Paramount Theatre Oakland

This place is a beautiful venue for concerts and I am absolutely in love with the art deco type of architecture. I recently came here for a concert and the staff were willing to help anyone and they were dressed nicely. I highly recommend this place. :)

Everybody who works here is super nice, friendly, and very helpful. The theater is beautiful and well-maintained. Sound is decent. Shows are always fun. The men’s restrooms need to be cleaned more thoroughly and more frequently. Overall, a truly great venue.

We saw Neil Degrasse Tyson in this beautiful Art Deco venue. It's such an amazing piece of history we should all feel lucky to be able to enjoy this beautiful old world building.

Had an amazing night!! The theatre was gorgeous, and we got our seats upgraded!

Even though the theatre is in downtown Oakland there is a large parking garage next to it (we paid $20 though the posted sign said it would be $36) so easy parking. The interior is beautiful and all of the staff were nice and helpful. The only drawback (with a slight positive) is there's only one ladies multistall restroom. The upside was that they let women in to the men's side so we could use stalls while they used the urinal. Nobody seemed to mind at all and it made the line move MUCH faster.

Stunning, absolutely stunning! I was in complete awe. This entire building, inside and out, is so beautiful that there just aren't enough words in the English dictionary to depict the beauty of this place! I loved my experience here, and I look forward to being inside of this historical epic theater again. The walls, the ceiling, the bathrooms, the furniture, the stage and stage curtains... I loved every single thing about the Paramount Theatre!!! My pictures do not do it justice. You just have to see it in person!!!!

My girlfriend took me here for a symphony as a birthday surprise. The Paramount Theater is beautiful architecturally, in decor, and esthetically pleasing. It's like entering an art show but with so much more. The fanfare of dressing up and entering the large airy hall gives a grand feeling. You can hear the music well from anywhere in the Theater. So many staff are bustling around, eagerly, and happy to help you to your seat or any other needs. I had a spectacular evening and eagerly await another event that suits my taste.

Today was an absolute blast! I got the chance to catch "Two Can Play That Game" with my favorite cousins during my birthday week! The venue was filled with amazing history, and we were both completely in love with the atmosphere. The restroom was spotless, and every staff member was incredibly professional and courteous—definitely a plus! I can't wait to come back! I just wish the security had let us bring our Skittles in; they took them away, but I'm crossing my fingers that they’ll add Skittles to their menu soon! We had fantastic seats right by the performers, and the bartender George was a superstar, whipping up some amazing drinks for us. Oh, and fun fact—his birthday is on April 8th, so here's a shoutout and happy birthday to him! Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and I’m already looking forward to returning!

Such a gorgeous venue! We were privileged to attend a citizenship swearing in ceremony here last week. The setting was stunning, and quite appropriate for celebrating our newest citizens. What a treat to sit in the balcony and take in all the visual art deco masterful design elements while waiting for the event to begin. The ceilings, especially, are something special to behold. I heard someone say that the theater had been refurbished at great expense. The results were amazing. It's important to preserve the historical design legacy of such a unique venue. The acoustics were terrific, as well. It would be a wonderful treat to attend a concert or other performance here. Parking was just a short walk away, though not inexpensive at $30 for this particular event.

A beautiful theatre that has stood the test of time. So glad Oakland has kept this place afloat during such times as these. I went bc of Bibi, K-Pop singer who is debuting her 1st World Tour & she chose Oakland to perform, so happy that Oakland is trying to incorporate a wider audience. The inside has been beautiful maintained. The only confusing part to these events is when they offer a Meet & Greet Swag Bag that often I notice there is no sign indicating which is a preferred swag bag line vs.ticket holders line. Also, I was quite disappointed when the usher passed by obstructing our view not just once,twice, three times but at least 5-6 times. Either allowing late comers to pass by all throughout Bibi's performance or either feeling the need to just walk by. My patience was running thin with this occurrence. Other than this issue, it was nice to be in this iconic Oakland theatre that has stood the test of time.

We've traveled from Sacramento to Paramount Oakland several times to see different performers, including Kevin Hart and, more recently, the All-Star Comedy Jam on Valentine's Day. The venue itself is beautiful, with its classic architecture and multiple bars, making it fairly easy to grab a drink despite the long lines (usually within 10-15 minutes). One thing we did notice was a stark difference in the crowds depending on the event. The Kevin Hart audience felt more diverse and mature, while the All-Star Comedy Jam had a much rowdier vibe--including a fight that security handled quickly, though we didn't see much security presence beforehand. The biggest downside for me is the restroom accessibility. As someone who struggles with stairs, I wish they were easier to access. Overall, it's a great venue, but the experience depends largely on the event you attend.

I attended a graduation at the Paramount. The building is historic and should be preserved for its beauty. , The decor and fixtures are so beautiful, from the entrance, throughout the building into the theater. The seats definitely need to be restored though. I was literally sitting on the metal rails because the cushions were so worn. It was hurting and I couldn't balance myself in my seat. I wanted to switch with my daughter but she said her seat was just as bad.

As show venues go, logistics always is a factor. Not here. Literally 1 block from the staircase of the 19th street BART station IS The Paramount Theatre! We've seen a few shows here but never did a review. Easy to get to, genuine old school architecture, great sound, alright and expensive snacks, (show pricing) and alchemy at the bar (probably expensive too), but overall a really great experience. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this venue for any kind of show. It isn't Chase, it isn't Levi's, it's a one of a kind, precious and historic Theatre (I call it Theater but whatever). Have fun!

The wife and I visited The Paramount for the first time, to hear "Two Black Churches" and Carmina Burana. Odd pairing, but it made sense for this election week. Anyway, the acoustics were quite reasonable for our perch in the front balcony section, left. The place is very cavernous, but we could see the stage fine. There didn't appear to be any partially blocked seats, since there were no interior columns. What an incredible space! Absolutely gorgeous art deco interior, from the central lobby area, to the upstairs lounge areas, to the magnificent auditorium. It looked brand new condition. The last restoration, according to one usher, was about 1971, and they just keep it in perfect condition all the time. Come see a show, and be awed.

My friend had her graduation ceremony here. It's not close to home, but easy to find. They have their own parking lot, plus there's a parking garage next to the theater. The employees were so friendly and helpful. Moreover, the bathrooms are beautiful. I had to take a picture. Lol

Great theater! Surprisingly this theater is pretty spacey. Came here for the Matt Rife show this past weekend and it was a great experience. Once you go in there's two bars down stairs with small snacks & drinks - beer, cider, etc - popcorn, chips, candy Wish they had fresh popcorn.. but nevertheless, a pretty cool theater!

Great venue, beautiful artwork on the wall. I went for the Eric Benet, Music Soulchild & Joe concert on 3.21.25. Great time, had lower level seats, the concessions were reasonably priced and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. Looking forward to the next event there!

The three stars are not for the venue. I'm giving three stars because during the concert, no one was taking care of the isles. Folks were standing and dancing out of their seats in the isles. Vaping Marijuana was relentless. Folks sitting on front of me with the hats with lights, which made it hard to see and enjoy the concert. The last artist didn't finish his set as the lights came on. Everyone got up and started walking out. I. Come to the paramount often for concerts this was the first one that was not managed properly. For sure I'll come back for other concerts but this event could have used mire care.

Came to the Paramount Theatre to see Theo Von: Return of the Rat. The theater looks very beautiful inside. We got balcony seats and they are tiny. The acoustics weren't great, lots of echoes. I probably missed 30% of the show due to not being able to hear him. If you are gonna come here I would recommend getting a closer seat. The security was working hard and did an amazing job. Quick and safe security check when you enter the building. We had very loud drunk men two rows behind us who were very talkative and one of the security guys got them completely under control. It did take him a couple of tries to calm them down but in the end, it all worked out. 3.5 stars just because of the balcony seats, but I would love to come back.

It was my first time last night going to the Paramount Theatre! I'm surprised I haven't heard of it before but it's a very nice theatre for a concert! There are only seats which is nice since you don't have to line up early to reserve your spot. Audio is great all around and the staff is super friendly. There is parking areas all around and street parking (park with caution!)

1. Worst, amateur and inhospitable security and ushers ever. 2. Unhelpful and insensitive to disabled people. Out front, they had a barker barking at the line that no food or drink was allowed, and that if you had a bottle of water, you had to "pour it out on the street and then fill it up inside." That would make sense if they wanted you to buy their water, but in that case they wouldn't let you bring in EMPTY bottles to fill for FREE at their water fountain. Where's the logic here?? Also everyone's bags were searched and they forced me to throw away a small Korean fan because they didn't allow fans. I can understand why that is, but I carry it for a MEDICAL reason to keep my pain down. Knowing this, the guard still threw it out. And I saw glee. Inside the seating area people were gulping drinks AND eating popcorn! I have NEVER seen this in a theater of this caliber; usually you drink/eat in the lobby BEFORE you sit down. Thus, the floor was a sticky mess and the seats grimed with food stains. But the WORST THING were the apathetic, unprofessional security staff and volunteer ushers who did NOTHING to direct traffic to the restrooms. There is no signage and no one knew where to go. Thus, everyone went to stand in line for the DISABLED restroom, which was the only visible one in the main lobby. Paramount did have an EXCELLENT sign by it, which stated: "Reserved exclusively for patrons unable to climb stairs." But the able-bodied people ignored that and forced those with canes and walkers to stand painfully and needlessly in a long line. One woman was on a frame walker, the kind without a seat, and yet not a single NON-handicapped person let her go before them. SHAMEFUL behavior! People are PARALYZED and would GIVE ANYTHING to walk down a flight of stairs; those who can do so should be GRATEFUL that they can! There were plenty of ushers and security right there, but I guess expecting them to inform people where the non-handicapped restrooms are is asking too much. Disappointed in these "volunteers," AND the Paramount for not advocating for disabled people. I guess the 1980's Disability Movement in Berkeley was all for nothing.

What a beautiful venue. Came here for Hip Hop Nutcracker and had a great time. They have a small parking lot but we just parked nearby for free. It is near Bart and a bunch of food and bars so you won't be starved. The theater itself has a full bar and snacks too and bathroom is nicely decorated downstairs. The seats are old but comfortable.

What a cool venue! Came here for the first time to see Matt Rife and was impressed! Parking garage was close, right across the street, you pay by app. Outdoor staff kept the lines in order and moving. Security checks upon entering were efficient. Inside decor was grand and had a historic vibe. They had bars & restrooms both upstairs and downstairs. Easy to find our seats upon entering the theatre. Love the small feel atmosphere, made it easy to follow along with his crowd work. Overall neat place and glad I got to experience it!

First time here to see Matt Rife. Everything went smooth from check in time . They did a great job making lines move fast. Multiple bars . I love the old vintage feel of the bathrooms ,and just the place in general . Had a great time !

Many years ago I had joined the paramount guided walking tour of their art deco building. They have since resumed those tours some Saturdays and I would highly recommend attending if you enjoy architect, sightseeing, unique buildings, walking, art, etc.. Today I was here for the 7:30pm Tina fey and Amy Poehler comedy show with 5 friends. We showed up at 6:40pm and the line was around the corner. They had just opened the doors and people were shuffling in one by one through the security gates. Luckily for us, a man directed us to a second line people were not aware of and we were inside before we knew it. A man scanned each of the 6 Ticketmaster tickets I had on my phone with his handheld scanner. These tickets you can add to your Apple wallet with ease. This show only has digital tickets, no print copies allowed. The inside of the venue is impressive with its high ceilings, colorful decor, and preserved history. The line at the first bar was already getting long but we luckily found another one downstairs with no line. I ordered a Sauvignon blanc and it came in a can the bartender poured into a compostable cup. It ended up being more than a single pour because of the can size but I was charged the $14 single pour price. This includes the tip, which is both confusing and a relief! They only accept cards or Apple Pay no cash. We sat in the balcony after climbing two sets of stairs and there's staff to help us at every corner. The seats are small like basic economy airplane size. I fit comfortably, but I'm small. Unfortunately no cup holders so we had to put our drinks under our seats and an empty cup had been left behind under the seat from the previous show. The row at the front rail got in trouble for placing their drinks on the railing because they were in danger of falling on the heads of people underneath. DO NOT WAIT FOR TO USE THE WOMENS RESTROOM! I made the mistake of waiting 10 minutes before showtime and it took me 20 minutes to go through. The bar line was also long and there was a lot of confused women wondering were the ladies room was because the line is snaked around the bar line. There are only 3 stalls on this level and the theater holds 3000+ guests. When I got out of the toilet, the line was snaked even longer. There was no line for the men's. We couldn't see the faces of the performers but the sound was clear. There was a large screen with video which we were able to see. The seats are staggered and sloped at the balcony so we could see between the people In front of us. I recommend getting the rail seats if you are up here. After the show, there was a big shuffle to exit. No one pushed, but we herded out like cattle out the entrance. Some of the staff were saying thank you and goodbye as you emerged onto the sidewalk waiting with the smells of street hot dogs. We parked across the street at Franklin parking garage thanks to the city's promotion to pay only $5 for evenings there now. Bart is also very convenient.

I went to see the amazing Trevor Noah at the Paramount theater . I had a wonderful time. The theater is beautiful. There are a few nearby places to grab a bite within 3-5 minutes walking distance from the theatre. I recommend Agave Uptown ... 3 min walk away. Reservations highly recommended. The big question ...PARKING. ... the theater has a small parking lot right next to the theater entrance for a flat fee. However, immediate across the street the City of Oakland has a parking structure ... you pay using the Park Mobile app. So in reality parking is not an issue. Enjoy your visit!

We went to see Louis CK here and it was great. There was plentiful flat-fee parking across the street, really good food vendors on every corner, and a quick and safe entry process. The decor is very 1920s, think The Shining. The bathrooms were definitely not a priority and felt more like a high school bathroom. Overall it was a beautiful theater where everyone got a great vantage point. I would definitely see another show there.

It's a very nostalgic venue. It reminds me of the Golden Gate in sf. It's very cozy , great vibe, and very inviting for dancing. The bathrooms are like a big party too. They're huge and even have couches chairs and a room for selfies. They have a lot of Motown at this venue which I love.

This theatre is gorgeous! I had the pleasure of attending the sold out Chris Rock show and I was also excited to check out this venue that I've never been to before. My friends and I were so impressed on how organized the event was, even grabbing a drink was quick and easy. Since we had to lock our phone in a lock pouch during the show we felt like it was going to take a lot of time before and after, not at all. I think the fact that they were fully staffed helped the event go smoothly. I would for sure attend another show here. I hope more artists book this theatre!

This theater is unbelievably gorgeous. If you have the opportunity to go to this theater do it. It was incredible. I had bought tickets to see Louis CK months before his January show. It just so happened that we also decided to get married on the same day. So as part of our wedding celebration we went and saw Louis the same night. We sat in the balcony but the view is great. The sound is perfect. There cant possibly be a bad seat in this theater. The details are too numerous to describe. Its so beautiful. I cannot wait to come back for another show.

Loved the theatre! Visited it last week to watch Taylor Tomlinson's comedy show and everything went smoothly: from the fast security check in and ticket check, to the staff helping us find our seats in the dark as we were a bit late, to the great acoustics.

The floor where I was sitting was so sticky. Do they even clean the place? The usher was also rude.

I used to love this theatre until last week when I attended the Tina & Amy show. It's been a few years since I was in there -- pre-COVID and before I used a wheelchair. First, it's a drag to have to pay $20 for an "accessible" parking spot. Second, it's a drag to have no protocol for holding a wheelchair as I couldn't purchase an accessible nor aisle seat. I had to trust the ushers. And third, when you have only 2 accessible toilets on the first floor with no access to downstairs or balcony toilets and you get out of the show and have to pee and there's a long line of able-bodied people waiting to use the accessible toilet...well, that sucks! And it's in Oakland where people are supposed to bend over backwards to be "inclusive." Sadly, I won't return to this beautiful theatre.

Went to a New Years Eve Show , hadn't been here for quite some time. It's still an Oakland Landmark however the usher staff leaves a lot to be desired they seemed more interested in enjoying the show than making sure the patrons were comfortable! We had amazing orchestra seats that were not cheap and because the allowed patrons to bring drinks inside the theater , people spilled wine on the floor, and the theater is sloped so everything dropped on the floor just ran downhill, we had to sit with wine on our shoes and for me on my the cuff of my pants because my pants were long , I flagged down the usher who was sitting on the second row looking towards the stage instead of the venue ..I showed her the mess that was below our feet she says she would tell the management but was pretty sure they were not going to do anything .. Shameful, someone should have come over with a towel at least .. if I ever go here again I will sit in the very back .. ridiculous! My suggestion is they make people drink the drinks in the lobby or bar area .. leave them out the venue for the safety and enjoyment of the patrons!!!

Incredible space. Loved this venue. They even serve food (not something you tend to see in European venues). Lovely atmosphere.

The theater is old and beautiful, near restaurants and within walking distance to many shops. The music sounded great there.

I have visited the Paramount for various kinds of events: a Leonard Cohen/Prince tribute show, Last Podcast On the Left live appearance, and a Nick Cave and Warren Ellis show. Staff have been consistently efficient, welcoming, and courteous each time, from the security check at the door, at the bar even when busy, to the box office/lost and found team. I really appreciate that they were careful about my lost item and checking for ID before returning it to me. I only wish they were more responsive when I tried to call them multiple times. The phone directory is also a little tricky to navigate to make sure you end up talking to the right person. The interior is gorgeous, and I appreciate their dedication to preserving the legacy. Sightlines are not great in the upper seating, however. I could barely see the stage from how bad the slope was when I sat upstairs, so now I will only go if I can get tickets for the floor/orchestra that are unfortunately but predictably expensive. The sound is at least excellent, no matter where you are sitting. Lines for the bathroom and bar get long because of the small space in the lobby or lower level where they are located. Since they stop serving alcohol after intermission, or sometimes don't even have intermission, I wish they would open doors earlier than an hour so that people can get concessions, go to the bathroom, etc. rather than feeling rushed or missing parts of their show. The line to get in has always been long and snaking down Broadway, and I'm not sure why as when I get to the front, security check is brief (I didn't even notice any metal detectors when I last went). I definitely recommend getting there at least an hour to an hour and a half before the show starts so that you can get in the door with enough time to get settled in your seat.

The event I went to see was almost an hour late, the line of patrons was wrapped around the block for what seemed like hours. When the doors finally opened it took a while for everyone to get seated. I will say this is a beautiful historic venue, very lavishly decorated with stunning architectural details. They didn't serve food, only drinks. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance from this location.

I experienced this theatre for the first time last night watching a Ryan Adams concert. The venue is lovely! The art is a bit suggestive but maybe that's just me. In any case, I couldn't stop staring at the ceiling. It is all so impressive. The bathrooms are also large and clean which is a major plus. The chair padding is definitely worn thin and faded but still comfortable. My only real criticism is that they don't dim the lobby at all once the show starts, so when people go in and out it really distracted the performer.

Incredibly gorgeous theater! Very friendly staff. Parking garage adjacent to the theater was staffed. Highly highly recommended this venue

Such a gorgeous theater! There are no bad seats, performances begin on time, and the greeters and ushers are all lovely. The recent symphony performance was such a delight!

Bought tickets through an organization but didn't get our tickets, meanwhile the rest of the members went in with working tickets just fine. Stood half an hour in line, not a long line, just some commotion at will call. Showed the receipt for tickets and said they weren't part of it and we got scammed??? Tells us their tickets out much cheaper, we choose some of the only seats left which are bad, the price is almost the same. Go to use tickets, gets tickets scanned, then told we cant bring our bags in because we have food, get yelled at, we yell back "we're leaving". End scene. First time I've been here too. Attached is picture of the Moon Bunny that got rejected for Mid-Autumn Festival today.

Performance Event: The Whispers & New Stylistics (bands) Could it be the "Apollo Theater of the West Coast?" Hmm. Came out for my first time to the historic Paramount Theater Oakland to see one of the favorite R&B bands of my adolescence--the Whispers. Big bonus with the (New) Stylistics opening the set. The treasure that is the Paramount blew me away in many respects, with it's throwback opulence. Theater is listed on no less than 4 Historical Society Registers, including the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1977. Bob Marley & the Wailers, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, James Brown, Diana Ross, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, Lionel Richie, B.B. King, Count Basie, Anita Baker, Elvis Costello, and Gladys Night are but a few of the legends that have graced the stage here. And the theater is about 1 month shy of celebrating it's 92nd birthday as of this review (opening to the public for the first time in December, 1931). The theater uses Ticketmaster (don't get me started on them) for ticketing, but thankfully also opens their box office on Fridays for in-person ticket purchases without the dreaded service fees. The theater welcomes surprisingly about 3,000 patrons for a given performance. Masks are currently not required, and I'm guessing 99.5% of the guests this night left their masks at home. Parking + traffic on busy, full-capacity nights such as this one can be challenging, to say the least. After 6pm, when free street parking begins, the spots around the theater along Broadway and side streets fill up quickly naturally. Private lots charge anywhere from $12-$20 or better for the time it takes to see a performance. Both the Whispers & the Stylistics put forth adequate, if not over-the-top sets (these are all mostly senior citizen performers after all). And both bands humbly thanked the capacity crowd for their many years of patronage & support. The acoustics inside this nearly century-old venue are surprisingly very good. Subtracting one star total from the overall experience of the theater for the following: (1) Parking (or lack thereof), (2) seat upholstery condition (3) limited men's restroom options, and (4) bare-minimum ADA compliance. Seats are probably gonna need to be re-upholstered soon, several sections threadbare and showing significant wear, but guessing that'll likely be a multi-million dollar renovation? Men's restrooms are limited relative to capacity. Lower level restrooms and "powder-room" lounges are reserved for women only, perhaps a throwback to a more chivalrous era? Handicapped access to the theater--while not impossible--presents some challenges with access seemingly only available on the ground floor orchestra section (no visible lifts witnessed to other levels). Guessing architects in the late 1920's didn't have disabled folks at the forefront of their thinking? And finally, giving a plug to the nearby taco truck Tacos La San Marquenna (see my separate review) about 2-3 blocks away at the intersection of 20th & Webster Sts. for great after-performance munchies. They're open usually until midnight or later most nights. There's also several probably unlicensed street vendors selling bacon-wrapped hotdogs and such pre & post event.

The venue is nice. Clean but a bit dated. Bathrooms were in decent condition but had powder soap dispensers with powder soap inside. The line for the bar moved slow but the customer service was good. Bottled water was $4. I bought bottled water and a super small bag of popcorn for $6. The total was $12 (even). I'm unsure what fees and taxes were all included but it seemed like a ripoff to me, but that's just me. I was seated mid-orchestra section. The sound quality was good and I was able see the entire stage. Overall I'd attend another concert there.

I want my money back. Take it from me we bought seats in the third role but the lack of security there was a crowd in front of us that they could not control. We are from the LA and this certainly would not have been tolerated. I definitely would not recommend and have no plans to return. Blues is alright ...alright.

Went here for the Jazmin Sullivan Concert a couple months ago. The venue is beautiful! The inside is gorgeous. I love the older looking, elegant feel to the venue. The seats were velvet. The venue is outdated though. The bathrooms were pretty old and with powder soap. Street parking was easy. The bars and snack counters were good but the lines could have been organIzed way better. They had two lines next to each other with little signs that many people couldn't see so folks were standing in the line for apparel but wanted a drink as the two tables were side-by-side.

I have been to the Paramount Theatre many times over the years but have never given it a rating. It's a lovely venue, so beautiful as we used to go see the Nutcracker when our daughter was performing as a gingersnap with The Oakland Ballet Company many years ago when Ronn Guidi was the director. And we've seen one other concert here years ago but this last visit, we got tickets through Goldstar to see Smokey Robinson! We didn't realize he was performing here until only a few reasonable tickets were left and we thought we would go through Goldstar. However, the seats were in the nosebleed section, Row X in the Rear Balcony! The view was amazing but we couldn't really see Smokey from that far distance but the sound system was fantastic! Parking can be a pain but we were lucky that we went to dinner before the show and we parked the car near the Paramount. So after the show, it was very easy to exit from the rear balcony and go straight to our car.

Don't bring pregnant women here. So we were suppose to be celebrating NYE at this very moment with the man Anthony Hamilton that my brother in law accompanied us. I don't know who's in charge of security, but obviously the middle section towards the front had almost a whole row of people smoking up cigars and cigarettes. Absolutely garbage in the air. It got so bad that my pregnant fiancé couldn't handle it and we had to escort ourselves out. I thought this was a no smoking venue? What if someone had asthma? Didn't make sense to me at all. Definitely going to start the refund process on this, cause this was not okay.

The seats are roomy and it's nostalgic, but the sound was not so good when I saw The Whispers and The Dramatics. It's not too hard to find free parking or you can pay $20 to park in a garage.

BUYER BEWARE -This May be the worst waste of a good concert ticket. We paid for good orchestra seats and had a bad experience. Awful. Antics ignored by ushers/security included: -Two drunk women who stood the whole concert waving huge lighted blinking hands at a Patti Labelle concert. Extremely distracting. -A couple falling over screaming drunk and when I say screaming I mean literally screaming drunk. She was screaming she loved him and he was trying to calm her down. Extremely distracting. -A row of 5 people standing blocking several rows while they blatantly filmed for almost an hour while everyone was seated. Extremely distracting. -People were leaving their mid-floor seats to stand in front of people in orchestra seats. Extremely distraacting. -Some guys were shouting at each other an entire conversation several rows from each other during the concert. Extremely distracting. I would never go back there. I would wait for the artist to go to any other venue that upheld higher standards for audience behavior. The theatre is pretty and the staff are nice people. Maybe too nice. It was the wild wild west in there. Never again.

Awesome venue for a high school graduation. Hey, it was indoors and there was air conditioning so that is already a plus in my book. Most times, the graduations I've attended have been outdoors in the heat. Seriously, though, it is one classic and lovely multi-purpose theater. Super comfy seats, nice staff, and clean venue. It literally is a National Historic Landmark!!!!

Review #004 - 2020 The first & only time I've actually been inside the Paramount was back in 2012 for my nephew's high school graduation so I couldn't really remember what it looked like. I honestly had a pretty hard time finding the exact location because my son was driving & I wasn't paying 100% attention so we just kept going around the same 3-4 blocks until I finally figured it out rather than listening to Apple Map. We showed up at around five minutes before 6 PM on Monday, January 6th, to watch PJ Masks: Save The Day (Live). Thankfully, since my son was dropping us off, we didn't need to look for parking. The price of a being a parent finally paid off! The venue is big enough, but not oversized to the point where it's hard to find your seats or confusing. The employees are helpful if you can't locate your seats. The show itself was very entertaining. As long as my daughter enjoyed herself, it's all that mattered at the end of the day. Although, the souvenirs were quite pricey; I was still suckered into buying a kid's sweatshirt for $40 & a $20 foam light wand, which probably cost about a dollar to make. The things that parents do! The bathrooms were clean even after the show ended so that's always a good sign. The thing that really stood out for me was that they kept everyone inside the building because someone had reported that their kid went missing. It definitely shows that they put a lot of importance on the safety of their patrons. Although, it would have been nice had they announced it so we weren't wondering why we couldn't leave at the time. People get easily annoyed & frustrated when they are held up inside a building when they have no knowledge of why, but it was forgivable.

Recently came here for The Temptations and Four Tops concert and the Paramount is such a beautiful theater. Built in 1931 and designed by renowned architect, Timothy Pflueger, the theater is a fine example of art deco design. You notice the beautiful ceiling, walls and artwork in the lobby, where the bar is located. Then when you enter the theater itself, you can see the splendor of this building. The theater was restored to its original grandness and has been upgraded to the current technical standards to serve concerts, variety shows, theatrical events, movies and is the home of the Oakland Symphony. The theater is a California Registered Historical Landmark and was declared a National Historic Landmark. As for the concert, it was a great show seeing these legendary groups and the performance by Otis Williams, the last original Temptation and Duke Fakir, the last original Four Tops. There is a parking lot down the block and street parking in the area. Since we had dinner before the show, we were able to find a parking space across the street. This made leaving the area after the show very convenient. I look forward to coming back to the Paramount for another event.

The venue itself is gorgeous. Some off the seating is so far back though that they really should have screens coming down and showing a video feed of a what is on stage. You can hear well, but if you sit even 30 rows back you really cannot see anything. I think it might be an official historic building so not sure if they can do much updating due to that, I would not think having screens up for the further back seating would really affect that though. I have been for a comedy special and concert experience. The parking is tucked in but a lot of options right around the area. Some of the streets need to have better lighting or just any lighting at all. I recommend parking yourself and walking up or taking BART and walking up. The parking lots in the immediate area are a rip off and its not worth ruining an evening over a few extra steps on a beautiful evening. Lines move fast with bag checking, scanning tickets, and guides to get to your seating... however they should have better signage for which door to go to for your actual seating as I have had to change doors several times and start back over at the beginning.

I would have given this place 5 stars if not for the parking situation. I give 5 stars for the location in Oakland. It's easy to find and it's very center. Right smack along Broadway. The downside is....it's in Broadway. Reasonably-priced parking is hard to find. We came here for the Shopkins Live show with my kids and one of their friend. I had to pay $20 for event parking. I guess the surrounding parking lots take advantage of such events. I expected parking to be priced reasonably given that it was Sunday afternoon. I can't complain much since the parking lot/garage was just beside the theatre and had a door that led us to the theatre's side door. Upon stepping in the theatre, I felt nostalgic. It reminded me of the olden days where people dressed up to watch the opera. The main theatre looked grand. The chairs were a little old, but I thought that it had caharcter. It's not a very big theatre, so anywhere you sad provided a good view of the stage and performers. I was most impressed when I went in the restroom at the lower level. It was like being brought back in time. And I could easily imagine Cabaret dancers powering their noses as they were waiting for their number. The powdered soap added to the novelty of the experience! I loved it!

Love the theater! We love the seats and the structure! There was plenty of street parking and parking garages nearby.

This is a true gem of a place. The interiors will immediately transport you back to the golden era. The architecture is spectacular and don't forget to look at the details on the ceiling and the walls and just around you in general. We saw a movie here and before that played spin the wheel with raffle tickets which was such a great experience. Note: The doors open an hour before the movie so be sure to grab a good seat to enjoy the beautiful organ recital before. The snacks and drinks here are good and very well priced. Popcorn $3.00 and Beer $6.00, coffee $2.00 , etc is actually really good for the ambience and the overall experience. I recommend the caramel popcorn for sure and I highly recommend looking up movie schedules at the theatre and going to see them. The staff is extremely friendly and polite too. Must visit this place :)