Paramount Theatre
The Paramount opened on Jan. 25th 1930 as a 'Movie Palace' and vaudeville house. Many experienced their first date, first kiss, marriage proposals, and several weddings took place there. The last show was in 1976 and the last movie shown was 'Gone With the Wind.' In 1983 it was bought by Troy State. Most of us have a special memory of the Paramount in the 50's.
Empire Theatre
The Empire Theatre opened in 1914 and was demolished in 1997. It is best known as the site where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person. The first venue of Hank Williams Sr. was performed there. It is now the site for the Rosa Parks Memorial Library. Our generation enjoyed many a date at the Empire also.
How many remember in the 50's when hot new entertainers like Bobby Darren,Fabian,Neil Diamond,and others would play the Paramount on Saturday morning?
The show was MC'd by local radio personality Bill________?
I worked at the Empire Theatre as an usher in 10th grade(54-55). The pay was .40 cents per hour! If you worked hard, you could get a raise to .45.
I dont remember a lot of the movies, but remember watching Carmen Jones about 30 times, could sing all the songs. Before she died, I got to know Pearl Bailey, she told me she loved making that movie and always wondered how it had done in the south. She dedicated a Senior Citizen Center that I was resposible for building in Jacksonville, Fl.
I think I remember a birthday party at the Empire for Carol Covey. I always liked Mr. covey, he was quite the gentleman, and of course the only reason Carol and Ann are so pretty, is that Mrs. Covey was stunning. It had to be Jr. High, as by high school I was a poot. Those were the days my friends...
ps: The pic is me as Mr. Gibbs, 'Arsenic and Old Lace' this year.
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