Stateside At The Paramount

A friend and I had been trying really hard to make the Summer Film Series at the Paramount fit into our schedules. It was made even more difficult in that she works in Georgetown and I work in San Marcos. Finally, by the time it came to HItchcock week, we nailed a date that fit into both of our busy schedules.
The Stateside is part of the Paramount organization, but it’s a couple doors down from the Paramount. It shares a ticket office with the Paramount, so you buy your tickets there (or online). It’s truly a separate venue, though, with a distinct character from the Paramount.
Having grown up in New Orleans with so many great houses such as the Orpheum and the Saenger (as well as the Joy and the Loew’s State), I really have a tremendous appreciation when I find one of these grand dames that hasn’t been torn down.
The entrance is much simpler, but still has the grand staircase to the balcony seats so typical of older theaters. Everything is fresh, and there is no musty old theater smell, as with some revival houses that weren’t quite «revived».Seating is comfortable inside, and everything simple. It’s not quite the house that the Paramount is in terms of décor and detail, however.
We saw Hitchcock’s Spellbound, which was a first view for me. Projection of the black-​and-​white film was clear and crisp. Sadly, though, the sound was horribly muddled. Both my friend and I had to strain to hear the dialogue, and often couldn’t make it out entirely. We finally resorted to reading lips. The acoustics of the place were absolutely dreadful. Perhaps the sound system wasn’t adjusted properly, but there was a terrible echo, which suggests improper sound damping.
It was a double-​feature that night, but we both left after the first showing by plan. But, honestly, I don’t know that I could have sat through another movie. Listening was just that tedious.
Great theater with excellent potential, but, please, fix the sound, guys. Or the sound guys. Whatever works.