Post by Natalie on Mar 26, 2005 8:02:04 GMT -5
I'm just now going through emails and things and got this in my Google Alert for Andrew...
www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=3126046&nav=0s3dXuum
There is also a video here:
207.207.6.50/rmfiles05/paramount.ram
Check it out, Andrew looks good.
For those of us that got a chance to see the theater, it was really beautiful. I hope they can keep it open. The only complaint I have is that the chairs were a little uncomfortable because my knees touched the chair in front of me.
www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=3126046&nav=0s3dXuum
There is also a video here:
207.207.6.50/rmfiles05/paramount.ram
Check it out, Andrew looks good.
03/25/05 - 12:40 pm Video, Link Available
Paramount Theater May Shut Down
The Paramount Theater turns 90 years old this year, but it may have to close its doors. Donations have been dropping for years, and the only way to save the theater is if you help out.
"You're seeing this from the same angle that Katherine Hepburn saw it from when she played here in 1947, or Helen Hays, or Orson Wells, Harry Houdini in 1916," Ken Stein, executive director for the Paramount and State theatres, said.
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have graced the stage at the Paramount Theater.
"This theatre is significant historically on a national level," Stein said.
Unfortunately, notoriety doesn't pay the bills.
"I don't think people realize in the last three years, the doors have come close to closing a couple of times," Stein said.
Both the State and Paramount theaters have hit hard times financially even though it's a packed house every time a show comes to town.
"Ticket sales never are intended to cover your costs. We'd have to double the price of our tickets to cover the cost of operating the Paramount Theater, and that's just not in our mission," Stein said.
The trouble started three years ago when the Austin Musical Theater went bankrupt. Shows like Oklahoma stopped coming to the Paramount, and so did the patrons.
"When that happened, 80 percent of our subscribers didn't renew the following season," Stein said.
That amounted to a loss close to $1 million, but this isn't the first time in Paramount's 90-year history that it's had financial problems.
"It was built as a Vaudeville house, and a few years later, Vaudeville died. It then became a downtown movie house, and in the 70s, all the movie houses moved to the suburbs," Stein said.
Hollywood stars helped turn it back into a new theater. Matthew McConaughey and Ron Howard donated a sound system for their premiere of EdTV.
"Because they did that, we've been able to premiere many new movies since," Stein said.
Hollywood directors like Andrew Wilson chose the Paramount exclusively to premiere the Wendell Baker Story during South By Southwest.
"I think it's probably the best place in town to do it and the historic nature of the theater, and the fact that it's downtown and has that great vibe was perfect for our movie," Wilson said.
However, that premiere only made a few hundred dollars for the theater.
"What we need again is that core community's support that comes through our subscription," Stein said.
The theater needs $500,000 to be back in the black. That money will keep the lights on and allow for repairs like the State Theater's marquee.
"Absolutely gorgeous feature on Congress Avenue, and it's half burned out, and I'd love to fix it, but it's $30,000," Stein said.
However, first they're just hoping to make it to their 90th birthday and beyond.
"We may not be around to celebrate 100 if we don't get the community to rally around and support us," Stein said.
In the meantime, the Paramount is trying to attract more customers with a better way to buy tickets, garage parking and reconfiguring their bar, so you don't have to wait in a long line. Plus, their 2006 lineup includes a variety of big names in music and stage.
Paramount Theater May Shut Down
The Paramount Theater turns 90 years old this year, but it may have to close its doors. Donations have been dropping for years, and the only way to save the theater is if you help out.
"You're seeing this from the same angle that Katherine Hepburn saw it from when she played here in 1947, or Helen Hays, or Orson Wells, Harry Houdini in 1916," Ken Stein, executive director for the Paramount and State theatres, said.
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have graced the stage at the Paramount Theater.
"This theatre is significant historically on a national level," Stein said.
Unfortunately, notoriety doesn't pay the bills.
"I don't think people realize in the last three years, the doors have come close to closing a couple of times," Stein said.
Both the State and Paramount theaters have hit hard times financially even though it's a packed house every time a show comes to town.
"Ticket sales never are intended to cover your costs. We'd have to double the price of our tickets to cover the cost of operating the Paramount Theater, and that's just not in our mission," Stein said.
The trouble started three years ago when the Austin Musical Theater went bankrupt. Shows like Oklahoma stopped coming to the Paramount, and so did the patrons.
"When that happened, 80 percent of our subscribers didn't renew the following season," Stein said.
That amounted to a loss close to $1 million, but this isn't the first time in Paramount's 90-year history that it's had financial problems.
"It was built as a Vaudeville house, and a few years later, Vaudeville died. It then became a downtown movie house, and in the 70s, all the movie houses moved to the suburbs," Stein said.
Hollywood stars helped turn it back into a new theater. Matthew McConaughey and Ron Howard donated a sound system for their premiere of EdTV.
"Because they did that, we've been able to premiere many new movies since," Stein said.
Hollywood directors like Andrew Wilson chose the Paramount exclusively to premiere the Wendell Baker Story during South By Southwest.
"I think it's probably the best place in town to do it and the historic nature of the theater, and the fact that it's downtown and has that great vibe was perfect for our movie," Wilson said.
However, that premiere only made a few hundred dollars for the theater.
"What we need again is that core community's support that comes through our subscription," Stein said.
The theater needs $500,000 to be back in the black. That money will keep the lights on and allow for repairs like the State Theater's marquee.
"Absolutely gorgeous feature on Congress Avenue, and it's half burned out, and I'd love to fix it, but it's $30,000," Stein said.
However, first they're just hoping to make it to their 90th birthday and beyond.
"We may not be around to celebrate 100 if we don't get the community to rally around and support us," Stein said.
In the meantime, the Paramount is trying to attract more customers with a better way to buy tickets, garage parking and reconfiguring their bar, so you don't have to wait in a long line. Plus, their 2006 lineup includes a variety of big names in music and stage.
For those of us that got a chance to see the theater, it was really beautiful. I hope they can keep it open. The only complaint I have is that the chairs were a little uncomfortable because my knees touched the chair in front of me.