Paramount Room To Close, Venue Operators Sound Alarm On Fate Of Industry

Operators of the Paramount Room in Oklahoma City announced Thursday the music venue and bar is closing because of losses sustained from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We’re happy to have done what we did, to have put on the shows that we did, and I’m grateful for it,” said Jeremiah Holland, an operating partner at the venue. 

At a press conference, Holland, several other live venue owners and operators, as well as Rep. Kendra Horn called on the federal government to use billions of dollars to keep their businesses open. 

“We have little chance of surviving this. We need this help to weather this storm,” said Stephen Tyler of the Tower Theatre. 

Michael Baron, the artistic director of the Lyric Theater said, “Sixty percent of our budget comes from ticket sales, which currently are zero.” 

Since the start of the pandemic, live venues in Oklahoma City have closed either on their own volition or due to city mandates. The nature of the business centers around the most warned-against activities like gathering close with others and singing loudly in a crowd. 

Tyler said the Tower Theatre has lost about 90% of expected revenue so far this year. 

The group promoted the Save Our Stages Act, which would create a grant program for venues worth billions.  

Horn, the Democrat representing the state’s 5th Congressional District said she would support the bill or another form of relief program aimed at performance venues. 

“Without additional financial assistance 90%, I want to say that again, 90% of independent venues are in danger of closing,” she said. “Our city and our state cannot afford to lose these businesses and that’s why Congress must take action.” 

In November, Horn will compete against State Senator Stephanie Bice for CD-5.

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Bice, a Republican, said another federal relief package is “certainly something that should be considered” due to the ongoing economic struggle for many businesses. Whether the two parties in Washington D.C. can land on a compromise is a separate issue, she said. 

“I think it’s fine that Congresswoman Horn is putting forth this legislation, but the reality is we know it’s not going anywhere. Nancy Pelosi is not interested in negotiating a bipartisan deal,” said Bice.