In 1971, a prospective buyer of the Paramount Theater, an ornate 1928 movie and vaudeville palace originally named the Portland Publix Theater, considered replacing it with a parking garage. Public outcry against the theatre's destruction led to the Portland City Council declaring the Paramount an historic landmark in April, 1972. In 1974, the Paramount was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. No longer a movie house, the Paramount was home for rock concerts and closed circuit broadcasts of professional basketball games.

In 1978, the City appointed a task force to investigate the need for more performing arts facilities in Portland. The task force presented its initial findings to the City in 1979 recommending that Portland needed at least three new theatres. A Performing Arts Center Committee was appointed in April, 1979 to oversee the actual construction of the center; and by December of that year they had decided to acquire and renovate the Paramount Theater and build two smaller theatres on the block across Main Street. Architectural work on the complex began in 1982 when the design team conducted research of national theatre trends, requirements of touring promoters, needs of regional theatre groups, and a complete inventory and appraisal of Portland's existing facilities.

The City acquired the Paramount property on August 21, 1983, and began the $10 million renovation of what would become known as the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert hall opened one year later.

The completion and opening of the Intermediate and Dolores Winningstad theatres, in 1987, culminated a ten-year, public/private joint effort to provide professional performance space for local companies and additional space for touring shows. The largest single donation to the Center's construction came from the citizens of Portland in the form of a $19 million bond measure passed in 1981.

On December 10, 1997, the Center accepted a gift from Herb Newmark and his wife, Jeanne Mittleman Newmark, in the amount of $650,000. The name of the Intermediate Theatre was changed to the Newmark Theatre. The donation was used to go toward finishing the uncompleted fourth floor of the New Theatre Building.

On February 11, 2000, it was announced that Corey Brunish donated $350,000 to the center in honor of his mother, Virginia Brunish. Mr. Brunish’s gift was combined with that from the Newmark family to finish the fourth floor multi-purpose space and was named Brunish Hall.

On May 25, 2000, Richard B. Keller donated $1.5 million to the renovation of the Portland Civic Auditorium. In recognition of that gift, the auditorium has been renamed Keller Auditorium. Richard Keller is the son of the late Ira Keller, for whom the fountain across Third Avenue was named.

Since its opening, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts has won numerous design awards and has become equally popular with the public. The Center has over 1,000 events and welcomes over one million visitors each year into its theatres.

CHRONOLOGY

February, 1979

Performing Arts Theatre Task Force releases finding of need for professional performance spaces in Portland.

April, 1980

Mayor Connie McCready appoints Performing Arts Center Committee, chaired by Ronald K. Ragen.

December, 1980

PAC Committee submits proposal to City Council for purchase and renovation of Paramount Theatre, construction of two new theatres on adjacent block.

January, 1981

Project assigned to City Commissioner Mildred Schwab.

March 31, 1981

$19 million general obligation bond measure approved by Portland voters for initial financing of Center.

January, 1982

$6 million in private contributions raised by PAC committee; general obligation bond sold and funds invested for Center.

April, 1982

Architectural joint venture team selected: Broome, Oringdulph, O'Toole, Rudolf & Assoc. of Portland; ELS Design Group of Berkeley; and Barton Myers of Toronto; joined by acoustician R. Lawrence Kirkegaard of Chicago and theatre consultants Theatre Projects Ltd. of London.

September, 1983

"Groundbreaking" on renovation of Paramount Theatre as new concert hall.

December, 1983

$1 million donation by Harold and Arlene Schnitzer, naming of "Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall."

January, 1984

"Flaunt Civic Pride" volunteer campaign to sponsor theatre seats and sell "Portland" pins, $200,000 raised.

$500,000 donation by Norman and Dolores Winningstad, naming of the Dolores Winningstad Theatre.

August, 1987

Completion of New Theatre Building containing the Intermediate and Dolores Winningstad Theatres, Jake's Backstage restaurant and PCPA administrative offices.

August 28, 1987

"The Broadway Event," the opening celebration of the Center is viewed by 25,000 on Broadway and Main streets plus 300,000 by live television coverage.

vDecember 10, 1997

$650,000 donation by Herb Newmark and Jeanne Mittleman Newmark renaming the intermediate Theatre to the Newmark Theatre.

February 11, 2000

$350,000 donation by Corey Brunish naming the unfinished New Theatre Building fourth floor space to Brunish Hall.

May 25, 2000

$1.5 million donation by Richard B. Keller renaming the Portland Civic Auditorium to the Keller Auditorium.