August 20,1929, was the grand opening of the glorious and opulent Paramount Theatre in Anderson Indiana. It was the era of dancing to big bands, hearing renowned entertainers, and watching great films. It was the time of great performers such as Louie Armstrong, Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The historic Paramount is one of twelve Eberson designed atmospheric theatres left in the United States and Canada. During the past 61 years of history, it has shown not only the greatest films but also featured on its stage some of the greatest entertainers.

The Grande Page Theatre Pipe Organ was shipped from Lima, Ohio, to the Paramount Theatre on January 3, 1929. Because the Paramount Grande Page was installed well after the advent of the talkies, it was not required to provide constant accompaniment to the films but was featured at premieres, during intermission, and for sing-a-longs.

Several ownership changes occurred in the 60s, 70s, and 80s and after the Paramount Theatre closed in 1985 the Page organ sustained major water damage and became barely playable. After two more ownership changes the theatre closed again in 1987; by this time the Page organ would not play at all. For the next two years until 1989 the building was completely shuttered and the extreme cold and heat of the seasons along with monumental roof leaks nearly destroyed the Page organ.

In 1989, after the theatre had set empty for nearly five years, a group of concerned community and business leaders formed the Paramount Heritage Foundation, Inc. to save the Paramount from the wrecking ball and restore it to its 1929 brilliance. The Foundation commissioned the nationally recognized restoration and painting firm of Conrad Schmidt Studios of New Berlin, Wisconsin, to recreate the beautiful polychromatic colors which originally graced the Theatre. No expense was spared to restore the Paramount to its past grandeur. Today the beautifully restored Paramount Theatre is a focal point for the arts. The Paramount is not only a nucleus for the arts but also a community gathering place for a diversity of special events.

You no longer have to imagine; you now can enjoy the reality of sitting under an ethereal rose-blue sky, awash with the twilight of a thousand twinkling stars. All around you emerging from the lengthening shadows are the terra cotta roof tiles and alabaster balconies of a Moorish courtyard. As the sun retreats, the glowing night sky deepens into a violet-cobalt blue, and the entire theatre is gloriously transported to a magical, balmy midsummer evening in sixteenth century Spain.

Visit the web page for the Paramount Theatre, Anderson, Indiana

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