If I were a church proprietor I would welcome anyone, theatre buff or no, and try to get them to join and tithe. We have to remember I ran into the security guard, not the propietor
I wandered into this theatre on Sunday at 1PM to take a peek after their 11AM church service. I got into the main auditorium and was promptly requested to leave by a security guard who said it was a “church today, not a tourist attraction. Shouldn’t anyone be welcomed in a house of worship?? Oh well. Anyways the screen was missing and a cross was hung in front of the exposed speaker ports. There were some people milling about doing various post-service tasks. Ironically there was a small 6-foot screen strung up where the old massive screen used to me. I was fascinated by conversion from an old movie palace into a wide-screen 1960’s palace (my favorite type of theatre), with everything in red. I’ll try to visit again if/when I am back in LA on business with a free Sunday. Hopefully I can get some photos.
I have a little movie of the curtain closing for the last time as a Mann Theatre (to applause). Hopefully one day this site or Cinematour can post video. Some of the frames of my tour are from that movie.
“3.the picture is 10X better than film"
Are you kidding? Describe "better” in detail. Have actually sat up close for a digital screening? I would love to hear your description of 10 times better. If pixels and blockiness are your preference…
Thanks movie534. I work with a lot of DP’s, some of them Oscar winning, and most of them agree that the way that light is captured and then projected with the chemical process of film is a completely different animal than digital. Colors are richer, warmer and more natural. Would Monet switch to Photoshop to make paintings if he were alive today? Digital projection has been ballyhooed as a great new means of presentation. Like 70MM was back in the 60’s and 70’s. Problem is, its not great like 70MM was. Its pure economics and cost cutting. Another way the studios are cutting into the artistic process and cheapening the end product. If Digital Projection was so great and was something the exhibs thought could be a big draw, they would have ponied up the money and redone all their theaters by now. The fact that the studios are stepping in and paying for it proves the point. Soon the magic of going to a grand movie theatre and seeing something really special on a giant screen will be gone. We will be sitting in small stadiumized theatres with drop down masking for scope pictures (the irony: scope films are meant to be grander, yet because most stadium theatres have drop-down masking, the screens for them are actually SMALLER!) and watch a glorified TV. Save digital for reality shows on your LCD (which is fine), the movie-going experience is dying.
I have NOT been impressed with any digital presentation I have seen. Title cards look like a slide show with jagged edges on font when viewed from the first few rows. No warmth in the image. Image is so steady it feels artifical. Digital effects look less cinematic and more like a video game. Give me good old grainy, flickering 35mm. Call me nostalgic but I prefer the film I am watching to be that: FILM.
Finally made it to the Vista to see “There Will Be Blood” and it is truly a class act. Every other row has been taken out to provide tremendous legroom. Great Sound. Flawless Presentation. Wonderful character with the Egyptian motif. Wonderful old movie theatre smell. And to top it al off, cheap ticket prices!! Forget the Arclight! If it is playing here this will be my choice.
Just saw Persepolis in the smallest auditorium (61 seats!!). Although the theatre is small, the staff is great and you can tell they take great pride in their theatre. Plus where else can you see a 1st run movie in LA for $4.50 matinee and $7.50 evening ticket prices? I would, however, be cautious about seeing a scope picture in the smallest auditorium.
In essence “restroom enthusiasts” and “cinema enthusiasts” are very similar: one has a “wide stance” and the other likes “wide screens”. They also both spend a lot if time sitting in a place without enough legroom.
I might have to pop by. I wonder if other theatre geeks will as well. That’s how I saw the inside of the of the Million Dollar Thatre. Wonder if the screen is still up and if the curtain will be opened or closed.
I saw the movie and, while being amused by it, was shocked by the amount of gore (digital gore no less). Some parents had brought their kids because the R Rating allowed it. I mean come on! How much violence do you need to get an NC-17? What does it take? Is it even possible? Since when is it better for a child to see multitudes of people being mowed down into mists of blood and chunks of gooey meat than to see two people making love without revealing their bits and pieces touching. Why can’t this be fixed?
I am all for movies like Rambo being made, but I think our ratings system is way out of whack!
As depressing as these photos are, I have to say it is really impressive how neatly they take down a building these days. Almost a dismantling. Hope they recycle that metal into something good. But, like I said, depressing!!!
I would question the survival of the Regent. Mann already dropped it. Landmark picked it up, but has turned it into an almost Disney-only or move-over house. Plus they built their flagship 12 screener a couple miles away…
“No time for love Dr. Jones! We got company!”.
Can anyone confirm any other bookings?
Hollywood?
Westwood?
Seattle?
If I were a church proprietor I would welcome anyone, theatre buff or no, and try to get them to join and tithe. We have to remember I ran into the security guard, not the propietor
I didn’t even have my camera out (well…my iPhone was in my hand in Camera mode but nobody would have noticed).
I did fine at the Million Dollar Theatre a few years ago
I wandered into this theatre on Sunday at 1PM to take a peek after their 11AM church service. I got into the main auditorium and was promptly requested to leave by a security guard who said it was a “church today, not a tourist attraction. Shouldn’t anyone be welcomed in a house of worship?? Oh well. Anyways the screen was missing and a cross was hung in front of the exposed speaker ports. There were some people milling about doing various post-service tasks. Ironically there was a small 6-foot screen strung up where the old massive screen used to me. I was fascinated by conversion from an old movie palace into a wide-screen 1960’s palace (my favorite type of theatre), with everything in red. I’ll try to visit again if/when I am back in LA on business with a free Sunday. Hopefully I can get some photos.
2 Auditoriums with 275 seats each. A true twin.
I have a little movie of the curtain closing for the last time as a Mann Theatre (to applause). Hopefully one day this site or Cinematour can post video. Some of the frames of my tour are from that movie.
“3.the picture is 10X better than film"
Are you kidding? Describe "better” in detail. Have actually sat up close for a digital screening? I would love to hear your description of 10 times better. If pixels and blockiness are your preference…
Thanks movie534. I work with a lot of DP’s, some of them Oscar winning, and most of them agree that the way that light is captured and then projected with the chemical process of film is a completely different animal than digital. Colors are richer, warmer and more natural. Would Monet switch to Photoshop to make paintings if he were alive today? Digital projection has been ballyhooed as a great new means of presentation. Like 70MM was back in the 60’s and 70’s. Problem is, its not great like 70MM was. Its pure economics and cost cutting. Another way the studios are cutting into the artistic process and cheapening the end product. If Digital Projection was so great and was something the exhibs thought could be a big draw, they would have ponied up the money and redone all their theaters by now. The fact that the studios are stepping in and paying for it proves the point. Soon the magic of going to a grand movie theatre and seeing something really special on a giant screen will be gone. We will be sitting in small stadiumized theatres with drop down masking for scope pictures (the irony: scope films are meant to be grander, yet because most stadium theatres have drop-down masking, the screens for them are actually SMALLER!) and watch a glorified TV. Save digital for reality shows on your LCD (which is fine), the movie-going experience is dying.
I have NOT been impressed with any digital presentation I have seen. Title cards look like a slide show with jagged edges on font when viewed from the first few rows. No warmth in the image. Image is so steady it feels artifical. Digital effects look less cinematic and more like a video game. Give me good old grainy, flickering 35mm. Call me nostalgic but I prefer the film I am watching to be that: FILM.
Twist my arm..but I know you are working on the Bruin and Plaza…..
Thanks Michael
Lets not forget the why we loved it:
That great auditorium!
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2134
Finally made it to the Vista to see “There Will Be Blood” and it is truly a class act. Every other row has been taken out to provide tremendous legroom. Great Sound. Flawless Presentation. Wonderful character with the Egyptian motif. Wonderful old movie theatre smell. And to top it al off, cheap ticket prices!! Forget the Arclight! If it is playing here this will be my choice.
Just saw Persepolis in the smallest auditorium (61 seats!!). Although the theatre is small, the staff is great and you can tell they take great pride in their theatre. Plus where else can you see a 1st run movie in LA for $4.50 matinee and $7.50 evening ticket prices? I would, however, be cautious about seeing a scope picture in the smallest auditorium.
Where were the 3 additional screens located in relation to current screens?
Does Pacific Theaters own or lease the building still?
Moderator will probably ask us to stop soon. This is a family friendly site. And we are blogging regarding a theatre that is being used as a church…
In essence “restroom enthusiasts” and “cinema enthusiasts” are very similar: one has a “wide stance” and the other likes “wide screens”. They also both spend a lot if time sitting in a place without enough legroom.
I might have to pop by. I wonder if other theatre geeks will as well. That’s how I saw the inside of the of the Million Dollar Thatre. Wonder if the screen is still up and if the curtain will be opened or closed.
Thanks Michael, How do you know all of this? (bruin bruin bruin (whisper) plaza plaza plaza)
I saw the movie and, while being amused by it, was shocked by the amount of gore (digital gore no less). Some parents had brought their kids because the R Rating allowed it. I mean come on! How much violence do you need to get an NC-17? What does it take? Is it even possible? Since when is it better for a child to see multitudes of people being mowed down into mists of blood and chunks of gooey meat than to see two people making love without revealing their bits and pieces touching. Why can’t this be fixed?
I am all for movies like Rambo being made, but I think our ratings system is way out of whack!
As depressing as these photos are, I have to say it is really impressive how neatly they take down a building these days. Almost a dismantling. Hope they recycle that metal into something good. But, like I said, depressing!!!
I would question the survival of the Regent. Mann already dropped it. Landmark picked it up, but has turned it into an almost Disney-only or move-over house. Plus they built their flagship 12 screener a couple miles away…