Louie Federici was a schoolboy when the State Theater was born in Pasadena in 1918. And like Federici, who is now nearing 80, the Colorado Boulevard theater has been a witness to changing times. In the early days, it was a proud Fox West Coast moving-picture theater. Then it burned down, was rebuilt, changed hands. When it finally closed its doors a couple of years ago, it had a garish sign headlining X-rated films.
But last spring, Federici cranked up the dormant projector and restored the neon marquee, and the 700-seat auditorium once again flickered with movies such as “Robin Hood,” “Top Hat” and “Suspicion.” It is the only theater in the San Gabriel Valley that exclusively shows old movies. “You have to be a lover of the old classics to be in this business,” said Federici, who has spent his life working in theaters like the State-taking tickets, popping popcorn, and watching glamorous stars cavort on screen. Federici, of Hollywood, and his partner, Bob Stein, 55, of Studio City, hope they can revive the revival house. But they know they’re bucking a trend.
If enough customers do not pack the theater to ensure its salvation, it is unlikely that the State would be preserved as a historic landmark like its South Pasadena neighbor, the Rialto Theater, which shows first-run art films and cult offerings such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” There is nothing ornate or unique about the State’s architecture. Its walls are bare, its lighting subdued.
When the two men took over, they did little more than tear down the red-flocked wallpaper left over from when the place was called the Pussycat Theater. Inside the auditorium, the ceiling vents are scarred with soot, and the only ornaments are lighted wall sconces reminiscent of the moderne look popular when the State was rebuilt after the fire in the 1930s. A narrow staircase winds up to a cluttered projection booth overflowing with heavy film canisters. A part-time employee sometimes spends the night on a mattress in a cubbyhole off the booth.
‘BABE RUTH’ PREMIERE SET; Film Story of Famed Bambino Opens at Astor July 26
“The Babe Ruth Story” will have its world premiere at the Astor Theatre on Monday, July 26, with all proceeds from the initial showing going to the Babe Ruth Foundation, recently formed to aid under-privileged children throughout the country.
PITTSBURGH-The Echo Drive-In here has been purchased by Morris Finkel, indoor exhibitor, and Associated Theaters. Recently it was known that Finkel had closed negotiations for the largest ozoner in the Pittsburgh area from builder Al Kurtak, and now officially the Echo Drive-In on Route 51 at Large is in the joint hands of Associated Theaters and Finkel. The Echo, built and opened last year, is about one-half mile from Associated’s Colonial Drive-In on Route 51.
ALBANY-Bernard “Barney” Vane, 59, who had served for 24 years as a projectionist at the Leland, died Saturday at his home. He lived in Albany for 46 years.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, June 1962:
LOS ANGELES-The downtown United Artists Theater has been closed by UA and turned back to Joseph Schenck Productions, owner of the building. The house, closed for several years, was reopened last October by UA.
O.K. Leonard was the owner/operator of the Apache in the early 1960s. There was a story in Boxoffice magazine in June 1962 that reported O.K.’s wife had fallen and broken her hip. Nothing got by those intrepid reporters, to be sure.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, June 1962:
Brothers Jake and Ike Silverman, both in their 80s, reopened their Logan Theater in Altoona with Ike’s son as manager. On the screen was “The Gold Rush”, a Charlie Chaplin silent film with sound and music added. The Logan had been dark for a decade until last year when it was leased for art policy operation, but this failed.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine in June 1962:
THOMAS, W. VA.-Mrs. Cathryn Sutton, for many years operator of the Sutton Theater here, has leased the theater to Roger Bonner, current theater projectionist, effective August 1. Mrs. Sutton is moving to California.
I would be curious to know if this theater is still standing. If you look at the Google view, assuming they are at the correct address (it says address is approximate), the small building that is visible looks like the building to the left of the theater in the Cinematour photos. If that is the same building, then the vacant lot next to it would have been the Rig. Any further information would be welcome.
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 2/7/90:
Louie Federici was a schoolboy when the State Theater was born in Pasadena in 1918. And like Federici, who is now nearing 80, the Colorado Boulevard theater has been a witness to changing times. In the early days, it was a proud Fox West Coast moving-picture theater. Then it burned down, was rebuilt, changed hands. When it finally closed its doors a couple of years ago, it had a garish sign headlining X-rated films.
But last spring, Federici cranked up the dormant projector and restored the neon marquee, and the 700-seat auditorium once again flickered with movies such as “Robin Hood,” “Top Hat” and “Suspicion.” It is the only theater in the San Gabriel Valley that exclusively shows old movies. “You have to be a lover of the old classics to be in this business,” said Federici, who has spent his life working in theaters like the State-taking tickets, popping popcorn, and watching glamorous stars cavort on screen. Federici, of Hollywood, and his partner, Bob Stein, 55, of Studio City, hope they can revive the revival house. But they know they’re bucking a trend.
If enough customers do not pack the theater to ensure its salvation, it is unlikely that the State would be preserved as a historic landmark like its South Pasadena neighbor, the Rialto Theater, which shows first-run art films and cult offerings such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” There is nothing ornate or unique about the State’s architecture. Its walls are bare, its lighting subdued.
When the two men took over, they did little more than tear down the red-flocked wallpaper left over from when the place was called the Pussycat Theater. Inside the auditorium, the ceiling vents are scarred with soot, and the only ornaments are lighted wall sconces reminiscent of the moderne look popular when the State was rebuilt after the fire in the 1930s. A narrow staircase winds up to a cluttered projection booth overflowing with heavy film canisters. A part-time employee sometimes spends the night on a mattress in a cubbyhole off the booth.
The guitar store has moved, and the retail space is for sale.
http://tinyurl.com/76bmhh
http://rivingtonguitars.com/
There is an exterior photo here:
http://tinyurl.com/9b67wf
This is from the Ellensburg Daily Record on July 27, 1948:
http://tinyurl.com/9kvxum
From the NYT, 7/8/48:
‘BABE RUTH’ PREMIERE SET; Film Story of Famed Bambino Opens at Astor July 26
“The Babe Ruth Story” will have its world premiere at the Astor Theatre on Monday, July 26, with all proceeds from the initial showing going to the Babe Ruth Foundation, recently formed to aid under-privileged children throughout the country.
This 1972 photo is from drive-ins.com:
http://tinyurl.com/7wp277
From Boxoffice magazine, March 1956:
PITTSBURGH-The Echo Drive-In here has been purchased by Morris Finkel, indoor exhibitor, and Associated Theaters. Recently it was known that Finkel had closed negotiations for the largest ozoner in the Pittsburgh area from builder Al Kurtak, and now officially the Echo Drive-In on Route 51 at Large is in the joint hands of Associated Theaters and Finkel. The Echo, built and opened last year, is about one-half mile from Associated’s Colonial Drive-In on Route 51.
If the Google view is showing the correct address, the theater is gone. Perhaps someone local can confirm this.
From Boxoffice magazine, March 1956:
ALBANY-Bernard “Barney” Vane, 59, who had served for 24 years as a projectionist at the Leland, died Saturday at his home. He lived in Albany for 46 years.
Here is a promotional article from a company that makes theater speakers:
http://tinyurl.com/27hefr
If the last incarnation was the Chief, that should be the name, with Perris Theater as an aka.
It maps correctly when you use S. D Street, as opposed to just D Street.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, June 1962:
LOS ANGELES-The downtown United Artists Theater has been closed by UA and turned back to Joseph Schenck Productions, owner of the building. The house, closed for several years, was reopened last October by UA.
O.K. Leonard was the owner/operator of the Apache in the early 1960s. There was a story in Boxoffice magazine in June 1962 that reported O.K.’s wife had fallen and broken her hip. Nothing got by those intrepid reporters, to be sure.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, June 1962:
Brothers Jake and Ike Silverman, both in their 80s, reopened their Logan Theater in Altoona with Ike’s son as manager. On the screen was “The Gold Rush”, a Charlie Chaplin silent film with sound and music added. The Logan had been dark for a decade until last year when it was leased for art policy operation, but this failed.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine in June 1962:
THOMAS, W. VA.-Mrs. Cathryn Sutton, for many years operator of the Sutton Theater here, has leased the theater to Roger Bonner, current theater projectionist, effective August 1. Mrs. Sutton is moving to California.
It opened in 1958.
I’m going to add the Parker Square, since it doesn’t seem to be an aka for any of the theaters in Ken Roe’s list of 9/21/07.
The marquee has been removed.
At least that address gets you in the neighborhood when you map it out. I would agree with that.
But not 2410 24th Avenue East, which is further down the road.
So what is the correct address of the theater?
I question the 2410 address. Salon Blast next door is at 2306 24th. If you put 2310 in Google maps, it takes you to the correct location.
Don’t forget Grand Central Station was on the chopping block as well, in the 1970s.
I would be curious to know if this theater is still standing. If you look at the Google view, assuming they are at the correct address (it says address is approximate), the small building that is visible looks like the building to the left of the theater in the Cinematour photos. If that is the same building, then the vacant lot next to it would have been the Rig. Any further information would be welcome.