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Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

45°31′01″N 122°40′53″W / 45.516936°N 122.681458°W / 45.516936; -122.681458

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Exterior of venue seen from Broadway (c. 2007)
Former namesPortland Publix Theatre (1928–30)
Paramount Theatre (1930–84)
Address1037 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205-3004
LocationDowntown Portland
OwnerCity of Portland
OperatorPortland's Centers for the Arts
Capacity2,776
Construction
OpenedMarch 8, 1928
Closed1982
ReopenedSeptember 8, 1984
Construction cost$1.5 million
($25.3 million in 2022 dollars[1])
ArchitectRapp and Rapp
Website
Venue Website
Paramount Theatre
Portland Historic Landmark[2]
Architectural styleItalian Rococo Revival
NRHP reference No.76001585
Added to NRHPApril 22, 1976

The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (opened as the Portland Publix Theatre before becoming the Paramount Theatre after 1930) is a historic theater building and performing arts center in Portland, Oregon, United States. Part of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, it is home to the Oregon Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, White Bird Dance Company, and Portland Arts & Lectures. It is also a concert and film venue. Originally (and sometimes still referred to as) the Paramount Theatre, it is also locally nicknamed "The Schnitz".

It is the last surviving theater building on Broadway, which was once lined with large theater houses.

Specifics

  • Seating for 2,776 (includes lower orchestra level and upper balcony seats)
  • Dressing rooms for 90
  • Portable acoustic shell
  • Entries on Broadway and Main Street. (Park Avenue has only stage doors and public exits.)

[3][4]

Building history

 
Paramount Theatre in 1939

Movie house

The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp, famous for its theater buildings, designed the Italian Renaissance-style building. The building was variously described by the newspapers as being of the French Renaissance or Northern Italianate style. The Paramount was considered, at its opening, to be the largest and most lavish theater for a city the size of Portland. Originally opened as the Portland Publix Theatre,[5] a vaudeville venue in March 1928,[6] the name changed to the Paramount Theater in 1930, as the owners had a contract to run Paramount films locally. The building continued to show films until 1972, after which it hosted concerts.

Visitors were greeted by a 65-foot (20 m) high "Portland" sign above the Broadway Marquee, which contained approximately 6,000 theatrical lights. The sign read "Paramount" from 1930 to 1984. The theatre was designed with many foyers and lobbies. The main entrance to the auditorium boasted huge French-paned windows facing east and south, covered with velvet drapes. The walls were covered with mirrors and marble, and the floors were covered with expensive carpets. The furnishings had been purchased from a French museum and private collections. The concessions stand was made of marble and stretched nearly half the length of the main lobby. It was described as the "longest candy counter in the West."[citation needed]

The lobby was lit with huge crystal chandeliers. Nearly $35,000 had been spent on them. The largest had a span of nearly 8 feet (2.4 m), weighing over 1,700 pounds (770 kg) and containing 181 lights. Currently, the largest chandelier has 137 candle bulbs, and the smaller ones each have 124 bulbs.

The top row of the balcony seats was six stories above the stage. Small staircases from the main lobby led to the balcony area which contained men's and ladies' lounges. The men's lounge was equipped with fireplaces, telephones, radios, phonographs and attendants. The women's lounge was furnished with dressing tables, mirrors, maids and hairdressers. There was also a self-playing Louis XV Ampico-Knabe grand piano in ivory and gold on the bridge over the lobby.

The walls of the auditorium were elaborately decorated with murals and near the front of the stage, small balconies were hung with drapes which hid the pipes from the $46,500 Wurlitzer organ. This four-manual organ console was mounted on an elevator and could be raised to the level of the stage at the touch of a button.

The seating capacity of the theater was said to have been 4000 seats by the newspaper ads of the day.[7] The ads promised "An acre of seats". Actually, the seating capacity was approximately 3000.

The ceilings were of a special design. The ceiling panels were suspended from the roof of the building and jutted out toward the sides of the auditorium, leaving a small cove next to the wall. A series of electric light bulbs were set in the hollow, not visible to the audience. Their glow fell on the patrons indirectly, giving the effect of space and freedom.

 
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Heathman Hotel.

The orchestra pit could hold a 30-piece orchestra. There was also a "flying" stage which could be raised or lowered or moved about above the main stage.

In July 1928, the theatre appeared on the front page of the newspaper,[8] figuring in an unusual robbery. A young man, Robert Nolan, had lived in Southern California for a time. While living there, he appeared as an extra in the movie, "Wheel of Chance." He had moved back to Oregon and when he saw that the movie was showing at the Portland theatre, he decided to go see himself on the "silver screen." While he was in the lobby, he saw two people walking by carrying the day's receipts. As he was watching the movie, the idea formed that he should take a chance before he left Portland to acquire a little extra money. He went to the box office and held up the attendants for $1176. He was apprehended several days later, having spent all but $1.50 of the money on bootleggers and drinking parties.

During the Great Depression, the theatre hired roving musicians and a "psychic" to entertain in the lobby before movies, in an effort to attract patrons to the theatre. Admission was 50 cents at this point, down 10 cents from opening night.[citation needed]

By 1936, the theater had been sold to the Evergreen chain, in conjunction with John Hamrick, and between them, they owned eight movie theatres in Portland.

In 1965, the exterior and interior of the building were in a decline, and in September of that year, part of the cast iron balcony which faces Park Avenue (a 150 lb (68 kg) piece of gingerbread), gave way and fell to the pavement below. The break was along an old fracture line caused by a previous earthquake. The iron had rusted over time without proper maintenance.[9] In August 1970, chunks of the masonry on the corner of Main and Broadway gave way. Two huge blocks, 350 lb (160 kg) each, fell from the facade, one of them crashing into the main marquee below. The masonry blocks were said to have fallen due to the age of the building.[citation needed] The owners did not seem to be putting any money into maintenance. The theatre was offered for sale in December 1970[citation needed] and was purchased by John Haviland in 1971, who owned the Park-Haviland Hotel. The theatre was leased to Tom Moyer, owner of a chain of movie theaters.

Concert venue

Haviland felt that it was uneconomical to operate a 3000-seat theater in the days of television. The last regular film showing was on August 15, 1972 (Dr. Phibes Rises Again with Vincent Price).[10]

In 1972, a Seattle-based partnership was formed, Paramount Northwest. They leased the theatre for three years, with an option for six more, and promoted live concerts. Heart played there as part of the "Catch a Rising Star" series (which included Tom Petty and Elvis Costello, among others), for the admission price of 92 cents (promoted by local radio station KGON, 92.3 FM). John Haviland still owned it and claimed that the rent was "1/10 of what it should be for such a theatre": $4000 per month.[10] In December 1972, Haviland proposed a state-run gambling casino on the property, claiming he was losing more than he could afford on the Paramount.[11]

In March 1975, Haviland conducted an auction during which he sold off all the statuary, pipe organ, antique furniture, 16th century suit of armor, mirrors, China, Oriental rugs, original oil paintings, lighted gold-leaf music stands, and pianos (there were 3 grand pianos); basically everything that was not attached to the walls or floors. Haviland was trying to drive out the rock-concert promoting tenants and went into a legal dispute with Paramount Northwest over the lease. He felt that the young people targeted by the concerts were not spending enough money and were destroying the theatre. Haviland won a court case preventing Paramount Northwest from renewing their lease option.[12] Haviland intended to renovate the theatre and offer a higher-class type of entertainment, including dinner theatre.

In August 1976, the Paramount Theatre was sold to Seattle-based West Coast Theatres company.[13] The owner offered to sell the property to the city for $4 million in 1980, but the city council had to decide whether to renovate the Paramount Theatre or build a performing arts center from the ground up.[14]

The City of Portland attempted to buy out the owner in 1982, but talks broke down. The city council finally voted to condemn the building.[15] A condemnation hearing jury determined that the city would have to pay the owner $4.1 million as compensation for the building.[16]

The theater cost $500,000 to build in 1928.[17] As of October 2006, "The Schnitz" was assessed by Multnomah County at more than $32 million.[18]

Restoration

 
The Schnitzer at night

In 1972, the Portland City Council voted to give the building Landmark Status, over the objections of John Haviland, the owner.[19] The landmark status applied only to the exterior of the building. Many people felt that the interior of the building was more valuable architecturally.[20] The building (as the Paramount Theatre) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[21]

A major renovation began in September 1983 to the designs of Boora Architects,[5] restoring the building to much of its original opulence. The interior of the auditorium, however, was painted one neutral color, rather than restoring the murals that had decorated it. Portland residents Arlene and Harold Schnitzer contributed generously to the completion of the initial phase of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. The one-year, $10 million renovation involved repairing, recasting or replacing much of the theatre's ornate interior as well as making it comfortable and safe for today's audiences and performers.

The landmark 65-foot-tall "Paramount" sign was removed on March 18, 1984, to be used by Ballard Sign Company of Salem as a model for a new replica which would restore the wording used originally (1928–1930): "Portland", appropriate for the building's change in use as well as being historically fitting. The new replica sign, with neon letters five feet tall, was attached to the building on September 4, 1984.[6] The theatre re-opened later the same month.

The concert hall now plays host to a variety of presentations including classical, jazz, pop, rock, folk and gospel music, dance, theatre, travel films, conferences, and weddings.

The concert hall features:

  • Seating for 2,776 in orchestra level and balcony.
  • 94 × 32-foot (9.8 m) stage with 54 × 32-foot (9.8 m) traditional proscenium.
  • Orchestra pit for 15; a choir loft.
  • Dressing rooms for 90.
  • Portable, flexible acoustical shell.

Design highlights: wool carpeting designed in Portland and loomed in New Zealand; original chandeliers renovated and fitted with new crystal in rococo-style lobby; original ornate interior re-paneled, recast and replaced; classic colors of warm neutrals and teal replaced the original dark and heavy gold, green and rose.

When the performing arts center was opened in 1984, it was decided to name the Portland Theatre building after Arlene Schnitzer.

The original theater organ and statuary were sold off in an auction on March 26, 1975. During the auction, there was a general outcry from the audience to keep a particular marble statue, called "Surprise" (a nude girl with her hands thrown across her face) in the theater. A hat was passed among the 1200 member audience to take up a collection, and $5,233.97 was raised to purchase the statue and keep it in the theater lobby.[22] The statue has a finger missing from a bullet from a box-office robbery in the 1950s.[23]

Notable stage appearances

Partial list of notable personal appearances made on the stage of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall:

See also

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Portland Historic Landmarks Commission (July 2010), Historic Landmarks -- Portland, Oregon (XLS), retrieved November 13, 2013.
  3. ^ Fitzgibbon, Joe. "Portland Paramount Theatre/Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
  4. ^ Virtual Tour of Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
  5. ^ a b History of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Erickson, Steve (Sep. 5, 1984). "Arts center displays new sign". The Oregonian, p. B1.
  7. ^ The Oregonian March 2, 1928
  8. ^ The Oregonian July 30, 1928
  9. ^ Oregon Journal June 25, 1968
  10. ^ a b Oregon Journal August 16, 1972
  11. ^ The Oregonian December 3, 1972
  12. ^ The Oregonian August 10, 1975
  13. ^ The Oregonian August 28, 1976
  14. ^ The Oregonian November 11, 1980
  15. ^ The Oregonian February 18, 1982
  16. ^ August 24, 1983
  17. ^ Oregon Journal March 8, 1928, Pg 13
  18. ^ "PortlandMaps Detail Report". City of Portland. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  19. ^ The Oregonian March 30, 1972
  20. ^ The Oregonian March 20, 1972
  21. ^ "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Retrieved August 31, 2007.
  22. ^ Portland Journal March 25, 1975
  23. ^ The Oregonian March 26, 1975
  24. ^ The Oregonian, May 6, 1930
  25. ^ The Oregonian, May 27, 1931
  26. ^ The Oregonian, September 2, 1931
  27. ^ The Oregonian, March 3, 1932
  28. ^ The Oregonian, August 16, 1932
  29. ^ The Oregonian, September 27, 1932
  30. ^ The Oregonian, April 30, 1935
  31. ^ The Oregonian, April 27, 1939
  32. ^ The Oregonian, October 19, 1940
  33. ^ The Oregonian, May 31, 1946
  34. ^ The Oregonian, January 17, 1953
  35. ^ The Oregonian, February 5, 1954
  36. ^ The Oregonian, June 8, 1957
  37. ^ The Oregonian, June 21, 1957
  38. ^ The Oregonian, October 6, 1957
  39. ^ The Oregonian, May 15, 1958
  40. ^ The Oregonian, June 18, 1958
  41. ^ The Oregonian, September 13, 1959
  42. ^ The Oregonian, October 4, 1959
  43. ^ The Oregonian, January 6, 1962
  44. ^ The Oregonian, March 23, 1964
  45. ^ The Oregonian, March 21, 1966
  46. ^ "Bob Dylan Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm.
  47. ^ "Bob Dylan Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  48. ^ "Bob Dylan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  49. ^ "Bob Dylan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  50. ^ "Grateful Dead Live at Paramount Theater on 1977-10-02". 1977-10-02. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  51. ^ "Grateful Dead Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  52. ^ a b The Oregonian, February 11, 1973
  53. ^ The Oregonian, June 14, 1973
  54. ^ "Fleetwood Mac Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  55. ^ "Fleetwood Mac Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  56. ^ "Jerry Garcia Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  57. ^ "Jerry Garcia Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  58. ^ "Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  59. ^ "Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  60. ^ "Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  61. ^ The Oregonian, October 26, 1975
  62. ^ "Bruce Springsteen Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  63. ^ "Bruce Springsteen Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  64. ^ "Rush Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  65. ^ "Rush Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  66. ^ "Billy Joel Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  67. ^ "Billy Joel Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  68. ^ "Queen Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  69. ^ "Genesis Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  70. ^ The Oregonian, April 5, 1977
  71. ^ url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jimmy-buffett/1977/paramount-theatre-portland-or-13d42109.html
  72. ^ "Hall & Oates Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  73. ^ "Elvis Costello Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  74. ^ "Elvis Costello & The Attractions Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  75. ^ "Patti Smith Group Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  76. ^ The Oregonian, July 17, 1978
  77. ^ "Talking Heads Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  78. ^ "ABBA Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  79. ^ "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  80. ^ "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  81. ^ The Oregonian, February 6, 1980
  82. ^ "The Allman Brothers Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  83. ^ "Def Leppard Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  84. ^ "The Go‐Go's Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  85. ^ "Heart Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  86. ^ "U2 Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  87. ^ "The Cure Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  88. ^ "Leonard Cohen Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  89. ^ "Roy Orbison Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  90. ^ "Phish Releases Summer '93 Show At Portland, OR's "The Schnitz", Adds Full Concert Videos To LivePhish+". L4LM. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  91. ^ "Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  92. ^ "Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  93. ^ "Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  94. ^ "Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  95. ^ "Neil Young Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  96. ^ "Oasis Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  97. ^ "Coldplay Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  98. ^ The Oregonian, May 1, 2002
  99. ^ "Carey to hit Portland with December show | the Mariah Carey Archives". Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  100. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  101. ^ "Brian Wilson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  102. ^ "Brian Wilson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  103. ^ "Pearl Jam Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  104. ^ The Oregonian, April 21, 2007
  105. ^ "Arcade Fire Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  106. ^ "The Decemberists Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  107. ^ "Fiona Apple Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  108. ^ The Oregonian, January 12, 2013
  109. ^ "Soundgarden Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  110. ^ "The Monkees Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  111. ^ "Pixies Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  112. ^ "Steely Dan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  113. ^ "Ryan Adams and his band serenade a rowdy Portland crowd". Oregonian, October 6, 2014. 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  114. ^ "Wilco Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  115. ^ "The National Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 February 2019.

External links

  • Official website

arlene, schnitzer, concert, hall, 516936, 681458, 516936, 681458, exterior, venue, seen, from, broadway, 2007, former, namesportland, publix, theatre, 1928, paramount, theatre, 1930, address1037, broadwayportland, 97205, 3004locationdowntown, portlandownercity. 45 31 01 N 122 40 53 W 45 516936 N 122 681458 W 45 516936 122 681458 Arlene Schnitzer Concert HallExterior of venue seen from Broadway c 2007 Former namesPortland Publix Theatre 1928 30 Paramount Theatre 1930 84 Address1037 SW BroadwayPortland OR 97205 3004LocationDowntown PortlandOwnerCity of PortlandOperatorPortland s Centers for the ArtsCapacity2 776ConstructionOpenedMarch 8 1928Closed1982ReopenedSeptember 8 1984Construction cost 1 5 million 25 3 million in 2022 dollars 1 ArchitectRapp and RappWebsiteVenue WebsiteParamount TheatreU S National Register of Historic PlacesPortland Historic Landmark 2 Architectural styleItalian Rococo RevivalNRHP reference No 76001585Added to NRHPApril 22 1976The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall opened as the Portland Publix Theatre before becoming the Paramount Theatre after 1930 is a historic theater building and performing arts center in Portland Oregon United States Part of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts it is home to the Oregon Symphony Portland Youth Philharmonic Metropolitan Youth Symphony White Bird Dance Company and Portland Arts amp Lectures It is also a concert and film venue Originally and sometimes still referred to as the Paramount Theatre it is also locally nicknamed The Schnitz It is the last surviving theater building on Broadway which was once lined with large theater houses Contents 1 Specifics 2 Building history 2 1 Movie house 2 2 Concert venue 2 3 Restoration 3 Notable stage appearances 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksSpecifics EditSeating for 2 776 includes lower orchestra level and upper balcony seats Dressing rooms for 90 Portable acoustic shell Entries on Broadway and Main Street Park Avenue has only stage doors and public exits 3 4 Building history Edit Paramount Theatre in 1939 Movie house Edit The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp famous for its theater buildings designed the Italian Renaissance style building The building was variously described by the newspapers as being of the French Renaissance or Northern Italianate style The Paramount was considered at its opening to be the largest and most lavish theater for a city the size of Portland Originally opened as the Portland Publix Theatre 5 a vaudeville venue in March 1928 6 the name changed to the Paramount Theater in 1930 as the owners had a contract to run Paramount films locally The building continued to show films until 1972 after which it hosted concerts Visitors were greeted by a 65 foot 20 m high Portland sign above the Broadway Marquee which contained approximately 6 000 theatrical lights The sign read Paramount from 1930 to 1984 The theatre was designed with many foyers and lobbies The main entrance to the auditorium boasted huge French paned windows facing east and south covered with velvet drapes The walls were covered with mirrors and marble and the floors were covered with expensive carpets The furnishings had been purchased from a French museum and private collections The concessions stand was made of marble and stretched nearly half the length of the main lobby It was described as the longest candy counter in the West citation needed The lobby was lit with huge crystal chandeliers Nearly 35 000 had been spent on them The largest had a span of nearly 8 feet 2 4 m weighing over 1 700 pounds 770 kg and containing 181 lights Currently the largest chandelier has 137 candle bulbs and the smaller ones each have 124 bulbs The top row of the balcony seats was six stories above the stage Small staircases from the main lobby led to the balcony area which contained men s and ladies lounges The men s lounge was equipped with fireplaces telephones radios phonographs and attendants The women s lounge was furnished with dressing tables mirrors maids and hairdressers There was also a self playing Louis XV Ampico Knabe grand piano in ivory and gold on the bridge over the lobby The walls of the auditorium were elaborately decorated with murals and near the front of the stage small balconies were hung with drapes which hid the pipes from the 46 500 Wurlitzer organ This four manual organ console was mounted on an elevator and could be raised to the level of the stage at the touch of a button The seating capacity of the theater was said to have been 4000 seats by the newspaper ads of the day 7 The ads promised An acre of seats Actually the seating capacity was approximately 3000 The ceilings were of a special design The ceiling panels were suspended from the roof of the building and jutted out toward the sides of the auditorium leaving a small cove next to the wall A series of electric light bulbs were set in the hollow not visible to the audience Their glow fell on the patrons indirectly giving the effect of space and freedom Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Heathman Hotel The orchestra pit could hold a 30 piece orchestra There was also a flying stage which could be raised or lowered or moved about above the main stage In July 1928 the theatre appeared on the front page of the newspaper 8 figuring in an unusual robbery A young man Robert Nolan had lived in Southern California for a time While living there he appeared as an extra in the movie Wheel of Chance He had moved back to Oregon and when he saw that the movie was showing at the Portland theatre he decided to go see himself on the silver screen While he was in the lobby he saw two people walking by carrying the day s receipts As he was watching the movie the idea formed that he should take a chance before he left Portland to acquire a little extra money He went to the box office and held up the attendants for 1176 He was apprehended several days later having spent all but 1 50 of the money on bootleggers and drinking parties During the Great Depression the theatre hired roving musicians and a psychic to entertain in the lobby before movies in an effort to attract patrons to the theatre Admission was 50 cents at this point down 10 cents from opening night citation needed By 1936 the theater had been sold to the Evergreen chain in conjunction with John Hamrick and between them they owned eight movie theatres in Portland In 1965 the exterior and interior of the building were in a decline and in September of that year part of the cast iron balcony which faces Park Avenue a 150 lb 68 kg piece of gingerbread gave way and fell to the pavement below The break was along an old fracture line caused by a previous earthquake The iron had rusted over time without proper maintenance 9 In August 1970 chunks of the masonry on the corner of Main and Broadway gave way Two huge blocks 350 lb 160 kg each fell from the facade one of them crashing into the main marquee below The masonry blocks were said to have fallen due to the age of the building citation needed The owners did not seem to be putting any money into maintenance The theatre was offered for sale in December 1970 citation needed and was purchased by John Haviland in 1971 who owned the Park Haviland Hotel The theatre was leased to Tom Moyer owner of a chain of movie theaters Concert venue Edit Haviland felt that it was uneconomical to operate a 3000 seat theater in the days of television The last regular film showing was on August 15 1972 Dr Phibes Rises Again with Vincent Price 10 In 1972 a Seattle based partnership was formed Paramount Northwest They leased the theatre for three years with an option for six more and promoted live concerts Heart played there as part of the Catch a Rising Star series which included Tom Petty and Elvis Costello among others for the admission price of 92 cents promoted by local radio station KGON 92 3 FM John Haviland still owned it and claimed that the rent was 1 10 of what it should be for such a theatre 4000 per month 10 In December 1972 Haviland proposed a state run gambling casino on the property claiming he was losing more than he could afford on the Paramount 11 In March 1975 Haviland conducted an auction during which he sold off all the statuary pipe organ antique furniture 16th century suit of armor mirrors China Oriental rugs original oil paintings lighted gold leaf music stands and pianos there were 3 grand pianos basically everything that was not attached to the walls or floors Haviland was trying to drive out the rock concert promoting tenants and went into a legal dispute with Paramount Northwest over the lease He felt that the young people targeted by the concerts were not spending enough money and were destroying the theatre Haviland won a court case preventing Paramount Northwest from renewing their lease option 12 Haviland intended to renovate the theatre and offer a higher class type of entertainment including dinner theatre In August 1976 the Paramount Theatre was sold to Seattle based West Coast Theatres company 13 The owner offered to sell the property to the city for 4 million in 1980 but the city council had to decide whether to renovate the Paramount Theatre or build a performing arts center from the ground up 14 The City of Portland attempted to buy out the owner in 1982 but talks broke down The city council finally voted to condemn the building 15 A condemnation hearing jury determined that the city would have to pay the owner 4 1 million as compensation for the building 16 The theater cost 500 000 to build in 1928 17 As of October 2006 The Schnitz was assessed by Multnomah County at more than 32 million 18 Restoration Edit The Schnitzer at night In 1972 the Portland City Council voted to give the building Landmark Status over the objections of John Haviland the owner 19 The landmark status applied only to the exterior of the building Many people felt that the interior of the building was more valuable architecturally 20 The building as the Paramount Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 21 A major renovation began in September 1983 to the designs of Boora Architects 5 restoring the building to much of its original opulence The interior of the auditorium however was painted one neutral color rather than restoring the murals that had decorated it Portland residents Arlene and Harold Schnitzer contributed generously to the completion of the initial phase of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts The one year 10 million renovation involved repairing recasting or replacing much of the theatre s ornate interior as well as making it comfortable and safe for today s audiences and performers The landmark 65 foot tall Paramount sign was removed on March 18 1984 to be used by Ballard Sign Company of Salem as a model for a new replica which would restore the wording used originally 1928 1930 Portland appropriate for the building s change in use as well as being historically fitting The new replica sign with neon letters five feet tall was attached to the building on September 4 1984 6 The theatre re opened later the same month The concert hall now plays host to a variety of presentations including classical jazz pop rock folk and gospel music dance theatre travel films conferences and weddings The concert hall features Seating for 2 776 in orchestra level and balcony 94 32 foot 9 8 m stage with 54 32 foot 9 8 m traditional proscenium Orchestra pit for 15 a choir loft Dressing rooms for 90 Portable flexible acoustical shell Design highlights wool carpeting designed in Portland and loomed in New Zealand original chandeliers renovated and fitted with new crystal in rococo style lobby original ornate interior re paneled recast and replaced classic colors of warm neutrals and teal replaced the original dark and heavy gold green and rose When the performing arts center was opened in 1984 it was decided to name the Portland Theatre building after Arlene Schnitzer The original theater organ and statuary were sold off in an auction on March 26 1975 During the auction there was a general outcry from the audience to keep a particular marble statue called Surprise a nude girl with her hands thrown across her face in the theater A hat was passed among the 1200 member audience to take up a collection and 5 233 97 was raised to purchase the statue and keep it in the theater lobby 22 The statue has a finger missing from a bullet from a box office robbery in the 1950s 23 Notable stage appearances EditPartial list of notable personal appearances made on the stage of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Eugene Pallette May 1930 24 Stepin Fetchit May 28 June 3 1931 25 Anita Page September 2 1931 26 Betty Compson March 3 9 1932 27 Blanche Sweet August 18 24 1932 28 Conchita Montenegro September 29 October 5 1932 29 The Marx Brothers May 1 7 1935 30 Grace Moore April 1939 31 Ronald Reagan and Donald Crisp October 19 1940 32 The Andrews Sisters May 30 June 5 1946 33 Betty Hutton January 1953 34 Louis Armstrong February 1954 35 Frank Sinatra June 7 1957 36 Harry Belafonte June 1957 37 Buddy Holly Chuck Berry The Everly Brothers and Fats Domino October 22 1957 38 Sam Cooke The Everly Brothers Paul Anka and Frankie Avalon May 14 1958 39 Maurice Chevalier June 1958 40 Louis Armstrong September 1959 41 Vincent Price October 1959 42 Liberace May 29 1962 43 Joan Baez March 1964 44 Bob Dylan March 1966 January and December 1980 August 1990 June 1995 May 2022 45 46 47 48 49 Grateful Dead July 1972 June 1976 October 1977 50 51 George Carlin March 9 1973 52 Stevie Wonder March 10 1973 52 Don Ameche June 1973 53 Fleetwood Mac November 1974 August 1975 54 55 Jerry Garcia Band March 1975 October 1978 56 57 Frank Zappa October 1975 March and October 1980 58 59 60 Bruce Springsteen October 25 1975 December 19 1978 October 28 1996 61 62 63 Rain A Tribute to the Beatles June 7 1976 Rush October 1976 September 1977 64 65 Billy Joel February and October 1977 66 67 Queen March 12 1977 68 Genesis April 1 1977 69 Iggy Pop with David Bowie on piano and backing vocals April 4 and 5 1977 70 Jimmy Buffett June 4 1977 71 Hall amp Oates October 22 1977 72 Elvis Costello February 1978 February 1979 73 74 Patti Smith May 5 1978 75 Bob Marley and the Wailers July 16 1978 76 Talking Heads September 9 1978 77 ABBA September 18 1979 78 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers December 1979 April 1983 79 80 The Police February 5 1980 81 The Allman Brothers Band September 19 1981 82 Def Leppard November 4 1981 83 The Go Go s August 23 1982 84 Heart December 29 1982 85 U2 May 27 1983 86 The Cure October 23 1984 87 Madonna April 1985 Leonard Cohen October 1988 88 Roy Orbison October 1988 89 Phish August 26 1993 90 Tori Amos July 1996 December 2007 November 2017 91 92 93 Ringo Starr amp His All Starr Band April 1997 94 Neil Young March 1999 95 Oasis April 2000 96 Coldplay June 2001 97 Prince April 2002 98 Mariah Carey December 9 2003 99 Kelly Clarkson May 28 2005 100 Brian Wilson August 2005 October 2016 101 102 Pearl Jam July 20 2006 103 Tenacious D February 19th 2007 Bill Clinton April 20 2007 104 Arcade Fire May 27 2007 105 The Decemberists February 19 2011 106 Fiona Apple July 26 2012 107 Robin Williams January 11 2013 108 Soundgarden February 14 2013 109 The Monkees August 18 2014 110 Pixies February 19 2014 111 Steely Dan July 24 2014 112 Ryan Adams October 5 2014 113 Wilco September 4 2016 114 The National November 27 2017 115 See also EditList of concert halls Portland signReferences Edit 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved May 28 2023 Portland Historic Landmarks Commission July 2010 Historic Landmarks Portland Oregon XLS retrieved November 13 2013 Fitzgibbon Joe Portland Paramount Theatre Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall The Oregon Encyclopedia Virtual Tour of Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall a b History of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts Archived 2007 09 28 at the Wayback Machine a b Erickson Steve Sep 5 1984 Arts center displays new sign The Oregonian p B1 The Oregonian March 2 1928 The Oregonian July 30 1928 Oregon Journal June 25 1968 a b Oregon Journal August 16 1972 The Oregonian December 3 1972 The Oregonian August 10 1975 The Oregonian August 28 1976 The Oregonian November 11 1980 The Oregonian February 18 1982 August 24 1983 Oregon Journal March 8 1928 Pg 13 PortlandMaps Detail Report City of Portland Retrieved June 23 2007 The Oregonian March 30 1972 The Oregonian March 20 1972 Oregon National Register List PDF Retrieved August 31 2007 Portland Journal March 25 1975 The Oregonian March 26 1975 The Oregonian May 6 1930 The Oregonian May 27 1931 The Oregonian September 2 1931 The Oregonian March 3 1932 The Oregonian August 16 1932 The Oregonian September 27 1932 The Oregonian April 30 1935 The Oregonian April 27 1939 The Oregonian October 19 1940 The Oregonian May 31 1946 The Oregonian January 17 1953 The Oregonian February 5 1954 The Oregonian June 8 1957 The Oregonian June 21 1957 The Oregonian October 6 1957 The Oregonian May 15 1958 The Oregonian June 18 1958 The Oregonian September 13 1959 The Oregonian October 4 1959 The Oregonian January 6 1962 The Oregonian March 23 1964 The Oregonian March 21 1966 Bob Dylan Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Bob Dylan Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Bob Dylan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Bob Dylan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Grateful Dead Live at Paramount Theater on 1977 10 02 1977 10 02 Retrieved 2016 02 28 Grateful Dead Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 a b The Oregonian February 11 1973 The Oregonian June 14 1973 Fleetwood Mac Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Fleetwood Mac Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Jerry Garcia Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Jerry Garcia Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Frank Zappa Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian October 26 1975 Bruce Springsteen Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Bruce Springsteen Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Rush Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Rush Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Billy Joel Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Billy Joel Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Queen Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Genesis Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian April 5 1977 url https www setlist fm setlist jimmy buffett 1977 paramount theatre portland or 13d42109 html Hall amp Oates Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Elvis Costello Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Elvis Costello amp The Attractions Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Patti Smith Group Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian July 17 1978 Talking Heads Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 ABBA Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian February 6 1980 The Allman Brothers Band Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Def Leppard Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Go Go s Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Heart Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 U2 Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Cure Setlist at Paramount Theatre Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Leonard Cohen Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Roy Orbison Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Phish Releases Summer 93 Show At Portland OR s The Schnitz Adds Full Concert Videos To LivePhish L4LM 12 April 2018 Retrieved 25 January 2019 Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Tori Amos Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Ringo Starr amp His All Starr Band Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Neil Young Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Oasis Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Coldplay Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian May 1 2002 Carey to hit Portland with December show the Mariah Carey Archives Retrieved 2018 10 17 Kelly Clarkson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Brian Wilson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Brian Wilson Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Pearl Jam Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian April 21 2007 Arcade Fire Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Decemberists Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Fiona Apple Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Oregonian January 12 2013 Soundgarden Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The Monkees Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Pixies Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Steely Dan Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 Ryan Adams and his band serenade a rowdy Portland crowd Oregonian October 6 2014 2014 10 06 Retrieved 2015 04 24 Wilco Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 The National Setlist at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland setlist fm Retrieved 3 February 2019 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message External links Edit Wikimedia 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