ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
From: EMSIII, May 2005
This Friday, May 20th marks the closing of the San Francisco Paramount Theatre, which was opened on
November 17th, 1921.
Forty years ago one of the greatest of rooms and Unit Orchestras was silenced.
I tried to promote the idea of having the theatre used as the symphony hall for the orchestra,
as they were sharing the Opera House at the time. No one had the interest or the vision to
consider the idea and the building came down.
The auditorium was shaped somewhat like the New York Paramount, being very tall and not too wide.
The style 285 of thirty-three ranks was housed in six expressive chambers, the extending from about 15 ft.
from the floor up to the Echo, which began 71 ft. up to the roof at 83 ft.
The chambers were only ten feet deep and the sound was clear up to the top of the balcony.
The 32’ Diaphones began on top of the Foundation chamber and stood straight up to the eighth floor.
All of the grillwork was open, including that bridging one side of the proscenium to the other.
The organ had not been turned on for over twenty years and the console was floored over.
Getting the organ playing is another tale, involving many wonderful and dedicated people.
Tom Hazleton was appointed staff organist and played his first major theatre organ concert in 1961.
The talented nineteen year old was so nervous for the first three numbers, you could see his
pant leg shaking and the ninety-seven shutter blades were rattling away.
He calmed down and played magnificently.
Earl W. Long, the dear Managing Director for the Paramount did the announcing from the stage.
He was from the Boston area and was a manager in 1917.
The local of his birth became very clear when he told the audience the next piece would
feature the Quintanarder and the lovely Christoglitt.