Katie I think I know which auditorium you were in. (The one on the far left as you walk in). I saw Chronricles of Narninia there on a fluke a few years back. Looked like water damage (there had been storms) and they had to remove the wall panelling and curtains.
I do have to say though I was impressed by the presentation and the friendliness of the staff. I would definitely pay $2 (even 3 or 4) to see a movie there.
Truly a sad loss for his family, Los Angeles, the exhibition community. A brave pioneer who kept a revival house going when most were disappearing in the adverse conditions of the home-video market.
Hopefully his family will be brave enough to carry on with the New Beverly in honor of his memory.
I would like to thank Sherman for giving me the chance to see one of my favorite underrated films, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, on the big screen.
Just paid the theatre a visit. Snooped in most of the theatres. Liked the large one. But the small ones…wow. Talk about shoe boxes. Most of the screens were set for scope and their size reminded me of the Beverly Center. Seating ranged from 115 or so to 150. Most of the auditoriums seemed to be top-down masking. Even the medium sized one (288 seats).
BTW in reference to reverse entry auditoriums, I know of one in Seattle: The Varsity Theatre, Seattle (the small upstairs screen). OK I know it isn’t the main auditorium, but still…
I’m up in Seattle for the 4th of July holiday and the Century Federal Way opened today (saw ads in the paper). What is very interesting is that the Starplex Gateway 8 a few blocks away (ex-GCC) has gone discount overnight and has literally “given” all their first run films to the Century Federal Way and has a new slate of 2nd run films. There must have been some sort of agreement in place. I have never seen a competing theatre from a different chain just bow down and give way to the new theatre with out a fight or letting all their first run films peter out. Starplex was the only theatre in the area and had all the latest first run films. They ran Ratatoullie and Die Hard for less than a week before giving them to Century.
Too bad Sicko is also playing at the new Landmark, 2 miles away. I encourage everyone to see it at the National. And tell your friends. I converted a couple of coworkers (who had never been there) to check out the National. I sold them with with my pictures posted on Cinematour of the the National’s closing night under Mann’s operation:
They were wowed by the fact that it is a perfectly preserved relic of widescreen cinema construction from the 60’s and 70’s. Too bad that it is not old enough, or “ornate” enough, to be historically registered and preserved. It seems that Los Angeles will tear down and destroy anything that is not old enough. Where theatres like the Village and Bruin in Westwood will survive because of their location, age, neon, and classic design, superior theatres like the National willl fall. Unless we do something, all of the theatres and architecture from this era, unprotected as they are, will one day be gone.
As if there isn’t enough empty retail space in Westwood that Banana Republic can’t occupy!!! Foot traffic will be lousy for them at this location. My prediction is that the Banana Republic will be vacant 3 years after opening. Instead of an empty classic theatre, Westwood will have another empty retail space.
Has anyone seen what Banana Republic did to the Colesium Theatre in Seattle? At least the shell of the building is intact, but the inside has no hint that it was ever a theatre, except for the historic photos an the wall. Odd way of “preserving” a theatre.
I saw Blade Runner during its initial release in 1982 at the SRO Tacoma West Cinemas, Tacoma WA (Screen 1, on the right). I was 12 years, and accompanied by my mother who I had convinced to take me since the film had an R rating. Presenation was 35MM Dolby Stereo, proper 2.35:1 masking, (something SRO was good at). I was disappointed it did not play at the Tacoma Mall Twin, which usually got big blockbusters in the summer.
Although I fell in love immediately with the visuals, effects, sound, music and mood of the film, because of my youth the meanings and themes of the story went right over my head. Of, course, now it is one of my favorite films and it truly is a masterpiece (in any cut).
My personal Blade Runner Collection: Director’s Cut DVD (widescreen), Original Cut Criterion Laserdisc (widescreen), “additional gore” Embassy Home Video VHS (pan and scan). I also have the original souvenir magazine which I bought with my hard-earned allowance at the theatre.
I have seen the “Director’s Cut” 3 times on the big screen, at 3 different theatres that are now closed: Act III Newport Cinemas, Spokane WA (Dolby Stereo), Act III Everett 9 Cinemas, Everett WA (THX Dolby Stereo), UA Cinema 150, Seattle WA (Dolby Stereo).
Phillip, what is the film festival of which you speak? Does the the National have a website? When is the festival and what is the theme? Any 70mm in the future?
Thanks!
Mark
I think the new operators of the National should really try to run “Raiders” on its giant screen. Loads of us movie geeks will turn out in droves for a late night show or Saturday morning matinee. What better way to get people interested in this theatre. Follow it later with showings of Temple of Doom and Last Crusade. Do any 70mm prints of these films still exist? Could Speilberg kick Paramount in the tush to strike some new ones to get some momentum going for the new film?
Hopefully the management can save the National from the wrecking ball. Seems like a theatre needs to be at least from the 1930’s to be registered as a historic place. Perhaps I will perch myself high atop the National roof sign when the day comes and refuse to leave.
Since the National trying to get midnight shows going again, perhaps we should start making requests. I’ll start with the obvious (in 70mm if and when possible):
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Star Trek II, III, IV
Star Wars IV, V, VI (the untampered originals please)
The Hunt for Red October
Tron
Baraka
Lawrence of Arabia
Dune
2001
Die Hard
…
Perhaps Brad did the transfer to video of the old GCC trailers.
Katie I think I know which auditorium you were in. (The one on the far left as you walk in). I saw Chronricles of Narninia there on a fluke a few years back. Looked like water damage (there had been storms) and they had to remove the wall panelling and curtains.
I do have to say though I was impressed by the presentation and the friendliness of the staff. I would definitely pay $2 (even 3 or 4) to see a movie there.
Truly a sad loss for his family, Los Angeles, the exhibition community. A brave pioneer who kept a revival house going when most were disappearing in the adverse conditions of the home-video market.
Hopefully his family will be brave enough to carry on with the New Beverly in honor of his memory.
I would like to thank Sherman for giving me the chance to see one of my favorite underrated films, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, on the big screen.
Just paid the theatre a visit. Snooped in most of the theatres. Liked the large one. But the small ones…wow. Talk about shoe boxes. Most of the screens were set for scope and their size reminded me of the Beverly Center. Seating ranged from 115 or so to 150. Most of the auditoriums seemed to be top-down masking. Even the medium sized one (288 seats).
BTW in reference to reverse entry auditoriums, I know of one in Seattle: The Varsity Theatre, Seattle (the small upstairs screen). OK I know it isn’t the main auditorium, but still…
yes please. Format as well (dolby, 70mm etc)
Can anyone explain who owns the trailers and why? There were some old Mann Theatre trailers that seem to have come down off Youtube as well.
Is that related?
That is the smaller house. (seperate building) The older big house has the big marquee.
that sounds rather morbid r0wr-r0rw. know something we don’t?
Thats too bad…
Can’t the National get a website going? Even a simple one? You can use my pictures that are on Cinematour…
What are the issues between GCC, Film Tech, and Cinemajig? Wouldn’t AMC own the trailers?
I saw Tron in 70MM at the El Capitan a couple years ago. It held up really well. The El Capitan seems to run it every couple years for a week.
The National, Village, Bruin, Regent, Crest in Westwood (Los Angeles)…(catch the National while it is still open!!!)
I’m up in Seattle for the 4th of July holiday and the Century Federal Way opened today (saw ads in the paper). What is very interesting is that the Starplex Gateway 8 a few blocks away (ex-GCC) has gone discount overnight and has literally “given” all their first run films to the Century Federal Way and has a new slate of 2nd run films. There must have been some sort of agreement in place. I have never seen a competing theatre from a different chain just bow down and give way to the new theatre with out a fight or letting all their first run films peter out. Starplex was the only theatre in the area and had all the latest first run films. They ran Ratatoullie and Die Hard for less than a week before giving them to Century.
Too bad Sicko is also playing at the new Landmark, 2 miles away. I encourage everyone to see it at the National. And tell your friends. I converted a couple of coworkers (who had never been there) to check out the National. I sold them with with my pictures posted on Cinematour of the the National’s closing night under Mann’s operation:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2134
They were wowed by the fact that it is a perfectly preserved relic of widescreen cinema construction from the 60’s and 70’s. Too bad that it is not old enough, or “ornate” enough, to be historically registered and preserved. It seems that Los Angeles will tear down and destroy anything that is not old enough. Where theatres like the Village and Bruin in Westwood will survive because of their location, age, neon, and classic design, superior theatres like the National willl fall. Unless we do something, all of the theatres and architecture from this era, unprotected as they are, will one day be gone.
As if there isn’t enough empty retail space in Westwood that Banana Republic can’t occupy!!! Foot traffic will be lousy for them at this location. My prediction is that the Banana Republic will be vacant 3 years after opening. Instead of an empty classic theatre, Westwood will have another empty retail space.
Has anyone seen what Banana Republic did to the Colesium Theatre in Seattle? At least the shell of the building is intact, but the inside has no hint that it was ever a theatre, except for the historic photos an the wall. Odd way of “preserving” a theatre.
I saw Blade Runner during its initial release in 1982 at the SRO Tacoma West Cinemas, Tacoma WA (Screen 1, on the right). I was 12 years, and accompanied by my mother who I had convinced to take me since the film had an R rating. Presenation was 35MM Dolby Stereo, proper 2.35:1 masking, (something SRO was good at). I was disappointed it did not play at the Tacoma Mall Twin, which usually got big blockbusters in the summer.
Although I fell in love immediately with the visuals, effects, sound, music and mood of the film, because of my youth the meanings and themes of the story went right over my head. Of, course, now it is one of my favorite films and it truly is a masterpiece (in any cut).
My personal Blade Runner Collection: Director’s Cut DVD (widescreen), Original Cut Criterion Laserdisc (widescreen), “additional gore” Embassy Home Video VHS (pan and scan). I also have the original souvenir magazine which I bought with my hard-earned allowance at the theatre.
I have seen the “Director’s Cut” 3 times on the big screen, at 3 different theatres that are now closed: Act III Newport Cinemas, Spokane WA (Dolby Stereo), Act III Everett 9 Cinemas, Everett WA (THX Dolby Stereo), UA Cinema 150, Seattle WA (Dolby Stereo).
Phillip, what is the film festival of which you speak? Does the the National have a website? When is the festival and what is the theme? Any 70mm in the future?
Thanks!
Mark
Yet it the Transformers will probably open at the Avco…
I think the new operators of the National should really try to run “Raiders” on its giant screen. Loads of us movie geeks will turn out in droves for a late night show or Saturday morning matinee. What better way to get people interested in this theatre. Follow it later with showings of Temple of Doom and Last Crusade. Do any 70mm prints of these films still exist? Could Speilberg kick Paramount in the tush to strike some new ones to get some momentum going for the new film?
Saw John Cusack on the red carpet at the National?
Hopefully the management can save the National from the wrecking ball. Seems like a theatre needs to be at least from the 1930’s to be registered as a historic place. Perhaps I will perch myself high atop the National roof sign when the day comes and refuse to leave.
…
E.T.
The Abyss
Apocalypse Now
Days of Heaven
and oh heck…. Star Trek I, V, VI
The Sound of Music
West Side Story
…
King Solomon’s Mines (1985)
Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone up on that giant screen. And the effects!
Since the National trying to get midnight shows going again, perhaps we should start making requests. I’ll start with the obvious (in 70mm if and when possible):
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Star Trek II, III, IV
Star Wars IV, V, VI (the untampered originals please)
The Hunt for Red October
Tron
Baraka
Lawrence of Arabia
Dune
2001
Die Hard
…