Brooklyn Paramount Theater, Movie palace and performing arts center in Downtown Brooklyn, United States
The Brooklyn Paramount Theater is a movie palace and performing arts venue in downtown Brooklyn with a grand auditorium restored to showcase burgundy velvet seating, ornate chandeliers, and a hand-painted ceiling above the stage. The space retains a historic pipe organ that still operates during performances and events.
The building opened in 1928 as a pioneering sound-film theater and became an early example of specialized cinema technology. After operating under various owners, Long Island University acquired the building in the mid-20th century, eventually transforming it into a performing arts venue.
The space played a central role in the development of rock and roll music, with performances that shaped popular culture. Today it continues to host live entertainment and cultural events that reflect its ongoing importance to the community.
The venue operates a cashless payment system and enforces restrictions on bag size to streamline entry, so visitors should plan accordingly with a payment method. Nearby subway stations make it easy to reach from different parts of the city.
The theater houses an original Wurlitzer pipe organ with hundreds of pipes that continues to sound during performances, adding a distinctive acoustic quality to events. This instrument survived the decades when the building functioned as a university gymnasium.
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