1930 Zig Zag Art Deco masterpiece by Denver architect Temple Buell.
The material here is is the waterproof ceramic, Terra Cotta.

Temple Buell was a master architect, he invented the shopping mall
with his ideas for the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in 1946!

Temple Buell was also quite charitable, you will notice many Denver halls,
centers and theaters named after this great man.

I enjoyed the event last weekend, Doors Open Denver. A two-day yearly event, Denver opens it’s doors to many of it’s most important buildings, with volunteers giving tours and providing many valuable historical details.

My interior Paramount Theatre shots are a little dark as I did not want to disturb audience members with a flash as they were enjoying the show on the Paramount’s two Wurlitzer Organs!

The interior is filled with exotic ornamentation and beautiful ’30s-era tapestries.

A fantastic vaulted sunburst ceiling

Cut glass chandeliers

Remarkable tapestries (photographed in low light)

I have previously posted photos of another similar Temple Buell art deco masterpiece, the Horace Mann Junior High School, where he used brick instead of Terra Cotta

One of the main reasons I wanted to make this visit to the Paramount was to witness the twin-console Wurlitzer Organs! I love the sound of the Wurlitzer and own many LPs by artists such as George Wright!

The Wurlitzer organs were originally installed to accompany silent films, but when the theatre was first opened in 1930, the silent film was quickly replaced with The Talkie.

The Paramount Theatre currently houses two priceless Wurlitzer Organs which both raise out of the theater floor! I asked the masterful organist, Deloy Goeglin (playing in the earlier photo) how much these were worth and he said there is no way they can be priced as the only other similar organ is in New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Denver organ events are run by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. Their next event at the Paramount is on August 10th and is free to members.

One nice thing about Doors Open Denver is that they often really let you get close up and personal. The Paramount encouraged you to walk around behind stage, get up on the stage, check out the dressing rooms . . . a wonderful experience.