The Historic Austin Theater That’s An Absolute Must Visit

The nostalgic days of glamorous movie stars, lively vaudeville entertainment, and tear-jerking classics may seem a thing of the past, but in Austin you can find easily them in the heart of downtown. Welcome to the Paramount Theatre, a vibrant movie house with a rich history. You'll fall in love with the ornate curtain, fascinating stories, and endearing entertainment. This historic Austin theatre is an absolute must visit.

As you walk toward the capitol on South Congress, something from worlds gone by may catch your eye.

The Paramount Theatre has stood the test of time.

Beginning as a vaudeville theatre in 1915, The Paramount is one of the few buildings left of its kind. You won't find this distinctive architecture anywhere else in Austin.

World famous performers have graced this stage.

Harry Houdini wowed the crowd in 1916, and Katherine Hepburn performed The Philadelphia Story in 1941.

Some of your favorite movies have premiered here, too.

Bat Man (1966) played at the Paramount before it hit theaters worldwide. Even modern films like 21 Jump Street and I Love You, Man have premiered at this jaw-dropping venue.

These photos are a blast from the past.

The theatre began its days as The Majestic, a vaudeville style theatre that showcased comedic troupes and lively entertainment. It was converted into a silent movie house in the 1920s, complete with a live organist playing the score.

In the 1930s, Paramount Pictures bought The Majestic and began showing only their films. This grand theatre fell into hard times in the late '60s and mostly showed B level movies to small crowds.

The theatre returned to its former glory in 1973.

The Paramount Theatre was saved from the chopping block thanks to John Bernardoni, Charles Eckerman and Stephen Scott. The original, heavy fire curtain was discovered amongst the rafters and still awes audiences today. The dark, dry atmosphere kept this historical artifact in perfect condition for 50 years.

Today, The Paramount is the focal point of Austin's largest festivals.

You'll see crowds flocking toward the theatre during SXSW and the Austin Film Festival. The Moontower Comedy Festival has been tickling funny bones here since 2012.

The Summer Classic Film Series has been going strong for over 40 years.

Sit back in the comfy seats and watch the world's best movies as they were intended. Every Summer, Austinites can escape from the heat and soak up classic films like Casablanca, Bonnie and Clyde, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

This little slice of history sits right in the heart of downtown.

If you haven't taken in a show or a movie at the Paramount yet, now is the time. The Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Ave. For more information about schedules and ticket prices, visit austintheatre.org

What's the best thing you've seen at the Paramount Theatre?