Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre is a 1,870-seat performing arts and live music venue in the heart of downtown Denver, located at 1621 Glenarm Place near the 16th Street Mall. One of the finest surviving examples of “Zig Zag Art Deco” architecture in the Rocky Mountain region, it opened in 1930 and has operated as a premier destination for concerts, comedy, theatre, film, and special events ever since. The combination of a breathtaking historic interior, excellent acoustics, and a central location makes it one of the most distinctive and sought-after mid-capacity venues in Colorado.

The Paramount was built for the Paramount–Publix Theatre Circuit and designed by Chicago architecture firm Rapp and Rapp, with Denver architect Temple H. Buell overseeing the adjacent office building — Buell himself considered it the finest example of his work. An estimated 20,000 people crowded the streets of downtown Denver for its grand opening on August 29, 1930, which featured a premiere of the film “Let’s Go Native.” The interior was decorated by designer Vincent Mondo and muralist Louis Grell, featuring silk murals of Commedia dell’arte figures, cut-glass chandeliers, Egyptian lights, Italian marble, gold leaf and copper bronzing, and a vaulted sunburst ceiling. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and designated a Denver historic landmark in 1988. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment acquired the theatre and adjacent building in 2002. The Paramount first hosted opera in October 1978 (a Denver Opera Company production of “Madama Butterfly”), comedian Sinbad filmed an HBO special there in 1996, and today it hosts over 100 events annually, ranging from rock and indie headliners to comedy, dance, lectures, and film screenings.

The fully seated auditorium holds 1,870 guests across a main floor, mezzanine, and balcony, making it an intimate and atmospheric alternative to larger arenas for touring acts. Sightlines are excellent throughout the house. The theatre’s crown jewel is its one-of-a-kind Wurlitzer twin-console organ — one of only two remaining in the United States, its only counterpart residing at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Installed on July 23, 1930, and restored to full functionality by 2012, the instrument features over 1,600 pipes across 21 ranks, capable of producing orchestral instruments, percussion, and special effects including train whistles and pounding surf. Gary Clark Jr., Dweezil Zappa, and a wide range of touring rock, indie, country, and comedy acts regularly anchor the Paramount’s calendar.

Good to Know

• Ages: Tickets required for ages 2 and older (subject to change per event). No blanket age restriction — the venue is generally all ages. Valid government-issued ID required for alcohol purchase. Guests under 21 who illegally purchase or consume alcohol will be ejected.
• Bar: Full bar service with a two-drink maximum per ID per transaction. Alcohol sales stop approximately 60 minutes before event end. No outside alcohol permitted; guests caught bringing in or leaving with outside alcohol face a $250 citation and ejection.
• Parking: Complimentary parking for most ticketed events at the Tremont Garage (400 15th Street, Denver, CO 80202) — present your digital ticket barcode when exiting. Garage opens 2 hours before show time and closes 60 minutes after. ADA spaces available in Tremont Garage on a first-come basis. Easily accessible by light rail, bus, and the free 16th Street Mall shuttle (RTD).
• ADA: Wheelchair-accessible seating on the main level. Mezzanine and balcony accessible by stairs only. Assisted listening devices available upon request. Complimentary ADA parking in Tremont Garage.
• House rules: Strict no re-entry policy — guests who leave cannot return. No backpacks or oversized bags; purses and small bags must be 10”×6”×4” or smaller (medical/diaper bags up to 14”×14”×6” permitted). No smoking anywhere on premises — no indoor or outdoor smoking area available; guests who step out to smoke may not re-enter. All guests pass through handheld metal detector screening on entry. Service animals welcome (must remain leashed or harnessed); no other animals. Sign language interpretation available with at least two weeks’ advance notice.