JAWS is really bringing back so many fond memories for so many. I also miss the Friday / Sunday ads. The Sunday LA Times Calendar always had a full page ad of what was opening the following Friday (or Wednesday) with usually the Westwood (Century City) and Hollywood opening locations. Now the ads are hit or miss and they do not always list the theatres, which are now Hollywood/Beverly Hills (The Grove)/Century City/Westwood/Santa Monica/Universal City/West L.A. (Landmark/Rave 18)/Archlight Sherman Oaks etc….
Showtimes: 2:10-4:30-6:45-9:00. I cannot believe how tight the showtimes were on this engagement. The film runs just over 2 hours, essentially they started letting people in as soon as it emptied. No clean up of the auditorium and I guess very few previews.
William, I saw it opening day first show at the Plitt Century Plaza. It was last day of school (6th Grade), as soon as they let us go I was there. My friends and I all read the book months before the film opened. I also re-watched it when it played at the Criterion on a Double Feature with The Great Waldo Pepper.
Fun stuff! Back then Summer movies were actually fun. Now Summer movies are over hyped, over produced and pretty much forgotten about my Labor Day.
William, I remember going to that also. They had a pre-opening event with the 3 Star Wars films and the 3 Indiana Jones films. ALL off Mann’s Westwood management were there including Harry Francis.
Mann used to operate the Glendale Twins which closed in the late 1980’s I believe. They had offices upstairs from the theatre. Back during that period Brand Blvd. was the flux of Glendale movie exhibition with Mann Alex, Mann Glendale Twin, UA Capitol and I believe the Roxy.
Mann actually opened the Criterion 6 on June 27 1990, not 1991 as it indicates above. Mann opened the theatres 3 Months after AMC 7 openened and about 7 months after Cineplex Odeon opened the Broadway 4 Theatres.
The Criterion’s first films were Days of Thunder, Ghost Dad and Tie Me Up Tie Me Down.
Pacific and Arclight had a proposal on the table also. Too bad AMC is steamrolling ahead. A SM Arclight would be fantastic and classier than anything AMC errects. AMC is just awful.
The Plant, Glendale Marketplace, Janns Marketplace have tickets on pre-sale for the new Twilight movie online…under Mann.
I think other operators are taking over leases as they lapse. It is 20 years this month since Mann opened the Criterion. My guess, AMC took over the lease once Mann said they were closing shop and not interested in continuing. Pretty much as leases expire, they are not renewed. Mann waited for the leases to end when Regency took over the Village and Bruin.
AMC was talking about a new plex in the spot where the parking structure is behind the Criterion. I’m wondering if AMC taking the Criterion has something to do with future plans. Not sure the latest status though. Perhaps SM City Counsul shot the project down.
Mann was a major player in SoCal during the 1980’s. Unfortunately most of the what they built was outdated are a few years and overtaken by larger more attactive stadium style theatres. AMC built alot of plexes also during that time that have now closed or been replaced.
I noticed they have been showing Midnight Shows on Fri/Sat for regular engagements. Mann stopped those in Westwood quite a while ago. They mus have done well enough for Regency to begin showing the Cult type of films. Funny, I drove through Westwood Saturday afternoon and the streets were packed with people walking. Is the village somewhat busier again on weekends?
I think once the ‘niche’ element of the 1980’s wore off and the expansion of the nearby area (i.e. The Grove, Arclight, AMC Century) took over, these screens lost momentum. It was no longer a cool place to see a film. Moviegoer’s shifted during the early 2000’s, and as we know the once ‘hot’ screens like the Beverly Center, the now gone Beverly Connection, Westwood Village and Hollywood Boulevard were no longer so. Now with the these screens, the Showcase on LaBrea and the Fairfax gone this zone pretty belongs to The Grove.
Does this mean they will keep the 7-Plex also? What about all the parking that will disappear once this spot is filled? What about the Criterion? This all sounds a bit too much and typical SM trying to be Elite instead of practical.
This is really a big thing for Regency Theatres. These theatres are still presigte theatres and have made Regency a major player as an exhibitor. They are primed and ready to go. Hopefully the almost loss of these theatres will prompt some action to bring Westwood back into the fold.
The AVCO lost is lustre when they split the big downstairs theatre. Unfortunately economics destroyed it. As we mourn the loss of the National and celebrate Regency’s takeover of the Village and Bruin, it should be remembered that this was once an amazing theatre complex. I’m glad I grew up in an era when I was able to enjoy these big theatres and others like the Picwood, Plitt Century Plaza and even the (Pacific’s then)Pantages when it showed films.
The 3D part of CLASH OF THE TITANS was an after thought, Unlike most of the current 3D offerings. I’m going to see it in 2D myself. The new 3D wave does not impress me.
JAWS is really bringing back so many fond memories for so many. I also miss the Friday / Sunday ads. The Sunday LA Times Calendar always had a full page ad of what was opening the following Friday (or Wednesday) with usually the Westwood (Century City) and Hollywood opening locations. Now the ads are hit or miss and they do not always list the theatres, which are now Hollywood/Beverly Hills (The Grove)/Century City/Westwood/Santa Monica/Universal City/West L.A. (Landmark/Rave 18)/Archlight Sherman Oaks etc….
This is the ad Mike Rogers was referring to. It’s great!:
View link
Showtimes: 2:10-4:30-6:45-9:00. I cannot believe how tight the showtimes were on this engagement. The film runs just over 2 hours, essentially they started letting people in as soon as it emptied. No clean up of the auditorium and I guess very few previews.
Now listed amongst the AMC Theatres in the Los Angeles times page.
This is great!
William, I saw it opening day first show at the Plitt Century Plaza. It was last day of school (6th Grade), as soon as they let us go I was there. My friends and I all read the book months before the film opened. I also re-watched it when it played at the Criterion on a Double Feature with The Great Waldo Pepper.
Fun stuff! Back then Summer movies were actually fun. Now Summer movies are over hyped, over produced and pretty much forgotten about my Labor Day.
William, I remember going to that also. They had a pre-opening event with the 3 Star Wars films and the 3 Indiana Jones films. ALL off Mann’s Westwood management were there including Harry Francis.
Mann used to operate the Glendale Twins which closed in the late 1980’s I believe. They had offices upstairs from the theatre. Back during that period Brand Blvd. was the flux of Glendale movie exhibition with Mann Alex, Mann Glendale Twin, UA Capitol and I believe the Roxy.
Mann actually opened the Criterion 6 on June 27 1990, not 1991 as it indicates above. Mann opened the theatres 3 Months after AMC 7 openened and about 7 months after Cineplex Odeon opened the Broadway 4 Theatres.
The Criterion’s first films were Days of Thunder, Ghost Dad and Tie Me Up Tie Me Down.
I was thinking the same thing. Would make sense since AMC is determined to control downtown Santa Monica.
Pacific and Arclight had a proposal on the table also. Too bad AMC is steamrolling ahead. A SM Arclight would be fantastic and classier than anything AMC errects. AMC is just awful.
The Plant, Glendale Marketplace, Janns Marketplace have tickets on pre-sale for the new Twilight movie online…under Mann.
I think other operators are taking over leases as they lapse. It is 20 years this month since Mann opened the Criterion. My guess, AMC took over the lease once Mann said they were closing shop and not interested in continuing. Pretty much as leases expire, they are not renewed. Mann waited for the leases to end when Regency took over the Village and Bruin.
AMC was talking about a new plex in the spot where the parking structure is behind the Criterion. I’m wondering if AMC taking the Criterion has something to do with future plans. Not sure the latest status though. Perhaps SM City Counsul shot the project down.
What’s next AMC CHINESE 6? Mann is really whittling down to nothing.
The Mann Old Towne was one of the chain’s biggest grossers during the early 80’s.
Anybody notice this?
AMC Criterion 6
View link
Mann was a major player in SoCal during the 1980’s. Unfortunately most of the what they built was outdated are a few years and overtaken by larger more attactive stadium style theatres. AMC built alot of plexes also during that time that have now closed or been replaced.
Splice is supposed to be good. Anyone been there to see what the Chinese has booked for the Summer months?
I’m curious if anyone has shown interest in reopening the Festival. Anyone know what is going on with it?
I noticed they have been showing Midnight Shows on Fri/Sat for regular engagements. Mann stopped those in Westwood quite a while ago. They mus have done well enough for Regency to begin showing the Cult type of films. Funny, I drove through Westwood Saturday afternoon and the streets were packed with people walking. Is the village somewhat busier again on weekends?
I think once the ‘niche’ element of the 1980’s wore off and the expansion of the nearby area (i.e. The Grove, Arclight, AMC Century) took over, these screens lost momentum. It was no longer a cool place to see a film. Moviegoer’s shifted during the early 2000’s, and as we know the once ‘hot’ screens like the Beverly Center, the now gone Beverly Connection, Westwood Village and Hollywood Boulevard were no longer so. Now with the these screens, the Showcase on LaBrea and the Fairfax gone this zone pretty belongs to The Grove.
Does this mean they will keep the 7-Plex also? What about all the parking that will disappear once this spot is filled? What about the Criterion? This all sounds a bit too much and typical SM trying to be Elite instead of practical.
Sounds like a great even. I’m going to have to try and make it.
Regency website has posted THE LOSERS as coming April 23rd to the Village, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET April 30 at the Bruin.
This is really a big thing for Regency Theatres. These theatres are still presigte theatres and have made Regency a major player as an exhibitor. They are primed and ready to go. Hopefully the almost loss of these theatres will prompt some action to bring Westwood back into the fold.
The AVCO lost is lustre when they split the big downstairs theatre. Unfortunately economics destroyed it. As we mourn the loss of the National and celebrate Regency’s takeover of the Village and Bruin, it should be remembered that this was once an amazing theatre complex. I’m glad I grew up in an era when I was able to enjoy these big theatres and others like the Picwood, Plitt Century Plaza and even the (Pacific’s then)Pantages when it showed films.
The 3D part of CLASH OF THE TITANS was an after thought, Unlike most of the current 3D offerings. I’m going to see it in 2D myself. The new 3D wave does not impress me.