It was an unusually warm evening in Oakland for the showing of the movie which I haven’t seen on the large screen since the early ’60s. The Paramount was the perfect place to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the release of 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.
The Paramount is a movie palace from the ’30s that has been restored and used for a variety of shows and movies. In addition there is a large pipe organ and a full working stage. Jim Riggs plays the organ before the movies. His console rises out of the stage floor.
After the cartoon it is Dec-O-Win time. Once again out of the stage floor rises the Organ along with the host and hostess for Dec-O-Win. Several prizes from local businesses are given away each night. Then it was time for the movie. This was the first Disney movie shown on the Friday night movie series and it was a copy that had only been used 3 times prior to us!
The outside of the theater can be as entertaining as the movie. The lights cycle through several colors and patterns.
