Colorado Theater
2588 E. Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91107
2588 E. Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91107
7 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Laemmle Theatres
Architects: Clarence J. Smale
Functions: Church
Styles: Quonset Hut
Nearby Theaters
This theater on Colorado Boulevard opened on January 7, 1949 with Hans Holt in “The Mozart Story”. The auditorium was constructed with a Lamella wood roof (similar to a Quonset Hut style). All seating was on a single floor.
It was most recently operated by Laemmle Theaters. It was closed shortly after Laemmle built a muliplex down the street in 2001 and is now a church.
Contributed by
Manwithnoname
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
The Colorado was a rather plain theatre, especially when compared to its competitor a few blocks away, the Egyptian-styled Uptown. The Quonset hut style became popular for a while in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. I know of two other quonset hut theatres from that period within a few miles of Pasadena: the Garmar, in Montebello, and the Star in La Puente. I recall seeing quonset hut theatres in other parts of Los Angeles, but can’t remember their names offhand.
I’ve also seen quite a few such theatres in other places listed at Cinema Treasures. Not even counting theatres on military bases, many of which were in quonset huts, large or small, I think it’s likely that upward of a hundred quonset hut theatres were built in the U.S. during those years. It was about the cheapest form of construction available at the time.
I saw one of the last films to play here, Chabrol’s THE SWINDLE. It was so run down you could here crickets chirping throughout the movie
I saw “Yi Yi” here in November 2000, right before they were going to show “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”. It was a nice big theater, but awful run down and quite a few seats were broken. I guess they knew for some time it was on it’s way out. What really broke my heart during this time was the closing of the State theater, located up further towards old town. They also showed art house fare.
Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/5ymuas
Not the Colorado, but the Laemmle leased (Former AMC OLD PASADENA) One Colorado has closed, or at least they did not renew thier lease.
Laemmle’s One Colorado
42 Miller Alley
Old Pasadena, 91103
626-744-1224
Map & Parking Information # of Screens : 8
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After five years and a thousand and one good foreign, independent and art movies (or thereabouts)
Laemmle Theatres reluctantly announces we are ending our tenancy at the One Colorado. Sincere thanks to all our One Colorado customers for their loyal patronage.
We continue the tradition of quality cinema at our other moviehouses around the Southland and hope you can continue to visit our Pasadena Playhouse.
Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d2dxp4
Here is an October 1960 ad from the Pasadena Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/rc4bh9
Google Street View is totally screwed up at this location. Their camera truck apparently missed the entire block between Virginia Avenue and Vinedo Avenue. Looking east along the sidewalk from Virginia Avenue, you get a glimpse of the theater’s shadowy marquee.
This opened on January 7th, 1949. Tiny LA Times grand opening ad posted.
There’s a story in my family about my uncle, Jay Clearwaters, working there as a teenager circa the early ‘50s. Even though he was a teenager, he became assistant manager. One night, shortly after he’d gone home, armed burglars got in. The manager and his wife were tied up and beaten with a cosh and the money taken. The wife had to be hospitalized. …… My uncle could get family members in for free. My mom remembers getting to see the original Howard Hawks version of The Thing there.