Academy Cinemas

1003 E. Colorado Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91106

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Regency Theatres (Official)

Additional Info

Operated by: Regency Theatres

Previously operated by: Far West Theatres Inc., Fox West Coast Theatres, Mann Theatres

Architects: Carl G. Moeller, Lewis Arthur Smith

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Egyptian, Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Bard's Egyptian Theatre, Bard's Colorado Theatre, Academy Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 626.229.9400

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News About This Theater

Academy Cinemas

Opened as Bard’s Egyptian Theatre on June 23, 1925 with Marie Prevost in “Bobbed Hair”, and was built and operated by the L. Lou Bard chain Far West Theatres Inc. It was a large theatre with 1,709-seats in orchestra and balcony levels. It was a sister theatre to Bard’s Adams Theatre. It was later renamed Bard’s Colorado Theatre.

It was taken over on July 3, 1942 by Fox West Coast Theatres and renamed Academy Theatre, and was modernized by architect Carl G. Moeller in April/May 1958. It is a former Mann theatre that is now a six-screen art house.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 42 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 17, 2009 at 2:29 am

Boxoffice Magazine reported on January 24, 1942, that Lou Bard had sold his Colorado Theatre in Pasadena to Fox West Coast. The house was to be closed soon for “extensive alterations.” The recent opening of Fox West Coast’s refurbished Academy Theatre was announced in Boxoffice of July 11, 1942.

I’ve always had the impression that the Academy lost its original Egyptian style and got its modern interior at the same time the exterior was remodeled in 1957, but the photo of the mezzanine lounge in this Gulistan Carpet ad in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice shows that at least this part of the interior had already been redone in the art moderne style by then. It’s possible that the interior was entirely modernized during the Fox project in 1942, and the carpeting touted in the Gulistan ad could have been part of a later refurbishing.

Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin on February 2, 2010 at 3:22 pm

While the Fairfax is temporarily closed, the Academy will be running Regency’s midnight shows on Saturdays this month. Go check out “Stargate”, “Jurassic Park”, “The Karate Kid”, and “Adventures in Babysitting”. No word yet on whether the Academy’s cheaper pricing will apply.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 18, 2013 at 8:11 pm

Linkrot repair: Here is a fresh link to the 1950 Gulistan Carpet ad with the photo of the Academy Theatre’s mezzanine lounge.

Matt Hormann
Matt Hormann on September 7, 2013 at 8:04 pm

“Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century Fox Film head, reported to Pasadena police yesterday that his car was broken into and an imported Czechoslovakian Tyrolean hat, valued at $125, was taken last Friday night. Zanuck had been attending a preview at 1003 E. Colorado St. when the theft occurred.”

“Thieves Take Zanuck’s $125 Tyrolean Hat,” Los Angeles Times, October 20, 1952, p.19.

Matt Hormann
Matt Hormann on September 7, 2013 at 8:08 pm

“Mobbed by some 200 young film fans last night as he left the preview of ‘Blue Skies’ at the Academy Theater here, Fred Astaire lost his $1,200 watch, a gift from his wife, during the melee, when the crowd followed him to a nearby parking lot. Also snatched were his hat and handkerchief.”

  • Pasadena Star-News, 3/23/1946, Page 9, Column 7
Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 4, 2014 at 11:46 am

Bard’s Colorado Theatre looms in the background of this 1927 photo from the Pasadena Digital Archive.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 28, 2019 at 5:38 pm

This opened on July 3rd, 1942. Small grand opening ad uploaded.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on May 20, 2021 at 12:47 am

Please update, total seats 756 Theatre 1 145 (Balcony) Theatre 2 152 (Balcony) Theatre 3 124 Theatre 4 101 Theatre 5 102 Theatre 6 132 Source: Regency Theatres mobile app reserve ticketing system

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on July 10, 2021 at 7:29 am

Regency Theatres Circuit closed its Academy Cinemas - Pasadena 6 on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning in the Summer of 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.

Joseph Anthony Sobora
Joseph Anthony Sobora on March 19, 2022 at 6:42 am

Since January of this year, Regency’s “Academy 6” are now playing first-run films.

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