18-GRAND THEATRE RESTORATION PROJECT

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UIsTOUIcAU ovILUvILw It was in 1912, that a young business man, C. J. Musselman, by a chance investment ~C j• Musaelman M0»08c. N Partt' Ne¢+cat Theatsc found himself the owner of a motion picture theatre. A pharmaceutical chemist by trade and without knowledge of show business, "Muss" took over the operation of a theatre in Paris. As he continued in the operation of this theatre, the fascination of the show business became instilled in him and he made the decision that the enter- tainment business was a career that he was best suited for and with the little know- ledge he had gained by the short period of operating this theatre he made the theatre w, business his major endeavor. ~ ~ image 1~ .J. ~/russelman, Paris - Texas, 1912 / f'roperty of f3ilfy N,a!con~b. The first thing "Muss" wanted to do was to give to the people of Paris an up-to-date playhouse, as at that time stage and vaudeville were the major entertainment fields since the screen had not been developed to that point. This theatre was named the Grand and was opened to the public in 1912. As the finest theatre in this section of Texas, the Grand pros- pered under Muss management and while automobiles were still in their infancy and hard surfaced roads were an unheard of thing, the Grand drew to Paris thousands of out of town people who by use of special trains, which were run for the big attractions that were being presented at the grand, had come to Paris to be entertained. In 1916, on March 21st, the Grand was destroyed by a fire which swept through the city and laid the major portion of the City in a heap of ashes. On the morning following, it was announced by the Wise family and Mr. Musselman that construction would start immediately on another Grand Theatre which would be even finer and more luxurious than the one destroyed. The construction of this new theatre would take time, especially under the circumstances of the short- age of workmen and materials due to the fact that the whole town was in the process of rebuilding. "Muss" constructed a temporary theatre building in order that entertainment and amusement could be offered to everyone during this period of rebuilding. This temporary building, while not a very lavish or expensive building, was the Mecca for entertainment seekers for about a year.On Christmas day, 1916, the rebuilt Grand theatre was opened. This new building gave to Paris the most up-to-date thea- tre in the state as every new feature of theatre architecture was incorporated. Its ample stage, equipped with every requirement needed to present the largest stage attractions on the road, made this theatre known from Broadway to Hollywood as it afforded Parisians the opportunity to see the big New York road shows which were on tour. Many of these shows were booked for the Grand at Paris, some 3 1- 128 Image # 2: / Grand T'neatre. Paris-Texas, arca 9:2 Property oi Bi(iy f-ialcomb.