this kills me. I live a block away and would love to go to this great theater for a film. I used to love coming here when I lived in Santa Monica. oh well…
I remember going there around ‘89 or '90 when I was attending CSUN and dating a girl who lived in Northridge. She thought I was the ultimate cheapskate for taking her there. Whatever. The announcement on the phone advertised the “real butter” on their “fresh popcorn”…not a great theater by any means and a lot of brats running around on the sticky floors from what I recall.
I seem to recall that when Legend did his schlock movie programs in the early 90s they shared the parking lot with the Florentine Gardens patrons (I think we showed the parking lot attendants our theater stub or something). Wonder why they can’t do something like this again.
I was a high school student, 80-84 when Westwood was in its prime and would be there several times a week (I lived nearby in Brentwood Glen). Now I work at UCLA and walk into the “village” almost every week. What a difference. It’s dreary, dead…like some of the previous posters mentioned, it is truly sad when you think of how many record and book stores there were; poster shops; cool stores in general. What do we have now? Ahhs and Urban Outfitters…give me a break. The National was a good theater…RIP…
You know, I drive by the National every day on my way to work and you’d never guess that it is closed since the huge “Feast of Love” billboard/poster is up on the marquee and I think the one-sheets are there as well. Why wouldn’t they take down the signage if it is closed?
I can’t believe this has gotten so little coverage. I’m surprised the L.A. Weekly didn’t write this up. Terrible news. I live within walking distance and did not have a clue until now and now it’s too late…
Terry, your story cracked me up. Yeah, I should bring some fun friends and cause chaos. Actually, here is something funny — I was looking for a venue to screen my short film and I called up this manager. What a nut — he wanted to charge me $700.00 to show my film on a Thursday night AFTER 9:30. Catering, of course, would be extra but he “could arrange that.” No way in hell was I going to have my peeps come to this crappy part of Hollywood on a Thursday night and find dubious parking to watch my film after 9:30 (and be out by 11, I think he said). The guy is a real ripoff.
Woa – sorry — I was mixed up —– thinking of the Vogue. the vine still shows double features, right? Yeah, I was there a few years ago and it was a true grindhouse — smelly and with crazy people in the audience…
Terry Wade,
re your August 8th account — I didn’t realize the Vine was showing films lately. When did you go and what film(s) did you see? Was this a regular film screening or a special film fest or what? Just curious because I was in the area a few months ago and saw the place looking like no one had opened it in months if not years.
<<They’ve been approached, but no dice. (Same situation at the United Artists.) posted by Richard W on May 12, 2007 at 10:50am >>
I would love to see films at these locations as well. Just out of curiosity, Richard W, can you divulge what their rationale is? You’d think the owners would be interested in maintaining the public’s interest (as well as pocketing the dough they’d receive for something like this) in these landmarks, not shun the curious.
I was there last night to view “Roman Holiday” as part of the Last Remaining Seats series. I had never been to the theater and wow — I agree with all the above comments. I’ve never seen such detail, such craftsmanship in a theater. The three levels of seating, the enormous rooms downstairs that weren’t even utilized (the ones separating the bathrooms; the “lounge”, what looked like a kitchen). What a labyrinth. Security wasn’t tight and we were tempted to sneak up the various stairwells but decided not to. An amazing place. I hope they replace the worn carpet and continue the restoration. Wouldn’t it be great to see movies here again all the time? The audience sure appreciated it.
Seems interesting — I’ll have to get it for – uh – research. ;]
Seriously though, any films – adult or not, that show this area back in the day are intriguing to me. I’d love to see some footage of Hollywood theaters like the Vine or the Ritz or even downtown L.A. theaters like the Orpheum or the Million dollar back when they were mainstream theaters.
When I was a young teen in the late 70s, early 80s I would attend the “double bills” with my dad at this theater. They would show a lot of exploitation and second rate features. Lots of Charles Bronson and Cannon movies. I saw some pretty terrible movies here like “Gas” and “Cabo Blanco” — films that lasted about a week. As I recall two of the auditoriums were horrible but one was fairly good — for some reason I rarely saw films in the good auditorium. So it lasted til ‘94?
So Left to right on Hollywood Blvd, there was the World, X1&X2 and the Hawaii, all on the same block? amazing. Now this area is a total eyesore. It’s hard to imagine people flocking to this part of Hollywood blvd. for one theater let alone three.
This was the same theater that briefly became the “Hawaiian Gardens” theater in the early 90s for a few months, right? Does anyone else recall this “grindhouse” setup that Eric Caiden of Hollywood book and poster fame and Johnny Legend did? I think I still have flyers for these shows (which they now do once a month at the New Beverly theater on Beverly near La Brea)…If it’s the same one, then, man, I have memories of it being a total dump…at least by the early ‘90s. Can anyone confirm?
Was the “Hawaii theater” William mentions the same as the “Hawaiian Gardens” theater also near the Florentine gardens, used in the early 90s by Eric Caiden and Johnny Legend of Hollywood Book and Poster fame? I used to go to the Hawaiian gardens for their weird triple bills and recall Johnny telling me that this had been an adult theater at one time.
I am looking for a movie theater in LA — preferably Hollywood — that I could rent out for one night for a screening party for an indie film I just finished editing. I guess the Vogue is out but if anyone knows of any other theater with “reasonable rates” please let me know!
this kills me. I live a block away and would love to go to this great theater for a film. I used to love coming here when I lived in Santa Monica. oh well…
I remember going there around ‘89 or '90 when I was attending CSUN and dating a girl who lived in Northridge. She thought I was the ultimate cheapskate for taking her there. Whatever. The announcement on the phone advertised the “real butter” on their “fresh popcorn”…not a great theater by any means and a lot of brats running around on the sticky floors from what I recall.
Some bad news…
from Monday’s LA Curbed site:
View link
“There’s a meeting next week in CRA’s Reseda office for interested parties”
and here is from a copy of the “Request for Proposals (RFP)” :
View link
“The theater may be demolished as part of a proposal.”
Does anyone recall seeing films here (when it was the Linda Lea, of course)? Any of the projectionists work here?
I seem to recall that when Legend did his schlock movie programs in the early 90s they shared the parking lot with the Florentine Gardens patrons (I think we showed the parking lot attendants our theater stub or something). Wonder why they can’t do something like this again.
So sad. All that wasted space. Well I’m glad I was there for the Hollywood Gardens screenings at least.
Can’t the original poster just crop/resize it so the “X” shows? Give me 2 seconds in Photoshop and I can do it.
I was a high school student, 80-84 when Westwood was in its prime and would be there several times a week (I lived nearby in Brentwood Glen). Now I work at UCLA and walk into the “village” almost every week. What a difference. It’s dreary, dead…like some of the previous posters mentioned, it is truly sad when you think of how many record and book stores there were; poster shops; cool stores in general. What do we have now? Ahhs and Urban Outfitters…give me a break. The National was a good theater…RIP…
You know, I drive by the National every day on my way to work and you’d never guess that it is closed since the huge “Feast of Love” billboard/poster is up on the marquee and I think the one-sheets are there as well. Why wouldn’t they take down the signage if it is closed?
I can’t believe this has gotten so little coverage. I’m surprised the L.A. Weekly didn’t write this up. Terrible news. I live within walking distance and did not have a clue until now and now it’s too late…
Terry, your story cracked me up. Yeah, I should bring some fun friends and cause chaos. Actually, here is something funny — I was looking for a venue to screen my short film and I called up this manager. What a nut — he wanted to charge me $700.00 to show my film on a Thursday night AFTER 9:30. Catering, of course, would be extra but he “could arrange that.” No way in hell was I going to have my peeps come to this crappy part of Hollywood on a Thursday night and find dubious parking to watch my film after 9:30 (and be out by 11, I think he said). The guy is a real ripoff.
Woa – sorry — I was mixed up —– thinking of the Vogue. the vine still shows double features, right? Yeah, I was there a few years ago and it was a true grindhouse — smelly and with crazy people in the audience…
Terry Wade,
re your August 8th account — I didn’t realize the Vine was showing films lately. When did you go and what film(s) did you see? Was this a regular film screening or a special film fest or what? Just curious because I was in the area a few months ago and saw the place looking like no one had opened it in months if not years.
<<They’ve been approached, but no dice. (Same situation at the United Artists.) posted by Richard W on May 12, 2007 at 10:50am >>
I would love to see films at these locations as well. Just out of curiosity, Richard W, can you divulge what their rationale is? You’d think the owners would be interested in maintaining the public’s interest (as well as pocketing the dough they’d receive for something like this) in these landmarks, not shun the curious.
I was there last night to view “Roman Holiday” as part of the Last Remaining Seats series. I had never been to the theater and wow — I agree with all the above comments. I’ve never seen such detail, such craftsmanship in a theater. The three levels of seating, the enormous rooms downstairs that weren’t even utilized (the ones separating the bathrooms; the “lounge”, what looked like a kitchen). What a labyrinth. Security wasn’t tight and we were tempted to sneak up the various stairwells but decided not to. An amazing place. I hope they replace the worn carpet and continue the restoration. Wouldn’t it be great to see movies here again all the time? The audience sure appreciated it.
Seems interesting — I’ll have to get it for – uh – research. ;]
Seriously though, any films – adult or not, that show this area back in the day are intriguing to me. I’d love to see some footage of Hollywood theaters like the Vine or the Ritz or even downtown L.A. theaters like the Orpheum or the Million dollar back when they were mainstream theaters.
Scott — I have never heard of this film. An “adults only” perhaps? Do you know where one can get it?
When I was a young teen in the late 70s, early 80s I would attend the “double bills” with my dad at this theater. They would show a lot of exploitation and second rate features. Lots of Charles Bronson and Cannon movies. I saw some pretty terrible movies here like “Gas” and “Cabo Blanco” — films that lasted about a week. As I recall two of the auditoriums were horrible but one was fairly good — for some reason I rarely saw films in the good auditorium. So it lasted til ‘94?
I see. I didn’t realize the two theaters (Hawaii, X1 & X2) were so close together. Thanks, William. From the outside they don’t look that different!
So Left to right on Hollywood Blvd, there was the World, X1&X2 and the Hawaii, all on the same block? amazing. Now this area is a total eyesore. It’s hard to imagine people flocking to this part of Hollywood blvd. for one theater let alone three.
where exactly was the World theater in relation to the X1&2?
This was the same theater that briefly became the “Hawaiian Gardens” theater in the early 90s for a few months, right? Does anyone else recall this “grindhouse” setup that Eric Caiden of Hollywood book and poster fame and Johnny Legend did? I think I still have flyers for these shows (which they now do once a month at the New Beverly theater on Beverly near La Brea)…If it’s the same one, then, man, I have memories of it being a total dump…at least by the early ‘90s. Can anyone confirm?
Was the “Hawaii theater” William mentions the same as the “Hawaiian Gardens” theater also near the Florentine gardens, used in the early 90s by Eric Caiden and Johnny Legend of Hollywood Book and Poster fame? I used to go to the Hawaiian gardens for their weird triple bills and recall Johnny telling me that this had been an adult theater at one time.
I am looking for a movie theater in LA — preferably Hollywood — that I could rent out for one night for a screening party for an indie film I just finished editing. I guess the Vogue is out but if anyone knows of any other theater with “reasonable rates” please let me know!