The big house in the Wilshire actually had more seats than either of the theaters in the Cinedome. The last time an employee can remember selling out this gigantic theater (over 830 seats, most of them functional) was in 1990, when they did huge business with Total Recall. After Cinemark opened its Layton theater, business at the Wilshire plumetted, and eventually the theater was booking Free Willy 2 on two of its three screens. The Wilshire had also been cursed with a lousy location.
David Moesinger managed the theater for several years, until 1998 or 1999. He knew he had a commodity on his hands, as far as the Cinedome being one of the best cinematic venues in the West, so he began showing midnight movies during the summer, films he felt could fully take advantage of the Cinedome’s enormous screens, and was met by a strong core of fan enthusiasm, but not a great deal of financial success. The theater was in disrepair when Moesinger became manager, and he was constantly lobbying for upgrades, particularly in regards to the sound system and the carpeting, but was met with general apathy. Moesinger loved the theater and movies and always seemed disappointed that he was unable to help the theater reach its full potential.
With the closure of the Cinedome, Wilshire, and Villa taking place in the last 10 years, Trolley Corners, with its 775 seat theater, was the largest venue in operation until its closure this year. Rumors among management insist that the main theater is haunted by a young boy, and transients would frequently be found sleeping under a few of the myriad staircases throughout the theater.
The big house in the Wilshire actually had more seats than either of the theaters in the Cinedome. The last time an employee can remember selling out this gigantic theater (over 830 seats, most of them functional) was in 1990, when they did huge business with Total Recall. After Cinemark opened its Layton theater, business at the Wilshire plumetted, and eventually the theater was booking Free Willy 2 on two of its three screens. The Wilshire had also been cursed with a lousy location.
David Moesinger managed the theater for several years, until 1998 or 1999. He knew he had a commodity on his hands, as far as the Cinedome being one of the best cinematic venues in the West, so he began showing midnight movies during the summer, films he felt could fully take advantage of the Cinedome’s enormous screens, and was met by a strong core of fan enthusiasm, but not a great deal of financial success. The theater was in disrepair when Moesinger became manager, and he was constantly lobbying for upgrades, particularly in regards to the sound system and the carpeting, but was met with general apathy. Moesinger loved the theater and movies and always seemed disappointed that he was unable to help the theater reach its full potential.
With the closure of the Cinedome, Wilshire, and Villa taking place in the last 10 years, Trolley Corners, with its 775 seat theater, was the largest venue in operation until its closure this year. Rumors among management insist that the main theater is haunted by a young boy, and transients would frequently be found sleeping under a few of the myriad staircases throughout the theater.