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Information About

The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall




The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is a historic theater building and Performing Arts Center in Portland, Oregon . Part of the Portland Center For Perfoming Arts , it is home to the Oregon Symphony , White Bird Dance Company, and Portland Arts & Lectures. It is also a concert and film venue. Originally (and sometimes still referred to as) the '''Paramount Theater''', it is also locally nicknamed '''"The Schnitz"'''.

It is the last surviving theater building on Portland's Broadway, which was once lined with large theater houses.


THEATER SPECIFICS


  • Seating for 2,776 (includes lower orchestra level and upper balcony seats)

  • 90 dressing rooms

  • portable acoustic shell

  • Entries on Broadway, Main Street and Park Avenue.



BUILDING HISTORY


The architectural firm Rapp And Rapp , famous for its theater buildings, designed the Italian Renaissance-style building. Originally opened as the Portland Public theater, a Vaudeville venue in 1928, the name changed to the Paramount Theater in 1930, as the owners had a contract to run Paramount films locally. The building continued to show films until 1971, after which it hosted concerts.

In 1975, the theater organ and statuary were sold off in an auction. A major renovation began, which restored the building to much of its original opulence. Harold and Arlene Schnitzer, notable Portland philanthropists, donated US$1 million to the project. When the performing arts center was opened in 1984, it was decided to name the building after Arlene Schnitzer.


TRIVIA


  • The "Portland" marquee is a replica of the original theater sign. The original, replaced during the remodel, still read "Paramount". The removal of the sign turned out badly, as it accidentally fell onto the sidewalk in an impressive crash.


  • A statue inside the lobby has a bullet hole from a box-office robbery early in the theater's history.


  • A secret door between the theater and the Heathman Hotel 's cigar room next door was uncovered during the renovation.



FURTHER READING

  • King, Bart, ''An Architectural Guidebook to Portland'', Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith Publishing, 2001.



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINK