Columbia Theatre, 215 Riverside Mall, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Significance: Originally called the Columbia, this theater, built in 1920, was hailed at its opening as the "most complete temple for silent drama to be found in the Southern States." Walter E. Stephens, of the Baton Rouge architectural firm Prather & Stephens, was both architect and contractor for the new theater. Said to be "the most thoroughly equipped and scientifically built motion picture play house in the South," this fireproof structure boasted the country's first "floor-lights" and the country's second automatic dimmer-bank controls for lighting. In 1930, the Columbia's name was changed to Paramount. Still owned by the same family, the Paramount maintains much of its original decoration and mechanical equipment.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-54
Survey number: HABS LA-1133
Building/structure dates: 1920 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1923 Subsequent Work