In addition, if you reserve online and are an Arclight member ticket are $1 less. Additionally,with rare exception prices are not increased for rare screenings. During the recent Cinerama festival regular prices prevailed. I saw 3-strip Cinerama for less than $13 and also got my favorite seat. I do qualify for the senior discount now but even without that what a bargain for what you get.
Having now attended 4 films at the Cinerama festival here is a quick rundown: “Brothers Grimm” was a decent looking print and the only known 3-strip in existence. Apparently not easy to run as there were technical difficulties but that can happen and I do not fault anyone. In attendance were Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. “Search for Paradise” could have been great and was flawlessly presented. However, even though in 3-strip the print was pink which spoiled much of the grandeur. There was a song running through the film that was quite annoying and the search itself just wasn’t very thrilling. In attendance were members of composer Dimitri Tiomkin’s family. “Seven Wonders of the World” was to be digital for act 1 and 3-strip for act 2. Instead of 3-strip there was another video version spliced into the restored scenes which were blurry and headache inducing. John Sittig announced someone pretty much made a video of the film while it was running. I still enjoyed it more than “Search” however. Finally “South Seas Adventure” which was fully restored digital and looked much better than I expected. The scenes of Hawaii in the 1950s were fascinating and you can glimpse the marquee of the now demolished Waikiki Theater with “Pride and the Passion” playing. In attendance were Ramini who had a featured role and member’s of producer Dudley’s family. I was witness to the passing of the old and the wave of the future all in these 4 screenings. What a great lesson in film history and I am \glad I was a part of it. I am equally glad these films are being preserved in any format.
“Mad World” was shot with a single camera in Ultra Panavision and was 90% completed before Kramer was approached to release it as the first single-lens Cinerama release. He did not “propose” the film to open the Dome. The Dome was built in 16 weeks to be ready by the film’s already scheduled opening date.
BRADE48, I couldn’t agree more. I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie that wasn’t playing at Arclight Hollywood and almost always the Dome. While you do get the occasional blockhead, there just seems to be more people actually interested in enjoying the film they came to see instead of eating, talking and shining their cell phone beacons. I will drive the 30 miles to see a film there rather than anywhere else. If the Dome ever closed it’s doors I doubt I would ever again see a film in a theater. Wait, come to think of it, I’m NOT seeing FILM am I?
Tinseltoes: Nice post. The theaters were managed by Loew’s before General Cinema and the page needs to be updated. This was the second building built which was nice until it was twinned. I also didn’t realize that cinema 2 was originally equipped for 70mm. I don’t remember any films playing in that format in this house but they certainly did in the cinema 3 building. Interesting to me that the oldest of the three buildings was the last to be demolished.
As it appears, the 3-strip films are “HTWWW”, “Brothers Grimm”, “This is Cinerama” and “Search for Paradise” as well as the newly produced film “In the Picture”. “Mad World” is 70mm. Everything else is digital.
Sorry, I failed to mention that the faded 3-strip print is “Search for Paradise”. Again, I prefer that over a digital version. RogerA: I saw “Windjammer” at the Dome in digital a while back and while I thought it looked pretty good it just isn’t the same as true Cinerama. BTW: “This is Cinerama” and “Windjammer” will both be released on Blu-Ray the Tuesday before the festival. I hope, in the interest of historical accuracy, the join lines are not hidden like they were for “HTWWW”. That’s part of the experience!
There seems to be some confusion at least on one of the shows. Although not mentioned on the Arclight website, In70mm reports that while the print for the Saturday show is indeed 3-strip they report it as having “color faded to Magenta”. Additionally, for the second show, they list it as being 3-strip and then label it as a digital presentation on the right. Personally, I would rather see a red 3-strip presentation than a video version but if it is in fact badly faded the Arclight website should say so for those who care.
Tickets are already going fast. I have mine for “Brothers Grimm” and “Search for Paradise” in back-to-back 3-strip showings. This will be the first 3-strip showings for both at the Dome as far as I know. Going to be a great Saturday!
The first films to play this theater were “Life of Riley” and a Bowery Boys comedy. In person on opening night were Rosemary DeCamp, Huntz Hall and Gabriel Dell. When it was opened by the same owners as the Torrance Theater it was trumpeted for it’s modern air conditioning. stadium seating and crying rooms. Later, a new screen was installed for the presentation of 3-D films the first of which being “Man in the Dark”.
The first film to play this theater was “Toys in the Attic” and a sneak preview. In attendance were Chuck Connors, Chill Wills and George Peppard among others. This house, the Rolling Hills Theater and the FOX Palos Verdes all opened about the same time.
To ChasSmith: I also moved away from the South Bay after growing up there and after 20 years returned last year. I am now planning to move out again. Torrance and the general South Bay area have deteriorated dramatically. It’s really too bad but I guess it’s true that you can’t go home again.
I can also confirm this theater has been demolished. First the building and the street marquee within the past couple of months. Status should be changed.
Everything comes around in cycles it seems. Look at malls. In the 1970s enclosed malls were sexy and open air malls were being enclosed or replaced. Now I see quite a few enclosed malls “reinventing” themselves back to open air again. 3-D has been big before then fizzled. There seems to be a growing movement that desires the “big screen” experience hence the IMAX experience even if it’s fake IMAX. The home theater experience will never replace going to the movies because the home theater cannot replicate the experience and the communal aspect is just part of that. What I believe will disappear eventually is film and digital presentations will become the standard. To paraphrase Norma Desmond: the theaters have gotten small, not the movies.
I did some Googling and discovered that there is indeed a time capsule under the footprints of Greer Garson and is still there. Apparently there is a wall plaque stating this but my tired old brain seems to remember a smaller not so ornate plaque actually in the cement to commemorate the spot. However, I also found an article that said there was a wall plaque when the footprints were done in 1942 to honor women contributing to the war effort.
There is one thing definitely gone from the forecourt. Some years ago on the Highland side next to the wall there used to be a plaque. I don’t remember the exact words but it stated that a print of “Mrs. Miniver” was buried under it. That plaque is gone and I wonder if they just took it out or actually exhumed the print.
By contrast, last weekend at a retrospective of he and his wife’s work at USC, Roger Corman said the future of independent film is the internet. He told the film students and other attendees that theaters, if they survive at all, will be monopolized by the big budgets and that it is already happening as it is nearly impossible now for a small film to get screen time. This kind of event, while not associated with independent film, gives me hope the masses will continue to turn out for these special events in irreplacable movie palaces. There is nothing like seeing film in a classic movie theater.
All of the above mentioned screenings are digital.
In addition, if you reserve online and are an Arclight member ticket are $1 less. Additionally,with rare exception prices are not increased for rare screenings. During the recent Cinerama festival regular prices prevailed. I saw 3-strip Cinerama for less than $13 and also got my favorite seat. I do qualify for the senior discount now but even without that what a bargain for what you get.
Having now attended 4 films at the Cinerama festival here is a quick rundown: “Brothers Grimm” was a decent looking print and the only known 3-strip in existence. Apparently not easy to run as there were technical difficulties but that can happen and I do not fault anyone. In attendance were Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. “Search for Paradise” could have been great and was flawlessly presented. However, even though in 3-strip the print was pink which spoiled much of the grandeur. There was a song running through the film that was quite annoying and the search itself just wasn’t very thrilling. In attendance were members of composer Dimitri Tiomkin’s family. “Seven Wonders of the World” was to be digital for act 1 and 3-strip for act 2. Instead of 3-strip there was another video version spliced into the restored scenes which were blurry and headache inducing. John Sittig announced someone pretty much made a video of the film while it was running. I still enjoyed it more than “Search” however. Finally “South Seas Adventure” which was fully restored digital and looked much better than I expected. The scenes of Hawaii in the 1950s were fascinating and you can glimpse the marquee of the now demolished Waikiki Theater with “Pride and the Passion” playing. In attendance were Ramini who had a featured role and member’s of producer Dudley’s family. I was witness to the passing of the old and the wave of the future all in these 4 screenings. What a great lesson in film history and I am \glad I was a part of it. I am equally glad these films are being preserved in any format.
“Mad World” was shot with a single camera in Ultra Panavision and was 90% completed before Kramer was approached to release it as the first single-lens Cinerama release. He did not “propose” the film to open the Dome. The Dome was built in 16 weeks to be ready by the film’s already scheduled opening date.
BRADE48, I couldn’t agree more. I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie that wasn’t playing at Arclight Hollywood and almost always the Dome. While you do get the occasional blockhead, there just seems to be more people actually interested in enjoying the film they came to see instead of eating, talking and shining their cell phone beacons. I will drive the 30 miles to see a film there rather than anywhere else. If the Dome ever closed it’s doors I doubt I would ever again see a film in a theater. Wait, come to think of it, I’m NOT seeing FILM am I?
Tinseltoes: Nice post. The theaters were managed by Loew’s before General Cinema and the page needs to be updated. This was the second building built which was nice until it was twinned. I also didn’t realize that cinema 2 was originally equipped for 70mm. I don’t remember any films playing in that format in this house but they certainly did in the cinema 3 building. Interesting to me that the oldest of the three buildings was the last to be demolished.
As it appears, the 3-strip films are “HTWWW”, “Brothers Grimm”, “This is Cinerama” and “Search for Paradise” as well as the newly produced film “In the Picture”. “Mad World” is 70mm. Everything else is digital.
Sorry, I failed to mention that the faded 3-strip print is “Search for Paradise”. Again, I prefer that over a digital version. RogerA: I saw “Windjammer” at the Dome in digital a while back and while I thought it looked pretty good it just isn’t the same as true Cinerama. BTW: “This is Cinerama” and “Windjammer” will both be released on Blu-Ray the Tuesday before the festival. I hope, in the interest of historical accuracy, the join lines are not hidden like they were for “HTWWW”. That’s part of the experience!
There seems to be some confusion at least on one of the shows. Although not mentioned on the Arclight website, In70mm reports that while the print for the Saturday show is indeed 3-strip they report it as having “color faded to Magenta”. Additionally, for the second show, they list it as being 3-strip and then label it as a digital presentation on the right. Personally, I would rather see a red 3-strip presentation than a video version but if it is in fact badly faded the Arclight website should say so for those who care.
Tickets are already going fast. I have mine for “Brothers Grimm” and “Search for Paradise” in back-to-back 3-strip showings. This will be the first 3-strip showings for both at the Dome as far as I know. Going to be a great Saturday!
This theater is now, among other things, a BevMo.
The first films to play this theater were “Life of Riley” and a Bowery Boys comedy. In person on opening night were Rosemary DeCamp, Huntz Hall and Gabriel Dell. When it was opened by the same owners as the Torrance Theater it was trumpeted for it’s modern air conditioning. stadium seating and crying rooms. Later, a new screen was installed for the presentation of 3-D films the first of which being “Man in the Dark”.
The first film to play this theater was “Toys in the Attic” and a sneak preview. In attendance were Chuck Connors, Chill Wills and George Peppard among others. This house, the Rolling Hills Theater and the FOX Palos Verdes all opened about the same time.
If this keeps up they will no doubt raise the age for a senior citizen discount or eliminate it altogether.
To ChasSmith: I also moved away from the South Bay after growing up there and after 20 years returned last year. I am now planning to move out again. Torrance and the general South Bay area have deteriorated dramatically. It’s really too bad but I guess it’s true that you can’t go home again.
Saying simply “Thank You” to Ken doesn’t seem enough. The amazing contributions by this individual cannot be overvalued.
I can also confirm this theater has been demolished. First the building and the street marquee within the past couple of months. Status should be changed.
In the ‘60s this theater was famous for presenting the play “Hair”. It was known as the Aquarius Theater then.
I wouldn’t mind a 99 cent Only Theater with a 99 cent only snackbar.
Everything comes around in cycles it seems. Look at malls. In the 1970s enclosed malls were sexy and open air malls were being enclosed or replaced. Now I see quite a few enclosed malls “reinventing” themselves back to open air again. 3-D has been big before then fizzled. There seems to be a growing movement that desires the “big screen” experience hence the IMAX experience even if it’s fake IMAX. The home theater experience will never replace going to the movies because the home theater cannot replicate the experience and the communal aspect is just part of that. What I believe will disappear eventually is film and digital presentations will become the standard. To paraphrase Norma Desmond: the theaters have gotten small, not the movies.
According to an email I received from Arclight, this complex will be an Arclight venue by Christmas.
Prince of Persia is opening across the street at the El Capitan. I will be seeing it tonight at a screening at USC.
I did some Googling and discovered that there is indeed a time capsule under the footprints of Greer Garson and is still there. Apparently there is a wall plaque stating this but my tired old brain seems to remember a smaller not so ornate plaque actually in the cement to commemorate the spot. However, I also found an article that said there was a wall plaque when the footprints were done in 1942 to honor women contributing to the war effort.
View link
There is one thing definitely gone from the forecourt. Some years ago on the Highland side next to the wall there used to be a plaque. I don’t remember the exact words but it stated that a print of “Mrs. Miniver” was buried under it. That plaque is gone and I wonder if they just took it out or actually exhumed the print.
By contrast, last weekend at a retrospective of he and his wife’s work at USC, Roger Corman said the future of independent film is the internet. He told the film students and other attendees that theaters, if they survive at all, will be monopolized by the big budgets and that it is already happening as it is nearly impossible now for a small film to get screen time. This kind of event, while not associated with independent film, gives me hope the masses will continue to turn out for these special events in irreplacable movie palaces. There is nothing like seeing film in a classic movie theater.