Paramount Theatre
652
Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia
www.historicplaces.ca
Construction
Date
1899
Other
Name(s)
Edison Theatre
Statement
of Significance
Description
of Historic Place
The
Paramount Theatre is a modest motion picture theatre building
with prominent marquee and neon Paramount signage. Built on the
steep slope of the south side of Columbia Street, the main commercial
street in New Westminster's historic downtown core, it has a two
storey form on the front facade, with three storeys at the rear.
Heritage
Value
The
Paramount Theatre is historically important as one of the oldest
surviving motion picture theatre buildings in B.C. Established
in 1903 by Frank Kerr, the Edison Theatre moved into the western
half of the 1899 Dupont Block in 1910. It was common at this time
to convert existing spaces into theatres rather than construct
new buildings specifically for that use, as there was concern
that the movies would prove to be a passing fad. In 1948 the theatre
was leased to Paramount-Famous Players, who completed interior
and exterior renovations, including a new neon sign with the name
Paramount Theatre. The front facade recalls a period when New
Westminster's downtown was still a regional commercial, retail
and entertainment centre, prior to the arrival of the automobile-oriented
suburban shopping malls. Downtown areas such as Columbia Street
contained all essential services for the expanding population,
with movie houses being an essential cultural element. The Paramount
Theatre was highly significant to the community, as television
was not yet widely available and movies were the main form of
public entertainment. Despite its closure as a movie theatre,
the Paramount continues to be used for entertainment purposes.
 Furthermore,
the Paramount Theatre is significant for its contribution to the
consistent and distinctive built form of Columbia and Front Streets,
which dates from the time when New Westminster was the major centre
of commerce and industry for the booming Fraser Valley area.
Image:
City of New Westminster archives.
Character-Defining
Elements
Key
elements that define the heritage character of the Paramount Theatre
include its:
- location with frontages on both Columbia and Front Streets,
part of a grouping of late Victorian and Edwardian era commercial
buildings in historic downtown New Westminster
- siting on the property lines, with no setbacks
- boxy form, two-storey plus lower level height, flat roof and
cubic massing
- exterior theatre elements on the front facade such as its large
sheet metal marquee, 1948 neon Paramount Theatre sign, central
entry with mahogany doors and chromed hardware, and ticket booth
with aluminum sash and black tile
- exterior elements of the rear facade, including original 1899
elements such as the stucco-covered brick walls and segmental
arched window openings, and later alterations such as the stage-level
doors and the brick clad fly space over the stage
- interior features from the 1948 renovations, such as stepped
balconies and the proscenium arch
Architect
/ Designer
George W. Grant
Source:
Heritage Planning Files, City of New Westminster
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