Brad: Did they have the El Cap organist playing before the movie? I caught the Saturday 10:30PM show at the Chinese for My Soul To Take 3D. Hollywood Blvd was jammed and I expected a decent turnout for a Wes Craven movie. I was wrong-only 32 of us in a theater that’s a national treasure. The movie was a piece of crap with zombie like “acting.” The 3D was a joke, it was almost non existent.
Today, Sunday, I caught the 5:30PM showing of 1979’s “Winter Kills” at the Egyptian. Director Robert Richert and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond did a Q & A. The Art Directors Guild sponsored the event, a tribute to production designer Robert Boyle, who died recently at age 100. A great afternoon-evening.
I don’t care for 3D animation movies. The Majestic Crest in Westwood converted from 2D to 3D midway through its two week run of “Alpha & Omega”. I saw both versions and 3D added very little to the experience.
I plan to go to the Chinese on Saturday to see the new Wes Craven 3D movie “My Soul to Take.” At age 64, I want to attend the Chinese for every upcoming movie as its a real trip back in time.
It was weird to sit in the Egyptian Theatre last night to see a movie I last saw in 1965 on 42nd Street in Times Square(it may have been one of those cheapy Brandt theaters). “Dr Terror’s House of Horrors” held up very well in 2010.
I’m addicted to $6 senior Tuesday so on the evening of 4/20 I took in the movie “La Mission”. I was surprised by the unusually large attendance-then the lights went up and the movie’s star, Benjamin Bratt, strode to the front of the theater. He was very generous with his time and spent about a half hour in the lobby letting the ladies swarm him and have pictures taken with him.
AMC Burbank 16 is my favorite multiplex. $6 senior Tuesdays is a steal, what with free parking. I saw “Catfish” on Tuesday night and it was great. The 24-hour noodle shop next door serves good inexpensive food and Pinkberry is always a treat.
Patrick Goldstein wrote an article in the LA Times years back saying that Robert Bucksbaum had paid about $3.2M in 2002. I’m surprised he got $4M; however, Bigfoot has Hong Kong investors backing and a Hong Kong-Singapore group just bought the old Robinsons-May property in Beverly Hills for about $143M. From what I understand the Crest sale is for the theater bldg only, not any part of the contiguous structures.
Reply to BradE41: You should be interested in seeing “Let Me In” at the Crest to compare it to the original. I saw a group of UCLA students across the street and walked over and told them to see the movie.
As promised I attended the Saturday 4PM showing of “Let Me In” at the Crest. Thanks for the suggestion to try Veteran-I parked for free there. There were nine of us for the show. I plan to go back on Tuesday and see the movie again, actually quite spooky in a quirky way.
Driving past the AMC AVCO at 7PM on Saturday I saw a line waiting to get in for “The Social Network.” The same movie is playing at the Vista and the 9:45PM show on Sunday had a huge line at 9:20 and probably sold out. Los Feliz is its own little world and certainly supports the Vista and Los Feliz 3.
The Crest appears way too overstaffed-I think I counted five on Saturday vs. the usual 2-3 person unit. I forgot his name, but I had a long talk with the long-time Crest employee with the ponytail. He said Carmike is anxious for feedback. I told him to get Diddy Riese cookies and ice cream into the theater, push corporate discount programs to local businesses and govt agencies. Also, to establish contact with major Asian travel agencies that book group tours from China and Japan. Hollywood still has sway with the Asian market and the Crest could be part of a tour program. FYI, Amway recently rewarded 5000 of their Chinese employees with a trip to L.A.
Sunday update: The Crest still has last week’s movie on their message line. I keep telling the Crest and they keep telling me its been corrected. It’s not!
10/2 update. Carmike and the Crest have still not gotten their act together. Today’s LA Times includes the Crest in the “Let Me In” ad; however, the listed website does not work and the listed phone number has a week old recorded message.
I plan to attend the 4PM showing today at the Crest and then catch a Mario Bellochio double feature at LACMA’s Bing Theater. I caught the director’s last movie “Vincere” at the Royal-very powerful.
FYI, I bought my LACMA ticket online while the LA Times ad says you can buy Crest tickets online at their non-working website (Sigh).
Hey guys, parking in Westwood is actually cheaper and easier than it was 25 years ago. When I go to the Regent, Bruin or Village I use the city lot on Broxton(2 hours free parking before 6PM and $3 flat after 6PM).
I have never had a problem finding parking for the Crest-I usually attend the 7:30 show. Glendon has metered parking at $1 an hour. On 9/28 I found a meter with time left past 8PM, so I parked for free.
As for other venues, Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer and AMC AVCO Center have $3 parking. I took in the 9:35 show on Tuesday at the AVCO, “Virginity Hit”. There were only two of us in auditorium 1 and the other guy left after about 45 minutes. If there is an afterlife the makers of this movie face extreme retribution.
The cavernous AVCO was very spooky and deserted. I half expected to be locked in when I came out of the restroom. Amazing that $6 senior Tuesdays can’t draw a few elderly strays from the Wilshire hi-rises. It would not surprise me to learn that homeless people sneak in for a night’s undisturbed sleep.
Danny, I think that you and others miss the point: attend the Crest and other historic theaters even when you are not crazy about the current showing.
FYI, I am an art house and silent movie fan of 40 years, yet I enjoyed “Alpha & Omega” as a cute movie, as well as “Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue” at the Egyptian. In fact, I suggested to Pam, the assistant mgr at the Crest, that Tinkerbell would make a great kids matinee movie.
I had a constructive conversation with Dale Hurst. If you Google him you will see that he is the spokesperson and point man at Carmike. Dale gave me his business card, so I pass on his contact info.
Dale Hurst
Director of Marketing
Carmike Plaza
1301 First Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
(706)576-3464
To Friends of the Crest: STOP TALKING AND START ATTENDING! I drive in from North Hollywood and have plunked down my money at the Crest this year on 4/26,5/3,5/18,6/25,7/28,8/15,9/19 & 9/28. Robert sacrificed financially for years, so go and see as many of the Crest’s movies as possible.
The 3D system for Alpha & Omega worked fine yesterday and compared favorably to Grauman’s Chinese showing of “Guardians”, which I saw last Sunday, notwithstanding that Guardians is a higher quality 3D than Alpha.
Sadly, we “supporters” did not make a favorable impression on Dale Hurst, Carmike’s Director of Marketing, who was at the Crest last night, having flown in from headquarters in Columbus, GA. I was the only attendee at the 7:30PM show!
FYI, the normal 3D surcharge is currently being waived, so I saw the movie at the $8 senior rate. Please try to see the new 3D screen today or Thursday before the program change.
Also, talk up the Crest on websites like Yahoo Finance. Here’s a link to my post on the Carmike site:
I am going to the AVCO tonight to see “The Virginity Hit.” I appreciate the $6 senior Tuesday(even at their high-end Century City and Burbank locations)and also their AM discounts.
Saw “Date Night” at the AVCO on 4/27 and there were only about eight of us at the late show.
Westwood needs to promote itself and get back some of its MOJO. I like the urban feel of Westwood vs. the manufactured ambiance of say, The Grove.
I went to yesterday’s 8:30 showing of “Enter the Void” and expected a small Monday crowd.
Wow! 250 paying customers and a run on the concession counter. Long live the Nuart. I had attended recently the last showing on a Thursday night of “White Wedding” and there were just two of us. Too bad the Landmark didn’t promote the movie to the Black community through their churches. Quite an interesting film.
Something is terribly wrong! There are always hordes of locals and tourists outside the Chinese eagerly taking pictures of the footprints, but few go in to experience the well maintained gem of a theater. FYI, the $6 Manns Value Pak is a good deal(but adding the sales tax to make it $6.58 is annoying): A small soft drink, but a large lunch pail of popcorn, enough for 2-4, and a small Welch’s Gummi-Bear type snack pak.
Opening weekend for “Guardians” and the Sunday 7:30 showing only had 25 attendees. The three other times I attended since August tallied 21, 30 and 50 in the audience. How can this be?
Miraculously, the Nuart drew 250(yes 250) to yesterday’s Monday 8:30 showing of “Enter the Void.”
Am planning on going to the Crest tonight to compare the 3D Alpha & Omega movie to the previously seen 2D at the Crest. If the message line is correct Carmike has raised the senior age from 60 to 65.
I am 64 and consider this very stupid, as the Crest needs to widen its audience not narrow it. I will get contact info tonight as I want to send a letter to Carmike’s marketing head with multiple suggestions. The most obvious is to do a local mailer and door hangers. Living in the N Hollywood area I get 2-3 door hangers a week. Carmike needs to realize that there are thousands of potential patrons within walking distance.
Last night, Monday, the Nuart showed me there is still hope for a properly run single screen on the west side: I attended the 8:30PM show on the slowest day of the week and rubbed my eyes in disbelief-250 people to see “Enter The Void.” The concession counter was also doing a land office business.
I took the Gold Line(via the Red Line from N Hollywood) and on 6/14 saw the Shrek movie. I agree that the area is very historic and gradually improving and relatively safe, even at night. You’re right, what a bargain, especially the senior rate.
Usually, lower economic areas are penalized but you can actually see a first run at the Highland for half the price of the West Side. It would be nice if they occasionally showed some specialty or classic movies like the Art Theater in Long Beach.
Happy to report that “Mao’s Last Dancer” drew 65 patrons to the 5:20 Saturday showing yesterday. That may not sound like a lot, but in today’s economy/Netflix/Redbox era pretty good.
The Regent has had a nice selection recently: The Kids are All Right, Toy Story 3, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and The Last Song.
I too used to eat at Dolores in the 80s and 90s. Earlier this year I revisited and had a tasty soy burger. The waitress was pleasant, but it was late evening and it was very quiet. Still a viable after movie option for old times sake.
Danny, thanks for the link. I drove by the Crest on Saturday evening and it definitely was open; however, annoyingly, today, Sunday their telephone message still has not been updated from the “Eat Pray Love” week of 9/10! And their website is still down. I was told on 9/19 by the ticket seller that they were not sure if Carmike would keep the same tel # and website. Folks, time to get your house in order. You’re unnecessarily confusing people and losing business.
I will go to the Crest in the next few days to compare the 3D version of “Alpha & Omega” to the 2D. Also, I’ve taken to counting the house: “Mao’s Last Dancer” was a great movie and 65 attended the 5:20 showing Saturday at the Regent. The 9:45 showing of the Glenn Gould movie at the Royal had a modest 25. The Laemmle headquarters is above tthe Royal, so I guess they will keep this white elephant open.
Danny, can you give me a Facebook link? When I saw Alpha & Omega on 9/19 the box office apologized for it being in 2D.
Sat 9/25 Update: LA Times still lists Crest as showing Alpha in 3D. Recording is back on at the 310-474-7866, but for week of 9/10-9/16 for “Eat Pray Love!” (this is very bad as the LA Times ad does not list the showtimes but refers to the above tel # that is giving out the wrong info).
I called Bucksbaum’s business at 310-470-6008, but got a generic recording.
I may be in Westwood tonight to see either “Duck You Sucker” at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer, or “Mao’s Last Dancer” at the Regent. If so, I’ll see what’s what at the Crest.
I saw the 1986 Disney movie “The Great Mouse Detective” at the Whittier. The interior atmosphere reminded me of the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
Too bad Whittier lost a great theater.
Brad: Did they have the El Cap organist playing before the movie? I caught the Saturday 10:30PM show at the Chinese for My Soul To Take 3D. Hollywood Blvd was jammed and I expected a decent turnout for a Wes Craven movie. I was wrong-only 32 of us in a theater that’s a national treasure. The movie was a piece of crap with zombie like “acting.” The 3D was a joke, it was almost non existent.
Today, Sunday, I caught the 5:30PM showing of 1979’s “Winter Kills” at the Egyptian. Director Robert Richert and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond did a Q & A. The Art Directors Guild sponsored the event, a tribute to production designer Robert Boyle, who died recently at age 100. A great afternoon-evening.
I don’t care for 3D animation movies. The Majestic Crest in Westwood converted from 2D to 3D midway through its two week run of “Alpha & Omega”. I saw both versions and 3D added very little to the experience.
I plan to go to the Chinese on Saturday to see the new Wes Craven 3D movie “My Soul to Take.” At age 64, I want to attend the Chinese for every upcoming movie as its a real trip back in time.
It was weird to sit in the Egyptian Theatre last night to see a movie I last saw in 1965 on 42nd Street in Times Square(it may have been one of those cheapy Brandt theaters). “Dr Terror’s House of Horrors” held up very well in 2010.
I like the AMC 8 for the following reasons: $6 senior Tuesday and they show some independent movies that are closest to my North Hollywood location.
In 2010, at the AMC 8, I saw Crazy Heart, Ghost Writer, Restrepo and Knight and Day. Free parking and convenience is always nice.
I’m addicted to $6 senior Tuesday so on the evening of 4/20 I took in the movie “La Mission”. I was surprised by the unusually large attendance-then the lights went up and the movie’s star, Benjamin Bratt, strode to the front of the theater. He was very generous with his time and spent about a half hour in the lobby letting the ladies swarm him and have pictures taken with him.
AMC Burbank 16 is my favorite multiplex. $6 senior Tuesdays is a steal, what with free parking. I saw “Catfish” on Tuesday night and it was great. The 24-hour noodle shop next door serves good inexpensive food and Pinkberry is always a treat.
The Daily Bruin has a nice article on the Crest.
View link
Patrick Goldstein wrote an article in the LA Times years back saying that Robert Bucksbaum had paid about $3.2M in 2002. I’m surprised he got $4M; however, Bigfoot has Hong Kong investors backing and a Hong Kong-Singapore group just bought the old Robinsons-May property in Beverly Hills for about $143M. From what I understand the Crest sale is for the theater bldg only, not any part of the contiguous structures.
Reply to BradE41: You should be interested in seeing “Let Me In” at the Crest to compare it to the original. I saw a group of UCLA students across the street and walked over and told them to see the movie.
As promised I attended the Saturday 4PM showing of “Let Me In” at the Crest. Thanks for the suggestion to try Veteran-I parked for free there. There were nine of us for the show. I plan to go back on Tuesday and see the movie again, actually quite spooky in a quirky way.
Driving past the AMC AVCO at 7PM on Saturday I saw a line waiting to get in for “The Social Network.” The same movie is playing at the Vista and the 9:45PM show on Sunday had a huge line at 9:20 and probably sold out. Los Feliz is its own little world and certainly supports the Vista and Los Feliz 3.
The Crest appears way too overstaffed-I think I counted five on Saturday vs. the usual 2-3 person unit. I forgot his name, but I had a long talk with the long-time Crest employee with the ponytail. He said Carmike is anxious for feedback. I told him to get Diddy Riese cookies and ice cream into the theater, push corporate discount programs to local businesses and govt agencies. Also, to establish contact with major Asian travel agencies that book group tours from China and Japan. Hollywood still has sway with the Asian market and the Crest could be part of a tour program. FYI, Amway recently rewarded 5000 of their Chinese employees with a trip to L.A.
Sunday update: The Crest still has last week’s movie on their message line. I keep telling the Crest and they keep telling me its been corrected. It’s not!
10/2 update. Carmike and the Crest have still not gotten their act together. Today’s LA Times includes the Crest in the “Let Me In” ad; however, the listed website does not work and the listed phone number has a week old recorded message.
I plan to attend the 4PM showing today at the Crest and then catch a Mario Bellochio double feature at LACMA’s Bing Theater. I caught the director’s last movie “Vincere” at the Royal-very powerful.
FYI, I bought my LACMA ticket online while the LA Times ad says you can buy Crest tickets online at their non-working website (Sigh).
Hey guys, parking in Westwood is actually cheaper and easier than it was 25 years ago. When I go to the Regent, Bruin or Village I use the city lot on Broxton(2 hours free parking before 6PM and $3 flat after 6PM).
I have never had a problem finding parking for the Crest-I usually attend the 7:30 show. Glendon has metered parking at $1 an hour. On 9/28 I found a meter with time left past 8PM, so I parked for free.
As for other venues, Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer and AMC AVCO Center have $3 parking. I took in the 9:35 show on Tuesday at the AVCO, “Virginity Hit”. There were only two of us in auditorium 1 and the other guy left after about 45 minutes. If there is an afterlife the makers of this movie face extreme retribution.
The cavernous AVCO was very spooky and deserted. I half expected to be locked in when I came out of the restroom. Amazing that $6 senior Tuesdays can’t draw a few elderly strays from the Wilshire hi-rises. It would not surprise me to learn that homeless people sneak in for a night’s undisturbed sleep.
Does the AVCO do any type of weekend business?
Sorry, Tinkerbell was at the El Capitan.
Danny, I think that you and others miss the point: attend the Crest and other historic theaters even when you are not crazy about the current showing.
FYI, I am an art house and silent movie fan of 40 years, yet I enjoyed “Alpha & Omega” as a cute movie, as well as “Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue” at the Egyptian. In fact, I suggested to Pam, the assistant mgr at the Crest, that Tinkerbell would make a great kids matinee movie.
I had a constructive conversation with Dale Hurst. If you Google him you will see that he is the spokesperson and point man at Carmike. Dale gave me his business card, so I pass on his contact info.
Dale Hurst
Director of Marketing
Carmike Plaza
1301 First Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
(706)576-3464
To Friends of the Crest: STOP TALKING AND START ATTENDING! I drive in from North Hollywood and have plunked down my money at the Crest this year on 4/26,5/3,5/18,6/25,7/28,8/15,9/19 & 9/28. Robert sacrificed financially for years, so go and see as many of the Crest’s movies as possible.
The 3D system for Alpha & Omega worked fine yesterday and compared favorably to Grauman’s Chinese showing of “Guardians”, which I saw last Sunday, notwithstanding that Guardians is a higher quality 3D than Alpha.
Sadly, we “supporters” did not make a favorable impression on Dale Hurst, Carmike’s Director of Marketing, who was at the Crest last night, having flown in from headquarters in Columbus, GA. I was the only attendee at the 7:30PM show!
FYI, the normal 3D surcharge is currently being waived, so I saw the movie at the $8 senior rate. Please try to see the new 3D screen today or Thursday before the program change.
Also, talk up the Crest on websites like Yahoo Finance. Here’s a link to my post on the Carmike site:
http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/CKEC
If anyone wants to meet me at a showing in Westwood contact me:
I am going to the AVCO tonight to see “The Virginity Hit.” I appreciate the $6 senior Tuesday(even at their high-end Century City and Burbank locations)and also their AM discounts.
Saw “Date Night” at the AVCO on 4/27 and there were only about eight of us at the late show.
Westwood needs to promote itself and get back some of its MOJO. I like the urban feel of Westwood vs. the manufactured ambiance of say, The Grove.
I went to yesterday’s 8:30 showing of “Enter the Void” and expected a small Monday crowd.
Wow! 250 paying customers and a run on the concession counter. Long live the Nuart. I had attended recently the last showing on a Thursday night of “White Wedding” and there were just two of us. Too bad the Landmark didn’t promote the movie to the Black community through their churches. Quite an interesting film.
Something is terribly wrong! There are always hordes of locals and tourists outside the Chinese eagerly taking pictures of the footprints, but few go in to experience the well maintained gem of a theater. FYI, the $6 Manns Value Pak is a good deal(but adding the sales tax to make it $6.58 is annoying): A small soft drink, but a large lunch pail of popcorn, enough for 2-4, and a small Welch’s Gummi-Bear type snack pak.
Opening weekend for “Guardians” and the Sunday 7:30 showing only had 25 attendees. The three other times I attended since August tallied 21, 30 and 50 in the audience. How can this be?
Miraculously, the Nuart drew 250(yes 250) to yesterday’s Monday 8:30 showing of “Enter the Void.”
Am planning on going to the Crest tonight to compare the 3D Alpha & Omega movie to the previously seen 2D at the Crest. If the message line is correct Carmike has raised the senior age from 60 to 65.
I am 64 and consider this very stupid, as the Crest needs to widen its audience not narrow it. I will get contact info tonight as I want to send a letter to Carmike’s marketing head with multiple suggestions. The most obvious is to do a local mailer and door hangers. Living in the N Hollywood area I get 2-3 door hangers a week. Carmike needs to realize that there are thousands of potential patrons within walking distance.
Last night, Monday, the Nuart showed me there is still hope for a properly run single screen on the west side: I attended the 8:30PM show on the slowest day of the week and rubbed my eyes in disbelief-250 people to see “Enter The Void.” The concession counter was also doing a land office business.
I took the Gold Line(via the Red Line from N Hollywood) and on 6/14 saw the Shrek movie. I agree that the area is very historic and gradually improving and relatively safe, even at night. You’re right, what a bargain, especially the senior rate.
Usually, lower economic areas are penalized but you can actually see a first run at the Highland for half the price of the West Side. It would be nice if they occasionally showed some specialty or classic movies like the Art Theater in Long Beach.
Happy to report that “Mao’s Last Dancer” drew 65 patrons to the 5:20 Saturday showing yesterday. That may not sound like a lot, but in today’s economy/Netflix/Redbox era pretty good.
The Regent has had a nice selection recently: The Kids are All Right, Toy Story 3, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and The Last Song.
I too used to eat at Dolores in the 80s and 90s. Earlier this year I revisited and had a tasty soy burger. The waitress was pleasant, but it was late evening and it was very quiet. Still a viable after movie option for old times sake.
Danny, thanks for the link. I drove by the Crest on Saturday evening and it definitely was open; however, annoyingly, today, Sunday their telephone message still has not been updated from the “Eat Pray Love” week of 9/10! And their website is still down. I was told on 9/19 by the ticket seller that they were not sure if Carmike would keep the same tel # and website. Folks, time to get your house in order. You’re unnecessarily confusing people and losing business.
I will go to the Crest in the next few days to compare the 3D version of “Alpha & Omega” to the 2D. Also, I’ve taken to counting the house: “Mao’s Last Dancer” was a great movie and 65 attended the 5:20 showing Saturday at the Regent. The 9:45 showing of the Glenn Gould movie at the Royal had a modest 25. The Laemmle headquarters is above tthe Royal, so I guess they will keep this white elephant open.
Danny, can you give me a Facebook link? When I saw Alpha & Omega on 9/19 the box office apologized for it being in 2D.
Sat 9/25 Update: LA Times still lists Crest as showing Alpha in 3D. Recording is back on at the 310-474-7866, but for week of 9/10-9/16 for “Eat Pray Love!” (this is very bad as the LA Times ad does not list the showtimes but refers to the above tel # that is giving out the wrong info).
I called Bucksbaum’s business at 310-470-6008, but got a generic recording.
I may be in Westwood tonight to see either “Duck You Sucker” at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer, or “Mao’s Last Dancer” at the Regent. If so, I’ll see what’s what at the Crest.