Esquire Theatre

2670 Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91107

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Laemmle Theatres

Architects: George T. Kirkpatrick

Functions: Bank

Nearby Theaters

Esquire

Built by and opened by Laemmle Theatres on April 1, 1964 with Ludmilla Tcherina in “The Lovers of Teruel”. It closed in late-2000, the former Esquire Theatre was converted into a bank in 2004.

Contributed by Ray Martinez

Recent comments (view all 22 comments)

DanielBates
DanielBates on February 12, 2006 at 8:57 am

I share Meredith Rhule’s grief that the Esquire, which I managed for the Laemmles for four years beginning in 1980, is no more. I understand the Laemmles even used to schedule chamber music concerts there in earlier years. A little culture never hurt any neighborhood.

Marcel
Marcel on May 14, 2007 at 2:34 pm

The Esquire and Colorado did close due to the Laemmle 7-let’s not forget the closing of the wonderful State Theatre as well. I saw one of the last movies shown at the Colorado in November of 2000- “Yi Yi”, then they were showing “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” through christmas, and that was it. The theater was in awful bad shape when I went, they must have known for some time it was going. A good amount of seats were broken. Never went to the Esquire.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 25, 2008 at 2:03 am

The exact opening date for the Esquire was April 1, 1964, according to the April 6 issue of Boxoffice Magazine that year. The opening movie was the French ballet-drama “The Lovers of Tereul”.

Among the unusual features (for that time) of the Esquire were a wheelchair platform accommodating four persons, and a row of seats wired to the sound system for hard-of-hearing patrons.

The interior and exterior of the theater, which was located in an existing building, was designed by motion picture art director Eugene Lourie.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 25, 2008 at 2:05 am

Oh, I forgot to include that Boxoffice gave the Esquire’s seating capacity as 525.

WriterDude
WriterDude on December 27, 2008 at 6:23 pm

I also mourn the closing of the Esquire, as my father managed it in the late 60’s and early 70’s — I had many great times there as a kid. Using my blog, we are actively seeking out his staff from that era, but would also welcome comments from anyone who has a memory they’d like to share. If either of the above describes you, please stop by and leave a comment at http://blog.claysteiner.com

(If you’re reading this as an older post, you may need to search “Esquire” in the search box at top right of the front page.)

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on March 24, 2010 at 5:52 pm

Sweet. It was a Washington Mutual branch. This may mean it will be a theatre again very soon.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 30, 2010 at 7:33 pm

At least the bank is using the marquee instead of ripping it down.

Logan5
Logan5 on October 15, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Apparently the Esquire was one of the very few theaters anywhere to host a theatrical showing of The Beatles' 1967 made-for-tv movie “Magical Mystery Tour” (May 17-19, 1968). http://www.concertposterart.com/images/posters/detail/Beatles-Magical-Mystery-Tour-1968-LA-Film-Movie-Poster-Type-Ad.jpg

rivest266
rivest266 on October 26, 2019 at 4:08 pm

Opened on April 1st, 1964. Grand opening ad posted.

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