Covina Theater

The Rocky Horror Picture Show used to screen weekly at this venue until July '91. I think the theater itself was shut down circa 1992.

Yes, the Rocky Horror Show was an event in Covina from around
1977-1980. The Midnight shows were something--prize give-a-ways, great pre-show music, funny staff. The city, though, was not too happy with it.

You can see some great photos of the Covina and its great marquee at: http://roadsidepeek.com/losttreas/covinatheater/index.htm

So sad this one is gone.

During the 1960's through 1970's the theatre was operated by a few chains. Statewide Theatres, Century, Loew's and a short time by GCC, before going Independent. The theatre had a small lobby and had a balcony too.

This is a recent close-up view of the Covina Center for the Performing Arts. Is that the old marquee from the Covina Theater or a new one?

That's a good question. The Sept. 07 link stated that the old marquee was gone. Perhaps they put it in storage, or they created a lookalike. I don't know the answer to that one.

Compare that photo to the photo posted on Sep 6, 2007 at 3:12pm. They look very similar. The description above claims, "Reportedly they saved the marquee to put on the new performing arts center that will be built on this now empty lot". It would be nice if the marquee was reused.

So it's probably the old marquee.

Status= Opened October 2007
No Screen=Fulll Performing Arts Theatre
Style= Turn of the Century
Function=Performing Arts Center
Seating=99 to 170
Chain=Privately Owned by the Champion Family Foundation
Architect=
Firm=Alpha Omega Construction Corporation

To clear up everyone's assumptions and misinformation, FIrst of all the City of Covina did not put one cent into the renovation and rebuild of the Covina Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA).
It was purchased by the Champion Family Foundation by Chris and Retha Champion, who funded the design and construction of the entire facility and surrounding grounds. There were not concessions given given in any way to the Champions for adding this landmark to the City of Covina.

All processes including Environmental Impact Reports,EPA reviews, density, traffic studies, design, signage, easement submittals, meetings and approvals from the design review board, City Counsel and historical were complied with as well as the normal construction permits, easement etc., were performed, exercised and processed.

A basement was excavated below the oritinal theatre grade to add theatrical trap lifts, equipment, dressing rooms, etc., and all historical "finds" that were uncovered during demolition/re-construction were saved and either reused, given to the Covina Historical museum or will be on display in the theatre.

The construction started in January of 2004 and because of all the unforseen issues with substandard, damaged structures, redesigning and changing from a one building renovation to removal and rebuilding of 3 structures. THERE WAS NEVER AN EMPTY LOT!

The theatre opened in October of 2007 with a Gala event show. The original "Covina" letters were made of steel and in a state of decay that required them to be copied,identical to the originals in
aluminum and reinstalled. The balance of the marque was designed along with the building under the direction of Ms.Champion as a structure representing the turn of the century.

Originally the project was only to renovate the existing theatre structure but during demolition, it was found that the adjacent buildings (North/SOuth) were attached and in major disrepair/damaged.

The new facility is authentic architecturally, using modern energy effecient materials,and the latest construction methods. The sound and theatrical equipment is the state of the art with the abilities of hosting musicals, concerts, plays, you name it, the theatre can handle it... in a very intimate, turn of the century classical atmosphere. It is a for the appreciation for the arts in the San Gabriel Valley. There is nothing like it anywhere. The Interior and exterior designs were by the Champions, of Covina, Construction & Construction Management by Alpha Omega Construction of Claremont CA.

The thteatre facilities consist of the theatre, Balcony box seats and Cabaret area, Banquet facilities with Kitchen, classrooms for the New Performing Youth institute, adjacent lease spaces for restaurants, dressing rooms, Voice classroom, Sound studio and the Foundation offices. The total square footage is 16,290, it has the flexiblilty of being a 99 seat "Equity house", but can comfortably seat over 10.

OH! and besides all this, the shows and concerts are great!!!
A Must See!

I never worked there, but yeah, guess it was for the best. Will check it out when I am back in Covina.

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ct3k3e

According to the archives of the Covina Argus, the Covina Theatre, owned by George Leonardy opened on December 19, 1921 with “Bits of Life,” starring Lon Chaney. Frank Cox was the Architect and it cost $12,500 to remodel a building that previously was occupied by a furniture store and the Masonic hall on the top floor, which was removed. A balcony and a pitched main floor was added for easy viewing from the more than 500 seats. The article made a reference that the Covina theatre was the new home of the Star Theatre, which had opened a block away and on the other side of north Citrus Avenue in November of 1911. The Star apparently closed upon the Covina Theatre’s opening. In February of 1929, it was announced that W.E. Knotts was the new owner of the theatre, having purchased it from Jack Brown, who had owned it since 1926. In November of 1931, the Argus said that Knotts was planning a Boller Brothers-designed theatre on Citrus Avenue. These plans and the plans by another party for a theatre on Covina Boulevard never materialized because of “uncertain business conditions.” The next major addition to the theatre was In January of 1930 when a Western Electric sound system was installed.
Finally In late July of 1935, with improved business conditions, Knotts and the property owner J.D. Reed began a three-month, $10,000 to $12,000 reconstruction that entailed gutting the Covina Theatre. The Argus in August published an architectural rendering of the theatre’s facade and an interview with architect Arnold Marcus Ziedses des Plantes (1890-1949, who was a renowned Pasadena artist. Ziedses des Plantes said that only the four walls of the old building remained and the roof had been replaced. Other improvements included increased seating capacity, improved visibility and a dramatic interior flourishes.
The New Covina Theatre opened on October 17, 1935, with “Bright Lights” and “Call of the Wild.”
Other highlights of the theatre history include:
-- In early 1947, Bill Knotts, after 18 years of ownership, sold the theatre and retired from the business. He returned briefly in June for a few months when he was appointed receiver of the theatre by a Los Angeles court for an unknown reason.
-- In November of 1947, under new ownership, a major remodeling was started, which included a new marquee and an extension of the front and interior changes.
-- In March of 1954, a wide screen, which covered the length of the stage, was installed for Cinemascope.
-- From October 10-16, 1954, the manager tried a unique experiment. He let the teenage employees, who were students at Covina High take over the theatre. They were allowed to book the pictures, which included a special children’s matinee and a horror midnight double bill. Also part of the festivities was a ladies and men’s fashion show and other events.
-- Argus Citizen, February 24, 1955. Operator Western Amusements took over operations and planned a redecoration.
-- Argus Citizen, March 21, 1957. The city described the building as defective. The owner planned a reinforcement and facelift.

The theater was pretty shabby by the late 80s. Saw DIRTY DANCING here in early '88, and never set foot inside the place again. The sound emanated from a SINGLE speaker placed atop the screen, which itself was the size of a tissue box.

Here is part of a July 1977 article in the LA Times. I'm not sure if the first word in the story was used intentionally.

COVINA-Aroused by plans of the Covina Cinema to show X-rated films, city councilmen will meet Monday to consider placing a moratorium on so-called “adult” entertainment, pending a zoning study.

The theater at 104 N. Citrus Ave. has adopted a policy of showing a smattering of foreign films, old classics and recent offbeat films such as “Harold and Maude” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. No film plays for more than two days. Included in the upcoming schedule for July and August are such X-rated films as “Last Tango in Paris”, “Emmanuelle” and “Super Vixens”.

City manager Richard Miller has written to Great Western Theaters, which runs the Covina Cinema, saying, “Your films are not suited to our entertainment tastes and we will attempt to seek whatever remedies or support, public or private, we can to influence you to conform to family entertainment that is acceptable to our city.” Miller said that he recently received a four-page reply from Steven Lane, president of Great Western Theaters, chastising him for setting himself up “as a censor for the mores and tastes of the community.”

Miller conceded that Covina Cinema’s X-rated films tend to be “soft-core” pornography rather than hardcore. But, he said, his fear is that X-rated films will be shown with increasing frequency and the degree of sexual explicitness will increase.

Great Western Theaters, headquartered in Tarzana, leased the theater four months ago and began offering a variety of films, with programs changing every day or two. Lane said the Covina Cinema is not at this point a financial success. But, he said, it has a mailing list of more than 2,200 persons who have expressed interest in the theater’s programs. He noted that it took six months for the company’s theater at Newport Beach to become a success after it adopted the kind of programming being tried in Covina.

Re: GR8B comment, "No screen -- full performing arts theater." I went by today and they are advertising a Fall Film Festival. Their website says the facility is "ideal for... classic movie screenings."

Should the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, like the ImaginAsian that replaced the Linda Lea, get its own page?

I'd say if it's an entirely new building, it should have its own page, as long as it shows movies. However, in the photo on this page at the center's web site you can see that they've only got a big digital setup for movies.

The .pdf with the theater's technical specifications says they have a 12'x20' high-definition screen and are equipped for Blu-Ray digital DVD playback. I guess 12'x20' is about as big as the screens many movie theaters had for decades, and probably bigger than the screens in some of the early multiplexes, so presentation is probably decent.

The .pdf has a few photos. I wish they'd given as much architectural attention to the outside of the new building as they did to the interior, which is not half bad. The facade looks strip mall dull, though, even with the restored marquee in place.

Considering that it's a 99 seat theater, that screen size is probably not too bad in there. What I can't figure out, reading the posts here and on their page, is how much of the old building survived. Also, is the facade a recreation of the building's original look?

Ken MC: Really dig that 1983 photo/link. Thanks for posting it!