Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

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Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Heathman Hotel

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 Theatre, 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.

1 Theater specifics
2 Building history
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 External link

[edit] Theater specifics

Seating for 2,776 (includes lower orchestra level and upper balcony seats)
Dressing rooms for 90
Portable acoustic shell
Entries on Broadway, Main Street and Park Avenue.

[edit] Building history

[edit] Movie house

The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp, famous for its theater buildings, designed the Italian Renaissance-style building. Originally opened as the Portland Publix 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.

[edit] Concert venue

During the late 1960s through the early 1970s, the private owner of the "Paramount" held major rock concerts there. Heart played there as a rising star performer, for the admission price of one dollar. Santana, Blue Öyster Cult, Joe Walsh, Pat Benatar, and many other major bands also played there. The City of Portland offered to buy out the owner, but he refused.^{[citation needed]} After repeated, failed attempts, the city finally condemned the building and gave the owner about $100,000 compensation.^{[citation needed]} As of October 2006, "The Schnitz" is now assessed by Multnomah County at more than $32,000,000.00. [1]

[edit] Restoration

In 1975, the theater organ and statuary were sold off in an auction. During the auction, there was a general outcry from the audience to keep a particular marble statue, called "Surprise" (a nude girl with her hands thrown across her face) in the theater. A hat was passed to take up a collection, and the statue was purchased and kept in the theater lobby. 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.

The building (as the Paramount Theatre) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. [2]

[edit] 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.