Paramount Theatre
A historic 2,807-seat performing-arts and entertainment venue in downtown Seattle, Washington.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Paramount Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue and former movie palace at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle, Washington. The building opened on March 1, 1928, as the Seattle Theatre, with approximately 3,000 seats. It was developed during the period when Hollywood studios were building elaborate movie palaces across the United States to distribute feature films and provide an immersive setting for vaudeville and other live entertainment. Paramount Pictures backed the Seattle project with an investment reported at nearly $3 million, and the design was produced by the Chicago architectural firm Rapp & Rapp, with Seattle architect B. Marcus Priteca responsible for adjacent apartments and office spaces. The venue was initially designed primarily for motion pictures, with vaudeville as an important secondary use. Its early history therefore reflects the transition from silent cinema and live variety performance to sound films and modern theatrical exhibition. The building was renamed the Paramount Theatre in 1930 and Paramount Northwest in 1971. After periods of changing ownership and use, it was acquired in 1993 by Ida Cole, a former Microsoft executive. The theatre closed for restoration and repairs in May 1994 and reopened on March 17, 1995, again under the Paramount name. Paramount is now owned and operated by Seattle Theatre Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that also operates Seattle's Moore Theatre and Neptune Theatre. Its program is substantially broader than the film-centered schedule for which the building was created. Modern presentations include touring Broadway musicals, concerts, dance, comedy, family programming, jazz, silent-film screenings and other special events. The theatre is among the busiest major venues in the Pacific Northwest and serves both local audiences and touring productions. A defining architectural and operational feature is its convertible floor system, identified as the first such system installed in a United States venue. The arrangement allows the main floor to be converted from a seated theatre configuration into a ballroom or standing-room concert floor, while the balcony remains seated. The venue can accommodate approximately 2,807 seated patrons and up to about 3,000 people for selected general-admission concert configurations. The building also retains an original Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ, a four-manual, 21-rank Publix 1 instrument and one of only a small number of surviving original organs of that type. The organ is maintained with volunteer support from the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society and has been used for silent-film accompaniment. The Paramount has also been an important performance and recording location. Artists associated with appearances at the theatre include Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band, Legion of Mary and Nirvana. A 1972 Black Oak Arkansas concert recorded at the venue contributed tracks to the band's 1973 live album Raunch 'N' Roll Live. Nirvana's October 31, 1991 performance was filmed in 16 mm and later issued as Live at the Paramount, making it one of the band's best-known professionally documented shows. The theatre has additionally hosted televised auditions for the sixth season of America's Got Talent. The building entered the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1974, and is also designated a City of Seattle landmark. Its exterior identity includes a prominent illuminated Paramount sign. The original 1940s sign used nearly 2,000 incandescent bulbs, later replaced by fluorescent lamps; a replica installed in the modern era uses LED lighting. Today, the Paramount combines historic preservation, flexible event infrastructure and a broad commercial and nonprofit entertainment program under Seattle Theatre Group's management.
History
Paramount Theatre was created during the 1920s expansion of the American movie-palace business. Before sound films became dominant, vaudeville and silent movies were major forms of mass entertainment, and Seattle had dozens of cinemas, with many of the most prominent concentrated along Second Avenue. Paramount Pictures pursued a national strategy of building or commissioning grand theatres in major cities so that its films could be exhibited in settings closely associated with the studio's brand. The Seattle project was authorized in late 1926 or early 1927 and was led on the company side by Paramount president Adolph Zukor. Paramount Pictures invested nearly $3 million in the project. Rapp & Rapp, a Chicago architectural firm known for elaborate movie-palace designs, designed the theatre building. Seattle architect B. Marcus Priteca designed the connected apartments and office suites. The venue opened on March 1, 1928, as the Seattle Theatre, with seating for roughly 3,000 people. It was built chiefly for film exhibition but also accommodated vaudeville and other live acts. Its opening came at a turning point in entertainment history: the first commercially important sound films were emerging, while silent-film presentation and stage variety remained significant attractions. The building was renamed the Paramount Theatre in 1930. In 1971, it adopted the name Paramount Northwest. By that time, the historic movie-palace model was under pressure from television, suburban cinemas and changing urban entertainment patterns. The theatre nevertheless retained distinctive technical and architectural assets, including a convertible floor system and an original Wurlitzer theatre organ. The convertible floor could change the main auditorium from a conventional seated theatre into a ballroom or standing-room concert arrangement, allowing the building to serve different audience and event formats. The Paramount was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1974, and also received City of Seattle landmark status. These recognitions reflected its architectural importance and its place in the history of Seattle entertainment. The venue continued to host film and live events, including notable music performances. Jerry Garcia appeared there nine times, including performances with the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band and Legion of Mary. Black Oak Arkansas recorded a December 2, 1972 concert at the theatre, with four resulting tracks appearing on the group's 1973 album Raunch 'N' Roll Live. Nirvana's October 31, 1991 show was recorded on 16 mm film and later released in connection with Live at the Paramount. In 1993, Ida Cole, a former Microsoft vice-president, purchased the theatre. It closed for repairs and restoration in May 1994 and reopened on March 17, 1995. The reopening helped establish the current phase of the venue's history, in which preservation of the historic building is combined with a diversified events business. Seattle Theatre Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing-arts organization, owns and operates the Paramount and also manages the Moore Theatre and Neptune Theatre. Under Seattle Theatre Group, the Paramount functions as a major regional presenting venue rather than primarily as a cinema. Its schedule includes touring Broadway musicals, concerts, dance, comedy, family engagements, jazz and silent-film programs. The theatre's capacity is approximately 2,807 in its standard seated arrangement and can reach roughly 3,000 for certain general-admission concerts because the main floor can be cleared while the balcony remains seated. The Wurlitzer organ continues to support silent-film and organ programming, with maintenance assistance from volunteers associated with the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society. The theatre's public identity is reinforced by its large illuminated Paramount sign. The original 1940s sign used about 1,970 incandescent bulbs and was later converted to fluorescent lighting. A subsequent replica retained the historic appearance while using LED illumination. The Paramount has also been used for televised auditions for the sixth season of America's Got Talent. It remains one of the Pacific Northwest's busiest historic theatres and a prominent Seattle destination for touring entertainment.
- 1995
Reopens after repairs
[1]After closing in May 1994, the venue reopened on March 17, 1995, as the Paramount.
- 1993
Acquired by Ida Cole
[1]Ida Cole, a former Microsoft vice-president, purchased the theatre.
- 1974
Added to the National Register of Historic Places
[1]The theatre received National Register recognition on October 9, 1974, in addition to its City of Seattle landmark designation.
- 1971
Renamed Paramount Northwest
[1]The theatre changed its public name to Paramount Northwest.
- 1930
The venue adopts the Paramount name
[1]The Seattle Theatre was renamed the Paramount Theatre.
- 1928
Seattle Theatre opens
[1]The venue opened on March 1 as the Seattle Theatre, with approximately 3,000 seats.
- 1926
Paramount Pictures advances a Seattle movie-palace project
[1]Paramount Pictures decided during the late 1920s movie-palace expansion to develop a major theatre in Seattle.
Products and positioning
A landmark Seattle entertainment venue combining historic movie-palace architecture with a broad contemporary program of concerts, touring theatre, comedy, dance, family events and film-related programming.
Music · 1928
Live concert presentations
The Paramount presents touring and local music acts in both seated theatre and general-admission concert formats. Its convertible floor enables the main auditorium to shift from fixed seating to standing-room use, while the balcony can remain seated. The venue's history includes appearances by the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, the Jerry Garcia Band, Legion of Mary, Nirvana and Black Oak Arkansas.
Performing arts
Broadway and musical theatre
As part of its modern presenting program, the Paramount hosts touring Broadway musicals and other large-scale theatrical productions. These events use the building's substantial seating capacity and traditional proscenium-theatre configuration, making the venue a major Seattle stop for nationally touring stage productions.
Film and heritage programming · 1928
Silent-film and organ presentations
The theatre continues to connect with its silent-cinema heritage through silent-film screenings and organ accompaniment. Its original four-manual, 21-rank Publix 1 Wurlitzer is one of only a small number of surviving original organs of that style and is maintained with volunteer assistance from the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society.
Live entertainment
Comedy, dance, jazz and family events
The Paramount's schedule extends beyond music and theatre to include comedy, dance, jazz, family engagements and special events. This varied programming allows the historic venue to serve multiple audience segments throughout the year rather than operate solely as a cinema or concert hall.
Brand decisions
1994
Closure for repairs and restorationStrategyBackground
After its acquisition, the historic building required repair work before returning to regular public operation.
Action taken
The theatre closed in May 1994 for repairs.
Aftermath
It reopened on March 17, 1995, and continued as a multipurpose entertainment venue.
1993
Private acquisition by Ida ColeM&ABackground
The historic theatre changed ownership during a period when major urban movie palaces were being repositioned for broader live entertainment use.
Action taken
Ida Cole purchased the Paramount Theatre.
Aftermath
The venue closed for repairs in 1994 and reopened in 1995, beginning a renewed phase of operation under the Paramount name.
Recent events
Paramount Theatre releases fall production schedule[3]
Reported:
Paramount Theatre released its fall season schedule, listing performances scheduled from September through December.
Sources3 sources
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