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“Landmark Theatres Pasadena is excited to announce its soft opening on Tuesday, December 20th!” the Playhouse Village District said in a prepared statement.
According to one person familiar with the theater’s operations, the renovated movie house has new plush reclining seats, new fixtures, new paint, carpeting, a new concession stand and new projection equipment.
The theater will kick off with four films on Wednesday: the Whale, Avatar: The Way of Water in 3D, Babylon and the Fabelman’s.
New films will run on Fridays (sometimes pre-official opening screenings will occur on Wednesdays or Thursdays).
The original Playhouse 7 operated by Laemmle opened on February 5, 1999. It was built by Laemmle Theatres from the ground up, the Southern California family-run art house chain founded in 1938.
A series of financial maneuvers to prop up the pandemic-crippled Laemmle Playhouse 7 failed after Laemmle sold the 22,897 square-foot location to GD Realty Group of Los Angeles, owner and developer of urban commercial real estate in prime Southern California locations.
The sale reportedly included a leaseback that would allow the theater to continue operating.
But when plans to redesign the property reached the Design Commission, it did not include space for the movie theater, to the chagrin of numerous local residents that supported the Laemmle theater and its eclectic mix of movie showings.
“When news of that approval (Design Commission) was made public, fans of the Playhouse 7 were distraught; a petition on change.org to “Save the Laemmle Theater, Pasadena” collected almost 3,000 signatures.
“I don’t want to fight with the new owner,” says Debbie Tannenbaum, a 13-year Pasadena resident who began the petition. “But it’s ridiculous to remove a theater from an arts and culture district,” a LA Times columnist wrote in February.
In June, the Laemmle Playhouse 7 concluded its run of showing independent films in Pasadena.
“THANK YOU PASADENA for 23 great years! Our 90-year story continues! Please bring your #LaemmleLove to nearby Laemmle Glendale,” a post on the theater’s Facebook page read on the day of its closing.
“Thank you to our General Manager, Geoff Waugaman, for over thirty years of management at Laemmle in Pasadena! We cannot thank him enough for his dedication and love of this community!” the post read.
“A big thank you to all the amazing employees, our loyal customers, and all of the Laemmle team, for making the Playhouse such a special place!”
New operator Landmark Theatres reportedly entered into a long-term lease agreement for the movie theater, which is located next to Vroman’s Bookstore on Colorado Boulevard.
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