Washington Theatre
845 E. Washington Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91104
845 E. Washington Boulevard,
Pasadena,
CA
91104
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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?
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.
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?
How did the June 13th meeting go? Was there any mention of the theatre? Are there any updates on the renovation plans?
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!
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.
Kingsnorth: No doubt you are aware of the Raymond Theatre ‘saga’ located in Pasadena CA. www.raymondtheatre.com
Any new info about the restoration? I live nearby and would love to know the status of the project?
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
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”
An expanded view of the above photo, from the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015683.jpg
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.
Hello Friends, would be very interested to see the pictures and get copies for the new owner. Please advise, I am in Pasadena.
LYNNIE
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.
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/
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
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.
Hope the restoration goes well – it’s in kind of a dodgy neighborhood, though.
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.
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!
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?
The Wahington theater was built in 1924. The architects were Clarence L. Jay and Henry M. Patterson.