Paradise Theatre is the ninth studio album by the American band Styx, released in 1981. The album is a concept album that tells the fictional story of the Paradise Theatre, a Chicago theater that opened in 1928 and closed in 1956, using its rise and fall as a metaphor for changes in American society.
The album was a major commercial success, reaching number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and producing several hit singles, including 'The Best of Times', 'Too Much Time on My Hands', and 'Rockin' the Paradise'. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA in 1984.
The recording took place at Pumpkin Studios, owned by bassist Chuck Panozzo, and was produced by the band itself. The album marked a high point in Styx's career, though it also generated internal tensions that would lead to a temporary hiatus after the tour.