Paramount Theatre

The beautiful new Paramount Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Goldsboro's historic district.

As the hub of community theatre, the Paramount is dedicated to enhancing the cultural life of Wayne County and the City of Goldsboro through professional artistry and local performances. The Paramount is a single department of the City of Goldsboro and supported by the Paramount Theatre Foundation, with 2 full-time and 14 part-time staff members.

History

In 1882, Henry and Soloman Weil built a three-story brick office building and armory on South Center Street in Downtown Goldsboro. When finished, it was the tallest building in town. The high Victorian Italianate style was noted for its ornamentations such as the quoins, arched windows and cornices. Center Street, at the time that the building was constructed, was adjacent to the existing Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. The wide Center Street that Goldsboro now enjoys was not by design, but out of necessity. Because many buildings were constructed from wood, the businesses were set back from the railroad tracks because of the danger of a fire arising from sparks coming from the engine boilers.

Over the years, this structure housed many different businesses. The Goldsboro Rifles practiced drills on the third floor. The Oheb Shalom congregation used the second floor as a synagogue for 3 years until their new Temple was completed. In the 1920s a marquee was added, and the building became a venue for entertainment including vaudeville performances and movies. It became the top motion picture theater in Wayne County. At first it was called the Mason Theater and later the name was changed to the Paramount Theatre.

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