CAROLE KEETON – FORMER MAY OF AUSTIN, TX

100th Anniversary Countdown Paramount Theatre Continued!

Carole Keeton, former Mayor of Austin: (Add additional names as you wish!) In 1977, we were able to lobby the Austin City Council to free up $120,000 in HUD funds for desperately needed renovations to the Paramount’s “Pit and Pendulum” dressing rooms in the basement and to restore the facade.

We asked Carole to come to kick off the project. I handed her a sledgehammer so that she could give the cheap, tile covering the historic facade “a good whack” to begin the removal of said tile. She took a big swing but missed the entire wall, crashing through the box office window with our employee “Betsy” frozen in shock. Carole’s diminutive size was no match for a sledgehammer!!

She was a good friend, always, both as Mayor and in her many other roles for Texas. We love you, “Babe” (Ruth)!!!