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By: Ilana Siyance
Downtown Brooklyn is getting back its historic performance venue.
As reported by Timeout NY, the famed Brooklyn Paramount will be reopening as of March 27th, following the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation. The 100-year-old space will have a renewed venue with a 2,700-person capacity. There are already over 45 shows booked at the space for 2024, including PinkPantheress, Norah Jones, Mariah The Scientist, and Brooklyn native Busta Rhymes. The performances will mark the first return to live music at the venue in some 60 years.
“The reopening of the historic Brooklyn Paramount is the latest sign that Brooklyn’s art scene is thriving,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I applaud Live Nation for renovating this historic venue where New Yorkers can enjoy the hottest performers right here in Brooklyn. This reopening demonstrates that New York City does not need to reinvent the wheel to bring entertainment and good-paying jobs to our city. I am glad to see the Brooklyn Paramount back, and I look forward to seeing a performance there in the future!”
The Brooklyn Paramount, located at 385 Flatbush Ave at the intersection of Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues, had originally opened in 1928, as the world’s first theater to show talking movies. It quickly became a hotspot for live shows with world-famous performers including: Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Little Richard, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, and more. In 1962, the space was converted into a basketball arena for Long Island University’s Blackbirds team, and the shows stopped.
The recent renovations have preserved the venue’s original iconic Rococo ceiling, Baroque details and the hand-made plaster statues. Also, an original Mighty Wurlitzer organ will continue to be maintained by the New York Theatre Organ Society. Updates were made including a new grand stage, state-of-the-art backstage facilities, sloped floor for improved viewing at all levels, and seven bars to serve vintage liqueurs and a zero-proof menu.
The second-level balcony will feature an exclusive member box and “Ella’s VIP lounge,” inspired by Ella Fitzgerald’s 1950s performances at the venue. Per Timeout, other additions included in the renovation are a game room, gym, and art installations by local artists. Updates will also be made to the lighting, restrooms, and sound systems. The construction was overseen by BSE Global, the same team behind Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE. H3 is the architect of record, and Shawmut served as manager of construction.
Thanks to a partnership between Paramount and Long Island University, students at the college will be able to get internships and part-time jobs at the venue. “The refurbishment of the LIU Paramount Theater is a major milestone in the history of Long Island University,” Long Island University President Dr. Kimberly Cline said. “It brings our commitment to the arts-and our role in the arts community-to an entirely new level for our students, faculty, and alumni, and solidifies our role as a major cultural driver in Brooklyn. There is no better place in the world to learn about the arts than Brooklyn, and there is no University that is more committed to combining great academics taught by world-class faculty, with experiential learning and hands-on opportunities for students.”
