The Paramount Theatre, Renfield Street, Glasgow
Later - Odeon Theatre / Odeon Film Centre
Glasgow Index
Above - The Paramount Theatre, Glasgow after dark - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The Paramount Theatre was situated on Renfield Street in Glasgow and first opened on New Year's Eve, the 31st of December 1934. The Theatre was designed by Verity and Beverley on a large corner site with its imposing Facade constructed of White Granite and five tall windows above the main entrance lit up by neon lighting at night. Above the main foyer on the ground floor was a second foyer and a Tea Room and Restaurant looking over the street.
Right - The Tea Room and Restaurant at the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The Theatre's Auditorium could seat over 2,700 people in its two levels, stalls and one large circle, and although the Theatre was built primarily as a Cinema it was also equipped with a large fully equipped stage, 35 feet deep, with ample dressing rooms 
for artists situated along the rear side elevation of the Theatre and beneath the stage.
Left - A Full Page Article on the opening of the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow in 1934 - From the Daily Record, Monday the 31st of December 1934.
The Theatre was also equipped with a Compton Theatre Organ, played by Henry Crondson for the opening, which was situated on a lift below the stage and could rise up to stage level at the flick of a switch. The Theatre opened with a short speech by Jack Buchanan and consisted of a showing of the film 'She Loves Me Not' and Francis Mangan's stage show 'Volcano', followed by Sir Harry Lauder leading the audience in Hogmanay songs concluding with 'Auld Lang Syne'. A reception and dance was held afterwards for nearly 600 guests at the Central Hotel celebrating the opening of the Theatre and bringing in the new year of 1935.
Above - The Auditorium and Stage of the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The Builder reported on the new Paramount Theatre in their 1st of February 1935 edition, along with several images shown here, saying:- 'The exterior of the building is a striking addition to the architecture of Renfield street. The exterior illumination has been designed as an integral part of the structure.
Right - The Public lounge of the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The auditorium has also been designed by the architects in a modern manner. An effect of intimacy has been obtained in the decorative scheme. The dominant tones in the decoration are copper, green, and silver.
The various foyers, waiting spaces, lounges, cloak-rooms, lobbies, and the tea-room, while being treated as part of the whole scheme, have each been individually attended to, so that in construction, decoration and furnishing the theatre is throughout in harmony. The seating capacity is 1,760 in the stalls, and 1,024 in the balcony, royal circle, and grand circle, making a total of 2,784 seats.
The theatre has been planned so that everyone seated in the auditorium can see the whole of the stage with the screen undistorted. The building has been treated scientifically as regards acoustics. The seating has been given generous spacing in order to give maximum comfort.
Left - The Balcony Foyer of the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The architects, Messrs. F. T. Verity and S. Beverley, FF.R.I.B.A., have had the assistance of Mr. James W. Reid, A.R.I.A.S., who has taken part in the supervision of the construction of the building; Mr. Evan H. Perkins, Paramount director of construction; Major C. H. Bell, O.B.E., consultant for the electrical and mechanical engineering work; and Messrs. S. W. Budd, consultants for the structural steelwork.
Above - A Ground Plan for the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
The general contractors are Messrs. Robert Rogerson and Co., of Scotstoun, Glasgow, and among the sub-contractors are: Samuel B. Allison, Ltd., demolition; Redpath, Brown and Co., Ltd., steelwork; Stuarts Granolithic Company, Ltd., stonework...
Right - Front of House Attendants at the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow pose for a Press Photograph shortly before the Theatre opened - From the Daily Record, 28th of December 1934.
Carrier Engineering Company, Ltd., heating and ventilating; Clark and Fenn, Ltd., fibrous plaster; Newall's Acoustics, Ltd., and Turner's Asbestos Cement Products, Ltd., acoustic plaster and treatment; Knight and Co. (Engineers), Ltd., fire curtain, organ console lift, orchestra lift; John Hall and Sons, Ltd., miscellaneous ironwork; Henry Hope, Ltd., metal windows; George Jennings (Lambeth), Ltd., sanitary fittings; W. Draper and Co. (Electrical Installations), Ltd., electrical installations; Sturtevant Engineering Co., Ltd., vacuum 
cleaning plant; Hoffmann Sprinkler Co., Ltd., fire appliances, etc.; Gimson and Co., Ltd. (Leicester), counterweighting; Mellowes and Co., Ltd., stage lantern light; Richard Hill and Co., Ltd., balcony reinforcement; Toffolo, Jackson and Co., tiling and terrazzo; N. F. Ramsay and Co., Ltd., hardware...
Left - An Advertisement for Compton Organs as Installed at the Paramount Theatre, Glasgow - From the The Era, 12th of December 1934.
Smith and Co., ornamental metalwork; Robert Rogerson and Co., general painting; Pixton and Co., seating; T. F. Firth and Sons, Ltd., carpets; William Still and Co., Ltd., tea-room equipment; Best and Lloyd, Ltd., electric light fittings; Joseph Nerini, decorative painting; Boro' Electric Signs, Ltd., neon signs; G. Wallis and Sons. Ltd., special furniture; Eaton, Parr and Gibson, Ltd., mirrors; Lusty and Sons, café furniture; John Compton Organ Co., organ; Western Electric Co., organ amplifier system; Frank Brockliss, Ltd., projection-room equipment ; J. Macfarlane and Sons, Ltd., marquise.'
The above text in quotes was first published in The Builder, 1st of February 1935.
Above - The former Paramount Theatre / Odeon Cinema Complex, Glasgow in 2003 - Photo M.L.
The Paramount Theatre had first opened on the 31st of December 1934 but was sold to Odeon Theatres Ltd., in 1939 along with all their other Theatres in the UK. At the same time the Theatre was renamed as an Odeon Theatre but continued with Live Shows and Film presentations for many years until it was finally closed for tripling on the 13th of September 1969.
Right - A Google StreetView Image showing the Rear and Side Elevations, and Stage House, of the former Paramount Theatre in September 2010 - Click to Interact.
This involved the removal of the Theatre's Compton Organ and converting the Theatre's stage into one of the three screens, situated on two levels with an entrance at the rear of the building. The other two screens were situated in the former balcony and stalls of the Theatre and could accommodate around 1,000 people each, sadly almost all the original plasterwork and decorations were removed at the same time. Front of House the Foyers were remodelled and reduced in height and the former Restaurant was converted for office use. At the same time the Facade of the Theatre was covered over by corrugated iron and a giant readograph display.
After the remodeling of the Theatre it reopened on the 2nd of October 1970 as an Odeon Film Centre. Some years later the large cinema in the stalls was split into 3 screens, in 1988, so that the Theatre now had six screens. And in 1999 the large screen in the former balcony of the Theatre was split into 4 screens so that the Odeon now had 9 screens. At this time the corrugated iron and a giant readograph display covering the facade were removed and the original exterior was revealed and restored.
Above - A Google StreetView Image from June 2008 showing the former Paramount Theatre / Odeon Cinema Complex, Glasgow after it had closed and displaying the sign 'Thank You and Goodnight 31 Dec 34 07 Jan 06' - Click to Interact.
In March 1995 the Theatre had been Grade B Listed but this didn't save it in the end. The Theatre was sold to developers in 2003 but continued to operate as a 9 screen Cinema until it was finally closed on the 7th of January 2006. It then remained closed and boarded up until the auditorium was eventually demolished in 2013 to be replaced by an Hotel and Office building. The Facade was altered and restored to something like its original form at the same time and now forms the entrance lobby to the Hotel.
Right - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Paramount Theatre / Odeon Cinema Complex after it had been rebuilt as an Hotel and Office Building, in May 2024 - Click to Interact.
Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.