Paramount Theatre Records, 1929-1999
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt2p30029n No online items Guide to the Paramount Theatre records, 1929-1999 Processed by Linda Jordan and Rebecca Kim The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California, 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu © 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Guide to the Paramount Theatre BANC MSS 99/269 c 1 records, 1929-1999 Guide to the Paramount Theatre records, 1929-1999 Collection number: BANC MSS 99/269 c The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Contact Information: The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California, 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu Processed by: Linda Jordan and Rebecca Kim Date Completed: December 2001 Encoded by: Xiuzhi Zhou © 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Collection Summary Collection Title: Paramount Theatre records, Date (inclusive): 1929-1999 Collection Number: BANC MSS 99/269 c Creator: Paramount Theatre (Oakland, Calif.) Extent: Containers: 54 cartons, 1 box, 17 oversize boxes, 226 oversize folders, 6 oversize items, 4 v., 1 tubeLinear feet: 101 Repository: The Bancroft Library. Berkeley, California 94720-6000 Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Abstract: Provides a complete history of the venue from 1929-1999, with regular additions expected. The management, construction and restoration of the building are fully documented. The bulk of the collection includes detailed performance schedules and a large poster collection. Languages Represented: English Access Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: Guide to the Paramount Theatre BANC MSS 99/269 c 2 records, 1929-1999 Tube 1 (original diagram of the marquee mosaic) and v.1 (plaster samples from the earthquake renovation) are extremely fragile and unavailable for use without prior written approval from the appropriate curator. Publication Rights Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Paramount Theatre records, BANC MSS 99/269 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Material Cataloged Separately Photographs have been transferred to Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library. Videotapes/sound recordings have been transferred to the Microforms Collection of The Bancroft Library. Acquisition Information The Paramount Theatre Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Peter J. Botto, General Manager, on April 1, 1999, with additions made on May 15, 1999. Regular additions are expected. Corporate History Construction of the Paramount Theatre was begun by Paramount Publix Corporation, the exhibiting organization of Paramount Pictures, on December 12, 1930. Financial difficulties forced the sale of the uncompleted building to Fox-West Coast Theatres, who completed the theatre on December 16, 1931, and operated the facility until it closed for restoration on September 15, 1970. The architectural firm of J. R. Miller and T. L. Pflueger had overall responsibility for the construction of the Paramount, but Timothy L. Pflueger was primarily responsible for the design. Born in San Francisco in 1892, Pflueger studied architecture locally, at the Beaux Arts Institute of Design. He was hired by James R. Miller in 1910 and became a full partner in 1920. By 1930, when the Paramount Theatre was commissioned, Pflueger had become known for his avant garde designs and his appreciation of local artisans. The Paramount is one of the first Depression-era buildings to incorporate and integrate the work of numerous creative artists into its architecture. It is particularly noteworthy for its successful orchestration of the various artistic disciplines into an original and harmonious style, frequently described as "Moderne." After its initial glory in the 1930's, the auditorium suffered three decades of neglect and decline until its rescue by the Oakland Symphony, the City of Oakland and many private donations. The building was purchased by the Board of Directors of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra Association in 1972. An extensive restoration was completed in 1973 and the theatre was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in August of that year. In 1975, the City of Oakland assumed ownership from the Symphony Association. The Paramount Theatre became a California Registered Historic Landmark in 1976, and on May 5, 1977, was declared a National Historic Landmark. The Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989 forced the Paramount to begin an extensive renovation. Falling debris and cracked plaster required specialized clean up, and the box office and grille work required reconstruction. Most work was completed by 1996, and The Paramount Theatre of the Arts reopened and continues to be an entertainment center for downtown Oakland. Scope and Content The Paramount Theatre records provide a complete history of the venue from 1929 to 1999, with regular additions to the collection expected. The construction and restoration of the building are fully documented, as well as its management. The bulk of the collection consists of detailed performance schedules and a large poster collection. Records of the Paramount's construction includes a complete set of blue prints, original marquee designs, and correspondence which predates ground breaking. All restoration projects, capital improvements, and earthquake renovation done between 1973 and 1996 are documented in detail. Management records begin in 1971, when the building was purchased by the Oakland Symphony and the City of Oakland. These include Board of Director files, administrative records of the first Executive Director, Jack Bethard, and the General Manager files of Peter J. Botto, who also served as the General Contractor for the building renovation. The Public Relations files include newsletters, scrapbooks covering the history of the theatre from 1971 to 1990, and information regarding the California and National Landmark dedication ceremonies. The Performance Files illustrate most events which took place on the Paramount stage from 1931 through 1999, including a complete weekly movie schedule from December 1931 to April 1961; the schedule is maintained monthly after this date, Guide to the Paramount Theatre BANC MSS 99/269 c 3 records, 1929-1999 until the Paramount closed for major restoration in September 1970. The bulk of the performance files document events scheduled after August 1973, including all movies and live performances sponsored by the Paramount, Oakland Symphony, Oakland Ballet, Jazzboree, and the Organ Pops series. Event posters accompany many of the performance files. Cartons 1-6; Box Series 1: The Building, 1929-1996. 1; Oversize Box 1; Scope and Content Note Oversize Folders Arrangement 1-45; v. 1; Tube 1 Arranged chronologically. Divided into 4 sub-series: Construction, Restoration, Capital Projects, and Earthquake Renovation. Capitol Projects is further divided into 2 sub-subseries: Organ Installation and Orchestra Shell. Includes correspondence that predates ground breaking and the first indenture of the lease to the property, along with original blue prints and designs for the marquee. Also contains detailed plans, reports, and financial proposals for restoration projects, capital improvements, and earthquake renovation. Construction, 1929-1964 Box 1, folder 1-4 Correspondence 1929-32 oversize Oversize, Scheme "B" floor plan, Publix Theatre, Inc. 1929 Nov. folder 1 B Marquee oversize Oversize, Framing plan and detail Skidmore, Owings and Merrill 1929 folder 2 C oversize Oversize, Mosaic elevation Gladding, McBean and Co. 1929 folder 3 C tube Tube 1 Mosaic diagram Gladding, McBean and Co. 1929 oversize Oversize, Service chart Gladding, McBean and Co. 1929 folder 4 B Box 1, folder 5 Indenture of Lease 1930 Foundation plans, (« size) Miller and Pflueger, Architects oversize Box 1, Sheet no. E-1 Basement 1930 Oct. 2 folder 1 Sheet no. E-2 First Floor Sheet no. E-3 Mezzanine Sheet no. E-4 Upper Foyer Sheet no. E-5 Balcony Sheet no. E-6 Fan room, Projection room, attic space, gridiron plan Sheet no. E-7 Details and schedules Plumbing specifications Miller and Pflueger, Architects oversize Oversize, Sheet no. M-8 Basement and roof 1930 Oct. 2 folder 5 C Sheet no. M-9 First floor Sheet no. M-10 Mezzanine and fan room oversize Box 1, Sheet nos. M-9, M-10, (« size) 1930 Oct. 2 folder 2 Alternate Foundation plans Miller and Pflueger, Architects oversize Oversize, Sheet no. SA Foundation with concrete caissons 1930 Oct.6 folder 6 C Sheet no. S-1 Piling diagram Sheet no. S-2 Basement and foundation Guide to the Paramount Theatre BANC MSS 99/269 c 4 records, 1929-1999 Series 1: The Building, 1929-1996. Construction, 1929-1964 Sheet no. S-3 Piling and foundation details Sheet no. S-4 Piling and foundation details oversize Oversize, Sheet no. S-5 First floor 1930 Oct. 6 folder 6 C Sheet no. S-6 Mezzanine Sheet no. S-7 Upper Foyer Sheet no. S-8 Balcony and gridiron plan Sheet no. S-9 Roof Sheet no. S-10 Column schedule Sheet no. S-11 Balcony details Sheet no. S-12 Broadway front details Sheet no. S-13 Roof truss details Sheet no. S-14 Schedule and typical details Sheet no. S-15 Stair details oversize Box 1, Sheet nos. SA, S1-15, (« size) 1930 Oct. 6 folder 3 Structural blueprints Miller and Pflueger, Architects oversize Oversize, Sheet nos. 1-33, (bound set) 1930 Oct. 29 folder 7 C oversize Oversize, Sheet no. 1 Basement 1930 Oct. 29 folder 8 C Sheet no.