I also remember when Wednesday was the standard opening day for films. By the time the late 70’s came around Friday was pretty much the norm.
Opening on Wednesday sometimes benefits a film, but last weekend with “Pineapple Express” it cost the film the #1 position for the weekend. Wednesday was the strongest grossing day of the weekend and the grosses were sigificantly less for the remainder of the week and weekend. Friday probably looks better ‘on the books’ for the studios.
I think the adjoing Chinese 6 are a liability to Grauman’s Chinese. Arclight may be stronger because the theatres are nicer and have more seating. Most big films are booked for the main theatre while the 6 plex is used for spillover or move-overs.
Movies are not made for theatres anymore. Theatres are the advertisements for the home entertainment platform. Back when I was a teenager in the 1970’s films has long exclusive runs in Westwood/Hollywood, then wide runs, and re-issues. I cannot tell you have many re-issues of Young Frankenstein there was, Laemmle booked it into the Monica Twins in Santa Monica a few times. Now filmgoing is not as fun as it used to be. Films are commodities.
The Landmark has booked The Dark Knight July 18, as has AMC Century 15 and so has Mann Village. Zoing of film bookings is outta control now. It is a free for all. Logically, Mann Village is the place to see it, but how many people (Other than me) will see it there.
It would be worse if Mann still had the twins next door to the main theatre, and was competing with Arclight. The problem with booking at Chinese 6 is that there are only 2 larger screens, I think because the Arclight has overall larger (and more) auditoriums it gets more bookings. The Chinese 6 really is designed for move-overs and is used alot for small film festivals, special screeings and rentals.
On paper, SPEED RACER was a can’t miss and unfortunately flopped. GET SMART is considered a success and THE STRANGERS was a surprise hit. NARNIA like WALL-E are El Capitan and is a given. Granted Arclight has secured more films, everything you mentioned is virtually everything that Hollywood was offering. There is not alot being released currently. With Chinese’s 7, and Arclight’s 15 there is definately an over saturation of screens, and both screens almost always play films of more than one screen. August through December there are much more films being released.
Grauman’s Chinese will not be tossed aside; it still has tremendous historical significance to Hollywood and Southern California.
The problem remains is unavailability of Studio Product. Over the past decade or so between May â€" July there is less Hollywood Product available. If you look at the release schedules during that time period each weekend seems to have ‘one’ major blockbuster and one or two counter programming titles; in short there is not a lot of films being released even though it seems so. Come August through the end of the year the releases increase. The only thing that could be done is to break the zoning rules and book at both Chinese and Arclight; recently Mann and Pacific have done that with Glendale, not sure how long this will last but it seems to be what was decided on. They could impose a rule that a film cannot play at the Dome or main Chinese simultaneously, other than that option it will remain like this.
The actual shell for the Village (and Bruin) is a Landmark; it cannot be demolished. BUT…if it is closed as a movie theatre some jerk could gut it out and turn it into a retail space.
Arclight is pre-sale tickets for The Happening, Love Guru, Get Smart, Wanted and Hancock for Sherman Oaks and not Hollywood. So perhaps the Chinese is going to start getting bookings. Yesterday they had pre-sale for The Happening at Arclight Hollywood, now that is gone. The only upcoming film pre-sale for Hollywood is The Incredible Hulk.
I worked at the Village in Westwood during that time period. Ted and Rhonda came to see just about everything we showed. When we showed Mommie Dearest Ted spent most of the time in the lobby because he hated the film so much. He seemed nice enough when he came in, but it was funny how management acted. Mr. Haines would ran out to Ted’s idling car to park it for him; and would be a bundle of nerves all the time he was watching the film. The Mann’s came in on Mr. Haines day off and ended up coming in. Oh, those were the days. Westwood and Films were so much fun, moviegoing has lost its lustre.
This year the L.A. Film Festival will utilize a screen at the AVCO in addition to Mann Festival, Landmark Regent, Majestic Crest, Landmark 12 and June 19 premiere of Wanted @ Mann Village.
I really doubt the Chinese will be left high and dry this Summer. Just because it is listed on the Arclight website does not really mean it will play at the Hollywood venue.
It is a shame, yet another single screen theatre in L.A. is gone. Back in the 80’s into the 90’s Cineplex Odeon did a great job of reviving this theatre; they had great first run bookings including Hannah and her Sisters, Platoon, Radio Days, Fargo etc. It was at that time considered a Hollywood booking, and was a heavily patronized theatre. The Arclight and Grove really did in this theatre, the Fine Arts, Fairfax, and Beverly Center theatres.
I do not think that Arclight listing actually indicates all those films will be booked into Hollywood. Since the Arclight Sherman Oaks now shares the same website they list all upcoming films. I’m sure the Chinese will book at least The Dark Knight and maybe something like Get Smart or Wanted.
I find most people will go out of the way to see a film at the main theatre, but will not really go to the Chinese 6 unless totally necessary. The tourist factor does hurt the complex for L.A.‘ers.
But the strong desire to recapture the vibrancy of old helps explain why some neighborhood activists who battled to scale back the Palazzo now view it as a possible saving grace.
The 4.3-acre complex, with 50,000 square feet of retail, will soon welcome a Trader Joe’s, a drugstore, a coffee shop and two eateries. And for the first year it will offer two hours of free parking to the public.
“I remain concerned that it’s a very dense project,” said Laura Lake, a longtime activist. “On the plus side, hopefully, there will be people all the time in the village.”
Hopefully there will be a upswing to Westwood Village; enough to keep the Village and Bruin open as theatres after Mann drops the leases. My hope is that another chain takes interest in the two theatres and perhaps does a smaller scale multiplex complex adjacent to one of them. With the demise of the National, Plaza, Mann Westwood and United Artists theatres the acceptable seat count is there.
I also remember when Wednesday was the standard opening day for films. By the time the late 70’s came around Friday was pretty much the norm.
Opening on Wednesday sometimes benefits a film, but last weekend with “Pineapple Express” it cost the film the #1 position for the weekend. Wednesday was the strongest grossing day of the weekend and the grosses were sigificantly less for the remainder of the week and weekend. Friday probably looks better ‘on the books’ for the studios.
I think the adjoing Chinese 6 are a liability to Grauman’s Chinese. Arclight may be stronger because the theatres are nicer and have more seating. Most big films are booked for the main theatre while the 6 plex is used for spillover or move-overs.
Movies are not made for theatres anymore. Theatres are the advertisements for the home entertainment platform. Back when I was a teenager in the 1970’s films has long exclusive runs in Westwood/Hollywood, then wide runs, and re-issues. I cannot tell you have many re-issues of Young Frankenstein there was, Laemmle booked it into the Monica Twins in Santa Monica a few times. Now filmgoing is not as fun as it used to be. Films are commodities.
INDIANA JONES moves over to Chinese 6 on Wednesday from Arclight.
The Landmark has booked The Dark Knight July 18, as has AMC Century 15 and so has Mann Village. Zoing of film bookings is outta control now. It is a free for all. Logically, Mann Village is the place to see it, but how many people (Other than me) will see it there.
It would be worse if Mann still had the twins next door to the main theatre, and was competing with Arclight. The problem with booking at Chinese 6 is that there are only 2 larger screens, I think because the Arclight has overall larger (and more) auditoriums it gets more bookings. The Chinese 6 really is designed for move-overs and is used alot for small film festivals, special screeings and rentals.
On paper, SPEED RACER was a can’t miss and unfortunately flopped. GET SMART is considered a success and THE STRANGERS was a surprise hit. NARNIA like WALL-E are El Capitan and is a given. Granted Arclight has secured more films, everything you mentioned is virtually everything that Hollywood was offering. There is not alot being released currently. With Chinese’s 7, and Arclight’s 15 there is definately an over saturation of screens, and both screens almost always play films of more than one screen. August through December there are much more films being released.
Grauman’s Chinese will not be tossed aside; it still has tremendous historical significance to Hollywood and Southern California.
The problem remains is unavailability of Studio Product. Over the past decade or so between May â€" July there is less Hollywood Product available. If you look at the release schedules during that time period each weekend seems to have ‘one’ major blockbuster and one or two counter programming titles; in short there is not a lot of films being released even though it seems so. Come August through the end of the year the releases increase. The only thing that could be done is to break the zoning rules and book at both Chinese and Arclight; recently Mann and Pacific have done that with Glendale, not sure how long this will last but it seems to be what was decided on. They could impose a rule that a film cannot play at the Dome or main Chinese simultaneously, other than that option it will remain like this.
The actual shell for the Village (and Bruin) is a Landmark; it cannot be demolished. BUT…if it is closed as a movie theatre some jerk could gut it out and turn it into a retail space.
HANCOCK tickets now for sale online for July 2nd @ the Village.
Arclight is pre-sale tickets for The Happening, Love Guru, Get Smart, Wanted and Hancock for Sherman Oaks and not Hollywood. So perhaps the Chinese is going to start getting bookings. Yesterday they had pre-sale for The Happening at Arclight Hollywood, now that is gone. The only upcoming film pre-sale for Hollywood is The Incredible Hulk.
I worked at the Village in Westwood during that time period. Ted and Rhonda came to see just about everything we showed. When we showed Mommie Dearest Ted spent most of the time in the lobby because he hated the film so much. He seemed nice enough when he came in, but it was funny how management acted. Mr. Haines would ran out to Ted’s idling car to park it for him; and would be a bundle of nerves all the time he was watching the film. The Mann’s came in on Mr. Haines day off and ended up coming in. Oh, those were the days. Westwood and Films were so much fun, moviegoing has lost its lustre.
During ‘The Nude Bomb’ period there was a scary wax figure of Rhonda Flemming in the lobby of the Chinese.
Grauman’s Chinese is not getting The Happening either; it is now on pre-sale for June 12 Midnite show @ Arclight.
This year the L.A. Film Festival will utilize a screen at the AVCO in addition to Mann Festival, Landmark Regent, Majestic Crest, Landmark 12 and June 19 premiere of Wanted @ Mann Village.
The event is June 19-29.
I really doubt the Chinese will be left high and dry this Summer. Just because it is listed on the Arclight website does not really mean it will play at the Hollywood venue.
It is a shame, yet another single screen theatre in L.A. is gone. Back in the 80’s into the 90’s Cineplex Odeon did a great job of reviving this theatre; they had great first run bookings including Hannah and her Sisters, Platoon, Radio Days, Fargo etc. It was at that time considered a Hollywood booking, and was a heavily patronized theatre. The Arclight and Grove really did in this theatre, the Fine Arts, Fairfax, and Beverly Center theatres.
Thanks. I could not find it myself. It was also listed in comments under the original article.
I wrote them a letter about not including the Mann Village; they printed it and it is in today’s (May 29) The Guide.
Some people do think that Art Deco is artistically stunning also.
I think it is time to remodel it back to the Paramount with the Art Deco decor. The El Capitan is tacky with its Disneyland look.
I do not think that Arclight listing actually indicates all those films will be booked into Hollywood. Since the Arclight Sherman Oaks now shares the same website they list all upcoming films. I’m sure the Chinese will book at least The Dark Knight and maybe something like Get Smart or Wanted.
I find most people will go out of the way to see a film at the main theatre, but will not really go to the Chinese 6 unless totally necessary. The tourist factor does hurt the complex for L.A.‘ers.
But the strong desire to recapture the vibrancy of old helps explain why some neighborhood activists who battled to scale back the Palazzo now view it as a possible saving grace.
The 4.3-acre complex, with 50,000 square feet of retail, will soon welcome a Trader Joe’s, a drugstore, a coffee shop and two eateries. And for the first year it will offer two hours of free parking to the public.
“I remain concerned that it’s a very dense project,” said Laura Lake, a longtime activist. “On the plus side, hopefully, there will be people all the time in the village.”
Hopefully there will be a upswing to Westwood Village; enough to keep the Village and Bruin open as theatres after Mann drops the leases. My hope is that another chain takes interest in the two theatres and perhaps does a smaller scale multiplex complex adjacent to one of them. With the demise of the National, Plaza, Mann Westwood and United Artists theatres the acceptable seat count is there.
Not sure. So far there having only been Midnight pre-sales for May 21.
In case anyone is interested, On the Mann Theatres site the Village is now pre-selling INDIANA JONES tickets for the May 22 debut.