The Paramount Theater is located along Front Street in downtown Burlington North Carolina. 

Originally opened in 1928 by J.R. Qualls as the Grand Theatre, the theater’s first show was “Three Weekends” starring actress, Clara Bow. Admission at the time was 10 and 35 cents!

One year later, Qualls changes the name of the theater to The Paramount. Though the theater thrived during the Depression and World War II, the 1960s and 70s brought hard times for the theater.

The Paramount Theater was scheduled to be demolished but managed to survive.

In 1993, the City of Burlington and the Alamance County Arts Council took on the task of renovating the space. The Paramount Theater has a supportive network of patrons from Alamance County and beyond. 

On November 5, 2024, the citizens of Burlington voted in favor of a bond referendum to renovate The Paramount and construct a new Event Center next to it.