I’ve never noticed anything like that. Last time I was there was on Halloween for the 8:30 PM show of “This Is It.” Only strange noises I heard that night was MJ’s infamous “hee-hee’s” and other vocal cadences along with catcalls from the audience.
This guy has been reposting his real estate listing for this theatre for the past few months. He’s got at least 3-4 postings on the Majestic Crest’s page with the exact same info.
Actually, the first M stood for Metro Pictures Corp, the G stood for Goldwyn Pictures (who also benefactored Leo The Lion) and the other M was for Louis B. Mayer when the 3 entities merged their assets into MGM.
Marcus Loew later purchased MGM and all the copyrights for its subsequent films read “Loews, Incorporated.”
But we’re digressing from the topic at hand: “Why Regal Can’t Build A Friggin Decent Movie Theatre In The Film Capital Of The World!”
Cinemark Fan: The exit doors are on the left & right sids of the Premiere Cinema – not below the screen. But, at the same time, it looks like that screen will have a combination of top & side masking. There are wings that were enclosed on the left & right sides of the screen (because “This Is It” is 1:85). However, they are very short lengthwise. From my impression, the only way that 2:35 can be shown in there is if they expand those tiny wings AND mask the top of the screen ever so slightly.
Once again, we don’t have those problems at the mighty Arclight. Or Graumans Chinese.
Visited this place on 11/1. The verdict: IT’S A BUST!
My prophecy fulfilled itself: It literally is 1 big auditorium and 13 skinny, postage stamp sized screens with top down masking. YUCK!
Arclight has nothing to worry about. The downtown area folks who don’t care too much about optimum cinematic presentation will eat this place up, though. The folks who dwell on this page and CinemaTour will undoubtdly fire me off a round of “I Told You So’s” for the next week.
MPol: This is (now) the only first-run movie theatre in the Downtown Los Angeles area. Before this, there was only a 4 screen ultra small theatre that was tucked away beneath a downtwon hotel. So it’s a bit more than “yet another multiplex cinema”.
To clarify Scott’s comment, both AEG & Regal are owned by the same guy – Philip Anschutz. He operates AEG & Regal as separate companies, so when the whole LA Live thing was conceived, it was a given that Regal would be the operator.
Another potential ray of optimism – most Regals spread their 14-16 screens on the same ground level. This one has 7 screens spread out on 2 different floors – which means they may have created more space in their auds.
Crossing my fingers in hopes that Regal actually GOT! THIS! RIGHT! for a change.
Still searching for specs on the other 13 auditoriums. As I said on the Cinema Treasures page for this theatre, it doesn’t make a differene how ginormous the Premiere Cinema is. If the other auditoriums are standard issue shoeboxes with skinny, postage stamp sized screens, then the theatre is a bust. Period.
That’s a balcony shot…and a pretty murky one so I can’t tell where the heck the exit doors are.
The shot just before that one has a 3 aisle configuration – always a tell tale sign of (semi) proper widescreen presentation.
This article – View link – says that the screen is 75 x 38 feet By comparison, The Dome is 86 x 32 feet.
The first 3 points don’t matter! The Premiere House can have all the ballyhoo it wants – if the other 14 screens are all 40 x 22 feet, then the place is a BUST! All the flashy neon and chandeliers in the world won’t compensate for seeing Avatar on a postage stamp sized screen in December! That’s what makes Arclight Arclight – they put just as much care into their regular auditoriums as they did for the whole complex.
Dang, Norman. I feel your pain. I feel that same pain when I see the Shop And Save crap plastered over the Airway marquee. The funny part: Last time I was home, I drove in the Airway lot and I could count the cars shopping at the Shop And Save.
I’ve never noticed anything like that. Last time I was there was on Halloween for the 8:30 PM show of “This Is It.” Only strange noises I heard that night was MJ’s infamous “hee-hee’s” and other vocal cadences along with catcalls from the audience.
There’s a Pacific 18 in Rolling Hills? That’s news to me! :)
Perhaps the writer is referring to the 13 screen Regal Avenue 13.
This week marks the Esquire’s 70th Anniversary. According to CinemaTour records, the theatre opened on November 8, 1939.
Here’s to you, Esquire – the movie theatre that made me love the movies!
AWESOME!!! I’ll email you shortly!
Tim: It’s only “State Of The Art” on the outside, brother.
This guy has been reposting his real estate listing for this theatre for the past few months. He’s got at least 3-4 postings on the Majestic Crest’s page with the exact same info.
Actually, the first M stood for Metro Pictures Corp, the G stood for Goldwyn Pictures (who also benefactored Leo The Lion) and the other M was for Louis B. Mayer when the 3 entities merged their assets into MGM.
Marcus Loew later purchased MGM and all the copyrights for its subsequent films read “Loews, Incorporated.”
But we’re digressing from the topic at hand: “Why Regal Can’t Build A Friggin Decent Movie Theatre In The Film Capital Of The World!”
I knew that…
:)
Cinemark Fan: The exit doors are on the left & right sids of the Premiere Cinema – not below the screen. But, at the same time, it looks like that screen will have a combination of top & side masking. There are wings that were enclosed on the left & right sides of the screen (because “This Is It” is 1:85). However, they are very short lengthwise. From my impression, the only way that 2:35 can be shown in there is if they expand those tiny wings AND mask the top of the screen ever so slightly.
Once again, we don’t have those problems at the mighty Arclight. Or Graumans Chinese.
They ALL look great on the outside. THAT’S THE PROBLEM!
Visited this place on 11/1. The verdict: IT’S A BUST!
My prophecy fulfilled itself: It literally is 1 big auditorium and 13 skinny, postage stamp sized screens with top down masking. YUCK!
Arclight has nothing to worry about. The downtown area folks who don’t care too much about optimum cinematic presentation will eat this place up, though. The folks who dwell on this page and CinemaTour will undoubtdly fire me off a round of “I Told You So’s” for the next week.
Visited this place on 11/1. The verdict: IT’S A BUST!
My prophecy fulfilled itself: It literally is 1 big auditorium and 13 skinny, postage stamp sized screens with top down masking. YUCK!
No idea whatsoever, Mike. Way way way before my time. Norman Plant may know something.
MPol: This is (now) the only first-run movie theatre in the Downtown Los Angeles area. Before this, there was only a 4 screen ultra small theatre that was tucked away beneath a downtwon hotel. So it’s a bit more than “yet another multiplex cinema”.
That’s why I stopped eating concession food…Arclight popcorn included!
To clarify Scott’s comment, both AEG & Regal are owned by the same guy – Philip Anschutz. He operates AEG & Regal as separate companies, so when the whole LA Live thing was conceived, it was a given that Regal would be the operator.
Another potential ray of optimism – most Regals spread their 14-16 screens on the same ground level. This one has 7 screens spread out on 2 different floors – which means they may have created more space in their auds.
Crossing my fingers in hopes that Regal actually GOT! THIS! RIGHT! for a change.
Still searching for specs on the other 13 auditoriums. As I said on the Cinema Treasures page for this theatre, it doesn’t make a differene how ginormous the Premiere Cinema is. If the other auditoriums are standard issue shoeboxes with skinny, postage stamp sized screens, then the theatre is a bust. Period.
I’m going on Sunday. I’ll have a report.
CinemarkFan:
That’s a balcony shot…and a pretty murky one so I can’t tell where the heck the exit doors are.
The shot just before that one has a 3 aisle configuration – always a tell tale sign of (semi) proper widescreen presentation.
This article – View link – says that the screen is 75 x 38 feet By comparison, The Dome is 86 x 32 feet.
The first 3 points don’t matter! The Premiere House can have all the ballyhoo it wants – if the other 14 screens are all 40 x 22 feet, then the place is a BUST! All the flashy neon and chandeliers in the world won’t compensate for seeing Avatar on a postage stamp sized screen in December! That’s what makes Arclight Arclight – they put just as much care into their regular auditoriums as they did for the whole complex.
Just checked out Fandango…looks like “This Is It” is staying on all 14 screens through Friday.
Won’t they switch to regular programming on Wednesday 10/28?
Is the building still standing?
Dang, Norman. I feel your pain. I feel that same pain when I see the Shop And Save crap plastered over the Airway marquee. The funny part: Last time I was home, I drove in the Airway lot and I could count the cars shopping at the Shop And Save.
So sad.
National Amusements officially has this theatre for sale.
http://tinyurl.com/yg637mh
I sure hope Regal doesn’t pick it up. The presentation quality will suffer immensely!