History of the Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre has long been a Middletown landmark. Its story spans its 1930 opening, restoration, and renewed role as a performing arts center, reflecting shifts in film, live performance, and preservation.
On June 10, 1930, the Times-Herald Record published a special Paramount edition about the Paramount Publix Corporation and its new theatre. The next day, Mayor Clarence Van Fleet lit the theatre’s large electric sign.
- Opened: June 12, 1930
- Architects: C.W. Rapp and George L. Rapp
- State & National Register of Historic Places: 2002
Opening Day Celebration
Opening day began with a noon parade. Doors opened at 6 p.m. for the first of two all-film shows.
The program included:
- An on-screen welcome by Buddy Rogers, star of Wings.
- A musical selection by the Paramount Symphony Orchestra.
- Paramount News, a short about Middletown and notable residents.
- The feature film The Big Pond, with Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert.
Construction and Early Management
Neilson Construction Company built the theatre, with Middletown firms as subcontractors. Work began in October 1929.
The auditorium was designed specifically for talking pictures and included only a shallow stage. Its cooling system was designed to keep the theatre at seventy-two degrees by passing air over large ice cakes, cooling the space while adding humidity.
Harry Stowell, formerly musical director and supervisor at Poughkeepsie’s Bardavon and Stratford theatres, became the first manager. He led a staff of twenty, including ushers, doormen, porters, pages, maids, and cashiers.
Ownership Changes and Closure
Paramount and successor ABC managed the theatre until March 30, 1973, when it was sold to Hallmark Releasing Corporation. After several operators, it closed in 1978.
In February 1979, Middletown acquired the theatre for back taxes. In January 1981, the city sold it to the Arts Council of Orange County, which restored and reopened it in September 1985.
Restoration and Theatre Improvements
The restoration enlarged the stage with a front apron and added a pavilion for dressing rooms and wing space.
The New York Theatre Organ Society installed a Wurlitzer from Montclair’s Clairidge Theatre. Middletown’s original Wurlitzer console later became part of the Orpheum Theatre organ in Phoenix.
City Management and Renewed Operations
When the Orange County Arts Council could no longer operate the theatre, Middletown acquired it through the Industrial Development Agency under Mayor Joseph DeStefano. From 1996 to 2010, the city’s Cultural and Civic Affairs Department managed it.
On November 1, 2010, Nelson Page and Majestic-Star Entertainment Corporation became managing operators. Renovations followed, including the return of 35mm projection equipment.
Digital Projection and Expanded Programming
In 2012, an Orange County Industrial Development Agency grant funded digital projection upgrades, bringing first-run movies back to the Paramount.
Since 2013, Middletown’s Economic and Development Department has operated the theatre, bringing back live programming, including:
- Comedy shows
- Educational lectures
- Major music acts
- Community celebrations
Continuing Role in the Community
Today, the Paramount Theatre shows first-run and limited-release films and presents national and local live entertainment, reinforcing its role as a cultural destination in downtown Middletown and Orange County.