Paramount Theatre For the Performing Arts

On October 11, 1915, the Paramount Theatre, then called the Majestic Theatre, opened its doors to the public in what would become a legacy of theatrical service to Austin and its surrounding communities. Built by Ernest Nalle in only eight months for a cost of $150,000, the Paramount was designed by John Eberson of Chicago, who was one of the most respected theatre architects in the United States. Eberson built approximately 1,200 theatres during his career, but today the Paramount is one of less than 25 in existence across the country. Architecturally handsome and acoustically excellent, the Paramount is described by today's architects as Classical Revival (1915) in style and Baroque Revival (1930s glamorization). In the late 1990’s, the Paramount Theatre for the Performing Arts began talks with the State Theatre next door to expand each organizations role in the arts community in Austin. In 2000, the two companies merged to form the Austin Theatre Alliance (ATA). An endeavor that began with two distinct operational and business models combined to become one of Austin's most uniquely productive performing arts organizations that both presents and produces a broad range of drama, comedy, music, dance and spoken-word events, in downtown Austin's most commanding venues.