Under the Dome

I believe that's about how many seats were in the "big theater" at the Pacific's Hastings Theater. I counted them all once the summer before graduating from high school, when I had to regularly clean it -- by myself on closing shift -- during a summer job during my senior year of high school that paid a cool $5.25/hour minimum wage.

Losing the Rialto and the Pacific Hastings makes for a grievous week for West valley movie fans.

Posted by Todd on August 15, 2007 4:26 AM | Permalink

Comments

Big Screen and free parking, truly is going to be a loss.I remember when it was an outdoor theatre. The Edwards LaVerne theatre was retrofitted with stadium seats 8-10 years ago and it's great. Do we really need another retail store in Hastings Ranch. The only person who may benefit from this is the owner of Robin's. He'll probably add more millions to what he already has if he sells out to this group. Stop the insanity.

Posted by: T.D. | August 15, 2007 9:56 AM

Wait! Todd Ruiz once had a reputable job cleaning up after movie patrons and hawking tickets to Rocky 3. What sent you down the road to ruin and a career in journalism, anyway? (Dare I ask!) I saw a couple of movies at the Pacific Hastings this summer and even the first runs on opening weekend weren't half-filling the big theater. We all should have seen this coming when Pacific opened teh theaters at Paseo. The bowling alley would have been a greater loss. I'm glad that's staying. It would be a huge loss for the Rialto to disappear. It's a great old place, but has a very hard time paying the rent. The last "first run" movie I saw there barely filled 10% of the seats... Absent some infusion of cash or another enterprise taking over, I can't see how Landmark could keep it going, especially with all the competition in Pasadena from Laemmle. Paul

Posted by: Paul (that talker guy) | August 15, 2007 10:31 AM

Wait..the Rialto is going away? NOOOOO! I could care less about Pacific Hastings, never liked that theater.. But Rialto is leaving??! Where will I see RHPS?

Posted by: Aaron Proctor | August 15, 2007 11:11 AM

I disagree with the future mayor. The Pacific Hastings may have fallen upon hard times but it was and can be a great venue for movies. The large screen is one of a kind for the SGV and the parking is FREE. I knew they were starting to cut corners when they stopped serving real butter for the popcorn. I frequent the Laemele in Old Pasadena because of the real buttered popcorn. We used to go to Robin's after the show for the 1/2 price desserts with your ticket stub. It will be a loss for the community. Hopefully Steve Haderlein will fight to keep it open for his district. Welcome back to Pasadena Mayor Proctor

Posted by: Lisa | August 15, 2007 12:08 PM

That was the noisiest place (combination of bad acoustics and idiots talking) to see a movie. I prefer to wait a few weeks and see something at the Academy 6 than Hastings Ranch.

Posted by: Eric E | August 15, 2007 12:26 PM

that's too bad. we used to skate down to there from Sierra Madre in the 80's to watch movies with the local betties. lots of fond memories there...

Posted by: sarge | August 15, 2007 12:41 PM

Where are all those crazy Raymond-theatre people now?

Posted by: jane | August 15, 2007 1:25 PM

Those District 6 Raymonites, the theatre huggers are as red faced as Steve "Maserati" Madison after his beat down from Steve Haderlein. They cut their losses and ran as should Maserati Madison.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 15, 2007 1:50 PM

Oh well progress. The people who met at the movies now need clothes for their babies.

Posted by: rfg-r | August 15, 2007 1:53 PM

Haderlein didn't know Pacific Hasting is closing. I don't think he's much of a champion for anybody. If enough people complain maybe the mayor will save his butt on this one too. Then Haderlein can claim to be the protector and savior of the theaters too. Oh, it's not an election year. Nevermind.

Posted by: anonymous | August 15, 2007 3:46 PM

Maybe Steve Madison will come to the rescue. There are a lot of open parking spaces for his Maserati.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 15, 2007 4:30 PM

Best movie I ever saw in that huge theater at Pacific Hastings was U-2's "Rattle and Hum." It was the first "rock movie" my wife had ever been to. Another memory took place back in December, 1989. My wife Karen and I had to get out of the house so we went to see Woody Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors" in that cavernous theater. I took my 2 1/2-month old son and rocked him asleep the entire movie. When he stirred, I walked to the back -- it was so big nobody could hear him cry!

Posted by: stevescaz | August 15, 2007 4:45 PM

The last movie i saw in the giganto theater there was The Mummy Returns. My date was slightly drunk and she kept yelling "I want my Mummy!". good times....good times.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 15, 2007 6:13 PM

"Curmudgeon Kel" here to say that the loss of the Hastings is huge. Never underestimate the power of the 60-foot screen experience. Now we'll have to drive to the Chinese in Hollywood (at least the parking is cheaper than the Paseo). As for the Rialto, well, I fell in love in the balcony there...sigh. Now we'll only and ever have Altman's homage to the place in The Player.

Posted by: Kelly | August 15, 2007 6:41 PM

Maybe the Pacific Hastings was cooler back in the day? I'm just confused. I've not had good experiences seeing movies there.

Posted by: Aaron Proctor | August 15, 2007 11:45 PM

Aaron, give it another shot before it closes. The 60 foot screen will missed. I've seen Air Force One, The Color Purple, Star Wars on it and it just added a different dimension to the experience. Yes it's grown a bit tired but it will be missed. I'm still hoping for a last minute commutation of its death sentence.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 16, 2007 6:55 AM

I saw the 3rd installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" on the 60 foot screen, which was awesome. All the other times though I've been there were weird. Like I said in my blog, who brings a crying baby to see a Kevin Smith movie? The acoustics suck - I couldn't hear half of "Rocky Balboa" because people were talking. I saw "Crash" there and a bunch of teenagers came and were just being dicks through the whole film. In fact, when any of my friends are in town and want to see a movie, they'll say "Let's not go to the shitty theater", referring to Pacific Hastings.

Posted by: Aaron Proctor | August 16, 2007 9:12 AM

You're right Aaron, the landlord never invested a penny into the building. It could of had stadium seats, a better concession stand, better sound etc. It's really too bad. It's a great location for a theatre, the parking is free and the restaurants in the area are real good. A one stop entertainment and dining night.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 16, 2007 9:57 AM

I saw the most recent Pirates movie at Pacific Hastings, Harry Potter V and something (may have been Hairspray) in one of the smaller theaters this summer. It is clear the property has been minimally maintained, but that's to be expected of a venue that faces imminent closure. None of the theaters were close to being full, even on opening weekends of the first run movies. Greatest asset as a theater venue is the easy parking and lack of crowds for "big" movies. The big screen is nice, but you have to unglue your shoes from the floor following every performance due to the accumulated spillage of Coca-Cola. And damn if Aaron P. isn't sounding awfully Bogaard-ish complaining about teenage hooligans talking during a movie... Also, one of the reasons the venue is not returning sufficient profits to stay open is because so many people haven't been there since it played Rattle and Hum and The Mummy Returns. Same problem the Rialto has. Everybody loves the building, very few go to the theater. Paul

Posted by: Paul (that talker guy) | August 16, 2007 2:36 PM

The best restaurant in town is right next door to the Pacific Hastings. That's right, Robin's Wood Fire BBQ & Grill! So why not go catch a flick and have one of Robin's delicious dishes afterward? Try the Pat E. Melt - it rocks.

Posted by: Aaron Proctor | August 16, 2007 9:08 PM

Aaron Proctor Rocks, Robin's Rocks & Pasadena Rocks. Pasadena will miss the Pacific Hastings Theatre. The families in the Hastings Ranch area will lose a long time place for a family outing. It's really too bad.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2007 9:36 AM

The other travesty is the coffee shop at the bowling alley. For years it was one of the best greasy spoons in town and for the past five years or so it has just a limited menu with food that couldn't pass for mediocre. And now the big screen at Pacific Hastings? Oh, the movinity!

Posted by: Ann Erdman | August 17, 2007 8:48 PM

We should have a night out bowling sometime there at Bahama Lanes. Bowling For Bloggers! It would be awesome! And somehow Anonymous would bowl a perfect game and nobody would see it!

Posted by: Aaron Proctor | August 17, 2007 10:18 PM

I have seen every big movie at this theatre since Superman in the 70s. Losing the big screen is a big loss for this city. Yeah I have done some smaller movies at the Paseo, and if you want to talk about teens making noise try seeing a movie at the mall on a Saturday. I'll be driving out to the Dome in Hollywood. Pasadena blew it on this one.

Posted by: Dre' | August 18, 2007 8:41 AM

Bowling for Bloggers, I love it. Let's put a picture of Steve Madison on the head pin to help improve our scores. We'll be knocking out those 300 games like crazy. Set it up Aaron.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2007 9:46 AM

Better the theater is leaving than me leaving.

Posted by: Sexy Steve Haderlein | August 18, 2007 10:13 AM

Tell that to Gene Masuda.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2007 12:34 PM

Tell that to Gene Masuda.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2007 12:35 PM

Tell that to Gene Masuda.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2007 12:38 PM

Hey K-Todd, who wrote the story on the Rialto? Very nice. I think the powers that be (the developer) was hoping no one would care if we heard about their evil secret plans to DEMO!

Posted by: Miss Havisham | August 18, 2007 6:12 PM

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