Regency Village Theatre

961 Broxton Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90024

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Showing 426 - 450 of 484 comments

markinthedark
markinthedark on January 21, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Chris, how many people in the crowd would you say?

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on January 21, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Saw “Cloverfield” here on Sunday 1/20/08. They DID close the curtains after that annoying Screenvision preshow. So it looks like somebody got our messages about the lack of proper showmanship here.

Ross Melnick
Ross Melnick on October 29, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Dear Mark — We tried (to no avail) to hold a meetup at the National several months ago before it closed. After speaking with the manager of the theater, who approved our hosting it there pending approval of the owners, we never heard back from him despite follow up phone calls.

When we decided to relaunch this event it was with the intention of finding a cinema-related venue that could hold a number of people without worrying about showtimes beginning or ending and getting in the way. The plight of the Village and Bruin is certainly something to discuss that night. I’m not sure how easily we could do that in their lobby. :)

Your point is very valid and it is something that we discussed before we picked this venue. Since it is our first, we wanted to see what the turnout is before deciding to begin asking other theaters to let us take over for the evening.

Ross

markinthedark
markinthedark on October 29, 2007 at 6:00 pm

In light of what is happening with the National, the Rialto and other single-screeners, I was a bit disappointed that the Cinematreasures are holding their meeting to discuss theatre preservation etc. at the brand-spanking-new Landmark 12!!! Less than 2 miles away from Westwood Village, the densest grouping of open single screeners in the country. Are they serious? Are they serious about preservation?

I expressed my disappointment here:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/17409_0_1_0_C/

Feel free to express your feelings as well.

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on October 13, 2007 at 2:33 am

As a counterpoint to Senorsock’s comments, the curtains were lowered AT THE END OF ANOTHER FRIGGIN DIGITAL MOVIE TRIVIA/TV COMMERCIAL PRESHOW ala “Regal/AMC First Look.” Mann’s preshow is run by Screenvision and, yes, the curtains are left wide open as folks buy their popcorn and take their seats after arrival. Once the preshow’s done, THEN THEY CLOSE THE CURTAINS! BOO-HISS!!!

Dang…no one cares about classic presentation anymore (except Arclight – save the trivia barrage at AFI’s 40th).

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 12, 2007 at 4:38 pm

I take it the Jodie Foster film is officially a bomb?

Senorsock
Senorsock on October 12, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Had not been to this theatre in about ten years and was curious to see what kind of shape its in since Westwood’s decline. Happy to report the theater is well kept, from its 6-pointed star on the ceiling to its large balcony. The curtains lowered and then opened to start the show, everything was clean and the seats were very comfortable. The film was “The Brave One” so there were only three other people in attendance, but despite this they kept the balcony open. The screen was big, projection was bright, and I’m happy to say its still a GREAT place to see a movie!

William
William on October 9, 2007 at 10:31 am

As Howard asked the stage area at the Village would really have to be remodeled to make it work like the Warner Grand & Alex Theatres. There is no stage house at the theatre, it once had one. Way back in the theatre’s early life, but the theatre was not built for true stage shows at that time. Most Fox West Coast houses (1500 seat size)of that time only had a standard small size stage. In other districts like Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood got full size stages.

BradE41
BradE41 on October 9, 2007 at 9:41 am

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.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on October 9, 2007 at 9:20 am

In 3 years the leases are up on the Village & Bruin. I’ve heard they are both in the red (despite premieres) & won’t still be operated by Mann. Both exteriors are legally protected, but interiors could become retail, restaurant, etc. In my opinion, “saving” the Village for continued entertainment including some movies (perhaps like the Warner Grand in San Pedro and the Alex in Glendale but also with some premieres) is very important, more so than the National which appears doomed altogether. Don’t expect Mann to plex around them like the Dome. Look for somebody else!

William
William on July 27, 2007 at 3:05 pm

The studios loved doing event screenings over at the Plitt.

BradE41
BradE41 on July 27, 2007 at 3:00 pm

The Village/Bruin area is an active area in Westwood, that area would make the most sense if ever anyone decides to build again. It will never be like it was in the 70’s and 80’s, but I think it has possibilities still. The studios really seem to like the Village and Bruin for Premieres; which is good because it keeps them open for business. If there was a 5 plex around those 2 theatres they could play a film in the Village for 2 weeks or so, then move it over to one of the smaller theatres. Kind of like what is done with Grauman’s Chinese and Cinerama Dome.

William
William on July 27, 2007 at 2:45 pm

I was just using the Bruin as a what if, because that was a easy seating capacity to remember at this time. At one point Pacific was going to do something near the Plaza site. Mann has been wanting to do something for the longest time. So if they do raze the National for the stupid plan for that store. That might give them the right of way for that plex. I know it was never going to be a monster-plex. Maybe by that time they get planning done, the lease for the Festival will be up and they will get a few more seats. And place all the action closer to the Village & Bruin to save in staffing and aid in move-over houses for premieres and regular films.

BradE41
BradE41 on July 27, 2007 at 2:35 pm

I never said Raze the Bruin. Currently with the loss of the United Artist Triplex, Mann Westwood, Plaza, and soon National they have the seats to build some type of Multiplex in Westwood. There was taking of Mann opening a Stadium seat 5 plex behind the Bruin a couple years ago. The seat cap is easy to fill to have new screens in Westwood. I’m not taking abouut a Monster-Plex, more like a Chinese 6 type add-on.

William
William on July 27, 2007 at 2:12 pm

People like Santa Monica, Century City, complexes like the Grove, ArcLight. AMC holds on to the Avco just as a Westwood location, to play off the Century City, Santa Monica westside market. The big problem that Westwood has is the parking to seats zoning with the city. It’s not that they can build a new theatre in the village area without dealing with that zoning. It’s based on seats vs. parking spots. So if the company wants to build a plex. Let’s just say they raze the National (1000 seats), Plaza (600 seats) and the Bruin (800 seats). That’s 2400 seats in their pot for the plex. No problem with the zoning in the area. But if they want to build a 3000 seat complex, big problem with those 600 extra seats with no real parking.
Is Pacific Theatre willing to spend over a million dollars a year on the Village’s and Bruin’s lease. When Cineplex won the bidding war for the old UA Egyptian location. Mann Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Cineplex Odeon and another chain. That lease was for that location was between $300,000-$400,000 a year. That theatre could not make a profit, but was a bargaining location for booking films. (Westwood, Santa Monica, Beverly Center/Fairfax, Marina, Hollywood(Showcase) and Universal City. So for they build some park structures that may fix the problem. Oh wait the people that live in the area, next problem more traffic. That why home owners had the city put in permit parking so they could have it, but not the patrons to the area. So Westwood will never be the same after some of those police problem during the late 80’s too.

BradE41
BradE41 on July 27, 2007 at 12:14 pm

The Festival and Regent are nice size screens and auditoriums, and are nice theatres to show Indie and Smaller non-blockbuster films. They fit into the ‘Village’ mode quite well.

The Avco is a lost cause. It became a nothing theatre when they split the big house in half.

I wonder if Pacific would consider taking over the Village and Bruin if Mann decides not to renew. I really cannot help but think that Westwood may have a resurgence of some sort in a couple of years. With the massive Condo complex being built on old Plaza theatre site there will be a new population there. Pacific could build a stadium seating Arclight plex next to (behind) the Village. They could use the Village as an Anchor like they do with the Dome. That little intersection could be a hot spot. If some big retailers move into the Village and they build some parking structures it could work.

William
William on July 27, 2007 at 11:36 am

Westwood is no longer high grossing area it once was. You would have to have seen it during that time. When all the theatres were important in the market area. It’s what Mann did, but what the studios did. When you had clearances available and your theatre was the only theatre showing the feature for so many miles radius. The theatres that they dropped were no longer performing for them for the terms on their leases. Other chains have picked up a house here and there. Westwood became a force in the late 70’s till late 80’s. Because when AMC Century City opened Mann tried but lost in trying to make the clearances stick. AMC was going to play day and date with Mann’s Westwood bookings. I worked for Mann and the other chains in the booth. Another problem is Mann never owned the theatres there, they are all leased in Westwood. So the owners every few years want more money for the property. And with newer complexes open all over the city. People like the newer and easier locations like Century City, Santa Monica. They offer better parking, food and a larger selection of films at different show times. People talk about why can’t we save the National Theatre now. It’s fate was written a few years ago by events in the area, market changes movie going habits. Look back at booking patterns Hollywood / Westwood, before that it was Hollywood / Beverly Hills. Before that it was Los Angeles / Hollywood. Each first run area died over time. Only time will tell. I really Hope the National Theatre stays running film. I had many great time running shows there and viewing many films there too.

markinthedark
markinthedark on July 26, 2007 at 9:32 pm

It does seem that Mann shot themselves in the foot and lost a lot of flexibilty in their bookings when they narrowed their screen count in Westwood down to 3 from 10. (Especially having to move around films when the Village or Bruin has a premiere). The Plaza and Westwood 4 were understandable lost causes, but the if others are making the Regent and National viable venues, why couldn’t Mann?

William
William on July 26, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Well for booking the studios always want a Hollywood type house and a Westwood house for their main showcase showings. At one point Mann Theatres had a clearance clause in the contracts with the studios of 5 miles between the closest theatre that could play that feature. That vanished in the late 80’s. When a independent theatre owner filed suit againist Mann Theatres and one of the studios. The loss of the National Theatre will always be a problem. Just like the loss of the Century Plaza (Plitt) houses and those houses in Beverly Hills (Warner, Fox Wilshire, Beverly and the nearby Carthay Circle). Just wait a few more years when the leases on the Village and Bruin are up again. Mann Theatres does not own those locations. They did not want to renew them the last time, but a deal was worked out with the owners.

Cliffs
Cliffs on July 26, 2007 at 7:23 pm

That’s one other reason I think Mann was stupid to let The National go as it gives them 1 less move-over house for times like this. I worry that Mann dumping The National might come back to bite them on occasion and that The Village and Bruin might suffer a bit long term. The Simpsons is only getting 1 large screen showtime: Thursday midnight at the Dome. Other than that, it’s multiplex screenings for the rest of its run.

KramSacul
KramSacul on July 26, 2007 at 5:19 pm

Yeah, I figured HP would be locked in, being a big Warner film. Even though it’s a common occurance it just seems redudant for it to play at both the Village AND Grauman’s for that length of time, IMO. Oh well, at least Transformers got at least a week to play at the Village before it was bumped out.

William
William on July 26, 2007 at 5:09 pm

Warner has the picture locked into those two screens for a few weeks. That’s what the contract between Warner and Mann Theatres have. Most of the times during the summer and winter movie going season, the big pictures have to play 3 weeks or more for those First Run houses in Westwood/Hollywood.

KramSacul
KramSacul on July 26, 2007 at 4:49 pm

I’m surprised neither the Village or Grauman’s Chinese will be playing the Simpsons Movie. Instead both will continue playing the latest Harry Potter film. Pretty disappointing as I really wanted to see it on either of their 2k DLPs. The Dome’s 2k just doesn’t cut it.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 5, 2007 at 4:26 am

I spent lot of time in Westwood circa 1985- wall to wall people. Parking at the Federal building was the only feasible option. I stopped going before the tourist was shot and killed in 1988, but by then the Santa Monica promenade was already drawing weekend crowds away from the Village.

Michael Furlinger
Michael Furlinger on May 5, 2007 at 2:39 am

was the theater busy for spidy 3????