Washington Theatre
845 E. Washington Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91104
845 E. Washington Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91104
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favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 51 comments found
This one is still listed as renovating? Last item was a year ago.
Shouldn’t this be listed as the Cinema 21 AKA Washington? Cinema 21 was its last operating name.
2009 photos of the Cinema 21.
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Please see here for an update on the Washington Theatre and be sure to see the comments which also have quotes from recent and archival articles about the theater’s redevelopment.
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Also:
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The claim in the opening paragraph of the Pasadena Star-News item quoted by DB above that the Washington was “…the Southland’s first multi-use project….” is odd considering that multi-use buildings were commonplace in cities everywhere (including Southern California) long before 1924 and only became rare after priggish zoning laws began restricting them (which was not long after the Washington was built.)
Even more disturbing is the later revelation that the writer got this odd misconception from the director of Pasadena Heritage. One would expect the head of an organization devoted to historic preservation to have more knowledge of urban history.
Kids these days! And get off my lawn! </cranky old guy rant>
Here is one from 1924
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http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14209499
[quote]Preservationist try to restore old Washington Theater by seeking historic designation
By Janette Williams, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/16/2010 08:53:49 PM PST
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In a move to save the deteriorating Washington Theater-built in 1924 as the Southland’s first multi=use project (stores, offices, housing and the theater)-preservationist groups are applying to have the theater put on the local landmark list. (SGVN/Staff photo by Walt Mancini)
PASADENA – It was 1925, movies were silent, flickers were the latest entertainment sensation, and the Washington Theater opened its doors at Lake Avenue and Washington Boulevard.
It was never one of the lavish movie palaces that came later on, but it has its own historic distinction. The elegant Spanish Colonial Revival building designed by Altadena architect Clarence Jay is recognized as the first mixed-use structure of its kind in Pasadena, and possibly the Southland, according to Sue Mossman, executive director of Pasadena Heritage.
“There were four different uses in one building,” she said. “It had retail stores along the front, a 900-seat theater, offices – probably theater offices – above the shops and then housing in the back.”
But for the past 20 years or so, the empty, deteriorating and often-vandalized building’s fate had caused concern among preservationists.
Now, Pasadena Heritage and the Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition are banking that their nomination of the property for listing as a city historic landmark will help promote its long-term survival.
It has been declared eligible by city staff, and the City Council is expected to consider its listing next month, said Vicrim Chima of Pasadena’s planning department.
The property is tied in with the city’s earliest commercial history, Mossman said, and its place in a prominent corner of an emerging shopping and retail center in the 1920s is enough to support its historic designation.
But since its heyday, the property has had a “checkered history,” Mossman said.
In the 1960s the Washington Theater became Cinema 21, then closed in 1990 and never reopened as a theater. It was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Attempts in the early 1990s to run it as music rehearsal studios foundered when tenants complained of the noise, said Gina Zamparelli, who had managed the establishment at one time.
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Washington Theater entrance, with a painting mural of a Mayan theme at its door entrance. (SGVN/Staff photo by Walt Mancini)
Reusing old theaters is a tough proposition, said Zamparelli, a theater consultant whose efforts to preserve the Raymond Theatre in Old Pasadena failed.
“It’s not as easy to make money in theaters as it used to be, but it could be used for performing arts, film location shoots, conferences,” she said. “You have to vie for many uses – anything you can potentially get going, do it.”
Zamparelli said she met with owners Gagik “Gary” and Jacqueline Buickians of San Marino a few years ago, after they acquired the property from Norman Fuhrman, who bought it in 1980. She said the couple had talked then about making it a movie theater again.
Jacqueline Buickians did not respond to several requests for comment on possible designation, or any plans for the property.
One previous attempt about two years ago to have the Washington designated a local historic monument – which covers interiors and exteriors – fell through when the Buickians decided not to go ahead, said Dale Trader, who made the nomination. Historic landmark designation covers only the exterior.
Trader, a member of the preservationist Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, said the Washington Theater property could be important in positioning its Lake-Washington Village neighborhood as an arts and culture district.
Plans could include live-work and retail space for artists and artisans, affordable housing, and art galleries to bring 24-hour life and activity to the area, he said.
The theater, he said, could become a “niche” movie venue on the lines of the Silent Movie House, a regional draw that could show “noir” or classic movies and host film festivals or other arts events.
“Some people are skeptical. They don’t think old theaters can work,” he said, citing the recent closure of South Pasadena’s historic Rialto. “But it all depends of the programmer…and if they show something audiences want to see on the big screen in the company of other movie-goers.”
Mossman said preservationists hope to convince the owners that tax benefits and possible access to redevelopment area funds, plus the more flexible exterior-only designation, makes listing good business sense.
“They have faced many challenges, including most recently the economy,” she said. “But bringing the theater back on line would be a great boost to the whole area.”
626-578-6300, ext. 4482[/quote]
From the LA Times on 5/16/66:
PASADENA-A disturbance involving more than 70 juveniles at a movie theater resulted in the closing of the theater Sunday evening. Police were called to the Washington Theater, 845 E. Washington Street, after the manager informed them that the juveniles were turning over cigaret machines, dumping ash trays and had started a fire in a wastebasket in the men’s room. There were no arrests.
There is a 1983 photo on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/dc82rr
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.
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
Last Updated 03/20/2008
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.
Was Cinema 21 the last incarnation? If so, it should be listed as such.
It doesn’t look like there is much renovation taking place. Maybe the status should be changed to closed.
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.
If you want to complain to the city about the current condition of the theater here is the link:
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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.
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
I stopped by the theater today. From the outside, it looks pretty dismal. I will post some photos later.
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.
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)
thank you
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/
Does anybody have any updates, I was plannig a trip to pasadena this weekend and was just wondering if it still showing movies
I am actually working on the project
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.
Which theatre are you referring to…the Washington or the Raymond?