The Paramount Theatre, Anderson IN

A long time ago – back when fellows put on a fedora and tie to go out on a Friday night and gals wouldn’t think of leaving the house without gloves even in August – every town had at least one big snazzy theatre. They usually sat on a piece of prime real estate in the middle of downtown, probably somewhere in the single-digit district, down where the light of their marquee could bring in the crowds. What was the main attraction? No, it wasn’t a million dollar-budget Hollywood blockbuster with the latest special effects – it was more like Basie, Goodman, or Calloway heating up some syncopation. To the tune of a hot horn section you could get to know your date out on the dance floor – just you, some sweet thing, and a few dozen strangers working the hardwood on a rainy night.

We got the chance to experience a place like this on March 30th. Anderson, Indiana isn’t what I’d call the center of the universe – in fact I’m not so sure that you can get there from the center of the universe – but they do have a really nice, restored theatre from the grand old era. The Paramount opened in August of 1929, designed in the ‘atmospheric’ style by John Eberson and during its 75 years of operation it hosted such notables as Nat ‘King’ Cole, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Artie Shaw Orchestra, Louis Armstrong, and Gene Autry. It’s hard to believe that in 1989 the building was scheduled for destruction – fated to become a parking lot. It’s a good thing that some visionaries stepped in to preserve the Paramount.

Sunday was a little session in the Paramount Ballroom. Nothing to mention when you think in terms of the musical masters that have played the ballroom (this time it was a two man band – horns and a synthesizer). The attraction isn’t the music, though – it’s a chance to step out on a 79 year old dance floor to mingle with the ghosts of all the dancers who were there before you. If you put your hand on that dance floor you can almost feel the rhythm of all those feet and in the lobby you can almost hear all those young lovers pulling on their hats and gloves before strolling out onto Anderson’s streets after a night of dancing.