"Tapeheads"

We see lots of various L.A. locations in the Bill Fishman film "Tapeheads" (Avenue Pictures, 1988). The last fifteen minutes is spent at a concert (with complication) at the Raymond Theatre in Pasadena. John Cusak and Tim Robbins play two former security guards who find improbable success in the music video business.

Also along for the very fun ride (in parts large and tiny) are Katy Boyer, Mary Crosby, Clu Gulager, Connie Stevens, Michael Nesmith, King Cotton, Courtney Love and Jello Biafra. Thanks to Marc Edward Hueck for noting the appearance of the Raymond in the film.

Katy Boyer doing a marquee change to reflect a last minute program change. She plays an artist who is hiding the fact from Robbins and Cusak that she's also the daughter of the slimy presidential candidate played by Clu Gulager.

Cusak heading backstage.

On the south side of the theatre with hit men employed by the presidential candidate arriving to find an incriminating video tape of their boss. The hit men end up doing a bit of dancing in the show.

Mary Crosby running up to the booth with the tape the guys are looking for. It's a great shot swirling around the curved ramp. The problem is that at the Raymond the booth is on the main floor.

The candidate's hit men swarming into the booth. 

Crosby with the tape. The booth's front wall is behind her. 

Cusak with the tape in front of the right wall of the booth. It's an interesting equipment display. There's a Simplex brand 4 channel mag/optical amp rack on the left.  Directly behind him it's generator controls and switching for various arc lamps. On the right with an exotic copper metalflake paint job it's a Simplex XL projector with a Simplex SH-1000 soundhead that has been shoved out of the way. That's a Strong arc lamp behind the projector.

There are video monitors all over the booth because the event is to go on national television. When Gulager bursts into the booth demanding the tape that was shot at one of his sex costume parties, Robbins suggests putting it in a player to even see if it's the right one after all the chasing. Of course he sends it out nationally.

A murky view of the auditorium during the show. 

 Backstage looking off left. 

The best shot we get of the theatre's decor. The guy is a record executive played by Don Cornelius.

See our page on the Raymond Theatre for more about the 1921 vintage building. Much of the decor remains inside but, sadly, the building has been condo-ized and is no longer a theatre.

On IMDb:"Tapeheads"