Colorado Theater

2588 E. Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91107

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Laemmle Theatres

Architects: Clarence J. Smale

Functions: Church

Styles: Quonset Hut

Nearby Theaters

Colorado Theatre

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

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

Knatcal
Knatcal on January 24, 2006 at 11:23 am

The only film I ever saw at the Colordao Theater was “The Remains of Day.” Nothing really stood out about this theatre except for its Quonset hut style auditorium. That style was truly was unique among the theaters I have been to and the theater was memorable for that fact alone.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 25, 2006 at 4:23 pm

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.

DixonSteele
DixonSteele on June 21, 2006 at 2:40 am

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

Marcel
Marcel on May 14, 2007 at 2:40 pm

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.

BradE41
BradE41 on October 31, 2008 at 11:32 am

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
Help with Online Ticketing?

Change Theatre
Royal, West LA
Sunset 5, W. Hollywood
Monica 4, Santa Monica
Music Hall 3, Beverly Hills
Claremont 5, Claremont
Playhouse 7, Pasadena
Town Center 5, Encino
Fallbrook 7, West Hills
One Colorado, Pasadena
Grande 4, Downtown

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.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 13, 2009 at 1:38 am

Here is an October 1960 ad from the Pasadena Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/rc4bh9

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 30, 2011 at 4:49 am

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.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 9, 2019 at 5:23 pm

This opened on January 7th, 1949. Tiny LA Times grand opening ad posted.

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