Thank you Tom Daughtry and group for at least trying to keep the National going. I’m glad I was able to be a patron when you ran the theatre, and wish you the best with the Culver Plaza.
Landmark should change thier name since they are pretty much dumping all the “Landmark” theatres they operate. Unless the owner is demolishing the building, I’m sure someone will take over the lease.
The Avco was one of the premium theatres in Los Angeles during the 70’s and 80’s. It really became a faceless nothing film when GCC split the large screen in half. The last time I was there the presentation was pretty medicore. The PQ and Sound quality was really bad.
Geesh!!! Landmark is dumping almost all of thier SoCal theatres. Last month the Rialto. Will they dump The Regent Westwood next?
I grew up in Santa Monica and frequented the theatre when it was a single screen MANN theatre. My mother worked there as a teenager in the 1940’s. Sad loss. Perhaps Regency will pickup the lease. It seems in thier league.
Putting screens under one roof would be more profitable probably. The problem with the stand alone palaces is the rent is very high and the turnover of films is less frequent. People are also lazy, they rather go to one place with many choices than to walk around a town to find the screens. Personally, I love spending the day in Westwood going from theatre to theatre, eating lunch in between films. It was more fun back in the late 70’s and 80’s when there was Tower Records and many book store to browse. Westwood still has potential and I have faith in it.
The distant future of the Village and Bruin will be determined on if someone sees a revitalization of Westwood Village. Personally I still see life in Westwood Village and hope someone has the foresight to keep these theatres going. They are situated pretty much in the heart of Westwood and should stay open as movie theatres. Pacific theatres would be a good operator. They have done wonders with the Arclight/Dome and the El Capitan. I’d hate to see the Village turned into a Target.
My vote for next theatre to go is the AVCO. It lost is lustre when they split the main theatre.
William is pretty much correct. The National as an Indie is a tough task to take on. At least when MANN operated it they had studio product to book into it, as an Indie they seem to be limited in what they could get. This past summer was a good example of so many big titles that should have been at the National and instead played at either the AVCO, Village or Bruin. With the National, Plaza, Westwood 4-plex and the United Artists being gone they have enough clout to build a new theatre complex. My guess is that a new multiplex will show up within the next 2-3 years. Mann could use the Bruin and Village as anchors to the new multiplex.
I am sad to hear the National is really becoming extinct. Once it is gone there will never be a theatre like it ever again. Thanks to the AMC'plexing of America the grand movie theatres are pretty much gone. The public rather be hearded like sheep into little boxes with a screen. :–( When is the National’s official closing date?
The National may have a very good Fall/Christmas season. There are so many films opening and mostly quality. I’ll try to see 3:10 to Yuma myself this weekend. Good to hear there is a new sign. The National could last longer than expected.
The single screens continue to disappear in favor of the big obnoxious AMCplexes. Sad that it has come to this and I am sorry to see the Rialto go. It appears with the arrival of the Landmark 12, Lnadmarks theatres is trying to become one of the big players in motion picture exhibition.
I worked at the Mann Village in Westwood during that Summer. We opened it Exclusively and it played for 2 months. It was a trip because almost everyone came in stoned. They were the nicest crowd and they ate ALOT of popcorn. :–) It was a 70MM Engagement.
I scanned the LA Times webpage, Patrick Goldstein wrote the article about the Crest vs Landmark. It was part of his weekly Big Picture column. His e-mail address is nowhere to be found on the site. I’m not sure if he is the right person, I hate to send this link to someone at random. It should be someone who would take it to heart. A brief note with this page could be enough explanation of the history of the National, the current state of it, and the hopes to keep it open longer (and patronized).
The L.A. times ran an article about the Crest not too long ago, and The Fairfax Cinemas. I’m not sure how those articles got initiated. Maybe if someone sent this thread to someone at the Times they will do a similar article for the Calendar section.
The National may be able to get some decent bookings for the Fall Season. There always seems to be more films between Sept & Dec. UCLA students will return this month and hopefully the National will get some steady business. They probably should have waited for Fall to do midnight shows, students may have come to them if they advertised in the UCLA Bruin or hung up fliers around Westwood.
Pretty Much currently, The National (and the Crest)pretty much gets what MANN and AMC kicks back.
The Cineplex Beverly Center worked in the 80’s. It was a hip place to see films. I saw many Indie Films first run there during the 1980’s. Films like Parting Glances, Mike’s Murder (brief exclusive re-issue), Educating Rita, My Beautiful Laundrette, Dance with a Stranger and just above any other avant-garde film from that ERA. It was long before Sunset 5 came along and the Beverly Center was part of 80’s pop culture. Time was not nice to the Theatre and The Beverly Center. When Pacific and AMC started building larger multiplexes it was not cool to sit in a theatre that was the size of a mini-van. Mann probably has very affordable rent or perhaps is just booking it for the shopping center so it could stay open. I understand the MANN emblem is not anywhere on the marque.
The National needs a “El Capitan” type of format to be succesful. A major studio would have to help renovate and keep it booked with Hollywood Product. If someone like Universal for example would take it over to showcase thier big films, it would at least have hot new product. Imagine how great The Bourne Ultimatum would be on the National compared to the crappy Avco. Up until a couple years ago big Paramount films would open there. But they started giving those to the Village instead.
It would be great if it was restored to its late 60’s glory. The main thing it has needed is new seat and drapes. Some tile replacement in the restrooms, a spruced up marquee, sign and box office. It already has a killer sound system.
But at this point Westwood is not the place anybody really wants to invest. 10 years ago the chances would have been stronger. The sucky part is perhaps 5 – 10 years from now it could be a hot spot again and the National would benefit. As it looks now, it will not be standing in 5 years.
The problem now is that The National is not part of a chain. When Mann ran the theatre they had certain studios they had agreements with including Warner (which mostly went to the Village if a blockbuster), Paramount, Columbia and some Fox, MGM, Focus Features and Lionsgate. A majority of Columbia Pictures titles played at the National towards the end of Mann running it.
Disney books into the Regent; and AMC books Universal, some Columbia, some Disney, Some MGM, Dreamworks and now some Paramount into the AVCO.
Pretty much The National and The Majestic Crest get whatever Mann and AMC kick back. So the National got Sicko and 1408 because nobody had them booked, and The Crest managed to get Hairspray. The Fall Season has more releases than the Summer does usually; the National could pickup some hits, and UCLA will be back in session and they will have students attending again.
Film going was more fun back in the 70’s than it is now. Usually I ended up seeing most films 2nd run “after the Westwood/Hollywood” debuts. Usually a double feature, and there were re-issues a year later. I cannot tell you how many times the Monica Twins had “Young Frankenstein”. I saw it at the Monica’s when it went 2nd run after the Avco, then again with re-issues at the same theatre. Films were not so over-hyped, and over-produced back then. Now it is too much overload and films are on DVD almost right out of the theatre. DVD is now what the 2nd run used to be.
I grew up in Santa Monica and went to the Criterion quite often when it was a Single Screen Mann theatre. Lots of Disney films but distinctly remember seeing a double feature of “Jaws” and “The Great Waldo Pepper” in Febraury 1976. Late 70’s/early 80’s it was a 49 cent theatre that changed its second run double features every week. I remember going EVERY Friday during the Summer of 1979 to see the latest double feature, and did not care what was showing.
Too bad there are not any really good pictures of the Picwood. I used to see films all the time at this theatre as a child because it was an easy bus trip for me. During the mid-70’s they showed alot of Universal films and I did see “Midway” and “Earthquake” both in Sensurround there.
This was a fantastic Theatre in its day. I remember seeing JAWS opening day June 20, 1975 at the Plitt Century Plaza. It, like the Avco lost its lustre when they chopped the large house into smaller screens. I think the last film I saw in the BIG Plitt Screen was the 1986 Hanks-Gleason film NOTHING IN COMMON. A year later Cineplex Odeon chopped it up. It was the begining of the end for Large Movie Theatre complexes.
Thank you Tom Daughtry and group for at least trying to keep the National going. I’m glad I was able to be a patron when you ran the theatre, and wish you the best with the Culver Plaza.
Landmark recently did a extensive face lift on the Nuart, it may be safe (for now).
I would not be surprised if the AVCO was gone within the next few years. The Wilshire Blvd. property it sits on is pretty ‘hot’ property.
It is very awkward sitting in the downstairs theatres now. I could never get comfortable.
Landmark should change thier name since they are pretty much dumping all the “Landmark” theatres they operate. Unless the owner is demolishing the building, I’m sure someone will take over the lease.
The Avco was one of the premium theatres in Los Angeles during the 70’s and 80’s. It really became a faceless nothing film when GCC split the large screen in half. The last time I was there the presentation was pretty medicore. The PQ and Sound quality was really bad.
Geesh!!! Landmark is dumping almost all of thier SoCal theatres. Last month the Rialto. Will they dump The Regent Westwood next?
I grew up in Santa Monica and frequented the theatre when it was a single screen MANN theatre. My mother worked there as a teenager in the 1940’s. Sad loss. Perhaps Regency will pickup the lease. It seems in thier league.
Putting screens under one roof would be more profitable probably. The problem with the stand alone palaces is the rent is very high and the turnover of films is less frequent. People are also lazy, they rather go to one place with many choices than to walk around a town to find the screens. Personally, I love spending the day in Westwood going from theatre to theatre, eating lunch in between films. It was more fun back in the late 70’s and 80’s when there was Tower Records and many book store to browse. Westwood still has potential and I have faith in it.
I worked at the Village (1980-1982) and remember the backstage not being too deep beyond the screen.
The distant future of the Village and Bruin will be determined on if someone sees a revitalization of Westwood Village. Personally I still see life in Westwood Village and hope someone has the foresight to keep these theatres going. They are situated pretty much in the heart of Westwood and should stay open as movie theatres. Pacific theatres would be a good operator. They have done wonders with the Arclight/Dome and the El Capitan. I’d hate to see the Village turned into a Target.
My vote for next theatre to go is the AVCO. It lost is lustre when they split the main theatre.
William is pretty much correct. The National as an Indie is a tough task to take on. At least when MANN operated it they had studio product to book into it, as an Indie they seem to be limited in what they could get. This past summer was a good example of so many big titles that should have been at the National and instead played at either the AVCO, Village or Bruin. With the National, Plaza, Westwood 4-plex and the United Artists being gone they have enough clout to build a new theatre complex. My guess is that a new multiplex will show up within the next 2-3 years. Mann could use the Bruin and Village as anchors to the new multiplex.
I am sad to hear the National is really becoming extinct. Once it is gone there will never be a theatre like it ever again. Thanks to the AMC'plexing of America the grand movie theatres are pretty much gone. The public rather be hearded like sheep into little boxes with a screen. :–( When is the National’s official closing date?
The National may have a very good Fall/Christmas season. There are so many films opening and mostly quality. I’ll try to see 3:10 to Yuma myself this weekend. Good to hear there is a new sign. The National could last longer than expected.
The single screens continue to disappear in favor of the big obnoxious AMCplexes. Sad that it has come to this and I am sorry to see the Rialto go. It appears with the arrival of the Landmark 12, Lnadmarks theatres is trying to become one of the big players in motion picture exhibition.
I worked at the Mann Village in Westwood during that Summer. We opened it Exclusively and it played for 2 months. It was a trip because almost everyone came in stoned. They were the nicest crowd and they ate ALOT of popcorn. :–) It was a 70MM Engagement.
I scanned the LA Times webpage, Patrick Goldstein wrote the article about the Crest vs Landmark. It was part of his weekly Big Picture column. His e-mail address is nowhere to be found on the site. I’m not sure if he is the right person, I hate to send this link to someone at random. It should be someone who would take it to heart. A brief note with this page could be enough explanation of the history of the National, the current state of it, and the hopes to keep it open longer (and patronized).
The L.A. times ran an article about the Crest not too long ago, and The Fairfax Cinemas. I’m not sure how those articles got initiated. Maybe if someone sent this thread to someone at the Times they will do a similar article for the Calendar section.
The National may be able to get some decent bookings for the Fall Season. There always seems to be more films between Sept & Dec. UCLA students will return this month and hopefully the National will get some steady business. They probably should have waited for Fall to do midnight shows, students may have come to them if they advertised in the UCLA Bruin or hung up fliers around Westwood.
Pretty Much currently, The National (and the Crest)pretty much gets what MANN and AMC kicks back.
The Cineplex Beverly Center worked in the 80’s. It was a hip place to see films. I saw many Indie Films first run there during the 1980’s. Films like Parting Glances, Mike’s Murder (brief exclusive re-issue), Educating Rita, My Beautiful Laundrette, Dance with a Stranger and just above any other avant-garde film from that ERA. It was long before Sunset 5 came along and the Beverly Center was part of 80’s pop culture. Time was not nice to the Theatre and The Beverly Center. When Pacific and AMC started building larger multiplexes it was not cool to sit in a theatre that was the size of a mini-van. Mann probably has very affordable rent or perhaps is just booking it for the shopping center so it could stay open. I understand the MANN emblem is not anywhere on the marque.
The National needs a “El Capitan” type of format to be succesful. A major studio would have to help renovate and keep it booked with Hollywood Product. If someone like Universal for example would take it over to showcase thier big films, it would at least have hot new product. Imagine how great The Bourne Ultimatum would be on the National compared to the crappy Avco. Up until a couple years ago big Paramount films would open there. But they started giving those to the Village instead.
It would be great if it was restored to its late 60’s glory. The main thing it has needed is new seat and drapes. Some tile replacement in the restrooms, a spruced up marquee, sign and box office. It already has a killer sound system.
But at this point Westwood is not the place anybody really wants to invest. 10 years ago the chances would have been stronger. The sucky part is perhaps 5 – 10 years from now it could be a hot spot again and the National would benefit. As it looks now, it will not be standing in 5 years.
The problem now is that The National is not part of a chain. When Mann ran the theatre they had certain studios they had agreements with including Warner (which mostly went to the Village if a blockbuster), Paramount, Columbia and some Fox, MGM, Focus Features and Lionsgate. A majority of Columbia Pictures titles played at the National towards the end of Mann running it.
Disney books into the Regent; and AMC books Universal, some Columbia, some Disney, Some MGM, Dreamworks and now some Paramount into the AVCO.
Pretty much The National and The Majestic Crest get whatever Mann and AMC kick back. So the National got Sicko and 1408 because nobody had them booked, and The Crest managed to get Hairspray. The Fall Season has more releases than the Summer does usually; the National could pickup some hits, and UCLA will be back in session and they will have students attending again.
Film going was more fun back in the 70’s than it is now. Usually I ended up seeing most films 2nd run “after the Westwood/Hollywood” debuts. Usually a double feature, and there were re-issues a year later. I cannot tell you how many times the Monica Twins had “Young Frankenstein”. I saw it at the Monica’s when it went 2nd run after the Avco, then again with re-issues at the same theatre. Films were not so over-hyped, and over-produced back then. Now it is too much overload and films are on DVD almost right out of the theatre. DVD is now what the 2nd run used to be.
I grew up in Santa Monica and went to the Criterion quite often when it was a Single Screen Mann theatre. Lots of Disney films but distinctly remember seeing a double feature of “Jaws” and “The Great Waldo Pepper” in Febraury 1976. Late 70’s/early 80’s it was a 49 cent theatre that changed its second run double features every week. I remember going EVERY Friday during the Summer of 1979 to see the latest double feature, and did not care what was showing.
Too bad there are not any really good pictures of the Picwood. I used to see films all the time at this theatre as a child because it was an easy bus trip for me. During the mid-70’s they showed alot of Universal films and I did see “Midway” and “Earthquake” both in Sensurround there.
This was a fantastic Theatre in its day. I remember seeing JAWS opening day June 20, 1975 at the Plitt Century Plaza. It, like the Avco lost its lustre when they chopped the large house into smaller screens. I think the last film I saw in the BIG Plitt Screen was the 1986 Hanks-Gleason film NOTHING IN COMMON. A year later Cineplex Odeon chopped it up. It was the begining of the end for Large Movie Theatre complexes.