AUSTIN, Texas — One of Austin’s historic landmarks, The Paramount Theatre, is hitting a major milestone. Its annual "Summer Classic Film Series" is celebrating 50 years.
A representative from the theatre said a lot of people see the yearly film series as the start to summer. But for the Paramount, the initiative was a lifeline that saved the theatre when it was first introduced.
It represents the Paramount's revitalization in the Austin community, which saved the Central Texas staple for past, present and future generations of Austinites.
If it wasn't for the Summer Classic Film Series, Downtown Austin might look a lot different.
"There was a rumor the Paramount was going to be torn down and turned into a Holiday Inn," said Stephen Jannise, the theatre's director of film programming.
The theatre was at the top of the box office in the '60s when it hosted a premiere for "Batman." But shortly after, business flopped – until the Summer Classic Film Series was born.
"That was started in 1975 as sort of a way to bring audiences back to the Paramount Theater, back downtown. They thought, 'Let's try showing some old movies like "Casablanca" and "Top Hat,"' and people actually showed up for them," Jannise said.
Fifty years later, the Summer Classic Film Series is still going strong. The theatre screens major movies and independent films and, in March, participates in South by Southwest (SXSW) events.
“When you look at kind of how filmmaking and film exhibition in Austin have grown, you know, a lot of it has been because of the Paramount," Jannise said.
This year, there are several events honoring the 50th anniversary of the summer series.
"We're just trying to make the energy as big as possible and bring in as, you know, as many people as we can," Jannise said. "Doing a lot of special guests, a lot of parties."
One of the parties will be presented by queer DJ Ezra Edwards, known as DJ Boi Orbison. He'll play country music and the theatre will screen "Brokeback Mountain" – but the party won't stop there.
"That's part of why we're having an after party, is because it is a sad movie, to give people like, 'OK, actually, you know what? We're all here. We're here to have a good time. We're queer, and we're ready to listen to some country music,'" Edwards said.
The event showcases one of the Paramount's biggest gifts: bringing the community together through the power of movies.
Doors open for the "Brokeback Mountain" screening at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.