National Theatre
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
64 people
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So it appears the National isn’t gone yet. Mann sold it to a company called Simms Entertainment(sp?. I called them up. They don’t plan to demolish it but instead lease it out to someone to show films in. They wouldn’t tell me what company but said they hope to get first run movies in there. We’ll see what happens.
It’s funny that a posting here mentioned that perhaps Steven Spielberg could save the theater. I was mentioning this to a friend of mine with the same idea this morning. Many of his films played at the National. He’s a huge movie buff. It would seem that he’d want to save this theater. There are very few around like it anymore. It far surpasses almost any other theatre out there for size and presentation quality.
It’s a wonderful idea to bring back the original Indiana Jones trilogy and have it play there. How about a Spielberg festival? Of course, first run movies would have to play there for the theatre to be viable (and not the dreary second hand titles the National’s been getting lately). This theatre has a glorious past and it’s a shame that it’s been pushed aside.
It’s not that Spielberg or anyone else is obligated to save the theatre. But it seems like the right thing to do. In fact, he wouldn’t even have to invest in it. He’s got enough clout to ask Paramount to revive the theater. It’s not in too bad of shape and it’s in great location. Talk about it being a premiere house again!
El Capitan in Hollywood is a single screen and does excellent business, and yet no one complains that it’s a relic and can’t compete with the megaplexes. And that theatre is much older than the National. So make the National an “in” spot to see movies again.
Too many classy and classic theatres have been lost since the mid-90s. We don’t need anymore megaplexes. Nearly every megaplex I’ve gone to looks like every other megaplex I’ve gone to. At least the National had its own magnificence. It’ll be missed unless someone takes it over.
Yes, hollywood90038, I am refering to that picture, I had assumed it was ‘doctored’ you did an excellant job with the concept. It is very sad that the Mann Corporation could not negotate favorable terms on the lease renewal. Again it is my sincere hope, even sitting all the way out here in Kansas, that something good will come from this, it is SO unfortunate to see buildings just sit vacant and detorate while something else is constructed across the street.
I love both of your ideas – of re-releasing the previous Indiana Jones films leading up to the release of the fourth and of major Hollywood players such as Steven Spielberg stepping in to try to save the National. In such a scenario, would it still be run by Mann or would it become an independent like the Crest?
Studios themselves mostly had to give up theater ownership decades ago but I’m not sure how or if that would effect independent owners who work in the film industry. I was also never sure how exactly deals like the ones Disney has with the El Capitan (and used to have with the Crest)work. Does Disney actually own the El Cap and what is it’s arrangement with Pacific Theaters?
I worked at the United Artists Westwood (once called the United Artists Cinema Center) for 18 years and I know they had some sort of deal with Tri-Star which poured huge amounts of money into our remodeling. I was always proud of the fact that we were the theater that turned a four-plex into a three-plex, bucking the trend of theaters like the Avco and the Mann Westwood which did the opposite. Of course, now it’s a drugstore so it doesn’t matter much anymore.
Anyway, I would favor and do what I could to help with any scenario that would preserve the National for future generations. It’s sobering to realize that it was the LAST single screen theater built in Califoria and that was 37 years ago! We’re not likely to see it’s like again.
Best wishes,
Alan Sanborn
Perhaps it’s naive to think of him as some sort of potential savior, but do you think that Spielberg could do anything to save the National (beyond outright buying it)? I say this because so many of his films have played there. Beyond the Indiana Jones films, Empire of the Sun and Saving Private Ryan also (and perhaps others as well).
I would assume that Spielberg is the type that would have some interest in where his films play (particularly on the west side of L.A. where he lives). The fact that Empire of the Sun played at the National instead of the Village (at a time when most Warner Bros. films played at the Village or Bruin) makes me think that maybe he has some love for the National.
Also, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to update the National? Close it down this year, remodel and update it, and then re-open it with a week of 70mm presentations of the first three Indiana Jones films, leading up to the premiere of the 4th one. As much as I would hate to see the old 70’s decor go, I would rather have an open and operating National than none at all. Not to mention that, considering it has been so long since the last one, Paramount would be smart to re-release the first three. One of the reasons why the Star Wars prequels were so successful is that the younger generation had been primed for them by the re-release of the first three films. Paramount might not want to do something as large scale, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to run the first three for a week or so in one or two theatres in all the major cities to prepare viewers for the fourth one.
I’m still intrigued by the idea that there is something else going on here besides just the high cost of the lease. Is Mann still co-owned by Warner Bros. and Paramount? I know they sold it at one point, but didn’t they buy it back? Does the acquisition of Dreamworks play into this at all? And thus, could Spielberg have extra pull here?
I just went to the Mann website, where they make a big deal about being a “boutique” theatre chain known for their history, prestige, state of the art presentation, and being “where Hollywood goes to the movies.” Yeah, right.
April 19th was a sad night. I attended the final screening at the National and was surprised by number of cinema-philes who turned out (with their cameras as well). I took a bunch of photos that I will try to get over to Cinematour in the next couple of weeks. The National’s presentation was flawless, of course (too bad the movie wasn’t better), putting any other theatre to shame. The explosions in the film reminded me of the first film I saw there, “Saving Private Ryan”, and how much in awe I was of the presentation!
I used to work in the district office out of Wichita, Kansas when the Mann circuit was a national chain, having taken over National General, and the National as well as a variety of LA and NY houses were a great source of pride for that organization. It is unfortunate to see it close, and I sincerely hope that some constructive use will come of this venue. The picture of the closing night is awesome, but also a sad sign of the times.
Back in the 90’s Mann had to renew their leases on the Village and Bruin Theatres. At one point there was talk about not renewing them because of the large rent increase. But there finnally did renew. Many of the older theatres they have had long term leases at low rents.
Brad E41, what made your source think Regent would take over the place? Or did they mean to say Regal, which has bought up Edwards and UA Theatres and become one of the largest chains in the US?
I’d certainly like to see the National survive as a movie venue, particularly one with a varied program including retro classics, but I agree with others here that it would probably take a signifigant change, like food service, exceptional projection technology, luxury seating, etc. Currently LA has no dine-in movie venue, so perhaps converting a section to VIP/Table service might work… any viable future for this venue would require a substantial amount of money, and someone brave enough and empassioned enough to give it a go. That kind of person is even more rare than exceptional movie theatres.
I can’t help but look at NY’s Ziegfeld, which is their last large single screen/big screen house. However they are doing it, Clearview manages to keep it open. However I’m afraid the National has more in common with NY’s late Astor Plaza, which had the kind of minimal disposable decor as the National. I’m not saying I don’t like that decor, (in fact its simplicity makes it very simple to update) only that it’s not the kind of atmoshpere one finds at the Ziegfeld.
It’s hard to give up hope for the National, but clearly the current trend is for greedy landlords to trash the past for the cash made with forgettable high rises and retail spaces. One of my favorite movie venues of my youth was perfectly viable right into the 90s when it was torn down for a PepBoys store that went out of business in less than a year. That forgettable store sits empty where a clasic theatre could be entertaining people to this day.
Is that Photoshopped, or the actual sign on the theatre today?
I completely agree with you, hollywood90038. The old TWA terminal is being saved by Jet Blue by building around it. If only the same could be done with the National.
Is there any way to change those zoning laws? Is there any group that has the political juice to get this done? Now that Mann has called their bluff and closed the National, maybe the community leaders will realize that something must be done to save the special place that their community holds in the hearts of L.A. moviegoers. In ten years, when all that is left are the Village, Bruin, and the Crest (all the way down Westwood Blvd., it might as well be in a different city), Westwood will have completely lost its unique character.
By the way, thank you for the management for turning the sound all the way up for last night’s final screening. Those chest-rattling explosions in Shooter gave me fond memories of the National back in its glory days. Seeing a girl sitting in front of me (with a group of friends, probably from UCLA, with no idea the significance of the night and probably wondering why there were all these strange men trolling around with cameras) clamping her hands around her ears to muffle the sound definitely made the night just a little brighter.
I can tell you two premieres I went to at the National, in order of the ridiculous to the sublime:
Hudson Hawk (where I met James Coburn in the upstairs lobby) and The Hours.
Here is the last few years worth of Premieres at the National Theatre.
Darkness Falls—01/22/2003
The Core—03/25/2003
Daddy Day Care—05/04/2003
Legally Blonde 2—07/01/2003
Gigli—07/27/2003
Second Hand Lions—09/18/2003
Timeline—11/19/2003
Agent Cody Banks 2—03/06/2004
Man on Fire—04/18/2004
Upside of Anger—03/03/2005
Beauty Shop—03/24/2005
Sin City—03/28/2005
Monster In-Law—04/29/2005
Happy Endings—06/26/2005
Brokeback Mountain—11/29/2005
Just My Luck—05/09/2006
Little Man—07/06/2006
And that was it.
P.S. – That Avco diss was in reference to a late 1990’s post auditorium split presentation of the restored version of “Vertigo” that they had the NEVER to present in 70MM! Pathetic!
My fondest memory of being at the National was a 70MM DTS presentation of “Titanic” in 1998 (just after it moved over from the Village). They completely maxed out the vertical & horizontal masking to create a genuine 70MM projected image (unlike the Egyptian & the Avco – 70MM on a 45-50 foot screen ain’t 70MM, folks!). The sound was rich with deep bass and the surrounds bouncing all over the auditorium. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
I didn’t start going regularly to the National till the summer of 1993, but I’m glad I made it! It is a sad day in Westwood right now. We’ve truly lost a great theatre.
I don’t know if anyone remembers. But giant murals were painted on the back of The Loyola (a once Mann theatre in Westchester, Ca.) of films playing exclusively in Westwood. They had one for “Dog Day Afternoon” painted with EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT NOW PLAYING at MANN NATIONAL, Westwood.
I read about Regent from an article on AllBusiness.com last year when Mann first talked about closing it.
Brad E41, what made your source think Regent would take over the place? Or did they mean to say Regal, which has bought up Edwards and UA Theatres and become one of the largest chains in the US?
I’d certainly like to see the National survive as a movie venue, particularly one with a varied program including retro classics, but I agree with others here that it would probably take a signifigant change, like food service, exceptional projection technology, luxury seating, etc. Currently LA has no dine-in movie venue, so perhaps converting a section to VIP/Table service might work… any viable future for this venue would require a substantial amount of money, and someone brave enough and empassioned enough to give it a go. That kind of person is even more rare than exceptional movie theatres.
I can’t help but look at NY’s Ziegfeld, which is their last large single screen/big screen house. However they are doing it, Clearview manages to keep it open. However I’m afraid the National has more in common with NY’s late Astor Plaza, which had the kind of minimal disposable decor as the National. I’m not saying I don’t like that decor, (in fact its simplicity makes it very simple to update) only that it’s not the kind of atmoshpere one finds at the Ziegfeld.
It’s hard to give up hope for the National, but clearly the current trend is for greedy landlords to trash the past for the cash made with forgettable high rises and retail spaces. One of my favorite movie venues of my youth was perfectly viable right into the 90s when it was torn down for a PepBoys store that went out of business in less than a year. That forgettable store sits empty where a clasic theatre could be entertaining people to this day.
I grew up in Santa Monica during the 70’s and early 80’s. The only way to see First Run films then was to go to Westwood. My Saturdays were spent taking the bus there to see a new film. The National was always impressive to me even back then. The design was sleek and modern; the lobby took you upstairs to this HUGE comfortable auditorium that did not have one bad seat.
My first sighting EVER seeing the National was when “The Mackintosh Man” was showing. I remember thinking how cool the marquee was; the big expressive sign made you already that you were in for something special. I worked at the Mann Village from 1980 to early 1983; Both theatres were considered the “it” theatres in L.A. County. Studios fought over bookings, but ultimately Paramount and Warner always won out.
In the 70’s my bus visits took me to see such gems as “The Bad News Bears”, “Islands in the Stream”, “Heaven Can Wait”, “Superman”, “Big Wednesday” and the underrated “The Big Bus”.
The early 80’s it was all about “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. A bunch of us from the Village “snuck in” opening night (when they had a sold out crowd). Back then we all had friends at all the MANN theatres in the Westwood. Getting in on opening nights were tough, but somehow we all managed to get in. During the 80’s it was mainly Paramount’s premiere theatre (Warner usually had the Village).
The 90’s brought competition with Century City and Santa Monica delivering first run films. Trendy was not Westwood any longer. Crowds rather sit in a small character-less theatre. There was no appreciation for a theatre like the National. Sadly MANN felt it was not in the best interest to keep the theatre going; you could see them losing interest over the years. Last year (2006) they managed to book “The Da Vinci Code” and an expansion run of “Brokeback Mountain”; but the bookings otherwise consisted of the films no one else really wanted. My last visit was February 17th for “Music & Lyrics”. I’m glad I made it, but am sad I no longer am able to see a film at this great theatre ever again.
Some notable films that played first run at the National in the 70’s include “Dog Day Afternoon”, “The Wind & the Lion”, “The Front”, “Starting Over”, “The Fortune”, “Bobby Deerfield”, “Sorcerer”, “Bound For Glory”, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”, “The Godfather” and “The Exorcist”
The 80’s: “Reds”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Untouchables”, “Rain Man”, “Top Gun”, “Crocodile Dundee”, “Brainstorm”, “Star 80”, “Footloose”, “Empire of the Sun”, “Greystoke”, “Black Rain”,
and all the Indiana Jones Films.
The 90’s: All the Jack Ryan Thrillers, “Wayne’s World”, “Courage Under Fire”, “Mission:Impossible”, “Days of Thunder”, “The Talented Mr Ripley”, “The First Wives Club”, “In & Out”, “Boogie Nights”, “Entrapment”, “Star Trek:First Contact”, “Runaway Bride”. Face/Off", “Saving Pvt. Ryan”.
Since 2000: “The Italian Job”, “What Women Want”, “S.W.A.T.”, “Gangs Of New York”, “School of Rock”, “Brokeback Mountain”, “The Da Vinci Code”, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”, “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory”, “March of the Penguins”, “Mean Girls”, “Closer”, “The Manchurian Candidate.”
It may be gone. But obviously and thankfully I have fond memories.
thanks for clarifying the digital info. for Zodiac. Got info. from website(when film was still in production). The theatre will be missed. Hope that it won’t be torn down
I just returned from watching the curtain close for what, apparently, was the final time at the Mann National Theater in Westwood. I’d already seen Shooter but I had to be there to pay my respects to one of the great theaters of Westwood.
The theater opened in 1970 and I believe I saw Scrooge there later that year, followed by Bedknobs and Broomsticks in 1971 and 1776 in 1972. I was too young to see The Exorcist there in 1973 but I remember the faux open bedroom window they had set up for it on the Eastern exterior wall of the building, a wall that has now been covered up by a shopping center for decades. The billowing curtains of that window gave me the creeps as a kid.
In Jr. High, I saw re-releases of Jaws and Fantasia there but it was in 1979, with the opening of Star Trek the Motion Picture that I started my habit of seeing movies there on opening day (having camped out the night before to see the first show), a habit which continued on and off over the decades up until the release of The DaVinci Code last year.
But the film that I probably most associate with the National is Raiders of the Lost Ark. I saw the first two showings there on opening day and countless more in the weeks that followed.
Boy, for a long time I’ve missed the huge poster murals they used to paint on the exterior Western wall, overlooking Galey. It was stirring indeed to see Indiana Jones painted there, 30 or 40 feet high!
With the big screen at the Avco long ago bisected and now the National closing, The Village theater is the only truly GREAT screen left in Westwood! And out of the 18 screens we had there less than a decade ago, we will now be down to 9.
Farewell National Theater! You gave me countless hours of joy and you will be sorely missed!
Alan Sanborn
April 19, 2007
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Final thoughts on the National.
Final show tonight! “Shooter” 10:10 PM. Dolby Digital THX. I will be there. Hope everyone can join.
I remember waiting on line for hours at the National to see The Exorcist with friends from my dorm at UCLA…I remember going to the National on a very rainy weekend afternoon (circa 1977-78) and seeing a matinee of The Gauntlet with maybe a dozen or so people in the audience. At the time, it felt to me like the world’s largest private screening room. I agree with Jason, above. If they had made the National into an art-house, it would have had no competition in Westwood. I’ll hate to see them tear it down. Another one bites the dust indeed.
An article I posted earlier this week on the Mann’s closing:
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