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Overview

This theatre was located just to the east of Palisades Charter High School on Temescal Canyon Road, operating between 1988 and 2025. Three television writers collaborated to form Theatre Palisades in 1963, and it began performances at its new 941 Temescal Canyon Road facility twenty five years later. The theatre burned in the gigantic Pacific Palisades Fire burned of 01/2025.

Building History

The website of Theatre Palisades said of the organization's history: "In 1963, Theatre Palisades was founded by three television writers; Ken Rosen, Sheldon Stark, and Jacquie Chester. They wanted to produce original plays, starting with their own scripts. Performances were held at the Pacific Palisades Jewish Community Center (now Kehillat Israel) on Sunset Blvd. By 1967, Theatre Palisades had become a community theatre.From 1967 through 1975, the theatre produced shows in various venues including Palisades Park and Rustic Canyon Park as well as a few touring productions around Southern California. In 1975, Kate Ahrens of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society brought an offer from Lelah and J. Townley Pierson to Theatre Palisades to donate land to build a theatre. Lelah, along with her husband, Townley, donated the property on which the theatre now stands. The Board of Directors chose architect, John G. Wallis, elected a Building Committee Chair, Cynthia Wright, and a Fundraising Chair, Eva Holberg, who worked with Bob McMillan, a local businessman who was one of the movers and shakers in the Palisades. Bob McMillan helped Eva Holberg raise the donations, and was active within the Palisades community until he moved to San Diego (1985). John Whitcombe supervised the actual construction and Don Johnson was the contractor. In November, 1988, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the group, Theatre Palisades opened the new 125 seat theatre, which was named Pierson Playhouse, in honor of Lelah and J. Townley Pierson who had not only generously donated the property but also contributed extensively to the Building Fund. (See Theatre Palisades.org, "An Introduction to Theatre Palisades," accessed 01/10/2025.)

Demolition

The Theatre Palisades was one of many cultural sites destroyed in the Pacific Palisades Fire that raged during the first and second week of January in 2025.