Howard Theatre

The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African-American clientele, and had played host to many of the great black musical artists of the early and mid-twentieth century. The Howard Theatre was billed as the "Theater of the People," and supported two theatrical organizations, the Lafayette Players and the Howard University Players. In September 2010 extensive renovations were started to restore the theater to its former glory. The theater reopened on April 9, 2012 to headline acts like Wanda Sykes, Blue Oyster Cult, and Chaka Khan, all appearing in the first month since reopening.

History

Constructed in 1910, the theater was founded and owned by the National Amusement Company, a white-owned group. When built, it had a capacity of more than 1,200. Designed by J. Edward Storck, the theater featured orchestra and balcony seats and eight proscenium boxes, with a lavishly decorated interior. No less extravagant was the exterior, which combined elements of the Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, and neoclassical styles. The whole was surmounted by a larger than life statue of Apollo playing his lyre.

Paramount Theater (Atlanta)

The Paramount Theater was a theater that stood from 1920 to 1960 on Peachtree Street between Ellis and Houston (now John Wesley Dobbs) streets in downtown Atlanta, next to Loew's Grand Theatre. It was designed by architectural firm Hentz, Reid & Adler. Upon its opening, the Atlanta Constitution called it "the South's most palatial theater", and had a pipe organ and seating for 1,000 people. Enrico Leide, conductor of the first Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, was chosen as music director.

In September 1929 the Howard Theater was renamed the Paramount Theater.

Elvis Presley played at the Paramount in 1956.

The theater was closed in 1960, demolished, and a 12-story building built in its place, which was in turn also demolished. Today the site is open space above the MARTA Peachtree Center station.

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