Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, Oregon

Text courtesy of the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Parks Service. Minor transcription errors or changes in formatting may have occurred; please see the Nomination Form PDF for official text. Some information may have become outdated since the property was nominated for the Register.

The Paramount Theatre remains one of the few grand 1920s vaudeville/movie palaces in substantially original condition, with most of the original furnishings intact, and without major alterations. Designed by the nation?s foremost firm of theatre architects of the 1920s, Rapp & Rapp of Chicago and New York, the theatre officially opened its doors on March 8, 1928. North Italian Rococo Revival in style, the theatre is considerated to be one of George L. Rapp?s best works. Supervising architects were the Portland firm of De Young & Rolad.

The Rapp brothers designed 167 theatres, many occupying central positions in major cities. Their first experience in the field of theatre architecture came in 1906 with the Central (Park) Theatre in Chicago. They designed many other theatres in Chicago and then expanded their efforts to theatres in other cities, such as New York and St. Louis. Rapp and Rapp did not limit their practice to theatre design. After C, W. Rapp?s death in 1926, George L. Rapp continued the office alone. One of his outstanding designs is the National Press Club in Washington, DC. He also served as consulting architect for New York?s Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center prior to his retirement in 1938.

The Paramount Theatre is typical of the grandiose movie-palaces designed by Rapp & Rapp. Luxerious features abound. A back stage elevator serviced five tiers of dressing rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting, tile showers, telephones, and amplifiers from the stage to keep the actors in touch with the show. For lady patrons there was a cosmetic room equipped with French dressing tables, mirrors, and maids and hairdressers in attendance. For the men there were clubrooms with fireplaces, telephones, radios, phonographs, and servants in attendance.

The opening night featured the Portland Grand Orchestra playing selections from Faust, a short novelty film with accompaniment, a Paramount newsreel, an organ solo, a live stage show from the Paramount Theatre in New York and the first-run comedy "Feel My Pulse." Admission was 60 cents.

For a while, the Portland Publix theatre, as it was originally named, was the bright spot on Broadway, offering New York stage shows and first-run Paramount films and news reels. In 1930, the Portland Publix became the Paramount, and continued to offer only first-run Paramount films until it became one of many theatres controlled by Portland theatre baron J. J. Parker. By 1932, his theatres had exclusive first choice of the four major producing organizations?MGM, United Artists, Fox, and Paramount.

The Theatre weathered the 1930's depression by employing a wide variety of sales gimmicks. During World War II, war bonds were sold at special shows held in the theatre. Some of the top names in the performing arts gave concerts there. Performers and entertainers such as Danny Kaye, Victor Borge, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Yehudi Menhuin, the San Carlos Opera Company and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir delighted those in attendance.

In 1965, the Paramount Theatre made national headlines by suing Elizabeth Taylor for conduct off-screen in the filming of Cleopatra. The theatre contended that her activities with Richard Burton created bad publicity for the film and were the cause for the low box office sales. Elizabeth Taylor won the lawsuit.

The theatre again was in the news in 1971 when John Haviland, owner of the Park Haviland Hotel, held option to acquire the entire block. His plans called for the demolition of the stage and auditorium and construction of a parking garage. Public outcry against this move was large but Haviland did purchase the theatre and an adjoining hotel. He leased the theatre to an organization that specialized in rock concerts. Problems arose and damage resulted to the interior. This tenant lost his lease.

Paramount Northwest, a group which also leases the Seattle Paramount Theatre, presently leases the building. They specialize in live entertainment, primarily rock music, but have cleaned the building and are maintaining it. Paintings, furniture, and sculpture are stored in the basement to prevent damage. John Haviland still owns the building and its future is uncertain. Among other possibilities, he is considering removal of the auditorium seats and replacing them with cabaret-style tables, and construction of penthouse apartments atop the roof.