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Paramount Theatre
Toledo, Ohio
The Rapp office appears to have had little interest in atmospheric theatres, since they produced only two: the Toledo Paramount and the Gateway in Chicago (1930). Yet the Toledo Paramount was designed as an atmospheric theatre at the request of their top client. It was successful enough architecturally, but its lackluster performance failed to gratify the front office. The lease was not renewed in 1948, and the house played out the rest of its short life as an independent. In 1965, after Cinerama had come and gone, it was demolished.
The atmospheric treatment aside, the Paramount was a typical Rapp product The 75-foot lobby led to a crosswise oval rotunda with archways to the orchestra foyer straight ahead, and staircases to the balcony along the sides. Balcony patrons could proceed from the lower landings to adjacent stairways without having to pass through the mezzanine. Vestibules at the ends of the orchestra foyer helped to speed patrons' exit to the street. All theatre designers were concerned with good traffic flow, but the Rapps seemed to achieve it more than most. The Wurlitzer did not enjoy much use. After a 1933 downpour kiboshed the Solo, damaged components were removed and stored. In 1960, music dealer Virg Howard promoted its revival and organized a volunteer crew to carry it out. Howard played the organ during the Cinerama era and recorded it just before removal. In 1985, owner Gary Brookin donated the organ to NorCal ATOS chapter, which has made it the armature of their 33-rank instrument in the Berkeley Community Theatre. Photo courtesy of the Theatre Historical Society of America |
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