National Theatre
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
64 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 757 comments
Man, am I sad about the NATIONAL THEATER in Westwood being demolished. I remember the big premiere they had for LOST HORIZON there. Probably the biggest premiere that theater ever had. Merv Griffin did a 90 show from inside the lobby. Everyone was there from Ronald Reagan to Lucille Ball. It truly was one of the last great BIG premieres with the old school stars. Unfortunately it rained and rained that night, but boy, it must have been fantastic to see LOST HORIZON in 70mm on that screen.
Rita is not at the Chinese anymore.
That’s because Landmark is looking for a non-union projectionist for the site. Like a AMC style position without the ad.
I saw an ad on craigslist today looking for a projectionist for the Landmark in W. LA, here is the ad URL View link
It’s not every day you see a “projectionist wanted” post, especially these days, and i know there are some who frequent these boards so thought i’d pass it on
Carl Belfour the projectionist is the one who passed away.
That’s what i was wondering it can’t be THAT Carl could it? I vaguely remember another Carl so assumed it couldn’t be him, The Plaza Carl was a young guy, i frequented those Plaza midnight showings.
There was a young bright manager named Mac Carter who ran the National in ‘84 for a short spell, i’ve often wondered what became of him, he was a good friend. He was going to USC film school FT while simultaneously managing the National, talk about a juggling act.
I saw Rita at the Chinese a year or so ago. She looks pretty much precisely the same as she did 20 years ago! I knew Burt fairly well. When I was taking film classes at LACC, he used to always come to the screenings and used to rave about the films that my friends and I did. I’d always say Hi to him when I went to the movies in Westwood. Now, the Carl you’re talking about who passed away is not the manager who used to run Midnight movies at the Plaza, is it?
Best wishes,
Alan
wow Rita is still at the Chinese? I’ll have to visit her sometime, she was wonderful, probably the most ‘chipper’ person i’ve known. I faintly remember some of these projectionists (Mike and Carl) sad to hear of their passing, the projectionist i used to hang out with in the booth at National (back in ‘84-85, when Trumball left a showscan projector up in the booth for years) was the kind of slightly crazy and paranoid Burt Calderon, but Burt was a great guy, really loved film and had filmmaking aspirations himself. Sigh those were inspiring days when things were still possible, when dreams were still (faintly) alive, the energies of the 60’s & 70’s were still mildly crackling in the air through the 80’s, but they died out completely by 1989
I remember Mike. He worked with Mac at the Village before Mac went to Showscan. Then Ned and Scott from the Bruin. Carl from the National passed away almost 2 months ago.
I know…I was his partner for 30 years. Mike passed away on Nov 20th, 2000
Mike Shaw passed away afew years ago.
Does anyone remember Mike Shaw? Mike was the projectionist for Mann Theaters in Westwood for over 20 years. Barton and Rita will remember Mike. I remember Mr Francis and Mr. Haines. The first movie that opened the National was “Boys in The Band”…you are right Chuck Allen did look like a space alien….the stories I could tell. Rita is still at the Chinese in Hollywood
Some recently-taken, post-demolition photos are included in the NATIONAL’s photo gallery on the Fans of Showmanship website (membership required).
Mark, at one time there was Bose style surround speakers in the National and the Village.
Just curious who does own the Mann chain today. They don’t seem to be doing much, no expansion or upgrading. I know I am in the central part of the country so I don’t hear that much, but from their
web site it just appears to be the same old thing!
always looked like shower curtains to me, LOL.
I went to the National a few times in the mid to late ‘90’s. Last time I was there was way back in 2000 I think. I’m pretty sure the surrounds hanging on the wall were Bose back then. Looked like Bose 802’s. Maybe they were upgraded to JBL in the early 2000’s?
I think the National had the most beautiful interior of any theatre in Los Angeles! And those were JBL speakers…
your crazy, that’s what was good about the national the 1970 decor hadn’t changed.
Everybody is experiencing a different reality and we are in the middle of a battle of realities
I think the last movie I saw there was What Lies Beneath way back in 2000. The interior decor was horrible. The way the ceiling and curtains on the walls were. It was like being in a cave with shower curtains on the walls. Those orange and yellow shower curtains! Yuck! Little metal armrests with no cupholders. Did they ever finally add cupholders to the seats? And those funky looking Bose surround speakers!
I agree wholeheartedly, Brad. “Iron Man” would have been INSANE at the National! Cest la vie!
It is really sad now that the Summer Season is approaching. The National was the “Indiana Jones” theatre in the 80’s; “Iron Man” is opening at the Avco and would have/should have been a National movie if Mann kept it. It is an odd experience going to Westwood these days and NOT seeing the National in its usual spot.
Now there’s nothing but a dirt lot with a fence around it.
Mark: Just upload your video to YouTube and link to it from here.
That evacuation plan was just for the lobby, which was on the second floor. The theater had the standard exits with lighted signs flanking the screen. They were covered by curtains, so they weren’t that obvious.
I have a little movie of the curtain closing for the last time as a Mann Theatre (to applause). Hopefully one day this site or Cinematour can post video. Some of the frames of my tour are from that movie.