An old music hall is new again
The Paramount Theater on New York Avenue in Huntington. (Sept. 25, 2011) Credit: Barbara Alper
Downtown Huntington is a jewel, and it's been humming along nicely for a long time. But the loss of the IMAC -- the Inter-Media Art Center -- two years ago was still a jolt. It was a small, vibrant venue that added a lot to the life of the downtown. Happily, now there's a new hall where IMAC rocked for a quarter-century.
The seating capacity of the Paramount, two to three times IMAC's 600, will pose some parking problems. In fact, some restaurateurs expressed fears that the increased flow of cars would squeeze their restaurant parking. But town officials and the Paramount folks worked out a sensible solution. Besides, the Paramount will bring more than cars: It will also generate the foot traffic that downtown merchants desperately need. It all starts with an Elvis Costello concert tonight.
Those hundreds of Costello fans will presumably hunger and thirst for something beyond music. In pursuit of that, they'll be spending money downtown, walking around, adding to its life. That's good news.
Obviously, the closing of IMAC hasn't shuttered this downtown. But Huntington's identity is so tied to culture that it needs an anchor performance space -- to go with other attractions, such as the Cinema Arts Centre, just to the east.
At a time when many businesses are closing, these entrepreneurs are opening one, and investing in the cultural heritage of Huntington. So their aim is true. Let's hope the Paramount provides the sound of music here for years to come.
