I took some pics not to long ago including interiors. Will send them to Cinematour when I get a chance. My ones of the big auditorium did not really come out though.
How big is the Rialto’s screen? Its been a long time since I’ve been there but I remember thinking it must have been common width screen with top-down masking for scope pictures.
Too bad the National could only have “1408” for its opening week (as “Sicko” was booked for the following week). I don’t think anyone expected it to do as well as it did.
r0wr r0wr: what midnite movies played at the National prior to the plug being pulled?
r0wr r0wr. I did not try to compute in my head what percentage the Landmark made from Sicko in comparison to the National, so stop being so aggresive on this matter. Why don’t you tell us the numbers if you are privy to this knowledge? I don’t care if it is .00001%. I know, as many do here, that we cannot replace all of he National’s seats without some big money backing it. I, like others here, just want to offer ideas to help this theatre survive as long as possible in the economic envirorment it is in. And we all seem to know that will not mean going up directly against The Landmark. Kudos to the National if it didn’t do as bad as you think against the Landmark. But that alone will not keep it open. So get off our backs for putting forth ideas, as unreasonable as they might seem. “Raiders” on the National’s giant screen would have me marking my calendar. Sicko is in my Netflix queue.
rowr rowr. One night of Raiders at the Cinematheque was very much sold out (not to mention those they were turning away when I was there). I beg you to compare the grosses of Sicko at the National vs. the new Landmark. I bet the the landmark took it by a landslide. My point is that if the National wants to stay open it should not play THE SAME FILM AS AN ARCLIGHT-TYPE PLACE DOING BOFFO BUSINESS LESS THAN 2 MILES AWAY!!! I am not trying to say I know the “exact grosses”, I just trying to offer ideas that could keep my favorite theatre open, and perhaps in a unique way that could showcase the theatre for the types of films it was meant for. So get off my case! I am just another fan out there trying to help with ideas. If I were Paul Allen and could buy and restore this theatre like the Seattle Cinerama I would, but i can’t. So I suggest you start offering ideas as well, if you really care about this theatre.
I agree with D Packard. 70’s kitsch is in vogue in LA right now. Leave the drapes and wallpaper. Replace the seats and the carpet. And then show a double bill of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Star Trek Il”. That would fill the house faster than anything they have booked since reopening.
I gather this theatre is not old enough or architechturally significant enough to be registered as a historic place? Even if it was the last single screen built in LA? Too bad. One day all theatres from this era (my favorite) will be gone.
If one looks at Google Earth or Google Maps in Satellite or Hybrid mode, is it the building to the immediate east of the main Egyptian auditorium and just north of the eastern side of the parking lot? (and then I will give this thread back to Pacific!!)
Bruce, where did the 2 small screens used to be at the Egyptian? I have been to the Cinematheque and for the the life of me can’t figure out where they were.
There is such robust redevelopment in this area that it would be foolish not to restore the Pacific. It would be a great link between the Hollywood Highland area and the Pantages.
The thing is that they did not “restore” the theatre in the proper sense of the word. Rather, they built a modern theatre within the restored shell of the Egyptian.
I still wish there were interior photos of the auditoriums of the Tacoma Mall Twin somewhere. Wish I had taken some way way back when I worked there one summer!
Krispey Kreme cheapened its their brand and their mystique when thay started selling boxed doughnuts in grocerey stores. As much as I like their hot and fresh doughnuts direct from the store, the thrill has worn off. I certainly would refuse to patronize this particular Krispey Kreme on principle if I were in the Tacoma area.
I know some if those links expired, but yes if you do a search of “Tacoma Mall Theatre” on the Photo Archive on the Tacoma Public Libray website you will find the photos.
I myself hope to go to to the Lakewood someday and check out the large auditorium.
Originally single screen:
reverse entry auditorium (possible curved screen?).
Main auditorium split in two:
Screen of main auditorium moved back to make way for smaller 288 seat auditorium in what was front of the old auditorium, with seating arranged perpendicular to seating of big auditorium (the screen of the smaller is on the front, right wall of the old auditorium). This split might be why the 60 foot flat screen of the resulting large auditorium seems too close to ceiling because of reduced auditorium height as the screen was moved back.
Three screens added to north side of building to create 5-plex:
I feel this was done sometime after the main auditorium split.
The 3 newer screens each split down the middle, resulting in 8-plex:
Evidence to this is the fact that the 6 small screens seemed “paired” with 3 entryways and signage leading to 2 screens each. Also, these auditoriums are narrow with top-down masking, not the usual way an auditorium is initially designed.
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?
Thanks. I luckily grabbed them all before they were removed from whatever site. Somebody at one point had a buch of old Mann Theatre trailers up as well, but I think they came down too.
It’s too bad there is no Paul Allen-like person in Los Angeles with enough money or heart to preserve it like Mr. Allen did for the Cinerama in Seattle. Can’t Mr. Speilberg help the theatre that showcased all of his Indiana Jones films in the 80’s? Can’t he give back a little to the movie-goers who have given him hundreds of millions of dollars? Couldn’t this be a showcase for Dreamworks films or Speilberg films the way the El Capitan is for Disney?
(BTW does Paramount have any idea the mobs of people that would show up if they struck new 70mm prints of the Indiana Jones trilogy and had a festival prior to the release of the 4th film?)
I took some pics not to long ago including interiors. Will send them to Cinematour when I get a chance. My ones of the big auditorium did not really come out though.
I would also help if the National got a website and online ticketing.
How big is the Rialto’s screen? Its been a long time since I’ve been there but I remember thinking it must have been common width screen with top-down masking for scope pictures.
Too bad the National could only have “1408” for its opening week (as “Sicko” was booked for the following week). I don’t think anyone expected it to do as well as it did.
r0wr r0wr: what midnite movies played at the National prior to the plug being pulled?
Especially with so much competition in Pasadena
That’s why I had to stop writing.
r0wr r0wr. I did not try to compute in my head what percentage the Landmark made from Sicko in comparison to the National, so stop being so aggresive on this matter. Why don’t you tell us the numbers if you are privy to this knowledge? I don’t care if it is .00001%. I know, as many do here, that we cannot replace all of he National’s seats without some big money backing it. I, like others here, just want to offer ideas to help this theatre survive as long as possible in the economic envirorment it is in. And we all seem to know that will not mean going up directly against The Landmark. Kudos to the National if it didn’t do as bad as you think against the Landmark. But that alone will not keep it open. So get off our backs for putting forth ideas, as unreasonable as they might seem. “Raiders” on the National’s giant screen would have me marking my calendar. Sicko is in my Netflix queue.
rowr rowr. One night of Raiders at the Cinematheque was very much sold out (not to mention those they were turning away when I was there). I beg you to compare the grosses of Sicko at the National vs. the new Landmark. I bet the the landmark took it by a landslide. My point is that if the National wants to stay open it should not play THE SAME FILM AS AN ARCLIGHT-TYPE PLACE DOING BOFFO BUSINESS LESS THAN 2 MILES AWAY!!! I am not trying to say I know the “exact grosses”, I just trying to offer ideas that could keep my favorite theatre open, and perhaps in a unique way that could showcase the theatre for the types of films it was meant for. So get off my case! I am just another fan out there trying to help with ideas. If I were Paul Allen and could buy and restore this theatre like the Seattle Cinerama I would, but i can’t. So I suggest you start offering ideas as well, if you really care about this theatre.
I agree with D Packard. 70’s kitsch is in vogue in LA right now. Leave the drapes and wallpaper. Replace the seats and the carpet. And then show a double bill of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Star Trek Il”. That would fill the house faster than anything they have booked since reopening.
saps for photos go to:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2134
I gather this theatre is not old enough or architechturally significant enough to be registered as a historic place? Even if it was the last single screen built in LA? Too bad. One day all theatres from this era (my favorite) will be gone.
If one looks at Google Earth or Google Maps in Satellite or Hybrid mode, is it the building to the immediate east of the main Egyptian auditorium and just north of the eastern side of the parking lot? (and then I will give this thread back to Pacific!!)
Bruce, where did the 2 small screens used to be at the Egyptian? I have been to the Cinematheque and for the the life of me can’t figure out where they were.
There is such robust redevelopment in this area that it would be foolish not to restore the Pacific. It would be a great link between the Hollywood Highland area and the Pantages.
The thing is that they did not “restore” the theatre in the proper sense of the word. Rather, they built a modern theatre within the restored shell of the Egyptian.
I wish there were some good shots of the interior out there.
I still wish there were interior photos of the auditoriums of the Tacoma Mall Twin somewhere. Wish I had taken some way way back when I worked there one summer!
Krispey Kreme cheapened its their brand and their mystique when thay started selling boxed doughnuts in grocerey stores. As much as I like their hot and fresh doughnuts direct from the store, the thrill has worn off. I certainly would refuse to patronize this particular Krispey Kreme on principle if I were in the Tacoma area.
Good
I know some if those links expired, but yes if you do a search of “Tacoma Mall Theatre” on the Photo Archive on the Tacoma Public Libray website you will find the photos.
I myself hope to go to to the Lakewood someday and check out the large auditorium.
/theaters/1215/
and some pictures here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2112
Here is my theory about this theatre:
Originally single screen:
reverse entry auditorium (possible curved screen?).
Main auditorium split in two:
Screen of main auditorium moved back to make way for smaller 288 seat auditorium in what was front of the old auditorium, with seating arranged perpendicular to seating of big auditorium (the screen of the smaller is on the front, right wall of the old auditorium). This split might be why the 60 foot flat screen of the resulting large auditorium seems too close to ceiling because of reduced auditorium height as the screen was moved back.
Three screens added to north side of building to create 5-plex:
I feel this was done sometime after the main auditorium split.
The 3 newer screens each split down the middle, resulting in 8-plex:
Evidence to this is the fact that the 6 small screens seemed “paired” with 3 entryways and signage leading to 2 screens each. Also, these auditoriums are narrow with top-down masking, not the usual way an auditorium is initially designed.
Any thoughts? Confirmations?
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?
Thanks. I luckily grabbed them all before they were removed from whatever site. Somebody at one point had a buch of old Mann Theatre trailers up as well, but I think they came down too.
It’s too bad there is no Paul Allen-like person in Los Angeles with enough money or heart to preserve it like Mr. Allen did for the Cinerama in Seattle. Can’t Mr. Speilberg help the theatre that showcased all of his Indiana Jones films in the 80’s? Can’t he give back a little to the movie-goers who have given him hundreds of millions of dollars? Couldn’t this be a showcase for Dreamworks films or Speilberg films the way the El Capitan is for Disney?
(BTW does Paramount have any idea the mobs of people that would show up if they struck new 70mm prints of the Indiana Jones trilogy and had a festival prior to the release of the 4th film?)