For ever and a day – years and years – as long as I have known her (and that is a long time) -Friend BB has raved about the Paramount Theatre in downtown Abilene.  Some days when Friend BB’s was a little girl, her father would take her into the city to see a movie at the Paramount Theatre.  Only once in her life did Friend BB’s mother take her to a movie.  On that day she told Friend BB and her friends that she was taking the girls “to see the greatest movie ever made”.  She took them to see Gone With the Wind, and yes – it was at the Paramount.  This was the first time Friend BB ever saw Gone With the Wind, and it instilled in her a deep affection for the movie.  For years, she had an extensive Gone With the Wind memorabilia collection.  Seems that it was also in the balcony of this grand movie house that she fell in love with Sherman.  They would sit in the balcony so that they could see the stars on the ceiling.  (I’m just telling you what I was told, but she did say going to the Paramount was not like going to the drive-in. Okay, I believe her.)

Needless to say, Friend BB was beyond excited when the Paramount Theatre was restored in 1984.  In recent years, she has taken the opportunity to return to the Paramount and enjoy vintage movies.  FYI:  Friend BB has a plethora of knowledge of old movies.  It is truly amazing.

(The damage to the marquee probably happened during a recent severe hail storm.)

Be still my heart!  When we passed by the Paramount Theater I insisted we stop.  To be honest, I insisted we drive around the block so I could get out of the car and take a picture of the Paramount Theatre.  I had to see it.

Oh, my – oh, my.  I love the blue and white tiles on the ticket booth.

I saw someone exit the theatre.  That gave me the courage to see if I could see first-hand what Friend BB had been raving about all these many years.  i went inside, and a kind lady in the office said I was welcome to look around although things were a little messy because they were taking down the set from one show and preparing for a different show.

When the Paramount was completed in 1930, it was the most magnificent structure between Fort Worth and El Paso.  Attending movies was the primary form of entertainment during the 1930’s, and attending a movie at this glorious movie palace was a major social event.  In the late 1970’s a group of concerned citizens banded together to save the Paramount from being demolished.  Then in 1984, and anonymous benefactor brought the Paramount and renovated and restored it to its former glory, and it is glorious!

Films continue to be shown at the Paramount, but during the renovation, the stage was adapted so that concerts, plays, operas, and other shows can be seen at the Paramount.

Not only is the Paramount an Abilene Historic Landmark, it is also registered on the National Registry of Historic Places.  As a result of the extensive restoration, the Paramount won the prestigiouss Texas Award for Historic Preservation from the Texas Historical Society.  I can understand why.

I wonder if the “cry room” was behind the curtains.  Some of you are too young to remember “cry rooms”, but back in the day, people took their babies to the movies. If the baby became fussy, there was a “cry room” provided.

The ceiling and the light fixtures are beyond gorgeous.

Be still my heart!  I understand how Friend BB could fall in love under these stars, and I see why Friend BB raves.

Blessings to you and yours,

Now I want to go to a movie at the Paramount Theatre.