Its too bad there are not any proper double-bill revival houses left in the Los Angeles area, with the notable exception of the New Beverly (where the presentation was a bit lacking a few years ago, but have sice upgraded to Dolby Stereo!) I was recently in Melbourne, Australia, and visited the Astor Theatre, a spectacular revival house combining old art-deco movie palace glamour, revival house programming, a large screen, and top-noch presentation (Dolby Digital, DTS Digital, and several 70mm engaements a month). This is the theatre I wish the Rialto could be (although the Rialto could never have a screen the size of the Astor’s). I think in the U.S. home video and DVD has killed off such theatres, even in cities such as LA. It’s too bad. There is nothing like seeing a classic on the big screen. I got some good pics of the Astor and plan to post them on Cinematour at some point. Until then you can see it at:
Saw a matinee of Superman Returns as a “farewell” to the theatre this weekend and found out that Mann has signed an additiona 6 month lease! That would get it through the holidays.
I got deeply nostalgic watching the traditional Superman opening credits in the National glorious 1970’s decor auditorium. Even the smell of the place reminded me seeing the original Superman as a kid at the Tacoma Mall Twin in 1978.
The National’s presentation was excellent as usual.
What irks me is that Mann added this pit to their roster, but is getting rid of the National, one of the best theatres in LA. If I were King, Pacific would take over the National and give it the Arclight treatment just like they did the dome.
Last week the National shared Poseidon with the Bruin. Right now it is sharing The Da Vinci Code with the Festival. Next week’s schedule shows the National holding DaVinci, The Bruin getting The DaVince moved up from the Festival, which gets a Poseidon downgrade.
The Rialto has gone with Summer Blockbuster programming with the opening of “The Da Vinci Code” this last Friday. Perhaps it is the only way it can survive with so many Laemmle screens in the area showing art house fare. The Landmark ad announced “New Digital Sound System”. I guess this means that Landmark intends to keep the theatre going…
Perhaps someone with resources could do it with The National in Westwood when/if Mann gives up its lease. Where is Paul Allen when you need him (restored the Cinerama in Seattle).
Although we get our fair share of 70mm revivals here in Los Angles at the Cinematheque’s Egyptian and Aero theatres and the Arclight Cinemas among others, my dream would be to have a screen devoted to 70mm presentations. With the overscreening of many booking zones, it seems like an aging multiplex could do well to devote a screen for fans of 70mm in LA. Would probably do a heck of a letter better business than a second run movie at first run prices with 5 people in the audience. Do you know how well a 70mm revival of Raiders or Star Trek II would do in this town?
Interesting. Anyone know what happened to the 14th Screen? Perhaps a wall was broken through because the largest house had well over 200 as well as the 2nd largest (the 2 screens on the 9th floor, both with balconies).
In LA AMC got rid of most of its GCC acquisitions pretty quickly:
Glendale Cinemas
Sherman Oaks 1 & 2
Sherman Oaks 3-7
Hollywood Galaxy
Beverly Connection
They kept the Avco in Westwood and Redondo Beach Galleria
In Seattle Area they closed Everett Mall 1-3, and 4-10
They kept the Renton Village, Cinerama, and Pacific Place 11
Ironically, they closed their only last remaining AMC build in the Seattle area, Seatac North 6, soon after acquiring GCC, thus making all the theatres listed in the AMC ads in Seattle papers as ex-GCC.
This makes me wonder what AMC really gained out of acquiring GCC?
I agree with Paul. Any Loews Cineplex that I have been to on the west coast could seem to only benefit under AMC management. AMC has some first-rate locations with recent builds. I am not a big fan of their older theaters, but even those are well maintained. I have never seen a plastic bag over a broken seat at an AMC theater…
Visited The Tower this evening during a prep for a film shoot. The theatre is very narrow indeed. I wonder if any 2.35:1 scope films ever played there, because the area where the screen would have been is narrow as well. Does anyone have any idea what the presentation was like after the theatre was remodeled in the ‘60’s?
Does anyone know the fate of the Rialto? Lately it seems it has been playing an odd mix of films that are veering away from Landmark’s usual art fare (King Kong, Syriana, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Is this in response to the city of South Pasadena wanting more mainstream fare at the theatre? Also, how is the Rialto holding up to over-saturation of screens in Pasadena, including both mainstream and art cinemas?
Landmark is a specialty chain that shows mostly independent and foreign films, yet lately they seem to have running a lot of mainstream Disney/Touchstone fare at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion, which Landmark operates a couple of miles away, still books independent and foreign films on its four screens. It is too bad they can’t book some of these at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion is small with small screens (especially for scope pictures!). The Regent has been wonderfully remodeled with all the motifs of an art house (old foreign fim posters, flyers for festivals, etc.) yet is showing Disney’s latest underdog basketball movie… What Gives? I used to like going to this theatre!
Interesting comment above about AMC not playing indies and foreign films. What will become of the Uptown triplex in Seattle that Loews has been running as an art house? Here’s hoping Landmark takes over operations…
Very interesting. Anyone know the complete different assotment of brand builds that will now be under AMC? Here are the ones I know from living on the west coast:
AMC
General Cinema
SRO (Sterling Recreation Organization)
Cineplex Odeon
Magic Johnson
Loews Cineplex
Its too bad there are not any proper double-bill revival houses left in the Los Angeles area, with the notable exception of the New Beverly (where the presentation was a bit lacking a few years ago, but have sice upgraded to Dolby Stereo!) I was recently in Melbourne, Australia, and visited the Astor Theatre, a spectacular revival house combining old art-deco movie palace glamour, revival house programming, a large screen, and top-noch presentation (Dolby Digital, DTS Digital, and several 70mm engaements a month). This is the theatre I wish the Rialto could be (although the Rialto could never have a screen the size of the Astor’s). I think in the U.S. home video and DVD has killed off such theatres, even in cities such as LA. It’s too bad. There is nothing like seeing a classic on the big screen. I got some good pics of the Astor and plan to post them on Cinematour at some point. Until then you can see it at:
/theaters/1288/
and
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/au/150.html
and
http://www.astor-theatre.com/ (check out the calendar!)
If you are ever in Melbourne…
Saw a matinee of Superman Returns as a “farewell” to the theatre this weekend and found out that Mann has signed an additiona 6 month lease! That would get it through the holidays.
I got deeply nostalgic watching the traditional Superman opening credits in the National glorious 1970’s decor auditorium. Even the smell of the place reminded me seeing the original Superman as a kid at the Tacoma Mall Twin in 1978.
The National’s presentation was excellent as usual.
I love the above idea! Lots of 70mm engagements.
Question is: If Mann can’t make the National work, what could Regent do better?
What irks me is that Mann added this pit to their roster, but is getting rid of the National, one of the best theatres in LA. If I were King, Pacific would take over the National and give it the Arclight treatment just like they did the dome.
Last week the National shared Poseidon with the Bruin. Right now it is sharing The Da Vinci Code with the Festival. Next week’s schedule shows the National holding DaVinci, The Bruin getting The DaVince moved up from the Festival, which gets a Poseidon downgrade.
The Rialto has gone with Summer Blockbuster programming with the opening of “The Da Vinci Code” this last Friday. Perhaps it is the only way it can survive with so many Laemmle screens in the area showing art house fare. The Landmark ad announced “New Digital Sound System”. I guess this means that Landmark intends to keep the theatre going…
Perhaps someone with resources could do it with The National in Westwood when/if Mann gives up its lease. Where is Paul Allen when you need him (restored the Cinerama in Seattle).
Although we get our fair share of 70mm revivals here in Los Angles at the Cinematheque’s Egyptian and Aero theatres and the Arclight Cinemas among others, my dream would be to have a screen devoted to 70mm presentations. With the overscreening of many booking zones, it seems like an aging multiplex could do well to devote a screen for fans of 70mm in LA. Would probably do a heck of a letter better business than a second run movie at first run prices with 5 people in the audience. Do you know how well a 70mm revival of Raiders or Star Trek II would do in this town?
Anyone know what changes or upgrades have been done by Mann if any. It reopened very quickly…
Photos posted here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2114
Taken a few months prior to closing. I counted a whopping 67 seats in that small auditorium.
Interesting. Anyone know what happened to the 14th Screen? Perhaps a wall was broken through because the largest house had well over 200 as well as the 2nd largest (the 2 screens on the 9th floor, both with balconies).
Probably just a misprint…
In LA AMC got rid of most of its GCC acquisitions pretty quickly:
Glendale Cinemas
Sherman Oaks 1 & 2
Sherman Oaks 3-7
Hollywood Galaxy
Beverly Connection
They kept the Avco in Westwood and Redondo Beach Galleria
In Seattle Area they closed Everett Mall 1-3, and 4-10
They kept the Renton Village, Cinerama, and Pacific Place 11
Ironically, they closed their only last remaining AMC build in the Seattle area, Seatac North 6, soon after acquiring GCC, thus making all the theatres listed in the AMC ads in Seattle papers as ex-GCC.
This makes me wonder what AMC really gained out of acquiring GCC?
I think the theatre has been razed.
on IMDB today: “ ‘Brokeback’ Reaches Top of the Mountain
http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-01-19/
To sum it up: it was the #1 film not only per screen but in receipts on Tuesday after the Golden Globes.
I agree with Paul. Any Loews Cineplex that I have been to on the west coast could seem to only benefit under AMC management. AMC has some first-rate locations with recent builds. I am not a big fan of their older theaters, but even those are well maintained. I have never seen a plastic bag over a broken seat at an AMC theater…
Visited The Tower this evening during a prep for a film shoot. The theatre is very narrow indeed. I wonder if any 2.35:1 scope films ever played there, because the area where the screen would have been is narrow as well. Does anyone have any idea what the presentation was like after the theatre was remodeled in the ‘60’s?
Check out the screen size at the Beverly Center in relation to the exit door here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2114
The are bigger home screening rooms….
Does anyone know the fate of the Rialto? Lately it seems it has been playing an odd mix of films that are veering away from Landmark’s usual art fare (King Kong, Syriana, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Is this in response to the city of South Pasadena wanting more mainstream fare at the theatre? Also, how is the Rialto holding up to over-saturation of screens in Pasadena, including both mainstream and art cinemas?
The Fine Arts and the Beverly Connection, right? Too bad the Beverly Connection was shuttered instead of the Beverly Center.
Landmark is a specialty chain that shows mostly independent and foreign films, yet lately they seem to have running a lot of mainstream Disney/Touchstone fare at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion, which Landmark operates a couple of miles away, still books independent and foreign films on its four screens. It is too bad they can’t book some of these at the Regent. The Westside Pavillion is small with small screens (especially for scope pictures!). The Regent has been wonderfully remodeled with all the motifs of an art house (old foreign fim posters, flyers for festivals, etc.) yet is showing Disney’s latest underdog basketball movie… What Gives? I used to like going to this theatre!
Interesting comment above about AMC not playing indies and foreign films. What will become of the Uptown triplex in Seattle that Loews has been running as an art house? Here’s hoping Landmark takes over operations…
Does anyone think AMC will stamp their badge on the Beverly Center 13?
Very interesting. Anyone know the complete different assotment of brand builds that will now be under AMC? Here are the ones I know from living on the west coast:
AMC
General Cinema
SRO (Sterling Recreation Organization)
Cineplex Odeon
Magic Johnson
Loews Cineplex
feel free to keep adding…
Anyone know who might take over the Meridian 16 in Seattle that Loews must divest?