Academy Cinemas

1003 E. Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91106

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Showing 26 - 40 of 40 comments

Patsy
Patsy on October 23, 2005 at 5:36 pm

Since the Academy theatre is listed in Pasadena I’m sure anyone posting on this theatre link is also aware of the Raymond Theatre in Pasadena. The Raymond is in it’s 11th hour so anyone who would like to show their support to save this historical theatre please come to a Final Design Review hearing on Monday, the 24th at 7 (All Saints Church, Sweetland Hall 132 N. Euclid). To learn more about the Raymond Theatre and its past/present history go to www.raymondtheatre.com Thank you.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 25, 2005 at 5:48 pm

The Academy Cinemas (its current name) is now being operated by Regency Theaters. Listings and showtimes can be found at its web site:
http://regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=8

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 15, 2005 at 5:45 am

What became of the duplicate posting of this theater under the name Fox Colorado? It had a photograph of the original facade, as designed by architect L.A. Smith. Can the photo be transfered to this post, now that the other has been deleted?

spikewriter
spikewriter on January 8, 2005 at 11:20 am

When I lived in Pasadena in the ‘80s, I saw several pictures at the Academy including Ghandi. At that point, it was very much the streamline moderne look, the Egyptian stylings long gone. After the theater was divided into six screens (and even the unique features of Moderne disapeared under white stucco, I didn’t go back as there were other theaters in town that were better suited to multiple screens. I did, however, continue to patronize the beauty salon on the corner until I moved to the Valley in the early 90s.

GreersAntiques
GreersAntiques on December 2, 2004 at 1:51 pm

I worked at the Academy around 1970. I was an usher (tuxedo style) with a flash light in hand. Remember the days when we would find you a seat? tell others to remove there feet from the front seat? or quiet the kids when they became a little to roudy? I have very fond memories of working in show business…LOL. In those days we still had premiers and stars would come out for the special night

William
William on June 29, 2004 at 1:17 pm

Besides the Vista Theatre, they were used at the old Fox Adams Theatre (which when it opened was called Bard’s).

GaryParks
GaryParks on June 29, 2004 at 12:56 pm

Well, at least ONE of those Egyptian statue heads from the Academy was saved. It’s owned by a friend of mine who bought it from an LA antique dealer who salvaged several of them. My friend is planning on building a home theatre in his next house, and will incorporate the head in the decor. The heads were very similar, though a bit more ornate, to the large heads that line the auditorium of the Vista, on Sunset (restored and operating), also designed by L. A. Smith.

FriendsOfTheRaymondTheatre
FriendsOfTheRaymondTheatre on June 28, 2004 at 10:47 pm

The original interior was Egyptian and later a streamline modern. I remember the later remodel which had an interior mural that had mermaids, fish and seaweed – the mural wasn’t half bad either! I remember the drinking fountains were big white shells in the lobby. I watched the theatre close and feared one day I would drive by (as we do with most Pasadena theatres) and find a wreaking crew inside. Low and behold that day happened. I remember going up to the front doors and contruction was going on inside. The owner said I could not go in. I walked past a big burly construction worker who looked very sad. I stopped to ask him what was going on inside. I can still remember his words, he said he couldn’t bare another day doing this work, he said he was throwing out all the Egyptian statuary that was hidden for years behind the walls that had the sea murals. He was almost in tears. Thinking back, I wished I had looked in the dumpsters, well maybe not! Who would know, years later we would be fighting the same battle with the Raymond Theatre down the street in Pasadena!

Meredith Rhule
Meredith Rhule on February 4, 2004 at 11:50 pm

I was a projectionist there many moons ago…

EnnisCAdkins
EnnisCAdkins on February 3, 2004 at 10:21 am

I lived in Pasadena in the early to mid 1960’s and one of things I fondly remember about the Academy was almost every Friday or Saturday night, Warner Bros would preview one of their just finished pictures. Jack Warner and his group would always be there along with many of the stars of the picture. We’d almost always see these picture 6 to 7 months ahead of their national release. We saw THE MUSIC MAN, GYPSY, THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE and SPENCER’S MOUNTAIN just to name a few. This was usually the first preview, so we saw films that were not cut and had much longer running times. I remember WINE AND ROSES ran almost 2 ½ hours when we saw it in the Summer of 62'and by the time it was released at Christmas 62', it was less than 2 hours. With GYSPY, Warner cut three of it’s songs after this preview. He felt the picture was too long at 2 hours and 45 minutes. So he cut it to 2 ½ hours. Many times during these previews, the sound would go out of sink, as the sound and film were running through separate machines. The studio would have 5 or 6 men in the booth trying to put it back in sink. After these films were finished, the audience would fill out preview cards and the Warner group would read them in the lobby. I remember seeing Robert Preston at THE MUSIC MAN preview and Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty at GYSPY. She was one of the most beautiful women I have even seen. WOW.

ChrisB
ChrisB on December 8, 2003 at 10:49 pm

The Academy kept the Streamline Moderne look through 1982 (I recall the last film run was “Partners” with Ryan O'Neal), then it was closed for awhile for the remodel and the entire facade was stripped back to where the original gothic facing was exposed. Supposedly this was to be restored but it was so badly damaged from the last remodel and earthquake retrofitting that it was covered up again the way it is now.

DavidT
DavidT on November 29, 2003 at 6:18 pm

Artist’s sketch of the Academy Theater after the 1957 remodel (LAPL collection)
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics49/00044361.jpg

OasisTheatre
OasisTheatre on March 27, 2003 at 8:32 am

The photo of the Academy is actually the interior of the 1924 Warner Egyptian Theatre at 2316 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA. 91107. Currently being restored as of 01/01/03.

GaryParks
GaryParks on May 14, 2002 at 1:50 pm

This theatre’s original look was Egyptian, but in between that look and its present appearance, it spent many years with a Streamline Moderne look.

ChrisWillman
ChrisWillman on April 17, 2002 at 11:59 pm

Very few original features remain; you’d be hard-pressed to realize initially that this theater even pre-dates the ‘80s. Beware: The place was divided up rather haphazardly and projection varies wildly from theater to theater. But there aren’t many discount second-run arthouse sixplexes around, so maybe we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.