Nomination for Sanderson, Julia, Theater

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 REV.

(9/77) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PH0678929 FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED MAR 1 219/9 MAY 10 1979 DATE ENTERED 1 NAME SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS Sandersor, gulia, Jheater 2 3 4 5 6 HISTORIC Paramount Theater) AND/OR COMMON Julia Sanderson Theater (preferred) LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 1676-1708 Main Street CITY, TOWN Springfield STATE __ VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Second COUNTY Hampden CODE 013 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT _BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS .BEING CONSIDERED STATUS X OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS XACCESSIBLE *YES: RESTRICTED _YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM XCOMMERCIAL _PARK EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC -INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAMEMr.

Ronald Goldstein, Mx. Abbott Roberts STREET & NUMBER CITY, TOWN o/o Stearns Realty Inc. 293 Bridge Street STATE Massachusetts 01103 Springfield VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Hampden County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER State Street CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts Springfield REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1978 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts Boston 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION -EXCELLENT GOOD -FAIR DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED ZALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Julia Sanderson Theater is located in the North Blocks commercial area of downtown Springfield. The building is situated at the southwest corner of Main and Gridiron Streets, adjacent to the Railroad Arch. The Julia Sanderson Theater is a four-story, tan brick structure with limestone trim, designed in the Classical Revival style. The office/commercial sections facing on Main and Gridiron Streets date from 1912. The 3,200 seat theater in the interior portion of the block was built in 1926-29 by the Ernest F. Carlson Company to designs by theater designer A. W. Johnson of New York. The building facade extends 175 feet along the west side of Main Street. The ground floor consists of a series of altered storefronts and the boarded theater entrance, above which is a large marquee.

Above the ground floor, the facade is decorated between each of the eleven paired-window bays with three-story brick pilasters with low-relief capitals and bases. Within each bay, a narrow, full-height pilaster separates the twowwindows, creating a strong rhythm of alternating wide and narrow pilasters. Below the third and fourth story windows, there are rectangular cast stone panels with a central oval framed by beadedmmouldings with projecting cylindrical banding. The entrance bay, the seventh bay from the southerly end of the facade, has a single window at each story framed with Classical relief. The second story opening has a projecting cornice supported by small brackets. The third story window has a moulded architrave with a scrolled keystone, above which is a low-relief rectangular panel.

At the top floor, the opening has a projecting sill supported by brackets and an ornately carved lintel with a floral medallion. The fenestration in the facade is a mixture of one-over-one and two-over-one lights. The building is capped by a wide Classical entablature with a moulded architrave and a frieze decorated with inlayed brick above each bay. The dentilled cornice has dropped pendants bentered between bays. Above this is a row of projecting round knobs alternating with moulded panels. The upper edge of the cornice is articulated with a miniature crenellated motif. The north elevation of the building is 17 bays long and is decorated with a simplified version of the ornate details on the facade.

The bays consist of: one bay at the easterly end which matches the facade; five bays with paired one-over-one lights separated by pilasters with simple mouldings in place of capitals; six narrow bays with single one-over-one lights separated by pilasters with ornate low-relief capitals; followed by five bays with paired one-over-one lights and separated with pilasters with simple mouldings. Below each of the third and fourth story windows is a rectangular stone panel with two recessed square panels as decoration. The entablature repeats the same details which are used on the facade. The interior of the theater has undergone several renovations but still retains much of its lavishadecoration and architectural detail.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC _1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 -1800-1899 X1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE ART XCOMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW -COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -LAW LECONOMICS - LITERATURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING XMUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT PHILOSOPHY. _INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION - RELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN XTHEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1912, 1926-1929 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT 1926: Ernest F. Carlson STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Julia Sanderson Theater possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association. The building is associated with events that made a significant contribution to the cultural development of Springfield; it is associated with the lives of persons significant in the past; and it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a period of architecture. The property is significant as the home of two local landmark institutions, the Massasoit Hotel and the Paramount Theater. Each of these entities played a prominent role in the social and cultural life of the city. Architecturally, the structure is a fine example of an early twentieth century commercial building, in the Classical Revival style.

The theater is renowned for its lavish decoration and for the innovative theatrical systems which were used here for the first time in the city's and region's history. The office/commercial portion of the structure facing on Main and Gridiron Streets was constructed in 1912 on the site of the former Massasoit House, the city's most popular hostelry. The site was acquired in 1912 from William H. Chapin, proprietor of the Massasoit House, by the Dunlap Realty Trust Company for $750,000. This was reported to be the largest real estate transaction in the city's history. The entire ground floor of the new building was devoted to commercial storefronts, the upper floors facing on Main Street were outfitted as modern offices, and the Massasoit Hotel occupied the upper floors facing north on Gridiron Street.

The hotel, which was across the street from the train depot, continued as a popular hostelry and social gathering place until it closed in 1926. The hotel space was converted to offices shortly thereafter. In 1926 plans were announced to construct a new theater at the rear of the site. A fourteeneyear contract for $100,000 per year was signed with the Famous Players - Lasky Corporation of New York. The theater took three years to build at a cost of $1,118,000. It was named the Paramount as one in the chain of Class A deluxé theaters operated by the Famous Players, Inc. - The Paramount was considered to be the most lavish and extravagant theater in western Massachusetts. It was the last of the big downtown theaters and the first theater in the region designed expressly for sound pictures. The theater seated 3,200 people and featured several innovative mechanicalssystems.

These included a scientific air cooling system designed by Raymond S. Graham, which was the first of its kind in the city, and an elevator platform on whichtthe organ console and organist could be raised up under a spotlight to create a dramatic effect. A full remote control lighting system and an emergency lighting system with a two-hour capacity were also featured. The balcony is supported by a 100-foot steel beam to eliminate obstructing columns and provide good vision and acoustical quality from every seat.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Paramount Theater, historic photograph file, Springfield City library. SAIT Magazine, December 6, 1972, p. 2A. Springfield City Directories, 1912-1929. Springfield Daily Republican, October 21, 1912, p. 9; September 29, 1929, special section. Springfield Scrapbooks, Vol. 28, p. 127; Vo1. 36 pp. 191, 196; Vol. 38, p. 177. Springfield Union, December 30, 1926, p. 4; February 2, 1927, p. 4. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY .81 acres QUADRANGLE NAME - Springfield South UTM REFERENCES A|118/ 16/918/81210/ |416/613/91010) EASTING NORTHING CLL QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:24000 BL, ZONE DCH NORTHIN NORTHING uILLL ELI Llil FLL LLULILI HLI L VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please refer to the attached map which is block #304 of the city assesment plan. The boundary is deliniated in red.

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston Margo Weber Anderson, Notter Feingold Ass.

Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator DATE February 1979 TELEPHONE (617) 727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESER VATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE_ LOCAL As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Seryice STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE aluua 1 <Weslowski 3)1/79 TITLE DATE Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER ATTEST: DATE 5:1079 DATE 5/9/19 CHIEF OF REGISTRATION GPO 921-803 Form No. 10-300a (Kev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAR 1 2 1979 MAY | O 1979 DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2 The Paramount Theater attracted high quality movies and performances to the city. Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks were among the Hollywood stars whose Class A films played at the Paramount. As well as for motion pictures, the theater was popular for its vaudeville shows and "big band"concerts, and hosted such talents as Ethel Barrymore, Jack Benny, Eric Von Stroheim and Alexander Wolcott.

The theater was renamed the Julia Sanderson Theater in 1975 in memory of Springfield's most famous show business personality, Julia Sanderson. Julia Sanderson was born in Springfield in 1887, made her first Broadway appearance as a chorus girl in 1902, and went on to star in over 20 consecutive hit shows, including "The Ziegfield Follies" and the original "No, No, Nanette." In 1927 she married Frank Crumit and for the next 16 years, the husband-wife radio team hosted the nationally popular quiz show "Battle of the Sexes!" The renaming of the theater coincides with recent interest in reopening the theater for a wide range of community theater, concert, and cinema productions. Properts Sandesson, Jalia, Theater (Paramouat Theater) state Macs. (Hempllorking Numbeg.

12.29.502 TECHNICAL Photos Maps 2 CONTROL OK 3.14.29 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory- Review CONSIDKRED D BE ONK DF THE MOST LAVISH ANI EXTRAVAGINT THEATRES IN WESTEARN MASSACHLNETTS AT DHE TWK DF LTS CONSTRULTION TEIN 1926-29 TUEATRE INCLUDED INDUSTUK WECHANICA AND STRUCTURA SYSTENS. HS EARUIER COMAEALCIAL AND HOTEL SECTION CONTALNED THE LOEALLY NOTABLE MASSASDIT HOTEL AND DHER conwarcua usks. REVIEW UNIT CHIEF HCCAT 5/8/19 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 6-5-79 Send-back Re-submit Entered MAY 10 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Countr 2PJHA OKZAMGOOK MAY 10 1979 Julia Sanderson Theater (Paramount Theater) Street Springfield, MA Margo Weber 1978 Anderson, Notter, Feingold, North Washington Street, Boston MAR 1 2 1979 Photo #1 Facade.

looking southwest PAUL GUZZI Sermilary of the Commonmiald. Te Commonucalih of Massachusells (ffice of the Secrelury Massuchusells Historical Comrmission 291 Haslinglon Ired Boslon, Massachusells 02108 (617)727-8470 RECEIVED PROPOSED NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION NOTIFICATION TO OWNER JAN 24 1979 DATE: November 28, 1978 MASS. HIST. COMM. TO: Messrs. Ron Goldstein and Abbott Roberts ADDRESS: Stearns Realty Inc., 293 Bridge Street, Springfiela,Massachusetts 01103 FROM: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBJECT: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RECEIVED THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY: NAME: *xt*ax&*xxxxxxxwxx Paramount Theatre MAR 1 2 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER ADDRESS: 1676-1708 Main Street Springfield NOMINATED BY: Springfield Historical Commission is being considered by the Massachusetts Historical Conmission for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register affords recognition and protection for districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American History, architecture, archeology and culture. Listing in the National Register places no restrictions on the owner's actions unless Federal funding or licensing is involved. However, certain Federal Tax consequences may result from listing in the National Register. Please refer to section 2124 of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 for an explanation of these provisions. Please acknowledge receipt of this notification by signing below and returning this form to Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator, Massachusetts Historical Conmission at the address above. The State Review Board will not consider this nomination until we receive your comments or thirty days have .passed from the date of notification.

Written conments on the significance of this property are encouraged and may be attached to this form. Signature Jone/ tllle Date dm 20,1979 2/2/77 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State February 20, 1979 Mr. Charles Herrington, Chief Registration Branch gLET National Register Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service RECEIVED MAR 1 2 1979 Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Mr. Herrington: NATIONAL REGISTER Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: U.I Amherst: Conkey-Stevens House Cambridge: Edwin Abbot House Lawrence: Lynn: Essex Company Offices a-d Yard G.A.R.

Hall Rowley: Chaplin Clarke House Springfield: Julia Sanderson Theater Springfield: Springfield: Kennedy-Worthington Blocks Winchester Square Historic District Wilbraham: Academy Historic District All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. They have also been reviewed by our professional staff representing the disciplines of architecture, architectural history, archeology and history.

Sincerely, _ Christine Boulding choite bording Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission Enclosures CB/ts ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE Date Entered MAY | 0 1979 Name Odd Fellow's Hall Conkey-Stevens House /Sanderson, Julia, Theater (Paramount Theater) Winchester Square Bistoric District Turner, Stephen, House Abbot, Edwin, House (Longy School of Music) Chaplin-Clarke House Location Shelburne Falls Franklin County Anherst Hampshire County Springfield Hampden County Springfteld Hampden County Norfolk Norfolk County Cambridge Middlesex County Rowley Essex County Also Notified Honorable Paul G. Isongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Silvio 0. Conte Honorable Edward P. Boland Honorable Margaret M. Heckler Honorable Thonas P. O'Ne111 Honorable Nicholas Mayroules State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L.

Weslowskt Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 5/14/79 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.