Bard's Glendale

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Bard's Glendale
Bards glendale.jpg
The theater in 1925
Bard's Glendale
Address1012 East Colorado Boulevard, Glendale, California
Coordinates 34°08′45″N118°07′47″W / 34.14595°N 118.12967°W / 34.14595; -118.12967
Type Movie theater
Capacity 1,200
Screens1
Construction
Built1924—1925
OpenedOctober 1925
Architect Kenneth A. Gordon

Bard's Glendale, also known as Glendale Bard and Glen Theater, was a movie theater located at 1012 E. Colorado Boulevard in Glendale, California.

Contents

History

Bard's Glendale was designed by Kenneth A. Gordon and built by J. H. Woodworth between 1924 and 1925. [1] The theater, operated by Louis L. Bard's Far West Theatres, [2] sat 1,200, cost $150,000 ($2.75 million in 2024) to construct, and was built on land owned by M. G. Khodigian. [1] It opened with a showing of Pathe News, a Felix the Cat cartoon, a comedy short and the feature Speed . Local city council member C. E. Kimlin attended the opening. [3]

The theater changed names to Glen Theater after Bard's lease ended. [2] The theater closed in 1956 or 1957 and was later converted to a bowling alley and then a nightclub and restaurant. [4]

Architecture and design

Bard's Glendale was located in a two-story building that also contained four 86x170 feet storefronts and additional offices. [1] One office was occupied by Bob Wian, creator of Bob's Big Boy, the first of which was located down the block. [3]

Bard's Glendale featured a Wurlitzer organ [3] and an Egyptian motif. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michelson, Alan. "Bard's Glendale Theatre, Glendale, CA (1924-1925)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Owen, Tom. "Vista Theatre" (PDF). Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Yamada, Katherine (October 25, 2013). "Verdugo Views: Remembering an old theater's golden days". Glendale News-Press .
  4. Gabel, William; Thompson, David. "Glen Theatre". Cinema Treasures . Retrieved June 29, 2025.