Results tagged “historicpreservation”

While staggering home last week after one too many Mai Tais and delicious wasabi peas served at the bar at Peking Tom's, Bostonist walked past the brightly-lit Paramount Theater sign and wondered why it was all lit up when there was nothing actually inside of it. Located next door to the newly renovated Opera House on Washington Street, the Paramount was last open in 1976 as a porno house, before closing its doors. Since then, its illuminating sign has been restored as part of Mayor Menino's revitalization plan for the once pornographic Downtown Crossing section of Boston. In 1995, Menino placed the Opera House, the Paramount, and the Modern Theater on the National Trust for Historic Preservation list. The Opera House has since been reopened and was home to a long run of the Lion King musical and now is home to The Phantom of the Opera until June 4th. Menino tried in 2002 to get the Paramount up again too but the partnership with the American Repertory Theater (ART) fizzled.