Should Paramount Theatre refreshment policy be changed?
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The Paramount Theatre in downtown Cedar Rapids after a $35 million renovation for repair damage caused by the 8-10 feet of floodwater that covered the auditorium floor and Hall of Mirrors. In addition to restoring the building to its former grandeur, improvements were made to the sound system along with a bigger orchestra pit, deeper stage and a backstage that now extends into the alley. Shot on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Gazette guest columnist Kathleen McNamara of Fairfax doesn’t agree with the policy that permits refreshments to be brought into the main auditorium at the newly-renovated Paramount Theatre.
“Bringing The Paramount back to its former glory was a monumental undertaking,” said McNamara, a retired music educator and choreographer with the Alburnett and Cedar Rapids school districts who also served various community theater and music organizations. “I applaud and thank everyone responsible for their expert planning, craftsmanship and epic persistence so necessary for the renaissance of our beautiful theater. Your endeavors have enriched this community.
“I cannot, however, applaud a policy that encourages and permits food, soda and alcoholic beverages inside the main theater area during performances or at any other time. In my estimation, consumption of food and drink should be allowed only in designated areas beyond the auditorium.
“A $34 million investment was needed to bring this theater back to us. Let us not allow a faulty policy to undermine the renovation. Nor should this policy be allowed to infringe upon or diminish the importance of audience participation and appreciation for talented performers, who, through the arts, generate inspiring experiences in our lives.
“Some Broadway theaters allow concessions in the performance area. Lincoln Center does not. For all practical purposes, The Paramount is our Lincoln Center,” McNamara concludes. “Let us all help to protect this remarkable investment by demanding a change in the current refreshment policies at The Paramount.”
What do you think? Should the refreshment policy at the Paramount Theatre be changed to protect the facility?
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The Paramount was built as a movie palace. I grew up watching movies and eating pop corn at the Paramount. By not allowing refreshments is denying the legacy of the Paramount.
I couldn’t agree more with Kathleen McNamara. My wife and I attended the December 1st evening performance of the Nutcracker and had the privilege of sitting next to someone who crunched the ice in their glass the entire performance and on the other side of us a group (who was occupying two rows) passing their popcorn bucket back and forth. I expect the above to occur at a Kernels and/or Roughriders game but not a symphony concert or ballet. Unless this policy is reversed we won’t be back.
My wife very recently attended a performance and strongly agrees the policy should be changed. (It has a legacy of a movie theater (our first date) but times change and it’s not a movie theater any more.)
I don’t see this as a “taking care of the facility” issue. I don’t see food and beverage doing any serious damage.
However, I do see this as a “type of performance” issue. There are performances for which food and beverage is not appropriate. For other events, it would be acceptable.
I agree with Jody above. It is part of the legacy of the place. But if they ban refreshment, then the next thing would be ban anyone under 21.
While I can see the issues that people might have regarding damages from food and beverages, the policy of allowing food and beverage into a performace is not only practiced here in Cedar Rapids. I have seen other symphony/concert halls around the Midwest allow this practice as well. Management of these venues and musical organizations see it as one of many ways to attract younger and diverse audiences to a concert-going demographic that is getting older. The venues see it as a way to relieve some of the “stodginess” from the symphonic concert experience, just as it is now considered accpetable for younger concertgoers to wear jeans to a symphony concert.