i've walked through one colorado many times before, but it was just recently that i noticed the faded lettering above the outdoor movie screen. has this "advertisement" always been there? was clune's an actual historic theater in old town?
it appears i need some help from pasadena's historians on this one...
9 comments:
The building that houses the Gap and Crate and Barrel was the Fox Theater, and before that, W. H. Clune's.
Cinema Treasures has more information.
It's unfortunate how most if not all of Pasadena's old movie theaters are gone.
Ah, great information, Chris. I'm still wondering if the current mural has been a late addition, or if it has been there all along, and I just never noticed...
It's funny you mention this, because I just recently noticed it, too and wondered the same thing. Is it the giant screen that's drawn our attention to it, or was it recently cleaned and uncovered.... Or have I just never been looking up.
I have seen movies in the courtyard several times over the last seven years or so, and I honestly have no idea. I don't remember seeing the sign, but then again if you told me it's been there forever, I would not be surprised.
The Pasadena Heritage Old Town Walking tour takes you through One Colorado, and they point out Clune's. I wish the tour took a little more time because a lot of iformation gets rushed, but at least that got mentioned.
Our guide told us the building was built in 1929, but a commenter on Cinema Treasures mentioned a listing he'd found from 1912. I recently got a new old book on the area so I'll see what I can find.
One person on our tour brought up the point that for simply showing movies, a theater doesn't need that towering space. That building was built with a fly space for the catwalks and lighting of live shows. If it was built in 1929, it might have been built for both purposes. If it was built much earlier, it might have been planned as only a live theater space, at least to begin with.
I, too, only noticed it a few days ago, and I'm sure I'd have seen it before if it had always been there. So what's the secret, Pasadena? I hope Ann Erdman stops by.
The painting is original. One Colorado restored it a few years ago so now many of us are just starting to notice it!
This theater ended its last days as a Salvation Army Thrift Store, inside were the remnants of a lovely building, a curving balcony and a rather plain proscenium arch. Great sadness, a casualty of the new "Old Towne". This entire block was a stronghold of the Salvation Army, a shelter on Delacey, distribution of junked items where the now defunct brewery is....A S.A. bookstore beside the alley leading into One Colorado. Picked up several treasures there....Simple times, just now a memory...
All of you have been so helpful.
Anonymous - I'm curious as to when this old painting was revealed. I don't remember it ever being there in the three years we've been around.
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