I doubt that retail will take over the Bruin or the Village…at least anytime soon. There are so many empty retails spaces as it is in Westwood. It really is not a shopping district these, parking is awful, and
I’m wondering if Mann will extend the lease a bit for the Bruin and the Village. They operated the National 8 months after the lease lapsed. Maybe they will come up with a short term ‘deal’ with the owners.
If the owners lease the theatres separately the Bruin could survive as a theatre. That is if there someone revives the plans to build additional screens behind it. Who knows what is being discussed at this point. Westwood needs to be revived before a movie theatre or retail space with truly trive again.
I don’t think that is the case. They seem to be filling the 2 screens with mostly Warner product. The Blind Side opens Friday at Bruin, I guess Ninja Assasin opens Nov 25 at Village, Invicus will probably be at Bruin 12/11 and Sherlock Holmes 12/25 at Village. Warner has been the biggest supplier for Mann over the past 3 decades and does co-operate the theatres.
If Mann still operated the National and Festival I’m sure 2012 would have been booked at the Village or perhaps the National. With only 2 screens they really cannot book much else these days.
Marty Weiser used to visit the Mann theatres in Westwood practically every weekend. The displays were phenomenal. Much of the fun going to the BIG theatres like the Village, Bruin, National, Picwood, Avco (when it was a major theatre), Plitt Century Plaza, Chinese, Pantages, Pacific Hollywood, Cinerama Dome etc. during the 70’s / early 80’s was seeing how the studios were going to “dress” them. We’ll never have that again; the new theatres do not have that charm.
Alot of great memories at those theatres in Westwood. It is going to be my saddest day as a moviegoer when the Village and Briun close. I still get sad when I see the still empty lot where the National stood.
There was a guy at Warner in the early 80’s when I worked at the Village who used to be in charge of the displays; he would visit Harry Francis and they would visit at the outside cafe next to the Bruin for hours. I cannot remember his name. But yeah the displays were great. I still have the “Arthur” silhouette from when it booked for the Bruin.
Is this theatre ever going to get a movie I want to see? All the wide releases this week and next are opening at Arclight…except Astro Boy. Really sad. Mann seems to have really just given up and is not putting in any effort anymore.
I noticed that also. Perhaps they are getting first run films or maybe sharing bookings with The Grove. Getting the same bookings at the same time like Pacific and Mann do in Glendale.
local news
Obstacles stand in way of new movie house
By Melody Hanataniwrite the author
September 11, 2009
DOWNTOWN â€" In a local market filled with outdated theaters that have long fallen behind the trends of stadium seating and state-of-the-art technology, cinema giant AMC is hoping to enliven the movie-going experience.
The only thing standing in the way is whether the company can guarantee city officials that its current movie house on the Third Street Promenade just off Broadway will be put out of commission once the replacement is constructed just a block north.
Concerned about the potential oversaturation of movie theaters in Downtown, the City Council on Tuesday asked its staff to confirm if AMC will promise that the Broadway 4 will not come back to life as a movie theater, and if so, allowing the negotiations for the development of a 12-screen cinema at 1320 Fourth St. to commence.
If the movie theater company is not able to guarantee the permanent shuttering of Broadway 4 from the local cinema market, the staff will then have to return to the council with a counterproposal from Pacific Theaters.
While the promenade has remained a vibrant shopping and dining destination on the Westside, its cinemas have been considered lacking, particularly compared to other theaters in the area that offer more screens, comfortable seating and improved technology.
Metropolitan Pacific Capital and AMC are proposing to develop a new theater at the current site of Parking Structure 3 that will include 2,167 seats. While a city staff report stated that the plan also includes remodeling the AMC 7 Plex at the 1300 block of the promenade and closing Broadway 4, a representative from AMC told the council that whether the space will continue as a theater will be up to the property owner.
“I can’t offer you any guarantees that someone won’t step in and try their hand at Broadway 4,” Christina Sternberg, who works on development with AMC, said. “Our interest in the property is a leasehold interest and outside of our lease term, we can’t control use of that asset.”
Andy Agle, the director of housing and economic development, said the two proposals from AMC and Pacific Theaters were essentially identical, except the latter offered about 10 percent more in land rent but was not able to make the assurances that an existing theater in the area would be taken offline.
“The other proposal acknowledged they could not be competitive because of that criteria,” Agle said.
The AMC’s proposal was expected to have a modest increase in the number of seats â€" adding 2,167 with the new theater but losing 1,049 seats from the closure of Broadway 4 and the reduction from remodeling the AMC 7 Plex.
Mayor Ken Genser suggested that the proposal from Pacific Theaters also be considered if the deciding factor in AMC’s offer â€" taking one cinema offline â€" can’t be assured.
“If we’re going to give exclusive rights of negotiation to one team and the sole basis for doing that is something they can’t guarantee, it seems to be a rather flimsy recommendation to me,” Genser said.
Aren’t there 2 empty Department Store spaces at Santa Monica Place? They could build a large Multiplex in one of those space. AMC did that in Woodland Hills.
I used to patronize this theatre back in the 70’s when Pacific ran it. It was a nice theatre but Westwood was the top choice in that area during that period. Funny, now Westwood is becoming the new Beverly Hills and may be virtually void of any theatres in the next few years.
I’m not sure a major studio would bite. They have 2 already that do not want it. I still think a major chain could have interest just for the prestige factor. Unlike the Village and Bruin, the Chinese is considered Iconic.
That would have been an expensive undertaking for the Village. They would have had to add a elevator. The Bruin is large but narrow, the only way to could plex it is to either add on screens behind the main, or just gut the theatre out and build a whole new complex extending back into the parking lot.
It will be interesting to see who bids for this theatre. Does American Cinemateque have deep pockets? They operate Grauman’s Egyptian. How ironic would it be if they operated Grauman’s Chinese also. They could used the Chinese 6 for “Retro” screenings and perhaps book Hollywood blockbusters at the Egyptian once in a while.
AMC would not take the Village and Bruin. Honestly, I really do not see any major chain snapping the theatres up. It would be a major investment because they would not run them as single screen theatres. They would have to add screens to make it worth their while. Another problem I see is no chain would want both. They would only want one of the screens to add these the additional screens. They would look at the other as dead weight. The owners may have no choice but to lease them separately. Eventually one of these houses remain and the other may be lost because of lack of interest.
There is so much red tape in building a new theatre complex in Westwood, which is why there has not been any movement by any theatre chain.
Mann theatres has been closing down shop for quite a while now. They used to have a strong presence in San Diego and are completely gone from there all together. It has been evident in SoCal for a few years now.
At least the wax figure of Rhonda Flemming is gone from the lobby of the Chinese theatre.
I’m pretty sure the Chinese and Criterion 6 will be snapped up from this going out of business sale without a problem. The other outlying screens will probably be picked up by one of the chains. My guess is there will be no takers for Westwood when all is said and done.
The MANN 9 GRANADA HILLS is becoming a Regency theatre on Friday 11/20. Mann continues to close down shop.
I doubt that retail will take over the Bruin or the Village…at least anytime soon. There are so many empty retails spaces as it is in Westwood. It really is not a shopping district these, parking is awful, and
I’m wondering if Mann will extend the lease a bit for the Bruin and the Village. They operated the National 8 months after the lease lapsed. Maybe they will come up with a short term ‘deal’ with the owners.
If the owners lease the theatres separately the Bruin could survive as a theatre. That is if there someone revives the plans to build additional screens behind it. Who knows what is being discussed at this point. Westwood needs to be revived before a movie theatre or retail space with truly trive again.
The TCM Fest sounds wonderful. I cannot wait to see what will be shown.
I don’t think that is the case. They seem to be filling the 2 screens with mostly Warner product. The Blind Side opens Friday at Bruin, I guess Ninja Assasin opens Nov 25 at Village, Invicus will probably be at Bruin 12/11 and Sherlock Holmes 12/25 at Village. Warner has been the biggest supplier for Mann over the past 3 decades and does co-operate the theatres.
If Mann still operated the National and Festival I’m sure 2012 would have been booked at the Village or perhaps the National. With only 2 screens they really cannot book much else these days.
Marty Weiser used to visit the Mann theatres in Westwood practically every weekend. The displays were phenomenal. Much of the fun going to the BIG theatres like the Village, Bruin, National, Picwood, Avco (when it was a major theatre), Plitt Century Plaza, Chinese, Pantages, Pacific Hollywood, Cinerama Dome etc. during the 70’s / early 80’s was seeing how the studios were going to “dress” them. We’ll never have that again; the new theatres do not have that charm.
Alot of great memories at those theatres in Westwood. It is going to be my saddest day as a moviegoer when the Village and Briun close. I still get sad when I see the still empty lot where the National stood.
There was a guy at Warner in the early 80’s when I worked at the Village who used to be in charge of the displays; he would visit Harry Francis and they would visit at the outside cafe next to the Bruin for hours. I cannot remember his name. But yeah the displays were great. I still have the “Arthur” silhouette from when it booked for the Bruin.
The next Arclight complex should be in Westwood.
Thanks for the report on the LA Live theatres.
Cannot really say this theatre excites me. I’ll probably never patronize it.
Is this theatre ever going to get a movie I want to see? All the wide releases this week and next are opening at Arclight…except Astro Boy. Really sad. Mann seems to have really just given up and is not putting in any effort anymore.
I noticed that also. Perhaps they are getting first run films or maybe sharing bookings with The Grove. Getting the same bookings at the same time like Pacific and Mann do in Glendale.
This would not be good news for whoever takes over the Criterion lease. AMC will have the stronghold of most of the films.
local news
Obstacles stand in way of new movie house
By Melody Hanataniwrite the author
September 11, 2009
DOWNTOWN â€" In a local market filled with outdated theaters that have long fallen behind the trends of stadium seating and state-of-the-art technology, cinema giant AMC is hoping to enliven the movie-going experience.
The only thing standing in the way is whether the company can guarantee city officials that its current movie house on the Third Street Promenade just off Broadway will be put out of commission once the replacement is constructed just a block north.
Concerned about the potential oversaturation of movie theaters in Downtown, the City Council on Tuesday asked its staff to confirm if AMC will promise that the Broadway 4 will not come back to life as a movie theater, and if so, allowing the negotiations for the development of a 12-screen cinema at 1320 Fourth St. to commence.
If the movie theater company is not able to guarantee the permanent shuttering of Broadway 4 from the local cinema market, the staff will then have to return to the council with a counterproposal from Pacific Theaters.
While the promenade has remained a vibrant shopping and dining destination on the Westside, its cinemas have been considered lacking, particularly compared to other theaters in the area that offer more screens, comfortable seating and improved technology.
Metropolitan Pacific Capital and AMC are proposing to develop a new theater at the current site of Parking Structure 3 that will include 2,167 seats. While a city staff report stated that the plan also includes remodeling the AMC 7 Plex at the 1300 block of the promenade and closing Broadway 4, a representative from AMC told the council that whether the space will continue as a theater will be up to the property owner.
“I can’t offer you any guarantees that someone won’t step in and try their hand at Broadway 4,” Christina Sternberg, who works on development with AMC, said. “Our interest in the property is a leasehold interest and outside of our lease term, we can’t control use of that asset.”
Andy Agle, the director of housing and economic development, said the two proposals from AMC and Pacific Theaters were essentially identical, except the latter offered about 10 percent more in land rent but was not able to make the assurances that an existing theater in the area would be taken offline.
“The other proposal acknowledged they could not be competitive because of that criteria,” Agle said.
The AMC’s proposal was expected to have a modest increase in the number of seats â€" adding 2,167 with the new theater but losing 1,049 seats from the closure of Broadway 4 and the reduction from remodeling the AMC 7 Plex.
Mayor Ken Genser suggested that the proposal from Pacific Theaters also be considered if the deciding factor in AMC’s offer â€" taking one cinema offline â€" can’t be assured.
“If we’re going to give exclusive rights of negotiation to one team and the sole basis for doing that is something they can’t guarantee, it seems to be a rather flimsy recommendation to me,” Genser said.
AMC seems to just let theatres get run down so they can tear them down and build another (and bigger) theatre in its place.
Aren’t there 2 empty Department Store spaces at Santa Monica Place? They could build a large Multiplex in one of those space. AMC did that in Woodland Hills.
I used to patronize this theatre back in the 70’s when Pacific ran it. It was a nice theatre but Westwood was the top choice in that area during that period. Funny, now Westwood is becoming the new Beverly Hills and may be virtually void of any theatres in the next few years.
I’m not sure a major studio would bite. They have 2 already that do not want it. I still think a major chain could have interest just for the prestige factor. Unlike the Village and Bruin, the Chinese is considered Iconic.
That would have been an expensive undertaking for the Village. They would have had to add a elevator. The Bruin is large but narrow, the only way to could plex it is to either add on screens behind the main, or just gut the theatre out and build a whole new complex extending back into the parking lot.
Any new news on what the new operators are planning for the Beverly Center. Will it be 2nd run films as before?
The Crest is already letting Julie & Julia go. Begining Friday they have what appears to be a group of documentaries.
I watched ZODIAC again over the weekend. It is nice to have the National immortalized in this film.
Has there been any buzz about the future of this property?
It will be interesting to see who bids for this theatre. Does American Cinemateque have deep pockets? They operate Grauman’s Egyptian. How ironic would it be if they operated Grauman’s Chinese also. They could used the Chinese 6 for “Retro” screenings and perhaps book Hollywood blockbusters at the Egyptian once in a while.
AMC would not take the Village and Bruin. Honestly, I really do not see any major chain snapping the theatres up. It would be a major investment because they would not run them as single screen theatres. They would have to add screens to make it worth their while. Another problem I see is no chain would want both. They would only want one of the screens to add these the additional screens. They would look at the other as dead weight. The owners may have no choice but to lease them separately. Eventually one of these houses remain and the other may be lost because of lack of interest.
There is so much red tape in building a new theatre complex in Westwood, which is why there has not been any movement by any theatre chain.
Mann theatres has been closing down shop for quite a while now. They used to have a strong presence in San Diego and are completely gone from there all together. It has been evident in SoCal for a few years now.
At least the wax figure of Rhonda Flemming is gone from the lobby of the Chinese theatre.
I’m pretty sure the Chinese and Criterion 6 will be snapped up from this going out of business sale without a problem. The other outlying screens will probably be picked up by one of the chains. My guess is there will be no takers for Westwood when all is said and done.