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The Paramount Ballroom, a glistening Art Deco theater, was not only at the forefront of entertainment in the heart of Shanghai in the early 20th century, it was patronized by Hollywood superstars, such as Charlie Chaplin, became a den of iniquity for city gangsters and provided the scene for one of the metropolis’ most mysterious murders.
“The Paramount Ballroom was one of four major theaters in old Shanghai. It was a Western-style architectural building but it was mainly invested in by a wealthy Chinese merchant named Gu Liancheng from Nanxun of Zhejiang Province,” Zhang Yaojun, a researcher from Shanghai Archives Bureau, said.
When the ballroom threw its doors open in 1933 on December 15, The China Press reported that the new million-dollar establishment was perhaps the most luxurious structure of its kind ever attempted in China or the Far East.
“Modern in every respect, with a fine color scheme, excellent orchestra, service and entertainment, the ballroom lived up to its boast of being the most beautiful nightclub this side of the Pacific,” the newspaper said.
The China Press revealed the theater was decorated on a lavish scale and the owners of the establishment had tried to provide the best in entertainment.
“The illumination is a little short of spectacular while the draperies, fixtures, et cetera, have been purchased with an idea of effectiveness rather than any thought of saving money,” the report said.
Zhang added that the ballroom featured two kinds of outstanding dance floors, large enough to accommodate hundreds of dancers.
“One was a spring floor and upstairs was a kind of crystal floor made of glass and illuminated by light bulbs,” he said.
The spring floor was where silent film legend Chaplin danced with his movie co-star and companion Paulette Goddard on his one and only night in Shanghai in March 1936.
The China Press said the spring floor was outstanding for dancers and for the presentation of ballroom acts and theatricals.
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