were still being hosted in the historic portion of the Theatre. On May 19, 2003 the entire theatre was closed to the general public and remained closed through December, 2003.

Throughout the entire facility, the mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems were upgraded to enable the Theatre to function effectively and efficiently. The Theatre’s main roof was replaced. The new addition provides stage-wing storage space, men and women’s restrooms, concession and lobby space as well as a multi-use hall.

Ticket office lobby space

• Replaced entryway carpet near doors
• Recovered all the display boxes w/black fabric
• Repaired and repainted the comedy/tragedy faces just outside main entrance
• Fire protection devices installed

Hall of Mirrors

• Repair of plasterwork – repaired the damaged plasterwork and repainted where needed. It was made possible to repaint only portions of the Theatre perfectly blending new with the old.
• A custom-built concession cart was fabricated for this space to blend with the historic detail. The main concession stands are located in the lobby space of the new addition and on the 2nd level at the top of the grand staircase

Grand staircase and Horn:

• Additional plaster restoration
• Carpet – A design team created a customized pattern in the spirit of the original carpet. It took a six-man crew, three weeks to install the carpet throughout the building. Careful alignment throughout the Theatre was necessary to match the large pattern
• All of the exterior doors along the 2nd Street corridor have been replaced. The rich copper color was achieved by utilizing an automotive paint that will also provide a strong, durable surface to resist chips and scratches from normal use.
• The drinking fountains throughout the building were upgraded and all floors now have two working drinking fountains.

Interior of Theatre seating area:

• All seats have been redone with a refurbishment of some of the original parts and addition of some new parts:
  1. The black back of the chair is original and was repainted; the padding and cover on the back is new
  2. The gold end standards are original and were repainted.
  3. The lights were removed from the end standard and new lights were installed in the underside of the armrests to provide aisle lighting
  4. The entire seat cushion and mechanism is new – the cushion is now self-rising
  5. The fabric color is Jewel Box – the water repellent finish on the velvet upholstery for the auditorium seats is achieved by treating the fabric with Teflon, which also provides a strong resistance to stains and soil in general
  6. The armrests are original and were refurbished and re-stained
• The floor has been repainted.
• All of the interior Theatre lighting has been re-energized which now provides patrons the opportunity to enjoy the architecturally historic detail of the Theatre
• Fire protection devices have been installed throughout the Theatre

New Addition

As the Paramount Theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was important to set this new addition of the Theatre apart from the historic structure. Careful attention was paid to carrying the warm, rich tones throughout the entire facility. The El Sereno Gold walls blend with the wall colors of the historic building. The new carpeting extends throughout.

Restrooms:

• Women’s and Men’s (each handicap accessible) were added
• Diaper changing stations are included in both the women’s and men’s restrooms

Concessions – This location will be the primary area for serving concession items.

Paramount Theatre Hall – The hall has been designed to host receptions, rehearsals, small performances, meetings and endless opportunities to create a new event or complement an existing event.

1st floor – Through a contribution by Nancy McHugh, the handrails have been added.

Lower Lounge – The terrazzo has been shined and sealed. The rug is the same carpet found throughout the Theatre that has been bound and glued into place.

Women’s Restroom – lower lounge – you may notice that the ceiling in this space has been lowered. It was necessary to lower the ceiling to accommodate the 12′ wide ductwork running under the main floor seating area and above the restroom. The plumbing and fixtures have been upgraded. Diaper changing stations are included in both the women’s and men’s restrooms.

Men’s Restroom – lower lounge – The plumbing and fixtures have been upgraded. The wall tile was removed and the room completely painted. Diaper changing stations are included in both the women’s and men’s restrooms

Facility Features

• Accessible from interstates 80 & 380 and Iowa highways 30 & 151
• Ten minutes from the airport with service from eight carriers
• Ticketmaster affiliate
• All events assigned an experienced event coordinator
• Full service in-house advertising agency
• Group sales department
• On-site catering and food service
• Non-smoking facility
• Easy access floor power

Location:

Paramount Theatre
123 Third Avenue SE 
Cedar Rapids, IA. 52401