Fox Pasadena Theatre

MichaelPage on February 8, 2005 at 12:27 am

I stumbled across this site while searching for info on the old Pasadena theaters. Also, it just so happens that the other day I was driving down Colorado trying in vain to remember which trendy outlet used to be the Salvation Army! a

I live within walking distance from Old Town and the old Fox, so I’ll amble over and take a look-see.

I grew up in Pasadena (1964-1987) and recently moved back; I too am sickened by certain things.

By the way, those old houses

kencmcintyre on February 8, 2009 at 12:44 pm

This reader’s complaint to the LA Times in May 1948 sounds like what I’ve complained about in the last ten years or so:

I notice that during the past several weeks in the Pasadena area, the Fox West Coast Theatres chain has been running a plug movie for cigarettes. The movie stresses how the manufacturer uses only the very best of everything in making their product and, generally summed up, is a good waste of close to 15 minutes.

I believe that this is asking a little too much of the public. Supposedly the movie theater is a place of recreation. I don’t mind wading through a small commissary to get to the aisles, but to have to sit through 15 minutes of absolutely nothing is too much.

How many thousands of dollars Fox West Coast is getting I don’t know, but I believe that if the indulgence of the audience is expected, then Fox West Coast should lower their admission prices accordingly.

Ed Parr
Altadena

Joe Vogel on July 14, 2011 at 3:48 am

Thanks to mattnhormann for digging up that splendid photo. I always wondered what this theater looked like inside before the Balch-designed remodeling— and what it looked like as a theater, as when I first saw it, it had already been converted into the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.

Joe Vogel on October 16, 2011 at 3:31 am

Here is a 1927 photo showing the original facade of the Pasadena Theatre, prior to the remodeling by Clifford Balch.

AndrewBarrett on October 1, 2014 at 5:38 pm

According to the “Encyclopdia of the American Theatre Organ” by David Junchen, pg. 628, the “Pasadena Th.” in Pasadena had a 3 manual Smith theatre pipe organ installed at some point. No other details are given in the book, such as organ size (# of ranks), year of installation, or blower serial number, HP, etc.

Does anyone know any more about this organ or what happened to it?

It must have been on the larger side (probably between 10 and 15 ranks), given both the number of manuals (3, when the majority of Smith organs whose size were known were 2 manuals), and the size of this house.

Thanks!