Washington Theatre

The Washington Theatre is located at 845 Washington Blvd.. In its later years it ran Spanish films and later adult films. This theatre was also known as the Cinema 21 Theatre.

Exterior was covered with black vitreous glass but has been stripped back to brickseveral years ago.

In July, 2003 the apartments above this theatre were evacuated because of TOXIC BLACK MOLD. Search pasadenastarnews.com for more info. Creepy.

The Washington Theatre has just been purchased and plans are being made for its full restoration. Updates to follow.

The Wahington theater was built in 1924. The architects were Clarence L. Jay and Henry M. Patterson.

That roof sign is gone (where do you put something like that, anyway?) but the theatre's still there, albeit gated and boarded up. I wonder if there's been more strides made in renovating it?

I used to go to this theater every Saturday to see the matinees… a cartoon, serial, and a good feature…. I think we got in for twenty five cents…this was in 1956-1957. I saw Earth vs. The Flying Saucers here and many other fine old sci-fi films of the day. We walked the few block from Los Robles Street where we lived. I hope they do restore it… great memories!

Now renamed from the Washington Theatre Project to the Uptown Theatre Project, the project is moving smoothly through the development and permitting process in the city of Pasadena. More updates to come.
Also, a report has come from Al Gerrie, the Washington Theatre's area senior historian, that according to theatreorgans.com, an ArtCraft Theatre Organ was installed in the Washington in 1926. Blower serial number 19198. There are only 8 ArtCraft organs listed; all were very small, and none are known to have survived.
He never heard it played or saw any sign of it.
It would be interesting to know what happened to it, or if any remnants are still in the theater. Again, more updates to come.

Hope the restoration goes well - it's in kind of a dodgy neighborhood, though.

A report in the Pasadena Star-News March 14 2005 states that the former Cinema 21 ex. Washington Theatre has been purchased and plans have been put forward to renovate the theatre and adjoining appartments. The theatre will be split into two screens seating about 500 and 65 and the plans include a new Starbucks, a Ben and Jerry's and office space created out of appartments that had been illegally converted from original office space in the mid 1990's.

Cinema 21 has been empty since closing in 1992.

Hi, I know that that this theatre is owned by a limited liability corporation called Jacob's Ladder and their office is located at Lake and Cordova. I am going to contact them to find out what are the plans for this theatre and attempt to get inside to see how bad it might be. I need pictures of the interior if anyone out there has them. I know that the Pasadena Heritage Museaum has pictures of the theatre being built. Any additional info would greatly be appreciated!
Thanks!

LYNNIE

Try the B'Hend Kauffmann archive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
oscars.org and Theatre Historical Society http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/

I was probably the last person to operate the theatre in 1990's as a rehearsal studio for national bands. We cleaned up this theatre. But when it rained the dressing rooms would fill to the roof with water. We built a thrust stage. It had around 700 seats, cove lighting, one office, restrooms and a small lobby. I have a few historic photo's. I heard in early 2000 it was not in good shape, due to the mold problem and water damage. I believe someone has purchased the building and is renovating it into a multiplex.

Hello Friends, would be very interested to see the pictures and get copies for the new owner. Please advise, I am in Pasadena.

LYNNIE

Since the Washington 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.

An expanded view of the above photo, from the LA Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015683.jpg

Just wanted to wish you guys good luck. I am actually restoring another "Washington Theatre" in my hometown of Washington, New Jersey.

Maybe we will have to trade some large photos of our theatres...lol.

When it opened in Jan of 1927, it was called "The Washington"

Check out the jpg photo right above your comment to see the old front. Any pictures of the inside were so blurry because they were duplicated from pictures printed in the newspaper from back then. I was able to find one picture of the snack bar from probably the forties in the Acadamy archives. The archives also had the pictures reprinted from the inside newspaper photos, and a copy of the original opening program. Pretty cool! I am in contact with the owner and the plans to restore are still on hold pending sesmic retrofit.

LYNNIE

Any new info about the restoration? I live nearby and would love to know the status of the project?

Kingsnorth: No doubt you are aware of the Raymond Theatre 'saga' located in Pasadena CA. www.raymondtheatre.com

Here is a page of recent photos of the Cinema 21/Washington Theater building. Click each photo to expand it.

We expect to hear the theatre's renovation plans by July 2, 2007. Please stay tuned for announcements. Thanks for the slideshow of the present decay of this important Pasadena neighborhood historic and cultural resource.

There should be some mention of the fate of the Washington Theatre at the City of Pasadena's Planning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 6:15 p.m., in the Council Chambers of Pasadena City Hall, Room S249, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The Planning Commission will review the North Lake Specific Plan amendments at that time; the Washington Theatre is the most important cultural historic resource in the Specific Plan area, and anyone wishing to plead for the saving of the Washington Theatre will be able to speak for three minutes after submitting a speaker's card. Hope to see you there!

How did the June 13th meeting go? Was there any mention of the theatre? Are there any updates on the renovation plans?

It seems to be that the City of Pasadena's Planning Commission has probably heard all of this before in regards to the Raymond Theatre and its fate. Anyone know anything?

As of July 2007, the owners are applying for National Register status for the building in order to be eligible for available historic preservation federal funds and tax credits. We wish the owners well and hope that the project will eventually begin after three long years of waiting.

Which theatre are you referring to...the Washington or the Raymond?

As of July 2007, the owners of the Washington Theatre are applying for National Register status for the building in order to be eligible for available historic preservation federal funds and tax credits. We wish the owners well and hope that the project will eventually begin after three long years of waiting.

I am actually working on the project

Does anybody have any updates, I was plannig a trip to pasadena this weekend and was just wondering if it still showing movies

bbtommix: While in Pasadena make sure you tour the Gamble House located at 4 Westmoreland Place if you are into architectural design besides theatres. http://www.gamblehouse.org/

thank you

As a local resident I would love to have this theater restored. It's close enough to walk to, I go to a lot of movies and if it had a Starbucks I would go there practically every day. Not to mention how great I think it would be for the neighborhood. But I've been hearing about this development for a long, long time now. I've gone from being hopeful to believing this is a scam. A theater with "...new Starbucks, a Ben and Jerry's and office space.." now sounds like something they came up with to pacify the local residents. Something needs to happen with this building, I'm tired of the scam, I'm going to start calling the city to complain about the neglect with the building. Especially with all the squatters that sneak in on a regular basis (thanks to a car that dorve into the building over a year ago)

My husband and I are huge fans of seeing movies in theaters but I have SERIOUS concerns about this project. If the above comments are true about the water damage and mold and considering it's current state of disrepair then I think it's fate should be STRONGLY reconsidered. It looks like it's been abandoned. Damage has gone unrepaired and is now decorated with graffiti. It's a drag on a neighborhood so courageously fought for. I know we would all love to save these places because of cherished memories. But the place does not equal the memories themselves. It barely resembles the charming pictures of yesteryear. If this wants any support from me there needs to be some good faith action by the current owners by cleaning up the place first.

I stopped by the theater today. From the outside, it looks pretty dismal. I will post some photos later.

Here are the photos:
http://tinyurl.com/6zc273
http://tinyurl.com/63by8j
http://tinyurl.com/5qcpsg
http://tinyurl.com/6fg7s8
http://tinyurl.com/6kqa4e
http://tinyurl.com/6jluem

If you want to complain to the city about the current condition of the theater here is the link:

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/planning/deptorg/insp/onlineform.htm

I certainly wish the owners the best but I live in this neighborhood. If it is to be left in it's current condition than I just assume tear it down. If the owners wish to work with the community I suggest they put in some good faith work. Personally I am frustrated and have no other outlet.

When I was out front, an intoxicated man kept walking back and forth yelling on his cell phone. This was before lunch time. He was telling some girl that he didn't need to give her a dollar for bus fare as he had plenty of other girlfriends with cars. I assume that's not indicative of the neighborhood as a whole.

It doesn't look like there is much renovation taking place. Maybe the status should be changed to closed.

Was Cinema 21 the last incarnation? If so, it should be listed as such.

I would imagine that the name Cinema 21 was a later name than Washington Theater so your right, this should be listed as Cinema 21.

Washington Theatre (latest on the Pasadena City website)

841 East Washington Boulevard
(Northwest Pasadena Plan Area, North Lake Redevelopment Plan Area,
North Lake Specific Plan Area)
----------

Adaptive reuse of an historic cinema building into a mixed-use development consisting of retrofitting the building, rehabilitation of the residential and commercial spaces along with providing subterranean and surface parking.

Owner

Gary & Jackie Buickians

Developer

Gary & Jackie Buickians

Architect

J Lou Architects

Project Approvals

None to date

Status

The developer is reviewing the Owner Participation Loan Agreement (OPLA)

Case Manager

Lola Osborne losborne@cityofpasadena.net


Last Updated 03/20/2008

From the July 31, 1937 issue of Boxoffice Magazine: "A thirty-day shutdown has been ordered for the Washington Theatre, Pasadena. Crown City Theatres, operating the house, has planned a $20,000 improvement budget, which will include a new floor, marquee, seats, and other items."

That was a considerable sum for 1937.

There is a 1983 photo on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/dc82rr