AMC Criterion 6

The above description is not quite accurate. I worked in Santa Monica in the early-mid 1980s. The theater was not “razed around 1983” – it had to be later than that, either the late ‘80s or early '90s. And let me tell you, after the theater was sold by the Mann company (late '70s?) it went DOWNHILL just like the rest of the Santa Monica mall. At one time it was a .99 and even .49 theater showing double and triple “grindhouse” type fare. The poor manager made attempts at respectability but the majority of the audience was homeless or riff raff types. He even tried screening “The Ten Commandments” – for free – around Christmas time, thinking families might show up – but was horrified, or so I heard, when the theater was packed with transients.

Status should be changed to “Demolished.”

This movie theater has been close for 3 years

Ted Mann passed away in 2001.

Why????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was Hoping some How this Theater would Reopen!!!!!! This is a Personal Loss For Me!!!!!!! I Have Felt Heartbroken Since Mr. MANN sold it to AMC!!!!!!! No Offense, but what a Great Place with Great Memories' Like The Corners of My Mind Misty Water Color Memories'!!!!!!!!!!

This was a very Busy Popular Theater every time I was there I felt a Warm Loving Feeling this Place will be missed what a sad loss and it didn’t have to be that way I can’t fatham what they were thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another article on its closing: http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/AMC-Criterion-6-Goes-Dark-On-Third-Street-Promenade/37216

Hey, I just finished reading the article linked above, and the last line cites CT!

This is the one screen in SM that should remain open. The AMC7 and the BROADWAY 4 are awful. Maybe SM should have less screens, it is probably the boost Westwood needs.

May not be open for much longer. According to an article in this issue of the Santa Monica Daily Press —

http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/120812.pdf

— the owner has received permission from the city to convert the theatre space to retail. The majority of the article deals with the proposed new multiplex AMC wanted to build on Fourth, but the author dropped this bombshell in the last two paragraphs. See page 10.

It should be noted that the organ from this theater was used for at least a few recordings by Gaylord Carter, though I believe this was after the organ had been removed from the Criterion to a new home.

 Also, the 60s marquee of the Criterion can be glimpsed in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," in the background of several shots filmed along the street (the stolen bike scenes) with a generic "Cartoon Cavalcade" advertised on the reader board.
                

Went to the Criterion 6 for the first time on 10/12. The $6 senior Tuesday is a great deal, but the $5 flat rate evening parking is $2 more than Westwood(where you can sometimes find a free spot). Saw “Case 39”, 10:05PM show in one of the downstairs auditoriums. Only eight of us watching quite a good movie-much better than the reviews. The little girl is tremendous, almost as good as the one in “The Bad Seed”, which the Aero showed months ago.

The vertical sign and marquee are amazing-are they reproductions or restored originals?

Thanks for all the experts on this board-I learn a lot.