According to today’s Santa Monica Daily Press, AMC is pushing to demo the 7 and replace it with a 12 screen facility. The city is worried about “oversaturation of movie theaters,” and wants AMC to promise to close the Broadway 4, which they also run. However, AMC only leases the Broadway and have no control over what happens with it when their lease is up.
If the Broadway closed and the 12 was built, it would mean an increase of about 1,000 seats.
Ken, yes, the El Miro was mostly demolished. As that poster stated, the facade was preserved. It’s one of those odd situations…
The Santa Monica Daily Press today stated that the city is demanding that if AMC replaces their 7 screener with a 12 screen facility, that they must promise to shut the Broadway 4 (which they also operate) to prevent “oversaturation of movie theaters.” The problem is, they only lease that facility, and once they give up the lease have no control over it.
To do that, Chris, they would probably have to tear down that apartment building behind it, or some of the stores next door. Considering how small some of the upstairs theaters are, I’d hate to see what they’d have to do to squeeze in 14 screens!
They are talking about knocking down the parking structure behind the Criterion and building a larger “entertainment” complex back there, connected somehow to the Promenade. I don’t know if that would involve destroying the recently renovated Criterion or not.
More ultimate than the El Cap? They’ve already got a show palace for their big films. Why put their eggs into two baskets? Not to mention that the Chinese doesn’t have room for either stage shows or an organ…
Something else to consider about Disney and the El Capitan: they’ve spent so much money restoring the place that even though it’s wildly successful, it is not profitable for them. They do it for the prestige. So what would taking over the Chinese do for them exactly?
The last time I was down there, they had boarded up not only the theater, but also the retail space to the west, which is basically Angelo’s Pawn Shop. It didn’t look like they were working on it though.
They’re turning it into retail space. Early on, there was talk of Lucky Jeans moving in there, even though they’ve already got locations on the Promenade and on Montana.
Anybody know what’s going on with the Wilshire? They’ve boarded up the front and removed the marquee. When I was by there the other day, only the frame of the marquee was left.
“In point of fact, there is no parking shortage in Westwood. The problem is the cost of parking.”
And now the Bayside District Corp and the City of Santa Monica are talking about parking in my city being “undervalued” and wanting to raise rates. I wonder if they’re going to turn the Promenade into the next Westwood.
I was looking forward to the release of this movie because I was in the Philippines (in the Navy) following the production through articles in Stars & Stripes. One article talked about how they had spent tens of thousands of dollars creating a human puppet that gets blown up by a rocket.
By the time the movie got a wide release, I was stationed in Norfolk, VA. I got off work one day and drove over to the local mall theater. This would have been late 1979, so it was the 35mm version.
The film was brilliant and intriguing — and of course, there was no scene of a guy getting hit by a rocket and blown to bits. Based on that one screening though, I couldn’t say exactly what I thought the film meant. Is it pro-war? Anti-war? You can argue either way, and that’s what’s especially brilliant about it. It doesn’t offer easy answers and forces the viewer to think about what they’ve seen and what it means to them.
By the time Redux came around, I was living in LA. I caught a screening at the Century Plaza Cinemas, my first and only time in that theater before they tore it down. The additions and changes, in my opinion, don’t help the film — but I’m the kind of guy who usually prefers the first version of a movie that he’s exposed to. If I like it, I don’t want people to mess with it.
Not technical, but I wonder how much that affects what happens in Westwood. Is the city neglecting Westwood in favor of other, larger commercial prospects elsewhere?
A volunteer with the SM Conservancy confirmed to me that the terrazzo was removed to protect it from the heavy equipment going in and out, and will be reinstalled.
According to today’s Santa Monica Daily Press, AMC is pushing to demo the 7 and replace it with a 12 screen facility. The city is worried about “oversaturation of movie theaters,” and wants AMC to promise to close the Broadway 4, which they also run. However, AMC only leases the Broadway and have no control over what happens with it when their lease is up.
If the Broadway closed and the 12 was built, it would mean an increase of about 1,000 seats.
Ken, yes, the El Miro was mostly demolished. As that poster stated, the facade was preserved. It’s one of those odd situations…
The Santa Monica Daily Press today stated that the city is demanding that if AMC replaces their 7 screener with a 12 screen facility, that they must promise to shut the Broadway 4 (which they also operate) to prevent “oversaturation of movie theaters.” The problem is, they only lease that facility, and once they give up the lease have no control over it.
I think Bloomingdale’s and Nordstom’s are scheduled to move into those places.
To do that, Chris, they would probably have to tear down that apartment building behind it, or some of the stores next door. Considering how small some of the upstairs theaters are, I’d hate to see what they’d have to do to squeeze in 14 screens!
They are talking about knocking down the parking structure behind the Criterion and building a larger “entertainment” complex back there, connected somehow to the Promenade. I don’t know if that would involve destroying the recently renovated Criterion or not.
The White Stripes did the same thing for their last record, turning the closed Tower Records on Sunset into Ickythump Records for a few days.
I wonder if they painted over the mural that was above the marquee.
Ken, that page says “CineFamily at the Silent Theatre.” So it seems like a marketing thing and the name hasn’t really changed.
“the tourists don’t flock to the Cap, they head straight for the Chinese forecourt.”
Something else I should point out. Those tourists don’t flock to the ticket booth.
It doesn’t matter who does or doesn’t know about the El Capitan. The fact remains that Disney already has an operating prestige venue for their films.
“it would be the ultimate in prestige.”
More ultimate than the El Cap? They’ve already got a show palace for their big films. Why put their eggs into two baskets? Not to mention that the Chinese doesn’t have room for either stage shows or an organ…
Is that the refreshments room just off the ballroom?
Something else to consider about Disney and the El Capitan: they’ve spent so much money restoring the place that even though it’s wildly successful, it is not profitable for them. They do it for the prestige. So what would taking over the Chinese do for them exactly?
The last time I was down there, they had boarded up not only the theater, but also the retail space to the west, which is basically Angelo’s Pawn Shop. It didn’t look like they were working on it though.
They’re turning it into retail space. Early on, there was talk of Lucky Jeans moving in there, even though they’ve already got locations on the Promenade and on Montana.
Anybody know what’s going on with the Wilshire? They’ve boarded up the front and removed the marquee. When I was by there the other day, only the frame of the marquee was left.
Why would Disney want it? They have the El Capitan across the street. Do they have enough quality films to fill two palaces simultaneously?
Bercy, there’s still an empty lot where the National used to stand — with a sign reading, “prime retail space opening Spring 09!”
They’re also running the Aero in Santa Monica…
“"Avatar”, no matter how much hype, will be a 2 week wonder."
That’s probably what they said about Titanic…
“In point of fact, there is no parking shortage in Westwood. The problem is the cost of parking.”
And now the Bayside District Corp and the City of Santa Monica are talking about parking in my city being “undervalued” and wanting to raise rates. I wonder if they’re going to turn the Promenade into the next Westwood.
According to their marquee, they are renovating and upgrading and plan to reopen in the Fall of 2009.
It also gives a website:
www.cecchigoriusa.com
I was looking forward to the release of this movie because I was in the Philippines (in the Navy) following the production through articles in Stars & Stripes. One article talked about how they had spent tens of thousands of dollars creating a human puppet that gets blown up by a rocket.
By the time the movie got a wide release, I was stationed in Norfolk, VA. I got off work one day and drove over to the local mall theater. This would have been late 1979, so it was the 35mm version.
The film was brilliant and intriguing — and of course, there was no scene of a guy getting hit by a rocket and blown to bits. Based on that one screening though, I couldn’t say exactly what I thought the film meant. Is it pro-war? Anti-war? You can argue either way, and that’s what’s especially brilliant about it. It doesn’t offer easy answers and forces the viewer to think about what they’ve seen and what it means to them.
By the time Redux came around, I was living in LA. I caught a screening at the Century Plaza Cinemas, my first and only time in that theater before they tore it down. The additions and changes, in my opinion, don’t help the film — but I’m the kind of guy who usually prefers the first version of a movie that he’s exposed to. If I like it, I don’t want people to mess with it.
Not technical, but I wonder how much that affects what happens in Westwood. Is the city neglecting Westwood in favor of other, larger commercial prospects elsewhere?
Brad, Westwood isn’t a city. It’s a district of LA.
According to the SM Conservancy guy I’ve been talking to, the exterior of the building is protected and will be restored.
A volunteer with the SM Conservancy confirmed to me that the terrazzo was removed to protect it from the heavy equipment going in and out, and will be reinstalled.
Kitch would appear to be correct. The Chipotle building matches the Varsity/Taco Bell pictures, minus the marquee. Good catch.