Paramount Arts Center

The Paramount Arts Center is a historic theater located in Ashland, Kentucky. As a Kentucky landmark on the Historic Register, it is an important part of theater in Kentucky.

Related Topics:
Theater - Ashland, Kentucky - Kentucky - Historic Register - Theater in Kentucky

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Originally built to show motion pictures in the silent film era (although the theater was never used to show silent films and the planned theater organ was never installed), the Paramount Arts Center was formerly known as the Paramount Theater. It first opened in 1931, and closed forty years later in 1971. The next year the Foundation for the Tri-State Community (or Greater Ashland Foundation, as it was known at the time), under the leadership of Ashland Oil CEO Paul Blazer, Jr., purchased the theater and established it as a performing arts center. It opened that same year under the new name "Paramount Arts Center". The theater has undergone several renovations since 1972, most recently in 2002 when a new stagehouse was added and new dressing rooms, rehearsal space and banquet facility were added in a nearby building that was purchased in 1998. In addition, this renovated space was connected to the main building.

Related Topics:
Motion picture - Silent film - 1931 - 1971 - Ashland Oil - CEO - Paul Blazer, Jr.

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The theater now operates as a non-profit organization, showing symphonies, plays, ballets and other productions. In addition, in 1992 the music video for the song "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus was filmed here.

Related Topics:
Non-profit organization - Symphonies - Plays - Ballets - 1992 - Music video - Billy Ray Cyrus

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