paramount theater

I went as a child to see movies- than it was closed, renovated with red velvet chairs for a concert. What's not to love. You can valet park or park along the side street of it.

For nearly 100 years now, there has been a Springfield theater in the spot now occupied by The Paramount (formerly The Hippodrome.) It was originally called The Paramount when it opened in the 1920s, and its original name has been restored. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it was known as The Hippodrome, it became known as the center of New England's rave scene. I remember people driving from NYC and Vermont to attend raves at the Hippodrome. It was certainly a scene!In 2009, a local organization bought the theater and started re-doing it. (As of the time I'm writing it's still in the process of being renovated.) It looked great inside before; however, honestly, I cannot even imagine how beautiful it will look after several million in renovations are put into it.During the 1920s, this theater was built into part of the old Massasoit Hotel (which is no longer operational, but the architecture is still there.) It was called the Paramount, and for the first 40 years it morphed between showing movies and vaudeville performances. In the 60s-00s, it showed rock and R&B acts in addition to movies, boxing, wrestling, and comedy. Famous performances at the Paramount have included Eric Burden and the Animals, Alice Cooper, and recently, (when it was the Hippodrome,) 50 Cent.For awhile The Paramount was known as the Julia Sanderson Theater, honoring a Springfield native who became a star in Hollywood and on Broadway. During that time, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Many Springfielders are excited to see what the renovated Paramount will look like!! I know I am!