Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre opened on September 14, 1929 as Austin’s first run movie theatre with a great parade. Telegrams were sent out throughout the town to announce the opening. The Paramount was built as an atmospheric theatre – which means that when you enter you are transported to a different time and place. Imagine a quaint Spanish Villa under the stars of a twilight blue sky. Imagine reds, burnt oranges, maroons, deep greens. This is the only one of four in the state of Minnesota and the only one outside of the Twin Cities to be used as originally intended.

In 1929, movie tickets were 10 cents for children and 50 cents for adults. Originally there were 914 seats, current seating is 622. During restoration, we decided to give audience members a little more room on the main floor. People back then were quite a bit smaller. Going to the movies was the thing to do and the balcony was the place to sit.