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motion pictures and incidental vaudeville," met these conditions, the designers argued.
Alderman Virgil C. Harding, a building contractor, denounced waiving the provision of the building code:"You might just as well tear (the code) up if you are not going to have these people abide by it. It's wrong to set aside a provision of that sort just (so) these people will be saved some money. That clause was put in there for the protection of the public and it ought not to be waived."
Council President H.B. Young disagreed, noting "the provision calling for asbestos curtains in theatres was intended for structures which had dressing rooms etc. backstage and had become antiquated." Referring to the letter from the Underwriters, Mr. Young said, "it would be unfair to demand expenditure of extra thousands by the theatre company when insurance experts hold it to be unnecessary."
with the exception of Alderman Harding, the Council voted to over-rule commissioner Korschen and to grant Netco the building permit. Netco was given the right to waive the asbestos curtain provision of the code, providing they complied with the recommendations of the Underwriters.
On August 28, the Elian Nielson Construction Company of Middletown was selected as general contra contract was reportedly for $200,000, which did not include furnishings and other equipment. Total cost was estimated to be about $350,000. Construction of the building began September 2, 1929. It was predicted the theatre would be completed in about seven months. Supervisor of Construction for Paramount-Publix Corporation was Victor Molander, who spent a total of nine months in Middletown before, during, and after the theatre's construction.
In keeping with Paramount's policy, labor and material was to come from local firms whenever possible. Local firms included J. H. Cumminsky, electrical work; North & Ludlum, heating and plumbing; McCormack & Co., roofing, sheet metalwork, steel decking, ventilating system and insulation; H. D. Gould & Co., masonry material; Rowley Lumber Co., Lumber, and masonry materials; and Northrop Bros. for sand, gravel and stone.
Other contractors and suppliers included the organ by Wurlitzer, seating by Heywood-Wakefield Co., sound equipment by Western Electric, interior decorations by New Haven Studios, and plastering and decorating by Architectural Decorating Co. of Chicago.
Construction proceeded uneventually until a strike by 25 union workers on Friday, December 13, threatened to disrupt progress, but the dispute was quickly settled and they returned to work on Monday.