Pasadena Playhouse Reopens : Perseverance Brings Theater’s Rebirth

It is fortunate that the Pasadena Playhouse, opening Saturday almost 20 years after it closed, is in Pasadena, perhaps the most preservation-minded community in the Southland.

It is equally fortunate that real estate developer David G. Houk, chosen by the city of Pasadena in 1979 to renovate and reopen the theater complex, has had the stubbornness to stay with the project to its completion and Saturday’s opening night of Shaw’s “Arms and the Man” in the Playhouse’s famous 700-seat main stage theater.

Pasadena Mayor William J. Bogaard said the city “is grateful to Mr. Houk for his perseverance and devotion to returning the Pasadena Playhouse to its days of glory. As the official state theater (of California), the Playhouse is a great source of pride to our city.”

Also extending congratulations were Gov. George Deukmejian and Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.).

The $4-million restoration has brought the theater portion of the 70,000-square-foot structure at 39 S. El Molino Ave. to the condition of its opening in 1925.

Historic Designation

Designed by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey, the Spanish-style Playhouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Seattle architect Richard McCann designed the restoration of the theater, while Sherrod Marshall, a Los Angeles-based architect, designed the restoration of the balance of the building.

Houk said that project manager Bill Dorman deserves the credit for overseeing the complex restoration, which required bringing the structure up to current earthquake codes.

“We put a lot of new steel and concrete into the project to bring it up to current standards,” Houk said.

Mixed-Use Functions

Included in the mixed-use project, according to Houk, are about 30,000 square feet of office space and a 5,000-square-foot restaurant in the north wing of the playhouse complex and part of a six-story building behind the auditorium. This portion of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year and is expected to cost an additional $4 million, he added.

To initiate future fund-raising activity and to pay for operations and productions at the newly renovated theater, Houk, a 40-year-old Pasadena resident, presented Margaret Sedenquist, chairwoman of the nonprofit Pasadena Playhouse State Theater of California Inc., with a check for $1 million.

The Playhouse board also received a 20-year free lease from Houk’s partnership, Pasadena Playhouse Associates. Houk donated the facade of the Pasadena Playhouse to Pasadena Heritage, a preservation group. A collection of memorabilia and photographs from the Playhouse’s past is housed at the Pasadena Public Library.

The future of the Playhouse had an uncanny resemblance to the last scene of the last act of a Greek tragedy back in 1969, when the building went into foreclosure. This was three years after the Internal Revenue Service literally padlocked the theater for nonpayment of debts. In 1970, an auction was held to sell off personal effects and memorabilia.

Pasadena City Director Donald F. Yokaitis began an effort in 1975 to purchase the Playhouse from the Bank of America. Efforts by the city to find appropriate users for the run-down structure were hampered by the considerable expense of restoring it.

In 1978, Pasadena received federal assistance in the form of a grant from the Economic Development Administration. The grant formed the basis for the restoration of the Playhouse--if matching funds could be found.

Houk came to the rescue in 1979, matching the grant funds through his partnership and provided additional funds necessary to preserve the Playhouse structures.

The 99-seat balcony theater opened in 1982, allowing the playhouse to present an “Interim Theater” season while the main theater was undergoing restoration.

Houk is currently developing a major mixed-used development called Pershing Square Center on 2 1/2 acres across from Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles.

Ironically--in view of the praise Houk has received from Pasadena-based preservation groups--his downtown Los Angeles project is embroiled in legal challenges from the Los Angeles Conservancy, a preservation organization.