Information
Landmark: Paramount Arts CenterCity: Ashland
Country: USA Kentucky
Continent: North America
Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, USA Kentucky, North America
Overview
In Ashland, Kentucky, the Paramount Arts Center has stood for nearly a hundred years, hosting plays, concerts, and countless evenings under its glowing marquee.The Paramount Theatre opened its doors in 1931, part of a nationwide chain built to dazzle audiences with first-run films in lavish halls trimmed with velvet and gold.Today, it’s a thriving hub for live shows and art, where the creak of old wooden floors meets the energy of modern performances.Built in the late Art Deco and Spanish Revival era, the theater boasts ornate plasterwork, intricate interior details, and a grand marquee that still gleams under the streetlights.The Rapp & Rapp firm, famous for its grand movie palaces, designed the building to dazzle guests and wrap them in a sense of luxury, from the glittering chandeliers to the plush velvet seats.Over the years, it hosted Saturday matinees, lively vaudeville acts, and neighbors gathering to talk under the warm glow of the marquee lights.By the 1970s, the building was crumbling-paint peeling, windows rattling in the wind-but neighbors rallied to restore it, turning the place into a thriving regional arts center.The main auditorium holds about 1,500 people, blending the theater’s old-world elegance-faded gold trim and all-with the upgrades needed for today’s performances.They renovated the stage and backstage so they can handle live theater, concerts, dance shows, and local productions, right down to fresh paint and brighter lights.The center’s extra spaces-like a bright rehearsal room, airy galleries, and quiet meeting areas-make it easy to host all kinds of events.The Paramount Arts Center buzzes with life, staging everything from Broadway tours and rock concerts to hometown plays, graceful dance recitals, and lively educational workshops.It’s the region’s go-to spot for arts education, where you might catch a lively workshop, a masterclass in a sunlit studio, or an outreach visit to a local school.The center works with local arts groups, musicians, and performers to bring both seasoned pros and neighborhood talent to the stage, from polished symphonies to lively street drumming.Restoration work saved much of the original plaster, the faded murals, and the ornate lobby, keeping the building’s historic character intact.One of the last historic movie palaces in eastern Kentucky, it still rises with the ornate curves and gilded trim of early 20th-century design, a living reminder of the region’s love for film and its commitment to preserving culture.Blending historic significance with lively contemporary arts, it draws visitors from afar and still feels like home to locals, much like the scent of coffee drifting from a familiar café.The moment guests step into the lobby, they’re met with soaring ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and intricate period details that carry the glittering spirit of the 1930s.From big-name touring acts to small local plays, the shows bring a lively mix of entertainment to the region.Through tours and hands-on programs, visitors can step inside the theater’s past-touching carved wood panels, admiring its graceful arches-and discover how it’s shaped Ashland’s cultural life.The Paramount Arts Center stands as a proud reminder of Ashland’s dedication to its arts and heritage, its old marquee glowing warmly against the evening sky.It preserves an architectural gem and draws the community in with live performances and hands-on learning, blending history with the energy of today’s culture-and in doing so, it stands among northeastern Kentucky’s most vital arts institutions.
