Los Angeles Theatres: United Artists Theatre

United Artists Theatre

606 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101 | map |

Opened: October 22, 1931 with MGM's "New Adventures of Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" starring William Haines, Jimmy Durante and Leila Hyams. Fox West Coast was operating the house for UA. In this Mott Studios photo they were running "The Yellow Ticket," an October 1931 Fox release with Elissa Landi and Lionel Barrymore along with "Slow Poison," a two reel comedy short from RKO. This photo is one of three views in the California State Library collection cataloged as set # 001387098.

The building is on the south side of the street between Madison Ave. and El Molino Ave. The stagehouse of the Pasadena Playhouse is just behind it, although not visible from the angle of this photo. The six-story classroom and shop addition to the Playhouse didn't come along until 1936. The State Theatre was just two blocks farther east on Colorado.

Architects: A.R Walker and P.A. Eisen with Clifford Balch. Balch designed many theatres on his own including the Pomona Fox and the 5th Avenue in Inglewood.

The firm of Walker and Eisen, teamed with Balch, did a number of projects for United Artists in the early 30s including similar theatres in Long Beach, East Los Angeles, Inglewood and the Four Star on Wilshire Blvd. Earlier, on their own, they had designed the building containing the United Artists Theatre downtown although not the theatre itself, which was done by Detroit-based C. Howard Crane.

A sketch that appeared with "A Group Of Small Theatres," a four page article in the December 19, 1931 issue of Motion Picture Herald. It's on Internet Archive and also reproduced at the bottom of the page about the Four Star. They don't identify it as a particular theatre but say it's typical of the group of UA houses at the time.

A main floor plan from the Motion Picture Herald article.

A mezzanine plan from the article.

Seating: 912 originally, down to 736 after re-seating in 1960.

Stage: This house was strictly for the movies, with no stage facilities.

Like all the other United Artists houses of the early 30s, this theatre was built in response to a feud UA was having with Fox West Coast about what they thought were less than optimum terms and dates for their films. They typically picked locations as near as possible to existing Fox houses. By the time the theatre opened, the feud had been patched up and, like the other UA houses, ended up getting operated by Fox.

An illustration appearing in the Pasadena Star-News on October 21, 1931, the day before the opening. The caption: "New Playhouse For Pasadena Theatregoers. William Haines in "Wallingford" to be premiere picture in structure to be operated as third Fox West Coast Unit in Pasadena; features to be changed weekly." Thanks to Mike Rivest for spotting the paper's coverage. Their article:

"United Artists Theater Will Have Elaborate Opening Thursday Night. - New Theater Will Open - United Artists House to Have Premiere Event - 'Wallingford' Due As First Talkie - Movie Stars to Come For Thursday Night Show.

"With popular moving picture stars from Hollywood participating, the new United Artists Theater at Colorado street and Madison avenue, one of the finest of its type in the Southland, will open Thursday at 8:30 p. m. with William Haines in 'Get Rich Quick Wallingford' as the opening attraction. Workmen were busy today putting last-minute touches on the structure, which will seat more than 900 persons. To prepare the house for the opening night, workmen are working on night shifts.

"Structure Modernistic - The structure, which, according to officials of the theater, was built at a cost of $330,000, will be modernistic throughout. A pale green and amber color scheme will be followed and the fixtures and decorations are based on the futuristic motif. A home-like simplicity has been sought and the comfortable large seats are not as elaborate as those going into houses a few years back. The foyer at the entrance to the auditorium is small, additional space having been allowed in a lounge room on the second floor. Here luxurious chairs and a radio will be provided for persons waiting for shows to open. The theater offices will be located on one side and rest rooms are adjacent to this room. The second floor also has two outside balconies, which, however, will not be open to the public.

"Unusual Machine Installed - One of the features of the new theater will be an 'effect machine' which will aid the projector in giving a more artistic reception to pictures. This will be an unusual feature for a Southland playhouse. The building will be cooled with a washed air system. It has been built of concrete. Construction of this theater was begun under direction of Joseph M. Schneck, president of United Artists, last spring. Several months ago it was announced that Fox West Coast had reached an agreement with United Artists whereby the house will be operated by Fox, although still owned by United Artists.

"Carrell Waddell, formerly assistant manager of the Fox Alexander Theater in Glendale, and a member of the staff of the Raymond and the Colorado theaters, will head the new theater. He was educated in Los Angeles. He has a large circle of friends among Pasadena theater-goers, who will welcome his promotion to a Pasadena house. He will be assisted by Albert Walders, also known to Pasadenans through his work at the Fox Pasadena and Strand theaters. Usherettes at the theater are all Pasadena girls. They will wear an ultra-modern pajama type of uniform, designed to harmonize with the modernistic decorations of the theater.

"The girls have been given instruction as to their duties and promise to offer one of the best service staffs in the Southland. Mitzi Green, juvenile star, Warner Baxter and Buddy Rogers have been confirmed as stars who will attend the opening. Tests of every type of sound equipment have been made by Fox West Coast Theaters and they are an important factor in bringing sound pictures to their present high standard according to R.H. McCullough, chief electrical engineer, who will be one of the many engineers attending the opening of the theater.

"Since the advent of talking pictures many changes have been made in the design of sound equipment. The theater is equipped with the latest type of Western Electric appliances, which include many improvements. This equipment will reproduce any type of recording with clearness and fidelity equal to the original source. The loud speaking receivers and horns are installed directly behind the projection screen, which will provide the greatest efficiency of sound distribution. The latest type of Western Electric horn is used. These new horns provide an even distribution of sound throughout the auditorium, so that patrons may hear regardless of where they are seated."

The ad appearing in the Pasadena Star-News on October 21, 1931.

The United Artists was used for lots of previews and test screenings including Hitchcock's "Suspicion" and Orson Welles' "Magnificent Ambersons." Starting in 1950 as a result of the consent decree it was operated directly by the United Artists Theatre Circuit.

Thanks to Joe Vogel for finding this February 4, 1950 Boxoffice article that listed the twelve California theatres that Fox had been operating that would go to the newly reactivated United Artists Theatre Circuit. Earlier UATC had taken over the Loew's State in downtown L.A.

In 1960 it got a remodel and was advertised as "newly glamorized." Joe Vogel found an article about the project in the February 6, 1961 Boxoffice. Part of that glamor was an uninspired sheet metal facade covering the original deco plaster. Work on the $250,000 makeover also included new seating, carpet and drapes.

70MM at the United Artists:

"Presented the way it was meant to be seen!" A 1962 ad in the Pasadena paper for a run of "Oklahoma" in 70mm and 6 channel sound along with the short "The Miracle of TODD-AO." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the ad for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. The 35 mm version had played the theatre in its post-roadshow wide break beginning December 31, 1956.

Later "Omen" (1976) and "Alien" (1979) played the United Artists in 70mm.

Closing: The theatre closed in 1990. At the time United Artists Theatre Circuit was also operating the UA Marketplace 6 in downtown Pasadena.

The building sat vacant for a few years until a 1996 renovation into retail space for Angels School Supply. During that project they removed the marquee and the ghastly sheet metal panels that United Artists had covered the facade with in the 1960s. A nice restoration job was done on the deco detailing.

The building sold again in 2015 after Angels vacated. Jesse Lattig, the Preservation Director at Pasadena Heritage, reported in their July 2015 Newsletter that the new owner at the time, BlankSpaces, was considering using the building as a co-working facility. That went nowhere. What he did do was lots of interior demolition before selling the building. The next sale was in 2018 to Morton Development Group. The Pasadena Star-News had an October 2018 story that reported a price of $5.3 million. Thanks to David Zornig for spotting the story.

Status: The building retains its facade but the only other vintage items remaining are the poster cases at the entrance and one simple plaster beam across what had been the rear of the auditorium. The front half of the auditorium got built out starting in 2019 for a Sweetgreen restaurant. They opened in June 2020. The back half, with an upper floor inserted, opened in 2019 as a branch of Anytime Fitness. The east storefront is now a clinic operated by Carbon Health, the west something called Superfood Cafe. There are now medical offices upstairs.

A snackbar view:

A 1951 view with the theatre promoting "Pagan Love Song." Also coming was "Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone." Note the 30s bas-relief panels on either side behind the bar. It's a photo by Pasadena photographer J. Allen Hawkins in the collection of the Pasadena Museum of History. They featured it in a June 2020 Tweet to celebrate National Candy Month. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for spotting a post of it by David Sorenson on the You Know You Are From Old School Pasadena When.. Facebook page.

Additional vintage interior views: There seem to be no other verifiable interior photos of the building when it was still a theatre. All these early 30s UA houses had similar facades but differed somewhat inside in terms of wall treatment and decorative details.

An early 30s United Artists auditorium view. But we don't know for sure which one. Pasadena? The Four Star on Wilshire? Unknown. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing the photo. It's definitely not Long Beach. That's the only one of this group of theatres where a good set of photos exists. See the page about the UA Long Beach for that set.

The interior as Angels School Supply:

A ticket lobby view as Angels School Supply. The area used to be open to the street. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

The east display cases. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

In the former lobby area. The auditorium is off to the left. Photo: May W. - Yelp - 2009

Looking across the former auditorium. Photo: May W. - Yelp - 2009

The screen end of the space. Photo: May W. - Yelp - 2009. Thanks to Chris Nichols for spotting May's photos on Yelp.

Looking back toward the booth in the former auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

The interior as Sweetgreen:

The ticket lobby during the Sweetgreen buildout. Still with display cases but an earlier owner ripped out the light bulb studded ceiling. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2019

Looking to the booth end of the space during the Sweetgreen buildout. Note the surviving deco ceiling beam but the pilaster on the wall is gone. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2019

A view toward the former ticket lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2019

The screen end of the space. Actually the screen would have been way back behind the new wall. The rear half of the auditorium is now built out as a gym. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2019

Nothing historic left to see. Photo: Yelp - 2020

More exterior views:

1931 - A detail taken from the Mott Studios photo at the top of the page.

1931 - A Mott Studios photo from the California State Library with the theatre running "The Yellow Ticket."

1931 - A peek into the ticket lobby. It's a detail from the previous Mott Studios photo.

1931 - Another "Yellow Ticket" view. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library

1931 - "Once a Lady" was a November release from Paramount. The photo appears on page 26 of "Pasadena, A Business History" by Patrick Conyers, Cedar Phillips and the Pasadena Museum of History (Arcadia Publishing, 2007). Note the See's candy store at the left. The text notes that Mary See was a Pasadena native. The page with the photo appears on Google Books as part of their preview of the book. The photo also appears, with other views of the theatre, on Tourmaline's Noirish Los Angeles post #20423.

1932 - An entrance view by Peerless Photo Service that used to be in the collection of Johnny Bresnik. It now resides in the Ronald W. Mahan collection. Thanks, Ron! "Skyscraper Souls" was a July release.

1936 - A view of the theatre all dolled up for "San Francisco" with Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. The marquee says they were giving away a 1936 Plymouth sedan that night. It's a Harold A. Parker photo taken for the theatre that's now in the Huntington Library collection. Bruce Kimmel notes that the photo was taken July 27.

c.1939 - Looking west on Colorado Blvd. with the UA hiding behind a palm tree on the left. It's an image by the Dick Whittington studio in the USC Digital Library collection.

1945 - A look at the marquee after they got rid of the milk glass letters and got "modern" white readerboard faces installed. Thanks to Marc Wanamaker for this photo from his Bison Archives collection appearing on page 106 of the great book "Theatres in Los Angeles" by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall and Mr. Wanamaker (Arcadia Publishing, 2008). There's a preview of the book on Google Books.

1950 - The theatre well used as a viewing stand for the Rose Parade. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for spotting the photo as a post by Cherie Hawkins on the You Know You Are From Old School Pasadena When... Facebook page. They have two Merian C. Cooper productions from 1935 that got reissued as a package in July 1949. "She" with Helen Gagahan and Randolph Scott along with "The Last Days of Pompeii" with Preston Foster ad Basil Rathbone.

Cherie calls our attention to the scaffolding holding cameramen from the studio of J. Allen Hawkins. She notes that he was the official photographer from the 1940s into the 60s. His work included photographing the Queen and her court in November and then covering the parade and the game. Hawkins is behind his camera on the right side. The others were either his employees or those he hired for the day.

1955 - That's the theatre's vertical popping up in the center of this view east on Colorado. Thanks to Charles Phoenix for sharing this photo in a post on the Charles Phoenix Facebook page.

1957 - Celebrating the Rose Parade with "Oklahoma!" playing at the UA. They hadn't taken down the "Coming" sign but the film had opened the night before. Not in 70mm. Thanks to Noirish L.A. contributor Ethereal Reality for finding the photo on eBay for his Noirish post # 47524. And thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting it on Noirish and sharing with a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

See a December 28 L.A. Times ad listing a dozen theatres for the release. In addition to those listed it also played the UA Long Beach. The 70mm reserved seat engagement at the UA Downtown had ended December 18, the run at the Egyptian a bit earlier.

1957 - Another "Oklahoma" shot located by Ken McIntyre. This one was a post on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.

1957/58 - A through-the-windshield shot taken by Ernest Specht or one of his sisters, evidently several days before they rode in the Rose Parade. Thanks to Jim Staub for sharing this one and several other Colorado Blvd. shots from his collection in a Facebook post. Jim also shared several of the images in the set as a post on the You Know When You're From Old School Pasadena... group. On the end of the marquee: "Jerry Lewis as 'The Sad Sack,'" a November 1957 release.

1981 - A look at the 1960 vintage facade cladding from the now-vanished American Classic Images website.

1983 - Thanks to the American Classic Images collection for this photo.

1996 - Thanks to Tahoe 61 on Flickr for this look at the closed theatre.

1996 - The siding comes off the facade. Thanks to Jorge Mena, Jr. for sharing this November photo he took as well as the two below.

1996 - Signage revealed on the east storefront. Photo: Jorge Mena, Jr. - November

1996 - A look across the top of the west storefront. Photo: Jorge Mena, Jr. - November. Thanks!

c.2005 - Thanks to Debra Jane Seltzer for this fine shot of the restored "Unity" panel. It appears on page ten of the California Theatres section of her immense site Roadside Architecture.

c.2005 - The "Artistry" panel. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture

2009 - A lovely view by Joe Schumacher on Flickr. It's in his Pasadena and Los Angeles album.

2010 - A rainy day view in the Angels School Supply era with a look at the Pasadena Playhouse stagehouse behind. The photo by Petrea Burchard appeared with "Vestiges of Deco Glory," a post on her blog Living Vicuriously, aka Pasadena Daily Photo.

2010 - A view from the west. Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - A closer look at the center of the facade. Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - Around the back. The alley side of the Pasadena Playhouse is out of the frame to the left. Photo: Bill Counter

2017 - Thanks to Jonathan Raines for sharing this shot.

2018 - A look skyward from Mike Hume. For thousands of great photos of the theatres he's explored in the Los Angeles area and elsewhere visit his Historic Theatre Photography site.

2018 - Another facade view from Mike Hume. Thanks, Mike!

2019 - Gutted and still partially for lease. The storefront on the right was being used as a preview center for Anytime Fitness. Photo: Bill Counter

2019 - A September view to the east by Valentino Herrera. It was a post on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

2019 - New signage for the United Artists Sweetgreen and the storefronts up in November, using the same font as the earlier Angels School Supply signs. Photo: Bill Counter