Paramount Theater marquee letters restored in downtown Kinston
The Paramount Theater marquee once again bears its name after more than two decades, marking a new milestone in the building’s ongoing restoration.
The Downtown Kinston Revitalization group announced Thursday that the iconic “Paramount” letters have been installed on the front and sides of the theater’s marquee. An image posted by the organization shows the restored letters illuminated, a sight not seen in downtown Kinston since the 1990s.
“It is wonderful to see the PARAMOUNT letters shining once again on the marquee after 25 years,” said local developer Stephen Hill, who has led efforts to save and restore the historic theater. “My deepest thanks to the dedicated volunteers who devoted countless hours to restoring them.”
The Paramount Theater, located at 211 N. Queen Street, opened in 1915 as the Grand Theatre and later operated under the Paramount name beginning in the 1930s. It closed in the mid-2010s and has sat unused for years until community-led revitalization efforts began.
Leon Steele, executive director of Downtown Kinston Revitalization, noted the reinstallation is part of a larger campaign to breathe new life into the building and its surroundings. “It’s a milestone, for sure, and it is mesmerizing at night. All of the interest, investment, and momentum we are experiencing downtown is exciting.”
The marquee restoration is part of Phase 1 improvements, which also include removing exterior stucco and repainting the façade in its original black-and-white style. Future plans for the building call for extensive interior upgrades, though additional funding will be required before the theater can reopen.
The reappearance of the Paramount name on Queen Street has already drawn attention from residents and visitors alike. Supporters of the project say the revitalized marquee will serve as both a symbol of downtown’s history and a sign of its renewal.
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