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waiting for. Harry C. Stowell, resident manager of the theatre noted "every detail of opening day arrangements had been completed... after weeks of preparation." In conjunction with the opening, city merchants were having special sale days on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
At 12 noon, a parade led by Police chief Bennett followed a delegation of police, city officials, the American Legion Band, a few floats, and 62 automobiles marched from the arm theatre. The parade then disbanded, except for the band which provided a concert.
During the parade, Vincent Lawder, manager of the stratton Theatre, flew over in an airplane dropping circulars on the crowd. "We are up in the air over the Paramount," read the headline, followed in large type by the ominous warning to "watch for the big fight." On further reading, however, this proved to be only a reminder that the State would be showing movies of the Schmeling-Sharkey fight.
Overall dimensions were an 85 foot frontage on South Street and a depth of 169 feet. The balcony is 85 feet wide and 84 feet, deep. The ceiling is 50 feet at the highest point. Flanking the lobby
th ticket booth in the center were two stores 26 by 25 feet. Architectural style of the facade was described as "Moorish." The auditorium contained a total of 1502 seats: 1,178 in the orchestra and 324 in the balcony. The stage itself was quite shallow as the theatre was planned for "sound pictures" and the "still more fascinating development, television." (Less than a month before the Paramount opened, a TV demonstration was given by General Electric at RKO's Proctor Theatre in Schenectady.)
In regards to building safety, "complete fire-proofing was insisted upon." Besides front and rear exits, each side has four exits. A full house could "be emptied... in a few minutes." All exits "are of a generous width and amply lightened." The projection booth was "the last word in substantial fireproof safety enclosures." Built of steel and reinforced concrete, it also contained a fireproof film safe. In addition to the "latest type Deluxe Improved Simplex motion picture projectors," sound equipment by Western Electric who were "pioneers in the technical development of sound pictures," the booth also contained a dissolving projector and a Brenkert F7. This was a color projection device by which "elaborate lighting effects could be achieved, virtually transforming the atmosphere" of the theatre. Over $75,000 was spent on technical equipment alone.
An air conditioning plant costing over $25,000 was designed to maintain a constant temperature of 72 degrees. Ma in craponents were "two immense special built fans." As air entered the system, it was "washed" to remove dirt, cooled or heated to the proper temperature, and adjusted to the "ideal humidity." It was then discharged into the theatre at various points in the main ceiling