The Paramount Theatre Centre and Ballroom was originally designed as a seven story hotel and theater with a ballroom on the seventh floor. With the down-sizing during the Depression, they stopped with 3 floors and the seventh story 6,000 sq. ft. ballroom became the "dance hall"on the third floor.

The ballroom had not been used for 42 years before the complex was purchased by The Paramount Heritage Foundation in 1989 from the county council for $1, saving it from the wrecking ball. The room was a shambles. The water damage was so extensive that the walls had no plaster on the north side. You could see the lath in some areas. On the left side of the room the plaster had fallen and piled up on the floor about 5 feet from the wall and the floor had bucked and was raised about 6 inches. One of the first things that needed to be done was to repair or replace the roof over this part of the building and also the theatre. The roof was replaced with a rubberized roof, with four HVAC units placed on top of the ballroom section.

The ballroom floors are original from 1929. They have been sanded with riding sanders working many hours. Some scars from years past remain. The carpeting laid during the 1989 restoration was extended five feet into the room to cover the damaged wood area that could not be matched or brought back to match the existing floor.

In 1989 a new roof was installed. In 1992, new windows were installed on each of the second and third floors.

The ballroom had no significant primary decor so it was decided to use the Art Deco look. The chandeliers are 1929/1930 art deco design. More than 1,100 feet for crown molding was used to lie the square areas in the ceiling that were created during the restoration when the wiring and sound were installed. It has been noted that the molding in the ballroom is very much like the molding seen in the old Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Chicago, where it caught the eye of one of the renovation architects. Each square ceiling area was meticulously decorated with layers of paint, glaze, and gold accent highlighting before moving on to the next square.

The stage is 16'6" x 18'3" and has been the venue for big bands and revues from the 1930' and 40's, and currently is where most DJ's for weddings set up shop. We also feature comedy club and cabaret-type events in our ballroom. The Festival of Trees calls the ballroom home, and from mid-November to the middle of December the ballroom is transformed into a winter wonderland. The Hardacre Ballroom at The Paramount Theatre Centre is one of the most beautiful historic settings in Indiana, for a wedding reception, family reunion, holiday party or a performance to an intimate gathering of 440 people. Call Rosie Maxwell for more information and to schedule your event at 765-642-1234, ext. 11.

Renovation work being performed.

Restoration of the floor

Bare walls ready for its new skin

After the restoration

Thank you to Saint. John's Health System for their generous support.

Saint. John's has been a major sponsor of the Paramount since 1994.