Sierra Madre Playhouse Granted Historic Landmark Designation

On July 23, the Sierra Madre Playhouse was formally granted historic landmark designation by a Decision of the Metropolis Council. This prestigious recognition is a testomony to the wealthy historical past and cultural significance that the beloved Playhouse has delivered to the group for over 100 years.

On February 2, 1924, what had been a furnishings retailer reopened because the Wistaria Theater, displaying silent films. It was transformed for the talkies and remained in operation for practically half a century earlier than turning into a theater within the Seventies. The Playhouse’s new iteration as a performing arts heart will embrace silent movies with piano accompaniment, making the Playhouse one of many uncommon buildings on the earth that confirmed films a century in the past and nonetheless does so as we speak.

About Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse is a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a wealthy historical past spanning a century, that energizes audiences and the group with distinctive theatrical productions and fascinating reside performances. Hailed as a “jewel” by Pasadena Weekly, it has garnered accolades for its diverse repertoire and thought-provoking schooling and outreach packages curated with social impression in thoughts.

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse gives an up-close and private connection to performances that resonate deeply. It has earned a number of Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Instances Critics’ Alternative honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a number one ‘Nonprofit of the Yr’ within the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the consideration through the 2023 Congressional Management of the Yr Awards, which acknowledges the management and volunteerism within the cities making up California’s twenty eighth Congressional District. It’s nestled right into a historic constructing on the Most important Road of Sierra Madre, within the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

The Playhouse retains its distinctive movie show façade and immediately recognizable marquee. The construction has undergone many transformations since opening in 1910, from furnishings emporium to silent film theatre to the creative establishment that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the area’s wealthy cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all whereas celebrating the wealthy tapestry of the American expertise and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.