Welcome to
The Paradise
The Paradise Theatre was founded in 1928 in Colorado’s North Fork Valley. The Friends of the Paradise Theatre (FOPT) builds community through educational events, films, live music, and theatre. Our goal is to create a space where a lively and engaged community comes together to participate in art and culture as a means of reflecting and sharing community life.
The FOPT is a non-profit corporation formed to enhance the quality of life of the North Fork Valley by creating opportunities that enable educational, cultural, and other community activities.
Our Mission:
The Paradise Theatre is a non-profit performing arts venue that builds community through educational events, film, theatre, and live music.
Founding FOPT
The original theater in Paonia, Colorado, was built in 1928 to provide a movie and entertainment venue for the burgeoning Western town of about 1500 people. Throughout its history, the theater not only played movies, it also served the agricultural community by offering programs for children, fundraising events, and community meetings.
In 2013, 85 years later and after only five previous changes in ownership, the fate of the iconic Paradise Theatre seemed unsure. Recognizing the need to preserve this important and historic community resource, a group of local citizens calling themselves the ‘Friends of the Paradise Theatre’ came forward to keep the doors open and the programming going with the help of volunteers and the Paonia Chamber of Commerce.
In early 2014, the “Friends” decided to formalize a nonprofit organization and to raise the funds necessary to purchase the building and buy the essential digital projector. By June 2014, with the help of over 300 donors during a successful Kickstarter campaign, and generous contributions from the Colorado Save Our Screens program, the Colorado Grand, the Goodwin Family Foundation, and private investors, the theater was reopened with a new projector and the first phase of renovation completed. The community had first-run movies and live entertainment once again!
And in May 2015, The Paradise Theatre was designated as a Historic Landmark.
Our Vision
Through FOPT, The Paradise Theatre is committed to providing the highest quality multi-media and live performances, sharing stories that endure, and providing accessibility to all audiences. As a not-for-profit corporation, we fulfill our mission through the production of classic plays, film and musicals; development and production of new works by established and emerging artists; educational initiatives that enrich the lives of children and adults; and outreach programs that enrich and engage all audiences.
To maximize our economic impact and community building, we seek to collaborate with other non-profit organizations and businesses in the North Fork Valley and Western Slope Region. We currently offer employment, internship programs and volunteer opportunities for teens and community members.
Our three main goals to support stability and growth
Service to the community
Provide a multi-faceted venue for entertainment and education that brings diverse populations and organizations from Paonia and the North Fork Valley, and beyond, together for camaraderie, discourse and enjoyment.
Financial Resilience
Increase financial resources by 5-10% each year and establish or refine protocols and activities to support positive financial growth and organizational stability.
Program Excellence
Offer high-quality events, movies, and programs to attract more and new attendees and participants.
The history of the Paradise Theatre
1928
1928
In the summer of 1928, a much-anticipated movie theater was under construction at 215 Grand Avenue in the quaint mountain town of Paonia, Colorado. Final touches were added in early fall, and it was completed in time for the October 5th grand opening. It filled a need, as it replaced the nearby Gayety Theater, which was constructed of wood and destroyed by a fire. The new 102’ x 29’ structure was masonry, with a rough stucco finish.
Today, the theater still stands and occupies the original 125” X 29’ lot. It shares common walls with buildings on each side. According to early photos, it looked much like it does today, with the exception of the three-sided marquee that has been replaced several times over the years. Its current configuration is a single-sided marquee, above a porch-style awning, that was added in the 1970s. Like when it was built, the lobby area consists of restrooms, a concession counter/ticket booth, and an entrance hallway leading to the auditorium. Beyond the hallway is a stage, balcony, and the seating area that once held 385 wooden chairs that could be moved to make room for dancing. As was typical of most movie theaters, a projection room is located behind and just above the balcony.
1929
1929
Movies were a way to escape the hard reality of life in the coal mines and on the small farms and sprawling ranches that supported Paonia. However, the young theater was not without controversy.
Shortly after the sale of his bookstore, a legal dispute arose between Poulos and Dr. Haley, who was a Doctor of Osteopathy born in 1887 and who died in 1959. The ownership of the theater and bookstore was contested in court. The decision was found in favor of Tom Poulos in September of 1929.
Later that same month, The Paonian Newspaper reported that the first “talkie” was shown at the theater and referred to Dr. Haley as the proprietor. Evidently, he continued to operate the theater until January of 1932, when Poulos took over. It was initially reported that he considered closing the theater, but by February of 1932, Poulos had decided to reopen the theater with all new equipment. The first film, “Emma,” starred comedic actress Marie Dressler.
The prohibition of alcoholic beverages became law in 1920 and lasted until 1933. According to reliable local sources, Poulos, like many otherwise law-abiding citizens, was involved in surreptitious manufacture of alcohol, commonly known as bootlegging. The “new equipment” may have included a still, the bookstore may have sold more than books, and the dance parties were likely enhanced. There were subterranean rooms and a tunnel that connected the theater to the bookstore building.
1969
1969
As well as showing movies, holding dance parties, and allegedly distilling and selling spirits, Poulos was a community-minded man and sponsored events for school pupils of the North Fork Valley. At one event, he estimated 1000 guests were in attendance. There is mention in the Paonian that he donated three evenings of programming to the Community Chest. He hosted Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and invited all the children from surrounding towns. A Fireman’s Ball, a free band concert and movie, a benefit for the Paonia Library, were all testaments to his civic responsibility and community spirit. In 1969, the theater and the buildings on each side were sold to Lynne and Charles Bear.
The Bears continued with the legacy of a community-oriented theater and, like Poulos, were very generous, putting on free movies and sponsoring children’s events. They were a very busy family as Lynn ran a beauty salon in the adjacent building. After the theater lost its projectionist, Lynn would close her shop for the day and go run the projector.
1991
1991
In 1991, the theater was sold to Daniel Perkins, who continued to make improvements and keep the theater going during a period of increased competition from television, videotapes, and later, DVDs. It was a time when many small-town theaters closed their doors. After a showing of the award-winning foreign language film, “Cinema Paradiso,” the theater name was changed from the Paonia Theater to “The Paradise”, an appropriate name that depicts the way the residents feel about the theater and the North Fork Valley in which they reside.
Public records show the building being conveyed, at least in part, to Thomas Ricketts in 1996, and then -there is a gap in the chain of title- Michelle Riley conveying to Paradise Theater Properties LLC in 2001. In 2006, it was sold to New Paradise Holdings LLC. In 2010, Raven Heart purchased the theater and continued the commitment to keeping the theater going.
2014
2014
Again, the much-loved movie theater needed new equipment, and it was once again put up for sale. In 2014, thanks to some generous local financing, the newly formed non-profit, the Friends of the Paradise Theater, acquired the property. Since the current movie technology required a very expensive digital projector to show first-run movies, an Internet fundraising campaign was launched. Funds from a State grant, combined with many donations from around the world, and enough money were raised to buy the needed projector and renovate the interior.
The Paradise Theater has hosted many nationally known artists, and it is known as a small premier venue by music fans and top musical artists.
Joe Cocker, Otis Taylor, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, James McMurtury, Martin Sexton, Lake Street Dive, Lucius, Mollie O’Brien, Chip Taylor, The Steep Canyon Rangers, March Fourth Marching Band, David Linley, Open Road, and the New Reeltime Travelers are among the notable performers who have sold out the theater to thousands of exuberant fans.
The theater has also hosted many writers, directors, producers, and scientists such as Craig Childs, Davis Coombe, and Amory Lovins.
The Friends of the Paradise Theatre was formed in 2013 to enhance the quality of life in the North Fork Valley by providing a multi-use performance space and by creating opportunities that enable community activities.
KVNF’s Laura Palmisano spoke to Tom Stevens, the vice president of the theatre’s board, about the designation. Click the button below to listen to the 1-minute and 46-second interview.
Listen to the interview