The theatre never closed for refurbishment; it merely opened late on 1/21/16 to accommodate a conversion to AMC’s network and POS systems. Thus far, the changes have been more back office/support systems/procedure oriented.
The city of West Hollywood has purchased the theatre for $2.5 million; the intent being to ”anchor a potential Center City Arts District in the city”. Per reports, after an extensive remodel, “it will be a venue for dance and possibly small musical/cabaret type performances as well as theatre.”
I believe the banner is just advertising that the theatre’s large parking lot is available for rental as a base camp (i.e. place to park equipment, crew, and talent trailers) for location shoots. Last I checked, the theatre was still boarded up and neglected.
Starplex didn’t renew their lease on the theatre a couple of years ago. I don’t know what transpired after Starplex left, but the closure wasn’t related to the AMC acquisition.
I’m surprised the theatre lasted as long as it did. Had it been located almost anywhere else, this theatre likely would have been very successful. In many ways, the facility/amenities offered were ahead of their time when it opened and foretold where the industry was heading. However, the upper level, of a poorly placed/thought out shopping complex, basically doomed the venue from the start. Maybe the House of Blues will provide the kind of drawing power this mall is in desperate need of.
After sitting dormant for the past few years, they’ve finally begun putting the courtyard storefronts back in to use. The main entrance/Hollywood Blvd corner unit is slated to reopen as a juice bar in April and the remaining units received some remodeling recently (not sure if there are tenants lined up for those yet).
The “for sale” sign, that has been posted on the building for a few months, now has a large “sold” notification attached. The sign lists the square footage of land; which raises some obvious concerns.
Technically, the Vista wouldn’t fit in to bigjoe’s parameters, as it spent time as both a porn venue and revival house (i.e. hasn’t been continuously first run from open to present day).
JodarMovieFan: The 35mm is only used for special screenings; often providing access to titles that aren’t readily available otherwise. They utilize vault prints (or freshly struck prints in some cases); thus, they go to great lengths to assure presentation quality/film handling is first rate (i.e. no scratched prints, blotchy picture, etc.).
They had the entryway open for a work crew today. You could see straight through to the back wall of the building (i.e. they’ve gutted the interior down to studs/bare concrete) and there was the unmistakable sound of a jack-hammer running. Considering the scope of work underway, I would speculate they are re-purposing the space.
As for the decorative standards: The current standards are replicas. The previous standards (which were replicas also) were auctioned off with the seats as a bulk lot. The company that purchased the seating lot was selling groups of seats, with decorative standards, on ebay, a few months back.
Silver: They conducted a significant remodel of the modern Hollywood Blvd. box office (there are a few pictures up). The older structure, which currently houses StarLine, would be a logistical nightmare to utilize as a box office, due to the courtyard tourism foot traffic.
Moviebuff82: all of the theatres are now stadium seating (modern 6 plex and classic main house).
Buena Park is now developing another “revitalization” project, which includes a movie theatre, about two miles from this center. Located on a twelve acre property, at the corner of Orangethorpe and Beach, the 450,000+ square foot retail and entertainment complex, branded “The Source”, is slated to have a 1,200 seat cinema. No operator has been named for the theatre yet and the seating capacity suggests it will be relatively small (perhaps a luxury concept or dine-in?), but, considering the lackluster shopping complex Krikorian has to work with, any direct competition will likely be bad news for the Metroplex 18.
When they duel book titles with the Chinese, Arclight Hollywood still pulls in much larger audiences; plus, they receive money from booking the Chinese/the benefits of being able to book an additional house with the tittle. On those occasions when a movie is only booked at the Chinese, the Arclight Hollywood usually has a full slate booked for itself, receives money from the Chinese booking, and reaps the booking perks of having that house available for the movie. It’s a win/win for the Arclight/Pacific group, as the Chinese doesn’t impact their business levels to any notable degree, pays them for booking, and provides another venue to shore up their buying clout (a high profile venue at that).
markinthedark – “So essentially does this mean Pacific/Arclight books and manages the place and splits the profits (if any) with the owners?”
Pacific/Archlight is just the “film buyer” and likely has a marketing deal in place too (i.e. why the Chinese is included in their advertising). The Chinese has its' own management, staff, etc. Many independent operators utilize outside “film buyers”, as there is more leverage through pooling resources (i.e. the more theatres, the greater the buying power). Smaller operators often contract out their purchasing, human resources, etc. for the same reason.
The new marquee above box office is in place. Currently (4/25/14), the “TCL Chinese Theatre” branding runs through an animated light cycle, but the main body of the sign hasn’t yet been activated. As with the recently overhauled box office, this remodel is a significant upgrade and creates a much more prominent visual presence for ticket sales.
I’m guessing the theatre was located on the front left side of what is now the Author Services Building (formerly The Hollywood Savings & Loan Building and one time home to The Hollywood Museum), near the former church (now a Scientology education center). In that area, there are currently three street side display windows which look as if they may have been storefronts at one time. The current facility contains a live performance theatre, but I’m not sure where it’s located in the building/if it has any relation to the one time cinema.
In addition to Richard’s, this building also housed the Sin-O-Rama Adult Arcade Theatre, at 5531 Hollywood Blvd. (likely little more than a “loop” booth operation).
Prior to being known as the Gershwin, the primary building operated as the St. Francis Hotel; a notorious “flophouse” where James Earl Ray (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin) lived for the four months leading up to his crime.
The theatre never closed for refurbishment; it merely opened late on 1/21/16 to accommodate a conversion to AMC’s network and POS systems. Thus far, the changes have been more back office/support systems/procedure oriented.
The city of West Hollywood has purchased the theatre for $2.5 million; the intent being to ”anchor a potential Center City Arts District in the city”. Per reports, after an extensive remodel, “it will be a venue for dance and possibly small musical/cabaret type performances as well as theatre.”
I believe the banner is just advertising that the theatre’s large parking lot is available for rental as a base camp (i.e. place to park equipment, crew, and talent trailers) for location shoots. Last I checked, the theatre was still boarded up and neglected.
Starplex didn’t renew their lease on the theatre a couple of years ago. I don’t know what transpired after Starplex left, but the closure wasn’t related to the AMC acquisition.
The church moved out in late December 2015.
A Stone-Miller Commercial Property Sales “For Sale” sign was recently posted on the theatre.
The work crew was applying a gold window treatment (geometric pattern and branding).
I’m surprised the theatre lasted as long as it did. Had it been located almost anywhere else, this theatre likely would have been very successful. In many ways, the facility/amenities offered were ahead of their time when it opened and foretold where the industry was heading. However, the upper level, of a poorly placed/thought out shopping complex, basically doomed the venue from the start. Maybe the House of Blues will provide the kind of drawing power this mall is in desperate need of.
After sitting dormant for the past few years, they’ve finally begun putting the courtyard storefronts back in to use. The main entrance/Hollywood Blvd corner unit is slated to reopen as a juice bar in April and the remaining units received some remodeling recently (not sure if there are tenants lined up for those yet).
Krikorian sold the theatre to Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, effective 2/11/15.
Krikorian sold the theatre to Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, effective 2/11/15.
The “for sale” sign, that has been posted on the building for a few months, now has a large “sold” notification attached. The sign lists the square footage of land; which raises some obvious concerns.
Technically, the Vista wouldn’t fit in to bigjoe’s parameters, as it spent time as both a porn venue and revival house (i.e. hasn’t been continuously first run from open to present day).
JodarMovieFan: The 35mm is only used for special screenings; often providing access to titles that aren’t readily available otherwise. They utilize vault prints (or freshly struck prints in some cases); thus, they go to great lengths to assure presentation quality/film handling is first rate (i.e. no scratched prints, blotchy picture, etc.).
The theatre would have been where the third street level window, from the left side of the picture, is.
They had the entryway open for a work crew today. You could see straight through to the back wall of the building (i.e. they’ve gutted the interior down to studs/bare concrete) and there was the unmistakable sound of a jack-hammer running. Considering the scope of work underway, I would speculate they are re-purposing the space.
As for the decorative standards: The current standards are replicas. The previous standards (which were replicas also) were auctioned off with the seats as a bulk lot. The company that purchased the seating lot was selling groups of seats, with decorative standards, on ebay, a few months back.
Silver: They conducted a significant remodel of the modern Hollywood Blvd. box office (there are a few pictures up). The older structure, which currently houses StarLine, would be a logistical nightmare to utilize as a box office, due to the courtyard tourism foot traffic.
Moviebuff82: all of the theatres are now stadium seating (modern 6 plex and classic main house).
You mean “JB-X,Johnny Brenden Xtreme, An Xtreme Movie Experience”. LOL.
They have started work on the site and their first stage (I’m not sure what stage the theatre is tied in to) is slated for an early 2015 opening.
Buena Park is now developing another “revitalization” project, which includes a movie theatre, about two miles from this center. Located on a twelve acre property, at the corner of Orangethorpe and Beach, the 450,000+ square foot retail and entertainment complex, branded “The Source”, is slated to have a 1,200 seat cinema. No operator has been named for the theatre yet and the seating capacity suggests it will be relatively small (perhaps a luxury concept or dine-in?), but, considering the lackluster shopping complex Krikorian has to work with, any direct competition will likely be bad news for the Metroplex 18.
When they duel book titles with the Chinese, Arclight Hollywood still pulls in much larger audiences; plus, they receive money from booking the Chinese/the benefits of being able to book an additional house with the tittle. On those occasions when a movie is only booked at the Chinese, the Arclight Hollywood usually has a full slate booked for itself, receives money from the Chinese booking, and reaps the booking perks of having that house available for the movie. It’s a win/win for the Arclight/Pacific group, as the Chinese doesn’t impact their business levels to any notable degree, pays them for booking, and provides another venue to shore up their buying clout (a high profile venue at that).
markinthedark – “So essentially does this mean Pacific/Arclight books and manages the place and splits the profits (if any) with the owners?”
Pacific/Archlight is just the “film buyer” and likely has a marketing deal in place too (i.e. why the Chinese is included in their advertising). The Chinese has its' own management, staff, etc. Many independent operators utilize outside “film buyers”, as there is more leverage through pooling resources (i.e. the more theatres, the greater the buying power). Smaller operators often contract out their purchasing, human resources, etc. for the same reason.
The new marquee above box office is in place. Currently (4/25/14), the “TCL Chinese Theatre” branding runs through an animated light cycle, but the main body of the sign hasn’t yet been activated. As with the recently overhauled box office, this remodel is a significant upgrade and creates a much more prominent visual presence for ticket sales.
I’m guessing the theatre was located on the front left side of what is now the Author Services Building (formerly The Hollywood Savings & Loan Building and one time home to The Hollywood Museum), near the former church (now a Scientology education center). In that area, there are currently three street side display windows which look as if they may have been storefronts at one time. The current facility contains a live performance theatre, but I’m not sure where it’s located in the building/if it has any relation to the one time cinema.
In addition to Richard’s, this building also housed the Sin-O-Rama Adult Arcade Theatre, at 5531 Hollywood Blvd. (likely little more than a “loop” booth operation).
Prior to being known as the Gershwin, the primary building operated as the St. Francis Hotel; a notorious “flophouse” where James Earl Ray (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin) lived for the four months leading up to his crime.