| Preserve Perkins
Palace
The Raymond Theatre,
formerly known as Perkins Palace, is now one of the most endangered
places in Pasadena, CA and is perhaps one of the most endangered entertainment venues in
the US.
The Theatre, which opened in 1921 and was known as The Crown Theatre from
1948 to 1976, is one of the last remaining former vaudeville houses in the US, as well as
one of the last remaining theaters done in the Beaux-Arts style.
It is also an important part of rock music history. In the 70’s, it was Van
Halen’s pre-fame rehearsal hall. In the 80’s, when the venue was known
as Perkins Palace, Guns ‘n’ Roses played a show there now
credited amongst hardcore GNR fans as helping to put the band on the rock
and roll map. Scenes from This is Spinal Tap, Pulp Fiction,
and The Bodyguard were filmed there. And in between, Perkins
Palace hosted acts such as Metallica, Bruce Springsteen,
Fleetwood Mac, The Red
Hot Chili Peppers, Motley
Crue, The Grateful Dead, Willie
Nelson, and many others.
But now, owner Gene Buchanan wants to gut the Raymond Theatre and turn it into an
apartment complex, despite all the entertainment history that happened there. For a venue
that is older than the Pasadena Playhouse, is architecturally significant, and was a
crucial part of the Los Angeles music scene, I find this appalling--especially when one
considers that the Raymond Theatre is a mere 15 miles from Hollywood, Entertainment
Capitol of the World.
It’s not just rock music history that makes the Raymond Theatre important. In 1921
when it opened as a vaudeville house called Jenson’s Raymond Theatre,
rock and roll was still over 30 years away. What makes the Raymond Theatre important is
that it’s a venue that predates everything we think of now when we think of
entertainment--and American culture centers around entertainment.
When the Raymond Theatre was built, radio’s use as a medium for presenting music was
just barely beginning, and the first feature-length motion picture had appeared less than
a decade before. The Raymond Theatre also predates Billboard’s Hot 100 chart,
the 33 ˝ RPM record, and television. The Raymond Theatre even predates most of the
entertainment industry’s most legendary venues, such as New York’s Rainbow
Room (1934), Radio City Music Hall (1933),
The Hollywood Bowl (1922), The Troubadour (1957),The
Whisky (1964), The Rainbow (1972), and theaters such as The
Egyptian (1922), The El Capitan (1927), The Los Angeles
(1931), and even Grauman’s Chinese (1927).
You’d think someone would respect all this history, wouldn’t you? It’s
certainly been done in other cities. Phoenix’s Orpheum Theatre, once
slated for demolition, is just one of several venues around the country that have been
fully restored. It now hosts a variety of top-level entertainment and is a piece of civic
pride. I was an Orpheum Theatre volunteer, and the success of that project-—largely
done through grassroots efforts--proves that the Raymond Theatre can be saved as well,
with little or no burden on taxpayers.
It’s not that the Raymond Theatre isn’t wanted. There’s been a 15-year long
fight to save it, with people such as David Lee Roth, Slash,
and Carol Burnett’s late daughter Carrie Hamilton
involved in the cause. Many members of the live music industry have attended Raymond
Theatre hearings over the years, written letters of support stating the need for a venue
of its size (2000 seats), and have shown their support through donations of money and time
to Friends of the Raymond Theatre,
the preservation group working to save it. Concert Promoter and former Perkins
Palace Manager Gina Zamparelli, founder of the Friends, has contributed
considerable time and money of her own. There’s even a group of theatre lovers in
Australia who have banded together to help save the Raymond.
But the appeals are running out, and the Raymond Theatre,
victim of inaccurate environmental impact reports and an apathetic Pasadena City council,
needs our help.
If you love the warmth and history of an old venue,
donate time or money to Friends of the
Raymond Theatre. If you’ve ever played Perkins Palace or have fond memories of
attending a show there, donate time or money to the Raymond Theatre. If you’re a fan
of entertainment history or Beaux-Arts architecture, donate time or money to Friends of
the Raymond Theatre. And if you just love to see the little guy win, donate time or money
to the Raymond Theatre.
One final note: I started out to write this piece as a full-out article on the Raymond
Theatre, with interviews from both sides, in the manner of fair and balanced reporting.
But in my opinion, there’s nothing "fair" about tearing down a piece of
entertainment history. Writing this as an editorial is what's fair to the Raymond Theatre.
And at this point, what’s fair to the Theatre is all that really matters. -- RR
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