Just saw Rave’s blurb about the theatre (re)opening in today’s LA Times ad. It just says that it opens in July 2011. No updates about the theatre available on their website…but the site does say that the upgraded theatre will have a raveXtreme Giant Screen Auditorium (IMAX without IMAX licensing fees!) in the new complex.
I sat on the floor level (back row to be exact). Sitting that close can make things distracting. For IMAX (I don’t do IMAX-Lite or LieMax – Citywalk & Rave are the only true IMAX houses in LA County), I sit exactly in the back row of the theatre itself. The “overkill” is not so bad. Maybe that’s because of the vertical depth of the screen. Sitting so close at The Dome coupled with its horizontal depth probably spaced me out.
Saw “THOR 3D” at The Dome on Saturday (5/7). 3D may play well in standard issue multiplexes. Not so much at The Dome. That ginormous screen is enough to add scope and texture to any given blockbuster. The 3D was massive overkill to the entire experience!
@Terry Wade: All 2:35 widescreen shot films that are blown up for IMAX appear only on the middle part of the screen. I thought everyone knew that by now. The only way you’ll see the entire IMAX screen filled is for 1:85 shot films and films with scenes shot with IMAX cameras (“The Dark Knight”, “Tron Legacy”, “Transformers 2”).
I’m short for a guy. The drawback of going to the Cinerama Dome all the time is the tall(er) guy sitting in front of me during the flick (I sit on the sloped floor…not the stadium seats up top). Stadium seating relieves me of that drama. Stadium seating, when done correctly, can be really nice (see ArcLight, Edwards Ontario Mills, Edwards Irvine Spectrum – THE LARGE AUDITORIUMS!).
To clarify for Edward: The reason why I’ll never see a movie here is because of the clientele of the theatre – not the theatre itself. Magic Johnson Theatres in its latter years got (RIGHTFULLY!) pinged as “ghetto” because of its audience behavior. Sadly, despite Rave’s takeover & upgrades, I expect this new location to have the same rep.
How many standby tix were available for each show? I’m asking for the future. I couldn’t make it to the Festival the last 2 years but I’m hoping to make next years…provided Grauman’s ain’t a disco by then.
I still come here every Summer on the regular. With 4 of us in our family, it’s the cheapest way to see 2 first run flicks for the price of a 1 MATINEE! Having said that, I’m sorry to report that the presentation of films is declining. Whatever maintenance that needs to happen regarding Technalight is not happening. Picture is darker and blurrier than it should be on most nights.
They did upgrade their FM transmitters so the sound isn’t as bad as it used to be. They upgraded the Men’s restroom too with the new waterless toilets (hopefully they maintain them properly…without regular maintenance, those things can get STINKY!). They still need to upgrade the lots and paint the screens. But it’s still the only (LEGIT) drive-in in LA County (no HD projectors showing old DVD’s on the sides of abandoned office buildings). For that reason alone, the place still gets my support.
I came to the Fiesta Four regularly during the last couple of years of its life with my girlfriend (who eventually became my wife). I brought her here to see “Bowfinger” & “Runaway Bride” back in Summer 1999. That experience single-handedly made her a drive-in fan. We were shocked to see that it closed…and were very thankful we found our way to the Vineland and Mission D/I’s after it closed.
Very nice drive-in with THE BEST CARNE ASADA tacos/burritos on the planet! Get here early – the Carne Asada lines can be super long…long enough to make you miss part of your movie.
The only drawback about coming here is the bottlenecked portions of the 91 Freeway (between Yorba Linda and Corona) where traffic comes to a grinding halt. If it wasn’t for that, I’d come here more often.
As of now, I live less than 3 minutes away from this theatre. Perfect spot for me to host events for my film club on Friday nights. Place is still very clean and monitored well. I have witnessed ZERO incidents like the one described earlier. In fact, Torrance PD enforces a 10 PM curfew on teenyboppers at the theatre (and the Del Amo Mall itself).
Ever since the Rave takeover, the overall quality of this place (customer service, cleanliness, presentation) has NOSEDIVED! At this point in time, I only come here for IMAX movies. Nothing else.
Dang…2 years, huh? Bummer. Wonder if Belleville is waiting on the DL to buy Bloomer out…which would mean THE END of the St. Louis area drive-in movie experience.
Ironic my @$$! That joint venture is down to 7 friggin theatres! If you cluster (the all but abandoned) Grauman’s Chinese and Mann’s Chinese 6, that makes 6 theatrs that the once mighty Mann operates. Aside from movie premieres, Mann Theatres has no weight in the theatrical exhibition world anymore. None. Nada. Zip.
Only went here once in their IMAX (Lite!) auditorium to see “Superman Returns.” It was the last movie I saw with my favorite cousin – who passed away in early 2007.
Continuing the line of bittersweet experiences at this theatre, on my last visit to this theatre in Christmas 1984 my father and I saw “Beverly Hills Cop” on a Saturday night. It was the last movie I saw with my dad. He was killed in September 1985.
I seem to recall posting this info on this page before but I guess it got deleted (hopefully unintentionally).
Just saw Rave’s blurb about the theatre (re)opening in today’s LA Times ad. It just says that it opens in July 2011. No updates about the theatre available on their website…but the site does say that the upgraded theatre will have a raveXtreme Giant Screen Auditorium (IMAX without IMAX licensing fees!) in the new complex.
According to this drive-in’s website, they’re running “Thor” in 3D! THIS I gotta see!
I sat on the floor level (back row to be exact). Sitting that close can make things distracting. For IMAX (I don’t do IMAX-Lite or LieMax – Citywalk & Rave are the only true IMAX houses in LA County), I sit exactly in the back row of the theatre itself. The “overkill” is not so bad. Maybe that’s because of the vertical depth of the screen. Sitting so close at The Dome coupled with its horizontal depth probably spaced me out.
Saw “THOR 3D” at The Dome on Saturday (5/7). 3D may play well in standard issue multiplexes. Not so much at The Dome. That ginormous screen is enough to add scope and texture to any given blockbuster. The 3D was massive overkill to the entire experience!
Good luck, y'all!
I always enjoyed coming here in the summers I spent in St. Louis during my teenage years. LOTS AND LOTS of theatre hopping! :)
@Terry Wade: All 2:35 widescreen shot films that are blown up for IMAX appear only on the middle part of the screen. I thought everyone knew that by now. The only way you’ll see the entire IMAX screen filled is for 1:85 shot films and films with scenes shot with IMAX cameras (“The Dark Knight”, “Tron Legacy”, “Transformers 2”).
Went back here during a brief visit home in April 2011 for a matinee of “Madea’s Big Happy Family.” Once again, pretty big for a Regal.
I’m short for a guy. The drawback of going to the Cinerama Dome all the time is the tall(er) guy sitting in front of me during the flick (I sit on the sloped floor…not the stadium seats up top). Stadium seating relieves me of that drama. Stadium seating, when done correctly, can be really nice (see ArcLight, Edwards Ontario Mills, Edwards Irvine Spectrum – THE LARGE AUDITORIUMS!).
To clarify for Edward: The reason why I’ll never see a movie here is because of the clientele of the theatre – not the theatre itself. Magic Johnson Theatres in its latter years got (RIGHTFULLY!) pinged as “ghetto” because of its audience behavior. Sadly, despite Rave’s takeover & upgrades, I expect this new location to have the same rep.
How many standby tix were available for each show? I’m asking for the future. I couldn’t make it to the Festival the last 2 years but I’m hoping to make next years…provided Grauman’s ain’t a disco by then.
4 words: MAYAN THEATRE – DOWNTOWN LA.
Hate to say it, but Grauman’s will probably become a nightclub after all. I’ve accepted it.
BREAKING NEWS: GRAUMAN’S CHINESE (and the CHINESE 6) HAS BEEN SOLD!
Details here:
View link
The strip mall that replaced the theatre includes a Wal-Mart, Aarons (a rent-to-own appliance store) and a bunch of other stores.
Had to fly all the way home to St. Louis to answer my own question. LOL! It’s a Big Lots and some other stores as well.
I still come here every Summer on the regular. With 4 of us in our family, it’s the cheapest way to see 2 first run flicks for the price of a 1 MATINEE! Having said that, I’m sorry to report that the presentation of films is declining. Whatever maintenance that needs to happen regarding Technalight is not happening. Picture is darker and blurrier than it should be on most nights.
They did upgrade their FM transmitters so the sound isn’t as bad as it used to be. They upgraded the Men’s restroom too with the new waterless toilets (hopefully they maintain them properly…without regular maintenance, those things can get STINKY!). They still need to upgrade the lots and paint the screens. But it’s still the only (LEGIT) drive-in in LA County (no HD projectors showing old DVD’s on the sides of abandoned office buildings). For that reason alone, the place still gets my support.
I came to the Fiesta Four regularly during the last couple of years of its life with my girlfriend (who eventually became my wife). I brought her here to see “Bowfinger” & “Runaway Bride” back in Summer 1999. That experience single-handedly made her a drive-in fan. We were shocked to see that it closed…and were very thankful we found our way to the Vineland and Mission D/I’s after it closed.
Very nice drive-in with THE BEST CARNE ASADA tacos/burritos on the planet! Get here early – the Carne Asada lines can be super long…long enough to make you miss part of your movie.
The only drawback about coming here is the bottlenecked portions of the 91 Freeway (between Yorba Linda and Corona) where traffic comes to a grinding halt. If it wasn’t for that, I’d come here more often.
As of now, I live less than 3 minutes away from this theatre. Perfect spot for me to host events for my film club on Friday nights. Place is still very clean and monitored well. I have witnessed ZERO incidents like the one described earlier. In fact, Torrance PD enforces a 10 PM curfew on teenyboppers at the theatre (and the Del Amo Mall itself).
Ever since the Rave takeover, the overall quality of this place (customer service, cleanliness, presentation) has NOSEDIVED! At this point in time, I only come here for IMAX movies. Nothing else.
Dang…2 years, huh? Bummer. Wonder if Belleville is waiting on the DL to buy Bloomer out…which would mean THE END of the St. Louis area drive-in movie experience.
Anyone know if Screen 3 has been built or when it’ll be opened?
Ironic my @$$! That joint venture is down to 7 friggin theatres! If you cluster (the all but abandoned) Grauman’s Chinese and Mann’s Chinese 6, that makes 6 theatrs that the once mighty Mann operates. Aside from movie premieres, Mann Theatres has no weight in the theatrical exhibition world anymore. None. Nada. Zip.
Are there any pictures of the Varsity’s interior lurking around?
Only went here once in their IMAX (Lite!) auditorium to see “Superman Returns.” It was the last movie I saw with my favorite cousin – who passed away in early 2007.
Continuing the line of bittersweet experiences at this theatre, on my last visit to this theatre in Christmas 1984 my father and I saw “Beverly Hills Cop” on a Saturday night. It was the last movie I saw with my dad. He was killed in September 1985.
I seem to recall posting this info on this page before but I guess it got deleted (hopefully unintentionally).