Beast Blog

Always the Best Show In Town

I love going to see movies at the Paramount- and not only for the chance to see a Hollywood classic on the big screen, but because the whole place is a living museum of Art Deco. So, I don't know what took me so long to take the $1, Saturday morning theatre tour that they give the first and third weekend of every month.

My tour group of 35 people (mostly age 50 and over) was led by the encyclopaedic Ken Walters, with the occasional assistance of the also knowledgeable Art Hazelton. Starting at the 21st St. box office, we followed our guides to the main entryway, up to the second and third floor lobbies, into the theatre for a recorded demonstration of Jim Riggs on the Mighty Wurlitzer, and back down to the grand lounge in the basement. We were introduced to the "seat enunciator" (how ushers used to know which of the 3000 seats were available) and amazed with dozens of facts about the building. Did you know that architect Timothy L. Pflueger intended the main entryway to be reminiscent of a redwood forest? That 80% of the interior surfaces are from the original 1930-31 era? That in 1972-73 the Oakland Symphony bought and refurbished the building as their new venue? That there is a sofa in the basement lounge which hasn't been re-upholstered since the theatre opened more than seventy years ago?

Although I enjoyed the tour - it's definitely worth the $1 - I was disappointed that we were only taken through the public areas. A "behind the scenes" tour would be my preference for next time, if such a thing is ever offered. Also, while the guides' knowledge is impressive, a full 2 hour tour is a little long.

For what it's worth, I think I still prefer to soak up the Deco glow on movie nights at the Paramount - when I can sip a cocktail in the lounge, powder my nose in the muraled and mirrored ladies restroom, and gaze up at the golden gods and goddesses of the theatre with three thousand other happy customers. Now that's historic.

Their next show is "Top Hat," playing on November 28th.