Doors opened on March 1, 1928, under the name Seattle Theatre, with 3,000 seats. The house was made mainly for film, with vaudeville as its second purpose.
New Names and a 1990s Rescue
The Paramount name arrived in 1930. In 1971 the theater became the Paramount Northwest, and for a stretch it served mostly as a live music venue. Former Microsoft vice president Ida Cole bought the building in 1993, closed it for repairs in May 1994 and reopened it as the Paramount Theatre on March 17, 1995.
Since 2002 the theater has belonged to Seattle Theatre Group, a nonprofit performing arts organization. If you fall for the Paramount, the same group also runs the Moore Theatre in Belltown, the 5th Avenue Theater downtown and the Neptune Theatre in the University District.
A Protected Landmark
The Paramount joined the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1974. The City of Seattle followed in 1995, designating the Paramount Theatre and Building as city landmark number 95 under Ordinance 117507. Explore more of its protected neighbors in our guide to all landmarks in Seattle, which runs from downtown hotels to the historic Smith Tower.
What's On at the Paramount Today
Expect a wide mix on the calendar, from Broadway musicals and concerts to dance, comedy, family shows, silent film screenings and jazz. Before you plan your night out, check the theater's official website for current events, showtimes and tickets.
The stage has starred on television, too: televised auditions for the sixth season of America's Got Talent were held at the Paramount.
The Nirvana Show
For music fans, one Halloween night stands out. Nirvana played the theater on October 31, 1991, and the concert was captured on 16 mm film, later released as Live at the Paramount. It remains one of the best-documented shows the band ever played.
Choosing Your Seats
For a standard seated show, the Paramount holds 2,807 people. It was also the first venue in the United States with a convertible floor system, which turns the main floor into a flat ballroom.
At general admission concerts, the main floor becomes an unreserved standing area while the balcony keeps its seats, and the theater holds up to 3,000 people. Check which setup your event uses before you buy:
- Seated shows: reserved seats on both the main floor and the balcony, for a total of 2,807.
- General admission concerts: standing room on the main floor, with seats still available upstairs in the balcony.
The Wurlitzer Organ and Other Original Details
Listen for the Paramount's original Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, a four-manual, 21-rank Publix 1 style instrument (opus 1819) spread across three chambers. Only three original organs of this style survive.
The Crome Organ Company rebuilt the console off site between May 2017 and March 2018, and volunteers from the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society now keep the instrument in working order. Catch a silent film night to hear it in its original role.
The Sign Out Front
Look up at the marquee on Pine Street, whose design dates to the 1940s. The original glowed with 1,970 incandescent bulbs, later swapped for 11-watt fluorescent tubes, and in 2009 the theater installed a new sign that copies the original look but runs on LED lights.
Backstage Changes
Behind the curtain, the theater first worked with a hemp rigging system, the rope-and-sandbag method of older stages. It has since been converted to a counterweight rigging system.
Finding 901 Pine Street
Head to 901 Pine Street, where Pine meets 9th Avenue, on the eastern side of Seattle's Central Business District. From here, several other historic buildings and green spaces are a short walk away. For parking, transit and accessibility details on show nights, the theater's official website is your best source.
