Mann Village Theater

Before the last remodel the Village seated 1535 people.

The architect for this theater was P.O. Lewis.

Website for Mann's Premiere Theatres:
http://mann.moviefone.com/services/premieretheaters.adp

Mann revised their website: official webpage / showtimes now at
http://mann.moviefone.com/showtimes/theater.adp?theaterid=51

Here is a 1930's shot showing Village with Bruin on nearside right of street:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015716.jpg

A very nice theater, though like all Westwood places becoming a bit rundown. It's amazing how far Westwood has fallen since its 70's/early 80's glory period. Back then so many people crowded the streets you had to park blocks away and take a shuttle, and no cars were allowed in the area. By the late 80's, it became a hip place for gangs to hang out, and after a shooting where a tourist was killed, the area was quickly abandoned.

During the school year, the area's old single-screen theaters still fill up with UCLA kids. As a result audiences are sometimes a bit on the young/impolite/unsophisticated side, but definitely full of energy.

A long time ago: "plinfesty > Jun 5, 2003 9:28 PM EDT
The first 70mm attraction at the Village was "2001: A Space Odyssey" in the fall of 1974."

The Village is FAR FROM rundown. I was there for ALEXANDER and it looks great. Along with The Arclight in Hollywood, Mann Village is the Best Theatre in Los Angeles County.

Here is a photo of the premier of "A Millionaire for Christy" in 1951.

The man being interviewed is the famed theater manager Charles Skouras.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015730.jpg

Among the stars who attended were Bette Davis, Ronald Reagan and Nancy, among others.
Here is a photo of the theater exterior that same night....

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028685.jpg

Some additional photos are here....

Aerial photo of the area in 1936 showing the theater (upper left) and a Ralphs Market at the lower right..... are any of these buildings still there from that time?

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043060.jpg

Other photos showing the interior in the early 30s....

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015722.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015718.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015720.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015717.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015719.jpg

The Village theater in Westwood was less than a year old on January 11, 1932, when it was the site of a murder. Detective Lieut. Hugh A. Crowley of the Los Angeles Police Dept. (who worked for the office of the chief), went to the theater after a call. Unknown to him were two robbery suspects who were in building in the act of committing their crime... and they heard him enter. They hid, and saw him go into the theater office, then walked over and waited just outside the door. When he emerged, they shot him to death. Before he died, the detective. who was a great shot, was able to pull out his revolver and shoot the gun from one of the mens hand. The detective died a few moments later on the floor of the lobby. There is a photo showing the scene taken just after the incident on file at the Los Angeles Public Library, but it is graphic, so I decided that those who are interested can go there and look it up on line for themselves at http://www.lapd.org

This is the best theatre in the World... not just because of its Great Screen or Well Balanced THX sound but because of the audience reaction. I guess cuz its mostly made up of UCLA kids and film fanatics. This theatre is also capable of showing Digitally Projected movies and probably the clearest Digital Projected screen in Los Angeles. Its a shame that Mann Theatres could not avoid going the AMC route by adding stupid pre show crap (I understand the Catch 22 of advertising to keep things running). I hope they don't tear this theatre down or turn it into stadium seating. If you are in Los Angeles, you should check this theatre out during an opening night of a movie during the summer because it is a great experience.

Here is a modern color photo of the Mann Village Theater.

Another shot that I took over the summer.

Still the best bet for movies in L.A.

The correct name of the architect of the Fox Westwood Village Theatre is Percy Parke Lewis. P.P. Lewis was granted a certificate to practice architecture in California in May of 1924. In 1928, he became a charter member of the Certified Architects Association of Beverly Hills. As far as I've been able to learn, the Village was his only theatre project. I've found references to his designs for Christian Science Churches in West Los Angeles (1934) and Beverly Hills (1938- this in association with engineer Floyd Stanbery); a 1930 residence in West Los Angeles; and a Westwood Village store building for the Potter Hardware Company, also 1930.

The Village Theatre was a joint project of Fox-West Coast Theatres and the Janss Investment Company, developers of Westwood Village. Ground was broken for the theatre in November, 1930, and it opened on August 14th, 1931.

I was fortunate enough to see Star Wars Episode III opening day at the Village, it was the best movie going experience of my life. The DLP screen as gigantic, bright, and clear. The THX sound is the among the best I've ever heard (perhaps outclassed by Seattle's Cinerama and San Francisco's Metreon).

The audience participation was great, the auditorium is large, ornate and classy.

In its first remodeling, was the Fox Westwood Village "Skouras-ized For Showmanship" (as Jim Rankin has described the process in entries for numerous other theaters)? I haven't been here since I was a student at UCLA 30 years ago. My recollection is a fairly plain auditorium with the usual Skouras touches (viz. Fox Bakersfield) and a shallow balcony. Could others volunteer some more up-to-date descriptions?

This picture from the 1930s is different from what I remember, but even before remodeling the auditorium looks so spartan! The outside of the building would lead one to expect a more opulent auditorium within: http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015722.jpg

Now, I really don't mean to disparage the Fox Westwood Village. It certainly has had great importance in the history of movie exhibition in Los Angeles as the focus shifted from Broadway to Hollywood to Beverly Hills to Westwood and is, after all, the grandest theater in Westwood Village. (I would venture that the Westside theater that came closest in that regard would have been the poor Picwood, though built in a later era and already demolished.)

As a movie palace, though, I've never considered the Fox to be of the same caliber as the most spectacular examples in L.A.'s other entertainment districts, especially for a house of its size. I think that the Carthay Circle offers the closest comparison, considering the similarities in architectural style and seating capacity, and it was way, way more ornate. Come to think of it, even the Golden Gate in East Los Angeles had a more elaborately decorated auditorium!

Another modern photo of the Mann Village Theater can be seen here.

This is still by far my favorite theatre anywhere. I'm upset that KING KONG did not open there (Avco instead) today. It should be the Theatre for ALL "event" films opening in Westwood Village. The unfortunate thing is the MANN pretty much caters to Warner and Paramount (Owners) so sometimes the bookings are not very logical.

Every few years the booking merry-go-round changes with Mann Theatres. During the 1970's to early 80's, Mann Theatres played many Columbia Pictures and Universal. During the 70's some Warner and some Paramount Pictures played the Avco and Crest. After the Star Wars problem over at the Chinese, Fox Films would not play many of the first run Mann Theatres for many years later. It all changes.

Seems a shame. Even back when I worked at the Village in the early 80's it was whatever Warner or Paramount wanted. MGM stopped booking with Mann at the Westwood Theatres after Mann pulled ROCKY III (Still doing great) for Warner's FIREFOX. MGM was not happy about it and did not let Mann move it over to the Plaza like they intended. Instead MGM let GCC book it into the still nice AVCO.

KING KONG really seems a natural for the Village. :-(

You're right the Village would be the best place for the movie. I remember the MGM problem.

The Village was a fabulous place to see movies in the 50s and 60s. They had a huge Cinemascope screen (one of the first), and I saw all the Fox scope films there. It was also a great "preview" house, and I saw more sneak previews there than anywhere else, and there were always stars and directors and producers in attendance. I saw two Blake Edwards' previews there, High Time and Experiment In Terror - Blake was there for both of them. Much later, I saw the first of the 70s Pink Panthers previewed there - Blake and Julie were there, and it was such a disaster that they reshot just a little under half the film.

I have VERY fond memories of seeing The High and The Mighty at the Village, and The Tender Trap, when I was a wee lad.

anyone know if the Village is getting any upgrades or improvements of any kind in the next week? Clicking on showtimes for the Village on their website doesn't list anything for June 16 - June 26 (and here it is, June 15 and Mission Impossible III is STILL playing there. They could have put DVC in but put it in the National instead, and Nacho Libre will play at the Bruin).

But then on June 27 Superman Returns opens at 10:00 PM.

It looks like the Village will be dark for over a week. Anyone know why?

and does anyone know how many and what kind of subwoofers this theater has? I've heard that this theater has or used to use the big Cerwin Vega Sensurround subwoofers from the '70's.

They weren't the Sensurround subwoofers from the 70's.

so that myth isn't true then?

Don't know if its still the same today, but I do know that back in '99 the Village had 12 subwoofers. Half of them were JBL and half of them were Cerwin-Vega. The Chinese had 16 subwoofers, all of them JBL. I know that because I asked manntheaters.com in an email and got a reply from their technical director (his name was Levy I think.)

But the Cerwin Vega's weren't Sensurrounds then? Do you know if they were horn loaded like the Sensurrounds were?

The Sensurround equipment sent out to the theatres by Universal Studios for Midway and Rollercoaster was Cerwin-Vega.

Earthquake was another Sensurround movie.

So the Village had or still has Cerwin-Vega subwoofers, but they aren't the old Sensurround Cerwin-Vega's. Does anyone have any other info on this?

The "Cerwin-Vega Sensurround" subwoofers you're thinking of may be the ones installed for 70mm-MegaSound presentations ca. 1980.

Does anyone know whatever happened to Jim Peters, the manager during "Love Story" who later went to the Century City Theatres?

Here is a 1950's photo of the Westwood Village theater.

This was one of the first theatres I went to when I first went to L. A. I saw "Last Action Hero" here when they were still testing out SDDS. Both SDDS and the film stank.

I went back about ten years later on vacation, and I saw "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle." I think there were only five or six people in the theatre. It was one of the coolest theatre experiences I've ever had--to be all but alone in a single-screen THX-certified movie palace like that...

Oh, yeah, the movie was pretty good too :)

I was watching the Travel Channel today, featuring a show about donuts. Anyway, Stan's Donuts (that big donut on their roof is known everywhere) and across the street is this theatre. The donut place has been there for 38 years and the owner was recalling way back, a long running feature film (one year) and the two stars ate donuts and coffee and relaxed in amazement as the crowds just kept forming. They show the theatre in a few shots as well as a theatre? across the street from the donut shop. There was a round marquee and I could only make out the letters "BRU". However, I couldn't find a theatre in LA with those three letters or even "BR".

Never mind, I found it! http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6/ The Bruin.

Recent nighttime view of the Mann Village Theater:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/wstwdFoxWestwoodVillagemar92007.jpg

With the sad closing this week of Mann's National Theater in Westwood, I am reminded of just how imporatant the Village Theater is to me. It is my theater of choice for any major blockbuster. My earliest clear memory of it was back in the late '60's. I took part in a Boyscout/Cubscout Christmas parade through Westwood and, at the end of the parade, we all got to go into the Village Theater and watch The Alamo with John Wayne.

It would be nearly impossible to name all of the movies I've seen there on opening night but it's strongest associations for me now lie with the Star Wars films. Despite the fact that I saw the original three films at the glorious (and now castrated) big screen at the Avco, with the release of the Special Editions in 1997, the Village became THE Star Wars Theater in Westwood and I saw each of those as well as each of the Prequels at the first show, putting in time-share hours over three weeks to see The Phantom Menace.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Spiderman 3 there at the first show in a couple of weeks with a cheering crowd of fans. That's what the Village Theater will always mean for me. Long may it reign!

Best wishes,

Alan Sanborn

Saw Spidey 3 today at the Village. As usual, the sound and picture was perfect. They presented the movie in "glorious" digital DLP projection. Was in line with some people at the 1245pm show who had never been there before. The look on their faces were worth the price of admission when they saw the auditorium.

was the theater busy for spidy 3????

I spent lot of time in Westwood circa 1985- wall to wall people. Parking at the Federal building was the only feasible option. I stopped going before the tourist was shot and killed in 1988, but by then the Santa Monica promenade was already drawing weekend crowds away from the Village.

I'm surprised neither the Village or Grauman's Chinese will be playing the Simpsons Movie. Instead both will continue playing the latest Harry Potter film. Pretty disappointing as I really wanted to see it on either of their 2k DLPs. The Dome's 2k just doesn't cut it.

Warner has the picture locked into those two screens for a few weeks. That's what the contract between Warner and Mann Theatres have. Most of the times during the summer and winter movie going season, the big pictures have to play 3 weeks or more for those First Run houses in Westwood/Hollywood.

Yeah, I figured HP would be locked in, being a big Warner film. Even though it's a common occurance it just seems redudant for it to play at both the Village AND Grauman's for that length of time, IMO. Oh well, at least Transformers got at least a week to play at the Village before it was bumped out.

That's one other reason I think Mann was stupid to let The National go as it gives them 1 less move-over house for times like this. I worry that Mann dumping The National might come back to bite them on occasion and that The Village and Bruin might suffer a bit long term. The Simpsons is only getting 1 large screen showtime: Thursday midnight at the Dome. Other than that, it's multiplex screenings for the rest of its run.

Well for booking the studios always want a Hollywood type house and a Westwood house for their main showcase showings. At one point Mann Theatres had a clearance clause in the contracts with the studios of 5 miles between the closest theatre that could play that feature. That vanished in the late 80's. When a independent theatre owner filed suit againist Mann Theatres and one of the studios. The loss of the National Theatre will always be a problem. Just like the loss of the Century Plaza (Plitt) houses and those houses in Beverly Hills (Warner, Fox Wilshire, Beverly and the nearby Carthay Circle). Just wait a few more years when the leases on the Village and Bruin are up again. Mann Theatres does not own those locations. They did not want to renew them the last time, but a deal was worked out with the owners.

It does seem that Mann shot themselves in the foot and lost a lot of flexibilty in their bookings when they narrowed their screen count in Westwood down to 3 from 10. (Especially having to move around films when the Village or Bruin has a premiere). The Plaza and Westwood 4 were understandable lost causes, but the if others are making the Regent and National viable venues, why couldn't Mann?

Westwood is no longer high grossing area it once was. You would have to have seen it during that time. When all the theatres were important in the market area. It's what Mann did, but what the studios did. When you had clearances available and your theatre was the only theatre showing the feature for so many miles radius. The theatres that they dropped were no longer performing for them for the terms on their leases. Other chains have picked up a house here and there. Westwood became a force in the late 70's till late 80's. Because when AMC Century City opened Mann tried but lost in trying to make the clearances stick. AMC was going to play day and date with Mann's Westwood bookings. I worked for Mann and the other chains in the booth. Another problem is Mann never owned the theatres there, they are all leased in Westwood. So the owners every few years want more money for the property. And with newer complexes open all over the city. People like the newer and easier locations like Century City, Santa Monica. They offer better parking, food and a larger selection of films at different show times. People talk about why can't we save the National Theatre now. It's fate was written a few years ago by events in the area, market changes movie going habits. Look back at booking patterns Hollywood / Westwood, before that it was Hollywood / Beverly Hills. Before that it was Los Angeles / Hollywood. Each first run area died over time. Only time will tell. I really Hope the National Theatre stays running film. I had many great time running shows there and viewing many films there too.

How do the awful Mann Festival, the Regent or the Avco stay in business? Those 3 should go and Westwood Village keep the 4 single screen gems that they have: The Village, The Bruin, The National and the Crest. The Banana could easily fit into the Festival or Regent space. Where do the people who live north of Westwood Village go to see movies or are they all industry people with their own screening rooms?

The Festival and Regent are nice size screens and auditoriums, and are nice theatres to show Indie and Smaller non-blockbuster films. They fit into the 'Village' mode quite well.

The Avco is a lost cause. It became a nothing theatre when they split the big house in half.

I wonder if Pacific would consider taking over the Village and Bruin if Mann decides not to renew. I really cannot help but think that Westwood may have a resurgence of some sort in a couple of years. With the massive Condo complex being built on old Plaza theatre site there will be a new population there. Pacific could build a stadium seating Arclight plex next to (behind) the Village. They could use the Village as an Anchor like they do with the Dome. That little intersection could be a hot spot. If some big retailers move into the Village and they build some parking structures it could work.

People like Santa Monica, Century City, complexes like the Grove, ArcLight. AMC holds on to the Avco just as a Westwood location, to play off the Century City, Santa Monica westside market. The big problem that Westwood has is the parking to seats zoning with the city. It's not that they can build a new theatre in the village area without dealing with that zoning. It's based on seats vs. parking spots. So if the company wants to build a plex. Let's just say they raze the National (1000 seats), Plaza (600 seats) and the Bruin (800 seats). That's 2400 seats in their pot for the plex. No problem with the zoning in the area. But if they want to build a 3000 seat complex, big problem with those 600 extra seats with no real parking.
Is Pacific Theatre willing to spend over a million dollars a year on the Village's and Bruin's lease. When Cineplex won the bidding war for the old UA Egyptian location. Mann Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Cineplex Odeon and another chain. That lease was for that location was between $300,000-$400,000 a year. That theatre could not make a profit, but was a bargaining location for booking films. (Westwood, Santa Monica, Beverly Center/Fairfax, Marina, Hollywood(Showcase) and Universal City. So for they build some park structures that may fix the problem. Oh wait the people that live in the area, next problem more traffic. That why home owners had the city put in permit parking so they could have it, but not the patrons to the area. So Westwood will never be the same after some of those police problem during the late 80's too.

I never said Raze the Bruin. Currently with the loss of the United Artist Triplex, Mann Westwood, Plaza, and soon National they have the seats to build some type of Multiplex in Westwood. There was taking of Mann opening a Stadium seat 5 plex behind the Bruin a couple years ago. The seat cap is easy to fill to have new screens in Westwood. I'm not taking abouut a Monster-Plex, more like a Chinese 6 type add-on.

I was just using the Bruin as a what if, because that was a easy seating capacity to remember at this time. At one point Pacific was going to do something near the Plaza site. Mann has been wanting to do something for the longest time. So if they do raze the National for the stupid plan for that store. That might give them the right of way for that plex. I know it was never going to be a monster-plex. Maybe by that time they get planning done, the lease for the Festival will be up and they will get a few more seats. And place all the action closer to the Village & Bruin to save in staffing and aid in move-over houses for premieres and regular films.

The Village/Bruin area is an active area in Westwood, that area would make the most sense if ever anyone decides to build again. It will never be like it was in the 70's and 80's, but I think it has possibilities still. The studios really seem to like the Village and Bruin for Premieres; which is good because it keeps them open for business. If there was a 5 plex around those 2 theatres they could play a film in the Village for 2 weeks or so, then move it over to one of the smaller theatres. Kind of like what is done with Grauman's Chinese and Cinerama Dome.

The studios loved doing event screenings over at the Plitt.

In 3 years the leases are up on the Village & Bruin. I've heard they are both in the red (despite premieres) & won't still be operated by Mann. Both exteriors are legally protected, but interiors could become retail, restaurant, etc. In my opinion, "saving" the Village for continued entertainment including some movies (perhaps like the Warner Grand in San Pedro and the Alex in Glendale but also with some premieres) is very important, more so than the National which appears doomed altogether. Don't expect Mann to plex around them like the Dome. Look for somebody else!

The distant future of the Village and Bruin will be determined on if someone sees a revitalization of Westwood Village. Personally I still see life in Westwood Village and hope someone has the foresight to keep these theatres going. They are situated pretty much in the heart of Westwood and should stay open as movie theatres. Pacific theatres would be a good operator. They have done wonders with the Arclight/Dome and the El Capitan. I'd hate to see the Village turned into a Target.

My vote for next theatre to go is the AVCO. It lost is lustre when they split the main theatre.

As Howard asked the stage area at the Village would really have to be remodeled to make it work like the Warner Grand & Alex Theatres. There is no stage house at the theatre, it once had one. Way back in the theatre's early life, but the theatre was not built for true stage shows at that time. Most Fox West Coast houses (1500 seat size)of that time only had a standard small size stage. In other districts like Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood got full size stages.

Had not been to this theatre in about ten years and was curious to see what kind of shape its in since Westwood's decline. Happy to report the theater is well kept, from its 6-pointed star on the ceiling to its large balcony. The curtains lowered and then opened to start the show, everything was clean and the seats were very comfortable. The film was "The Brave One" so there were only three other people in attendance, but despite this they kept the balcony open. The screen was big, projection was bright, and I'm happy to say its still a GREAT place to see a movie!

I take it the Jodie Foster film is officially a bomb?

As a counterpoint to Senorsock's comments, the curtains were lowered AT THE END OF ANOTHER FRIGGIN DIGITAL MOVIE TRIVIA/TV COMMERCIAL PRESHOW ala "Regal/AMC First Look." Mann's preshow is run by Screenvision and, yes, the curtains are left wide open as folks buy their popcorn and take their seats after arrival. Once the preshow's done, THEN THEY CLOSE THE CURTAINS! BOO-HISS!!!

Dang...no one cares about classic presentation anymore (except Arclight - save the trivia barrage at AFI's 40th).

Recent:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdVillageOct232007001.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdVillageOct232007002.jpg

In light of what is happening with the National, the Rialto and other single-screeners, I was a bit disappointed that the Cinematreasures are holding their meeting to discuss theatre preservation etc. at the brand-spanking-new Landmark 12!!! Less than 2 miles away from Westwood Village, the densest grouping of open single screeners in the country. Are they serious? Are they serious about preservation?

I expressed my disappointment here:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/17409_0_1_0_C/

Feel free to express your feelings as well.

Dear Mark -- We tried (to no avail) to hold a meetup at the National several months ago before it closed. After speaking with the manager of the theater, who approved our hosting it there pending approval of the owners, we never heard back from him despite follow up phone calls.

When we decided to relaunch this event it was with the intention of finding a cinema-related venue that could hold a number of people without worrying about showtimes beginning or ending and getting in the way. The plight of the Village and Bruin is certainly something to discuss that night. I'm not sure how easily we could do that in their lobby. :)

Your point is very valid and it is something that we discussed before we picked this venue. Since it is our first, we wanted to see what the turnout is before deciding to begin asking other theaters to let us take over for the evening.

Ross

Saw "Cloverfield" here on Sunday 1/20/08. They DID close the curtains after that annoying Screenvision preshow. So it looks like somebody got our messages about the lack of proper showmanship here.

Chris, how many people in the crowd would you say?

It was a mid afternoon show. Probably nothing more than 100 folks (if that!).

I don't understand why more people didn't react negatively to the Cloverfield print ads as I did - Statue of Liberty destroyed, lower Manhattan in ruins. Not appropriate, in my opinion.

Are you kidding? People (on average) love watching other people get squashed.

Its only a movie.

I have too many friends living near Battery Park that I had to track down on 9/11. I agree it's just a movie, but it brings back too many bad memories.

The destruction of the towers is reality. This movie is fiction. Don't confuse the two.

I won't. To me the poster was evocative, that's all.

Ken....I was born and raised in NYC. If a movie depicted the destruction of the entire city, it wouldn't bother me because its just fiction. What happened to the towers is another story. Thats real and it still disturbs me when I think about what happened that day.

I agree completely.

I just didn't put the two together that way Ken. Movies about the destruction of New York have been coming out for as long as I can remember. Independence Day, Escape from New York, what was that android movie from a few years back? A.I. I think. Soilent Green was set in New York if I remember correctly...Planet of the Apes...the Will Smith movie that just came out, and the previous versions of that novel it was based on...

September 11th was horrible. But I don't see much association between that and humanity's long-running fascination with cinematic devastation, as depicted in New York.

It wasn't my intent to detract from the Mann Village discussion. I think everyone has made very valid points regarding the film, though. I am providing a link to the film poster, and then people can come to their own conclusions.
http://tinyurl.com/2glkga

It's been so long since I've seen a movie in THX that I really enjoyed this movie today:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200810ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200811ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200815ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200816ct.jpg
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http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200818ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200819ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200820ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200821ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200822ct.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageJan24200823ct.jpg

This is still my all time favorite movie theatre.

I'm right there with you on that, BradE41. Possibly the finest single screen theatre still in existence, IMHO.

I suppose that at some point in the future we will see the closing or multiplexing of this theatre, given the unfavorable economics of operating a large single screen (does any one have any idea when the current lease expires?). I'm sad that the National closed, but for the Village to give it up would be devastating, a true "end of an era". I hope the day is far into the future, but when it comes, this is the one theatre that I would seriously consider chaining myself to the doors to as the backhoes approach. Anyone with me? ;)

Howard posted that both the Village and the Bruin Theatre's leases are up in 3 years. Mann Theatres made plans on plexing the Village back in the 90's.

The rate things are moving in Westwood, The Village and Bruin may be the only theatres standing in Westwood in 3 years. Hopefully someone steps in and takes the leases for both; otherwise I fear they will be converted into retail. They are BOTH landmarks, but that does not guarantee they will remain theatres.

I wish a strong chain would come in and take over.

Mark, a "strong" chain can't strong-arm moviegoers, forcing them to attend en masse!

Posted:
In 3 years the leases are up on the Village & Bruin. I've heard they are both in the red (despite premieres) & won't still be operated by Mann. Both exteriors are legally protected, but interiors could become retail, restaurant, etc. In my opinion, "saving" the Village for continued entertainment including some movies (perhaps like the Warner Grand in San Pedro and the Alex in Glendale but also with some premieres) is very important, more so than the National which appears doomed altogether. Don't expect Mann to plex around them like the Dome. Look for somebody else!
posted by HowardBHaas on Oct 9, 2007 at 9:20am

I wish Pacific would Arclight the Village or Bruin; use one of those theatres as an anchor to a multiplex adjacent. With the loss of the National, Plaza, United Artist theatres they definately have the empty seats and could build now in Westwood.

"Saw "Cloverfield" here on Sunday 1/20/08. They DID close the curtains after that annoying Screenvision preshow. So it looks like somebody got our messages about the lack of proper showmanship here."

That is true but they didn't do the curtain closing/opening thing before the movie. Oh well.

Anyone else think Grauman's has better sound than the Village? The sound is not bad but I think Grauman's setup is just more satisfying even with the echo. The Dome IMO is still the king of bass though but it's been too inconsistent.

"That is true but they didn't do the curtain closing/opening thing before the movie. Oh well."

THEY DID DO THAT. That was the point of my post.

Argh, I should've been more specific. While they did close and reopen the curtains after the Screenvision preshow, they DID NOT close and reopen them after the trailers.

Hey Shoeshoe,

Are you saying that Stan's had a big donut on the roof like Randy's in Inglewood?

no deluxing

My first memory of the Fox Westwood Village was in about 1972, when my dad, mom, paternal grandmother and I attended a daytime screening of Hanna-Barbera's cartoon version of the famed children's classic story "Charlotte's Web." My dad worked for Hanna-Barbera as an animator and this was a special showing prior to the premiere, especially for family and friends of all those who had worked on the film. My main architectural memory of the interior at that time was looking up at the auditorium ceiling, with its star-shaped cove, which, during the Skouras redecorating, was repainted in such a way (intentionally or not) that it looked very obviously like a gigantic Star of David. I wondered at the time why this was. It still looks like this, though the later insertion of many cylindrical downlights have blurred one's enjoyment of the ceiling.

The next time I was in there was with my cousin in 1989 to see "Old Gringo." Then I was in there in 1998 and 2005 on tour with the Theatre Historical Society. On these two latest visits, it was plain that much nice upgrading to the look of the theatre's interior had taken place, all with adiquate respect to the historical decorative features, regardless of whether they were original or Skouras.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageFeb08200810.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageFeb08200809.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/VillageFeb08200811.jpg

As you walk into the Crest in Sacramento, there are two California Gold Rush bronze panels, one on either side. One of them is identical to the panel in the Village lobby.

Mann VILLAGE theatre, Westwood (June 1979 - December 2004)

1979

6/8 PLAYERS (3 Weeks)
6/29 BLOODLINE (3 Weeks)
7/20 RUST NEVER SLEEPS (2 Weeks)
8/3 NORTH DALLAS FORTY (9 Weeks)
10/5 “10” (10 Weeks)
12/14 THE JERK (8 Weeks)

1980

2/8 THE LAST MARRIED COUPLE IN AMERICA (4 Weeks)
3/7 COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER (9 Weeks)
5/9 WINGS OF CHANGE (2 Weeks)
5/23 THE SHINING (8 Weeks)
7/18 HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (2 Weeks)
8/1 THE HUNTER (5 Weeks)
9/5 THE BIG BRAWL (3 Weeks)
9/26 MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN (RE: 2 Weeks)
10/10 PRIVATE BENJAMIN (11 Weeks)
12/25 ALTERED STATES (14 Weeks)

1981

4/1 ORDINARY PEOPLE (RE: 1 Week)
4/10 EXCALIBUR (10 Weeks)
6/19 SUPERMAN II (9 weeks)
8/21 FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER (5 weeks)
9/25 MOMMIE DEAREST (5 Weeks)
10/30 LOOKER (3 Weeks)
11/20 RAGTIME (4 Weeks)
12/18 NEIGHBORS (5 Weeks)

1982

1/22 SHOOT THE MOON (3 Weeks)
2/12 CANNERY ROW (2 Weeks)
2/26 CHRISTIANE F (3 Weeks)
3/19 VICTOR/VICTORIA (10 Weeks)
5/28 ROCKY III (3 Weeks)
6/18 FIREFOX (4 Weeks)
7/15 TRON (MO: 4 weeks)
8/13 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL (13 Weeks)
11/12 CREEPSHOW (4 weeks)
12/10 THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON (1 week)
12/17 BEST FRIENDS (7 Weeks)

1983
2/11 LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER (1 Week)
2/18 LOVESICK (4 Weeks)
3/18 HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (4 Weeks)
4/15 FLASHDANCE (9 Weeks)
6/17 SUPERMAN III (4 Weeks)
7/15 STAYING ALIVE (12 weeks)
10/7 NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (6 Weeks)
11/18 YENTL (13 Weeks)

1984

2/17 LASSITER (2 Weeks)
3/2 AGAINST ALL ODDS (6 Weeks)
4/13 TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (RE:3 Weeks)
5/4 GREYSTOKE (MO:4 Weeks)
6/1 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (7 Weeks)
7/20 BEST DEFENSE (3 Weeks)
8/10 RED DAWN (7 Weeks)
9/28 IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES (1 week)
10/5 TEACHERS (2 Weeks)
10/19 THIEF OF HEARTS (4 Weeks)
11/16 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (1 Week)
11/21 SUPERGIRL (2 Weeks)
12/7 2010 (Until sometime Mid/late-January 1985)

I know that in 1985 the Village showed VISIONQUEST, THE SURE THING, THE SLUGGER'S WIFE, LADYHAWKE, A VIEW TO A KILL, SILVERADO, YEAR OF THE DRAGON, INVASION U.S.A.,JAGGED EDGE and ROCKY IV but I cannot remember if there was anything else that year.

Don S, Those California Gold Rush panels can be seen in a few other former Fox West Coast houses in California during the Skouras style remodels.

Thanks, William.
Do you know how many different panels they made? Just curious...

If I remeber right there were the two styles. The El Portal in North Hollywood and the California in Huntington Park were two locations that had them installed in their lobbies. The one in the Village in Westwood was used to cover a small outdoor Spanish patio area before the remodel.

BradE41 took the liberty of filling in the last few playdates for my NATIONAL list, so now I'll do the same for his VILLAGE list by expanding upon, clarifying and making a few (minor) corrections.

VILLAGE: The 1980s

Compiled by Michael Coate

AKA: Mann Village, Mann’s Village, Westwood Village, Fox Westwood Village

Not included on this filmography are test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, premieres and other private events. The dates represent the first day of commercial release and, where known, the presentation format has been provided. (No format notation implies a 35mm-monaural sound presentation.) The principal reference was archived microfilm of the Los Angeles Times newspaper. Some data was referenced from BradE41’s postings of Feb. 5 & 12 and the web article 70mm in Los Angeles.

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)

The Village became THX certified in November 1984.

02.08.1980 … THE LAST MARRIED COUPLE IN AMERICA (4 weeks)
03.07.1980 … COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER (9 weeks)
05.09.1980 … WINDS OF CHANGE (RE of “Metemorphoses,” 2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.23.1980 … THE SHINING (8 weeks)
07.18.1980 … HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08.01.1980 … THE HUNTER (5 weeks)
09.05.1980 … THE BIG BRAWL (3 weeks)
09.26.1980 … MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN (RE, 2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10.10.1980 … PRIVATE BENJAMIN (11 weeks)
12.25.1980 … ALTERED STATES (14 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo + MegaSound)

04.01.1981 … ORDINARY PEOPLE (RE, 1 week)
04.10.1981 … EXCALIBUR (10 weeks)
06.19.1981 … SUPERMAN II (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo + MegaSound)
08.21.1981 … FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER (5 weeks)
09.25.1981 … MOMMIE DEAREST (5 weeks)
10.30.1981 … LOOKER (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.20.1981 … RAGTIME (4 weeks)
12.18.1981 … NEIGHBORS (5 weeks)

01.22.1982 … SHOOT THE MOON (3 weeks)
02.12.1982 … CANNERY ROW (2 weeks)
02.26.1982 … CHRISTIANE F. (3 weeks)
03.19.1982 … VICTOR/VICTORIA (10 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.28.1982 … ROCKY III (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.18.1982 … FIREFOX (4 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07.16.1982 … TRON (MO, 4 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
08.13.1982 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL (13 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
11.10.1982 … CREEPSHOW (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12.10.1982 … THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON (1 week)
12.17.1982 … BEST FRIENDS (8 weeks)

02.11.1983 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER (1 week, 70mm-Stereo)
02.18.1983 … LOVESICK (4 weeks)
03.18.1983 … HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (4 weeks)
04.15.1983 … FLASHDANCE (9 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06.17.1983 … SUPERMAN III (4 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07.15.1983 … STAYING ALIVE (12 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10.07.1983 … NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
11.18.1983 … YENTL (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

02.17.1984 … LASSITER (2 weeks)
03.02.1984 … AGAINST ALL ODDS (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.11.1984 … TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (MO, 3 weeks)
04.30.1984 … GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (MO, 4 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.01.1984 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (7 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07.20.1984 … BEST DEFENSE (3 weeks)
08.10.1984 … RED DAWN (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09.28.1984 … IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES (1 week)
10.05.1984 … TEACHERS (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10.19.1984 … THIEF OF HEARTS (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.16.1984 … JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (1 week)
11.21.1984 … SUPERGIRL (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12.07.1984 … 2010 (8 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02.01.1985 … AVENGING ANGEL (2 weeks)
02.15.1985 … VISION QUEST (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03.01.1985 … THE SURE THING (3 weeks)
03.22.1985 … FRIDAY THE 13TH PART V: A NEW BEGINNING (1 week)
03.29.1985 … THE SLUGGER’S WIFE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.12.1985 … LADYHAWKE (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
05.24.1985 … A VIEW TO A KILL (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07.10.1985 … SILVERADO (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
08.16.1985 … YEAR OF THE DRAGON (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
09.27.1985 … INVASION U.S.A. (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
10.04.1985 … JAGGED EDGE (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.27.1985 … ROCKY IV (8 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

01.24.1986 … THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
02.14.1986 … WILDCATS (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03.07.1986 … 16 DAYS OF GLORY (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
03.14.1986 … DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS (MO, 1 week, Dolby Stereo)
03.21.1986 … POLICE ACADEMY 3: BACK IN TRAINING (4 weeks)
04.18.1986 … WISE GUYS (2 weeks)
05.02.1986 … JO JO DANCER, YOUR LIFE IS CALLING (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.22.1986 … COBRA (2 weeks, 70mm-Ultra Stereo)
06.06.1986 … RAW DEAL (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06.20.1986 … THE KARATE KID PART II (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07.11.1986 … CLUB PARADISE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07.25.1986 … RUNNING SCARED (MO, 1 week, Dolby Stereo)
08.01.1986 … HOWARD THE DUCK (2 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
08.15.1986 … MANHUNTER (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
09.19.1986 … SHANGHAI SURPRISE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10.03.1986 … TOUGH GUYS (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10.24.1986 … SOUL MAN (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.07.1986 … TAI-PAN (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.21.1986 … SONG OF THE SOUTH (RE, 1 week)
11.26.1986 … STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (11 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo SR)

02.13.1987 … OVER THE TOP (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
03.06.1987 … LETHAL WEAPON (11 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
05.20.1987 … BEVERLY HILLS COP II (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07.17.1987 … ROBOCOP (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
07.31.1987 … THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09.11.1987 … THE ROSARY MURDERS (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
09.18.1987 … HELLRAISER (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
09.25.1987 … THE BIG TOWN (2 weeks)
10.09.1987 … SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.06.1987 … HIDING OUT (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.20.1987 … SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
11.25.1987 … PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12.18.1987 … EDDIE MURPHY: RAW (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

02.05.1988 … SISTER SISTER (1 week, Ultra Stereo)
02.12.1988 … COP (MO, 1 week)
02.17.1988 … FATAL ATTRACTION (MO, 1 week, Dolby Stereo)
02.26.1988 … FRANTIC (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.01.1988 … BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.22.1988 … THE UNHOLY (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
04.29.1988 … TWO MOON JUNCTION (1 week)
05.06.1988 … DEAD HEAT (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
05.13.1988 … FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (1 week, Ultra Stereo)
05.20.1988 … WILLOW (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.29.1988 … COMING TO AMERICA (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08.19.1988 … MARRIED TO THE MOB (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
09.28.1988 … MEMORIES OF ME (3 weeks)
10.21.1988 … TAPEHEADS (1 week, Ultra Stereo)
10.28.1988 … RETRIBUTION (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
11.04.1988 … U2: RATTLE AND HUM (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
12.02.1988 … TEQUILA SUNRISE (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01.13.1989 … PUMPKINHEAD (2 weeks, Ultra Stereo)
01.27.1989 … PARENTS (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
02.03.1989 … HER ALIBI (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03.03.1989 … FAREWELL TO THE KING (1 week, Dolby Stereo SR)
03.10.1989 … POLICE ACADEMY 6: CITY UNDER SIEGE (1 week)
03.17.1989 … LEVIATHAN (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04.07.1989 … MAJOR LEAGUE (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.19.1989 … ROAD HOUSE (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
06.09.1989 … STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER (2 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo SR)
06.23.1989 … BATMAN (8 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
08.18.1989 … CASUALTIES OF WAR (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
09.29.1989 … WAR PARTY (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
10.06.1989 … OLD GRINGO (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10.20.1989 … NEXT OF KIN (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.03.1989 … PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1 week, Ultra Stereo)
11.10.1989 … STEPFATHER 2 (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
11.17.1989 … HARLEM NIGHTS (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
12.22.1989 … TANGO & CASH (7 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

Thanks for the updated list for the Village in the 80's. Mann really booked some turkeys during the latter years, Two Moon Junction, Pumpkinhead, Stepfather 2, Dead Heat are classic bookings. Back then they probably had good grosses for those films because foot traffic was always so heavy in Wesrwood.

I'm still hoping when Mann lets the lease lapse that someone will take over. It is one of the last of the big screens in L.A.; the bookings will probably be strong this year with likely bookings of Ironman, Indiana Jones, Dark Night, another Harry Potter. Event films like this cannot open at the Avco.

VILLAGE: The 1990s

Compiled by Michael Coate

Theater AKAs: Mann Village, Mann’s Village, Westwood Village, Fox Westwood Village

Not included in this filmography are test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, premieres and other private events. The dates represent the first day of commercial release, and, where known, the presentation format has been provided. (No format notation implies a standard 35mm monaural sound presentation.) The principal references were archived microfilm of the Los Angeles Times newspaper and the web article 70mm in Los Angeles.

Dolby Digital installed/first presentation: June 1992
Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) installed/first presentation: June 1993
Digital Theater Systems (DTS) installed/first presentation: June 1994

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)

02.09.1990 … HARD TO KILL (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03.09.1990 … HOUSE PARTY (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
03.16.1990 … BLUE STEEL (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.13.1990 … THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.04.1990 … TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06.08.1990 … ANOTHER 48 HRS. (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
07.13.1990 … QUICK CHANGE (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08.01.1990 … YOUNG GUNS II (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
08.22.1990 … PUMP UP THE VOLUME (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09.19.1990 … GOODFELLAS (10 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
11.30.1990 … MISERY (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12.25.1990 … THE GODFATHER PART III (12 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo SR)

03.15.1991 … THE PERFECT WEAPON (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04.12.1991 … OUT FOR JUSTICE (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.17.1991 … STONE COLD (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
05.24.1991 … FANTASIA (RE, 1 week, 70mm-Dolby Stereo SR Fantasound)
05.31.1991 … AMBITION (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
06.07.1991 … SWITCH (MO, 1 week, Dolby Stereo)
06.14.1991 … ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
08.09.1991 … DOUBLE IMPACT (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
08.30.1991 … THE POPE MUST DIE! (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09.07.1991 … “Star Trek” Movie Marathon (1 day, Dolby Stereo)
09.13.1991 … FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
10.04.1991 … RICOCHET (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
11.22.1991 … THE ADDAMS FAMILY (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
12.13.1991 … THE LAST BOY SCOUT (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

01.17.1992 … FREEJACK (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02.14.1992 … WAYNE’S WORLD (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04.03.1992 … THUNDERHEART (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04.24.1992 … WHITE SANDS (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.15.1992 … LETHAL WEAPON 3 (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.19.1992 … BATMAN RETURNS (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.17.1992 … MAN TROUBLE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07.31.1992 … BEBE’S KIDS (1 week, Dolby Stereo SR)
08.07.1992 … WHISPERS IN THE DARK (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08.21.1992 … CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: THE DISCOVERY (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
08.28.1992 … PET SEMATARY TWO (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09.11.1992 … BLADE RUNNER (RE, “The Director’s Cut,” 4 weeks, Dolby Stereo
10.09.1992 … 1492: CONQUEST OF PARADISE (4 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
11.06.1992 … PASSENGER 57 (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11.18.1992 … MALCOLM X (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.18.1992 … LEAP OF FAITH (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)

01.08.1993 … LEPRECHAUN (1 week)
01.15.1993 … NOWHERE TO RUN (1 week, Dolby Stereo SR)
01.22.1993 … HEXED (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
01.29.1993 … SNIPER (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
02.12.1993 … GROUNDHOG DAY (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03.12.1993 … FIRE IN THE SKY (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
03.26.1993 … UNFORGIVEN (RE, 1 week, Dolby Stereo)
04.02.1993 … THE CRUSH (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04.16.1993 … BLAZING SADDLES (RE, 2 weeks)
04.30.1993 … THREE OF HEARTS (1 week, Dolby Stereo SR)
05.07.1993 … DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
05.28.1993 … CLIFFHANGER (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.18.1993 … LAST ACTION HERO (3 weeks, SDDS-8)
07.07.1993 … ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
07.23.1993 … SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (MO, 2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08.06.1993 … THE FUGITIVE (9 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.08.1993 … DEMOLITION MAN (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.05.1993 … ROBOCOP 3 (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
11.19.1993 … ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.17.1993 … THE PELICAN BRIEF (7 weeks, Dolby Digital)

02.04.1994 … ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02.18.1994 … ON DEADLY GROUND (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.18.1994 … NAKED GUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04.15.1994 … WHITE FANG 2: MYTH OF THE WHITE WOLF (1 week, Dolby Digital)
04.22.1994 … CHASERS (1 week, Dolby Stereo)
04.29.1994 … THE FAVOR (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.13.1994 … NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 (1 week, Ultra Stereo)
05.20.1994 … MAVERICK (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
06.10.1994 … SPEED (2 weeks, DTS)
06.24.1994 … WYATT EARP (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.15.1994 … TRUE LIES (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo SR)
08.26.1994 … NATURAL BORN KILLERS (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.16.1994 … TIMECOP (3 weeks, DTS)
10.07.1994 … THE SPECIALIST (3 weeks, DTS)
10.28.1994 … STARGATE (3 weeks, DTS)
11.18.1994 … STAR TREK: GENERATIONS (3 weeks, DTS)
12.09.1994 … DISCLOSURE (8 weeks, Dolby Digital)

02.03.1995 … IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (2 weeks, DTS)
02.17.1995 … JUST CAUSE (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.10.1995 … OUTBREAK (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
04.07.1995 … ROB ROY (3 weeks, DTS)
04.28.1995 … VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (2 weeks, DTS)
05.12.1995 … THE PEREZ FAMILY (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.24.1995 … BRAVEHEART (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.16.1995 … BATMAN FOREVER (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.14.1995 … UNDER SIEGE 2: DARK TERRITORY (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08.04.1995 … VIRTUOSITY (3 weeks, DTS)
08.25.1995 … DESPERADO (4 weeks, SDDS-8)
09.22.1995 … SEVEN (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.13.1995 … STRANGE DAYS (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.27.1995 … VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.10.1995 … ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.15.1995 … HEAT (8 weeks, Dolby Digital)

02.09.1996 … BROKEN ARROW (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.15.1996 … EXECUTIVE DECISION (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
04.03.1996 … PRIMAL FEAR (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
05.03.1996 … THE GREAT WHITE HYPE (1 week, Dolby Digital)
05.10.1996 … TWISTER (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.07.1996 … THE PHANTOM (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.21.1996 … ERASER (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.03.1996 … INDEPENDENCE DAY (7 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08.23.1996 … THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.13.1996 … MAXIMUM RISK (2 weeks, SDDS)
09.27.1996 … theater closed (1 week)
10.04.1996 … THE GLIMMER MAN (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.25.1996 … THINNER (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.15.1996 … SPACE JAM (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.13.1996 … MARS ATTACKS! (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.25.1996 … MICHAEL (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)

01.10.1997 … JACKIE CHAN’S FIRST STRIKE (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
01.31.1997 … STAR WARS (RE, “Special Edition,” 3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
02.21.1997 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (RE, “Special Edition,” 3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.14.1997 … RETURN OF THE JEDI (RE, “Special Edition,” 5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
04.18.1997 … MURDER AT 1600 (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
05.02.1997 … BREAKDOWN (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.06.1997 … BUDDY (2 weeks, SDDS)
06.20.1997 … BATMAN & ROBIN (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.11.1997 … CONTACT (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08.08.1997 … CONSPIRACY THEORY (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.05.1997 … FIRE DOWN BELOW (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.26.1997 … THE EDGE (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.10.1997 … MOST WANTED (1 week, Dolby Digital)
10.17.1997 … THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.07.1997 … MAD CITY (1 week, Dolby Digital)
11.14.1997 … THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO LITTLE (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.26.1997 … ALIEN RESURRECTION (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.19.1997 … TITANIC (11 weeks, 70mm-DTS)

03.06.1998 … U.S. MARSHALS (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.27.1998 … GREASE (RE, 2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
04.10.1998 … CITY OF ANGELS (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
05.08.1998 … DEEP IMPACT (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.05.1998 … A PERFECT MURDER (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.19.1998 … THE X-FILES (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.10.1998 … LETHAL WEAPON 4 (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.29.1998 … THE NEGOTIATOR (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08.14.1998 … THE AVENGERS (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.04.1998 … KNOCK OFF (2 weeks, SDDS-8)
09.18.1998 … RUSH HOUR (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.16.1998 … PRACTICAL MAGIC (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.06.1998 … THE SIEGE (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.04.1998 … PSYCHO (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.23.1998 … THE THIN RED LINE (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)

02.05.1999 … PAYBACK (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03.19.1999 … RAVENOUS (1 week, Dolby Digital)
03.26.1999 … THE THIN RED LINE (RE, 1 week, Dolby Digital)
03.31.1999 … THE MATRIX (7 weeks, Dolby Digital)
05.19.1999 … STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.18.1999 … THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06.30.1999 … WILD WILD WEST (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.16.1999 … EYES WIDE SHUT (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07.28.1999 … DEEP BLUE SEA (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08.20.1999 … MICKEY BLUE EYES (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.01.1999 … CHILL FACTOR (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09.15.1999 … STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE (RE, 1 week, Dolby Digital)
09.24.1999 … DOUBLE JEOPARDY (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10.15.1999 … FIGHT CLUB (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11.19.1999 … SLEEPY HOLLOW (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12.17.1999 … ANNA AND THE KING (1 week, Dolby Digital)
12.22.1999 … ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)

Thanks Michael, How do you know all of this? (bruin bruin bruin (whisper) plaza plaza plaza)

It is amazing looking back at what has played at the Village. They had some great films and quite a few 'fillers' that make you go huh?

i remember sneaking in through the emergency exit to see fight club.i was still in high school and 3 of my friends worked there so it was ok(in my head at least).the house was pretty empty,maybe about 20 in total.but it does it crowded on friday nights.

Mark... Instead of the BRUIN or PLAZA, would you settle for the AVCO or a DOME update?

Twist my arm..but I know you are working on the Bruin and Plaza.....

I just remembered that I saw The Day of the Locust here one afternoon in 1975 -- a grand setting for a quintessential slice-of-lowlife from L.A.'s golden age. And in that trove of bizarre characters, was any more louche than little Adore Loomis, the child of ambiguous gender whose provocative taunting of Donald Sutherland's "Homer Simpson" character leads to the bizarre and unforgettable climactic event of the film?

The trigger for my memory of this long-ago moviegoing event was bizarre, too: I was watching Little Children (2006) on television, and one of the characters -- a convicted sex offender who's being harassed by his neighbors -- seemed so compellingly odd that I had to look up the actor on IMDB. His name, Jackie Earle Haley, didn't ring a bell with me, so I checked out his filmography. It was Adore, all growed up and Oscar-nominated, too!

Not having read Nathaniel West's novella, I had thought that Adore was a homely and spiteful little girl with a deluded mother trying to groom her into the next Shirley Temple. I'm still recovering from the frisson that this startling sequence of events gave me.

I used to take the bus up from Westchester to Westwood in the late 70s to go this theatre, and others in westwood. I LOVED the big screen viewing. I was probably 15 or 16 (but looked older). I remember seeing "10" here and The Shining and definately "Christiane F" because it was a late showing. Remember that well. I do believe Christiane F was the last film I saw there as I moved to San Francisco for school in summer of 1982. I never returned to see films in LA since then. It was a great theatre. I was trying to figure out where I saw "Days of Heaven". Somewhere in Westwood.

sad to hear if Westwood has declined. it was such a great place to hang out and walk around the streets in 1979/81. I remember Tower Records, Champs, the little Bullocks a few blocks away..

well i can say for sure the tower records closed in the late 90s,its now a italian garden.bullocks left in the early 90s.....

Days of Heaven definitely opened at the Village in 1978.

Where was Tower Records located? In the mid-70s, the Wherehouse at the corner of Broxton and Kinross was Westwood's major record store; the nearest Tower was the original location on the Sunset Strip.

from my memory tower was south of the ucla entracne on westwood,i want to say the street was laconte,but im not sure.it had 2 stories,i had sumer school at ucla in 97 and it was still in business.if you were heading to ucla it was on the right hand of the street.

I think Tower was on Glendon, on the east side of the street. about a half block before LeComte.

LeComte! thats the street i couldnt think off,but yea its on the east side of the street.im pretty sure its a resturant now though.

Tower was definitely on Westwood through the 1990s- about the middle of the first block south of the UCLA campus (Westwood and Le Conte[?]). They had something called the "Classical Annex" a door or two down but that was gone by 1995.
Glendon was a block east of Westwood, but Tower did have an entrance on Glendon, behind the Plaza.

stevebob & Aerick:

"Days Of Heaven" didn't play the VILLAGE until early 1979. The film opened initially at the BRUIN in September 1978.

yes, the Tower did have 2 stories and I remember the little classical music annex as well. Those stores were narrow if I remember, certainly not the size of the Sunset one.

Thanks Michael. I still am not sure which theatre I must have seen "Days of Heaven". I am curious why they would "re release" it at a larger theatre such as the Village, I dont' remember thinking it did too well. Didn't Cimino's 'Heavens Gate' open soon after 'Days of Heaven'?

this thread brings back memories of moving viewing in LA during my teen years. I remember being 16 or so but into maturer films. I must look up to see if the Laemelle (sp?) theatre is still in westwood around the block, I remember seeing Woody Allen's "Interiors" there and "Being There" (if I remember correctly). I wonder which theatre I would have seen Bertolucci's "La Luna" with Jill Clayburgh? Oh how I wish I could remember.

well i know how you feel aerick,im only 25 and its bringing back memories for me too.i almost forgot all about the tower in westwood,but i did find a business card of thiers,and rhino(orig location) in my desk drawer.i was more of a record person than a theatre person,now thats changed though.any of you local guys go to uni (university high school)?

charlie

Thanks for the correction, Michael. I saw Days of Heaven at the Village based entirely on the outstanding review it received contemporaneously in the L.A. Times; I had always assumed that was the film's opening engagement.

Charlie, I went to Westchester High... long time ago..

I wanted to retrack and say i didn't mean to imply Days of Heaven was panned by critics. I remember liking it a lot. Wasn't it Richard Gere's film just before "American Gigolo"?. I just dont remember Days of Heaven being a blockbuster, hence the question why it moved from the Bruin to the Village after it's first run.

Days of Heaven originally played at the Bruin in the Fall of 1978, it was later booked into the Village as a filler in early 1979 when Oliver's Story died a quick death.

VILLAGE: The 1970s

National General Corporation (NGC): 1970-73
Mann Theatres: 1973-79

RE = Re-Issue/Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of an engagement from another theater)
RPE = Reserved-Performance “Roadshow” Engagement

02.06.1970 … THE HAPPY ENDING (4 weeks)
03.04.1970 … THE KREMLIN LETTER (5 weeks)
04.10.1970 … HALLS OF ANGER (2 weeks)
04.24.1970 … TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE (6 weeks)
06.03.1970 … THE LANDLORD (7 weeks)
07.22.1970 … COTTON COMES TO HARLEM (4 weeks)
08.19.1970 … LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS (17 weeks)
12.16.1970 … HUSBANDS (1 week for Oscar consideration)
12.25.1970 … LOVE STORY (26 weeks)

06.23.1971 … PLAZA SUITE (6 weeks)
08.04.1971 … THE LAST RUN (6 weeks)
09.15.1971 … JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN (5 weeks)
10.20.1971 … T.R. BASKIN (8 weeks)
12.15.1971 … MACBETH (1 week for Oscar consideration)
12.22.1971 … HAROLD AND MAUDE (3 weeks)

01.12.1972 … SUCH GOOD FRIENDS (4 weeks)
02.10.1972 … MADE FOR EACH OTHER (6 weeks)
03.22.1972 … THE GODFATHER (16 weeks)
07.12.1972 … PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT (6 weeks)
08.23.1972 … THE HERO (1 week)
09.01.1972 … ULYSSES (RE, 2 weeks)
09.13.1972 … THE GODFATHER (RE, 1 week)
09.20.1972 … THE GODFATHER / THE BOSTON STRANGLER (RE, 1 week)
09.27.1972 … THE FRENCH CONNECTION / M*A*S*H (RE, 1 week)
10.04.1972 … HICKEY & BOGGS / RETURN OF SABATA (1 week)
10.11.1972 … CANCEL MY RESERVATION (1 week)
10.18.1972 … HEAT (4 weeks)
11.15.1972 … RAINBOW BRIDGE (3 weeks)
12.06.1972 … THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK (2 weeks)
12.22.1972 … AVANTI! (7 weeks)

02.07.1973 … STEELYARD BLUES (4 weeks)
03.07.1973 … THE LONG GOODBYE (3 weeks)
03.28.1973 … BAXTER (2 weeks)
04.11.1973 … THE EMIGRANTS (1 week)
04.18.1973 … THEATRE OF BLOOD (2 weeks)
05.02.1973 … CABARET / THE BOY FRIEND (RE, 1 week)
05.09.1973 … MAN OF LA MANCHA / CACTUS IN THE SNOW (1 week)
05.16.1973 … PETE ‘N’ TILLIE / FRENZY (1 week)
05.23.1973 … HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER / YOU’LL LIKE MY MOTHER (1 week)
06.01.1973 … WHAT’S UP, DOC? / PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM (RE, 1 week)
06.06.1973 … BILLY JACK / BANANAS (1 week)
06.13.1973 … PAPER MOON (10 weeks)
08.22.1973 … ROMEO & JULIET (RE, 7 weeks)
10.10.1973 … FANTASIA (RE, 3 weeks)
10.31.1973 … JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL (7 weeks)
12.18.1973 … SERPICO (10 weeks)

02.27.1974 … MAN ON A SWING (4 weeks)
03.29.1974 … BADLANDS (3 weeks)
04.19.1974 … BLAZING SADDLES (MO, 5 weeks)
05.24.1974 … THE BLACK WINDMILL (4 weeks)
06.19.1974 … THE TERMINAL MAN (5 weeks)
07.24.1974 … THE WHITE DAWN (3 weeks)
08.14.1974 … CHINATOWN (MO, 2 weeks)
08.28.1974 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (RE, 6 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10.09.1974 … THE GAMBLER (9 weeks)
12.12.1974 … BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (2 weeks for Oscar consideration)
12.25.1974 … FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (7 weeks)

02.12.1975 … THE STEPFORD WIVES (6 weeks)
03.26.1975 … SHEILA LEVINE IS DEAD AND LIVING IN NEW YORK (6 weeks)
05.07.1975 … THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (8 weeks)
07.02.1975 … NASHVILLE (13 weeks, Stereo)
10.01.1975 … 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR (11 weeks)
12.19.1975 … THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (8 weeks)

02.15.1976 … THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (4 weeks)
03.10.1976 … THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH / CALIFORNIA REICH (1 week)
03.17.1976 … THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH (1 week)
03.24.1976 … THE DUCHESS AND THE DIRTWATER FOX (6 weeks)
05.05.1976 … END OF THE GAME (3 weeks)
05.26.1976 … WON TON TON (3 weeks)
06.16.1976 … LIFEGUARD (1 week)
06.25.1976 … THE OMEN (15 weeks)
10.08.1976 … MARATHON MAN (10 weeks)
12.19.1976 … A STAR IS BORN (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02.18.1977 … THIEVES (6 weeks)
04.01.1977 … BLACK SUNDAY (11 weeks)
06.17.1977 … EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (4 weeks)
07.13.1977 … ORCA (1 week)
07.20.1977 … GREASED LIGHTNING (2 weeks)
08.03.1977 … ONE ON ONE (6 weeks)
09.16.1977 … THX 1138 (RE, 5 weeks)
10.19.1977 … LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (8 weeks)
12.16.1977 … SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

03.15.1978 … THE FURY (7 weeks)
05.03.1978 … METAMORPHOSES (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05.26.1978 … AMERICAN GRAFFITI (RE, 3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06.16.1978 … GREASE (15 weeks, Dolby Stereo, 70mm-Dolby Stereo from 10th week)
09.29.1978 … DEATH ON THE NILE (10 weeks)
12.08.1978 … THE BRINK’S JOB (1 week for Oscar consideration)
12.15.1978 … OLIVER’S STORY (4 weeks)

01.12.1979 … DAYS OF HEAVEN (MO, 6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
02.23.1979 … THE DEER HUNTER (RPE, 15 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06.08.1979 … PLAYERS (3 weeks)
06.29.1979 … BLOODLINE (3 weeks)
07.20.1979 … RUST NEVER SLEEPS (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo & Rust-O-Vision)
08.03.1979 … NORTH DALLAS FORTY (9 weeks)
10.05.1979 … “10” (10 weeks)
12.14.1979 … THE JERK (8 weeks)

As a projectionist of almost 33 years, some of these titles bring back memories. I remember running many of the above titles as a "co-feature" in some of the "dollar houses" I started out in. Great movie line-up above Mike, and a great time in the movie industry as well. Wish I could go back in time.

I agree, the 70's were the best years for contemporary cinema. I'd love to go back in time and see some of the films that played at the Village.

In case anyone is interested, On the Mann Theatres site the Village is now pre-selling INDIANA JONES tickets for the May 22 debut.

Just got 'em. Can't wait! What do you think the chances are of them pulling an Iron Man and adding an 8pm showing?

Not sure. So far there having only been Midnight pre-sales for May 21.

Here is a link to a page of Village Theater photos posted on my Yahoo group, which includes a few shots I took this weekend during the "Indiana Jones" run. The images can be viewed as a thumbnail, list or slideshow.

Having trouble with it Michael. Do we have to join your group to view the photos?

Apparently, access to the Photo Gallery section is indeed restricted to members. I only recently formed the Fans of Showmanship Yahoo! Group and I'm still learning what can and can't be done. I apologize for that.

Non members can, however, access (to read) the articles and messages section. Simply visit the group's homepage, select "Messages" and go from there. To post, though, one must be a member. (Click "Join This Group" and create a [free] Yahoo! User ID or vice versa.)

Here is a video from The Village Lobby showing people running into the theatre on the midnight show of Indiana Jones on 5/22/08:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc-iK-NPHsg

The next big premiere scheduled is WBs Get Smart on June 16, and there will be a midnight show of Dark Knight also.

saw Indy there the other day. First time I've been there since SW:ep 3 I think. Its still the best of the big first-run movie palaces IMO. I saw Indy opening weekend over at the Dome. Picture and sound quality at the Village was easily superior. The Village still has by far the best surround sound of the big palaces (Village, Dome, Chinese, El Capitan). Surround sound imaging is very precise compared to the other big houses. Although the bass sounded a tad less awesome compared to how I remember it before. Are those Cerwin Vega subwoofers still in there?

I hope we don't lose this one as a first-run house when the lease comes up in 3 years.

Does anyone know how wide the screen is?

Actually, could someone post screen measurements for those big four palaces? I know on the Arclight website, it says the screen in the Dome is 86 feet wide.

Oh yeah, about the curtains. They closed the curtains for a minute in between the Screenvision slide show and the trailers. Screenvision ended, the screen was blank for a moment, and the curtain lowered.
The curtain raised, the screen was blank for a moment, then the trailers played.

Then after the last trailer the screen was blank for a moment, and the curtains lowered, and the house lights started to come up for a moment. Then, the curtain rose, the screen was blank for a moment, and the THX Cavalcade trailer played, and then the movie.

Its awkward like that.

Raising and lowering the curtains is a really nice touch, but I think its better if if the curtains open and close so that you don't see a blank screen. The curtains should finish closing just as the last trailer is done. Curtains should open right when the feature starts. House lights shouldn't come up.

Here's how I'd do it.

House lights dim.
Theater chain policy trailer starts and curtains open.
THX trailers, Digital Projection trailers, etc.
Coming attraction trailers.
As the last coming attraction trailer is winding down, the curtains close and house lights go off.
Feature starts and curtain opens.

That would work if there was a true projectionist in the booth and running the show manual. But the theatre is running on automation, it all about placing the cues and slugged black footage between the trailers and logos and the waterfall curtain. When the Village had a traveler style curtain it was much easier to work curtain cue masking changes.

I personally don't like it when they start or finish projecting something on the curtain. Particularly when you have a trailer that jumps right in, rather than show you two minutes of corporate logos. If you don't want me to see the whole thing, then don't bother showing it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Films_with_Overtures

I didn't know Star Trek: The Motion Picture had an overture.


Anyway, I remember seeing the restored directors cut of Lawrence of Arabia in 70MM back in the '80's at the 1000 seat Mann Cinema 21 (later torn down) in San Diego, CA. Except for Gone With The Wind, it was the only time I ever saw a film presented with an overture. There were no trailers. The house lights slowly faded, the curtains remained closed, and the overture played. As the overture was finishing up the Columbia studio logo appeared on the curtains and then they opened up. I'll always remember that.

Phallic Architecture.

Phallic Architecture. I purchased a camera with a zoom lens in Westwood today and walked the streets taking pics of this beautiful theater. I took close-ups of the gargoyles around the parapet walls around the top of the theater and...lo and behold! There are tiny phallic appearing symbols all around the top of the walls surrounding the theater. Cool building and if there is any way I can post pix, let me know.

I was there on 6/7 and the curtains only did the close/open thing once and that was after the "preshow" (ugh). They should close and then open after the trailers but oh well. I'm grateful they move at all at this point.

As for the idea that there should never be blank screen it's nice to have at the end of the credits but there's nothing more annoying than having the curtains close at the end of a trailer.

HANCOCK tickets now for sale online for July 2nd @ the Village.

I recently went back to the Village after an eleven year hiatus. And that trip eleven years ago was really my first trip since the late 1980's. I remember well Westwood of the 1980's. In high school and college I would travel down to Westwood with friends on the weekends to hang out and see films. At the time Westwood offered the best opportunity to see moves due to the large concentration of theaters, most single screen theaters. Now going on two decades later, Westwood lacks the nightlife and four theaters have closed. As I read the postings for the Village, I am concerned that even the Village is not safe. I especially began to worry after the National Theater was demolished. For some years now I have been involved in the Los Angeles Conservancy and their efforts to rehabilitate and prevent the destruction of the historic theaters on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. Cannot a similar campaign be launched to preserve the theaters of Westwood?

The actual shell for the Village (and Bruin) is a Landmark; it cannot be demolished. BUT...if it is closed as a movie theatre some jerk could gut it out and turn it into a retail space.

now that the 1100 seat National has actually been torn down will Mann revive their plans of adding a multiplex behind the Bruin?

This is a March 1974 ad for "Badlands".

Does anyone remember Mike Shaw, the projectionist, at the Village from 1971 to 1997?

yes, the Tower did have 2 stories and I remember the little classical music annex as well. Those stores were narrow if I remember, certainly not the size of the Sunset one.

Actually, the Tower Records that existed throughout the eighties, in an old brick storefront that probably was about as old as the Village, was 3 stories, not 2. The second story was small, only extending from the stairway to the rear of the store about 20 feet with a low ceiling, so lots of people forget it existed. The changed the layout a few times, but I think that was mostly singles and Jazz. The third floor was classical and soundtracks/musicals. It was on Westwood, just past Weyburn. Looking on a map, I'd say it was around 1024 Westwood Blvd. or so.

In the nineties, Tower moved to not one but two different locations, maybe a block away from each other IIRC, one selling music and the other selling primarily movies.

Most all of the buildings in that old 1930s aerial shot are still there, many remodeled, but very, very few of the businesses in those buildings that I remember from the 1980s are still there. The Ralphs market in that photo has been all sorts of restaurants and cafes over the years (Bratskellar restaurant, Dole cafe, etc.), and last time I checked was a Peet's coffee house, with the Mann Festival to its right in the same building.

Yes, I remember Mike Shaw from the Village.

Oh, and here's a photo of the theater that I took in 2004.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/deannab/theaters/fox0247.jpg

That's a nice photo.

Great photo!

Finally found the larger version of that photo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/deannab/theaters/village0247.jpg

Glad you liked. :-)

Here is May 1949 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/5as826

Thanks to "misterboo" for the above Life Magazine photo link.

anyone remember Mike Shaw? The projectionist at the Village/Bruin Theater for over 20 years (1973 to 1996)...any thoughts?

Thanks,

Cliff

Ran a few movies there. I think I met Mike Shaw.

Mike Shaw was the projectionist for all the premiers at the Village Theater for about 20 years. Mike worked closely with Warner Bros and Paramount executives.

Here is a late 1930s view from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/c6ww9w

1981 Photo

1982 Photo

1982 Night Photo

what is that? A men's wear store? I haven't been to Westwood in a while. Is there still Starbucks there, or is it something else now?

Yeah, Segask, there's still a coffee joint in there.

I was probably working both 1981 and 1982 days when those daytime pics were taken. That was the period I worked at the Village.

Star Trek sure had a quick run here and then moved to the Avco.

I wonder if Transformers 2 will play here. As I recall, Transformers 1 played here for only one week before making way for Harry Potter 5.

Well this year Transformers 2 and Harry Potter 6 open three weeks apart.

The Hangover opens here this friday. Like Star Trek, Terminator Salvation only had a two week run here.

But Terminator moved to Mann's Festival. Star Trek moved to AMC's Avco. Probably Mann would have preferred to keep Star Trek had they not been most likely obligated to hold Dance Flick over for a second week at the Festival.

Gone are the days of long engagements at the Village. I think they have to turn over the films more quickly in order to keep steady audiences. The most a film will stay lately seems to be 4 weeks at average. With so many blockbusters coming out and both Landmark 12 and AMC CENTURY 15 close by and getting the same films it makes sense. Something like Terminator which had a 62% drop in its second weekend should move to a smaller theatre. When I worked there the Village had films like Altered States for 3 months. it would have been great to have this kind of turnover.

Mann will not renew its leases for the Village and Bruin.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-westwood-movies1-2009aug01,0,542882.story

The loss of the National was bad enough but if this theater goes Southern California will lose a piece of history. Let's face it...we are gradually losing our heritage and as the location of the major studios we need to preserve the history of film exhibition as well. There are so few decent places to see a movie left in the movie capital it's pathetic. UA pulled out of Westwood, now Mann is doing the same. The Crest is for sale. The loss of the Village would be as diminishing to our culture as the loss of the Carthay Circle was.

When does the lease run out? I thought they had another year? Sad to think that the Village and Bruin will cease to exist. The actual buildings are landmarks but it does not mean there will be films shown. Retail does not seem likely either since there are so many vacancies alreay in Westwood.

The only way they could be saved is if they did get "archlighted". But then you have to get people back int Westwood. WW is not much fun these days. It is pretty gloomy, gone are the days of walking around, looking in shops, eating etc. Westwood needs to be jump started. Everything does have a comeback, but until then they will have problems getting people in.

Another route for the Village would be live theatre (ala Pantages). Geffen already has Theatre in Westwood and it could be a new theatre district. With the Schubert gone in Century City, the Westside has been lacking BIG theatre.

The Bruin could serve as an anchor for a Arclight situation.

Whatever the case may be, the shells of the buildings will remain. prhaps EMPTY for a long while. Westwood has to be tended to first.

Don't always believe everything you read in the newspaper or online.

They would have to fix the parking problem. Years ago I parked behind the Federal Building for free, but I think they ended that. Last time I had dinner in the village, about two years ago, I got gouged for parking. No thanks.

I can't believe that the industry would let such high profile venue's as the Village and the Bruin close.Both these theatres prospered when they exclusive venues before the industry changed for the worse.There is very little showmanship left in the film industry in regard to film theatres. The exceptions are the El Capitan fun by Disney and the Cinerama Dome in the Arc Light complex. The Chinese is the most famous theatre and will be around for a long time but has been booked poorly.I blame the current landlord Warner Bros and Paramount for being such lazy landlords. There are so few venues left in the Mann theatre circuit it could only be a small blip on those companies bottom line. I can't undrstand why they just don't retain the Village and Chinese as flagship theatres for both Paramount and Warner Bros since the industry uses both these theatres for many premiere's. brucec

The leases for these two houses Village and Bruin are pretty high since the last renewal. At that time Westwood was still performing good numbers to keep them open. Back in the 80's there was plans drawn up on how to plex the Village. Back in it's day Mann Theatres had a 5 mile clearance on Westwood and Hollywood houses. But with today's booking patterns of playing everywhere on the break to get the most money on opening weeking. The profit pie is now cut to thin on these large single screens. The only way to keep these two classic houses performing well is to build that plex behind the two of them. So you can open a big picture in Bruin or Village and keep moring it down into the plex till it finishes it's run. It keeps the Village and Bruin running as normal. And the extra screens can handle the over flow crowds on premieres.

You really cannot blame Mann; they had many opportunities to bail over the years, but decided to keep these theatres and the National longer than they probably than they really wanted to. William is right in the fact that there are so many theatre options now compared to 20 years ago when these theatres thrived. Recent example: DARK KNIGHT opened at the Village, Landmark 12, AMC 15 Century City, Pacific Culver City, Criterion 6, and a theatre in Marina Del Rey on its release date. That is alot of options for the Westside residents to choose. If it were 1989 it would have opened at the Village and (maybe) the UA Marina. They would have had no choice nut to venture into Westwood to see it.

The only way they can work is to 'plex' them like William said. That option pretty much saved the Cinerama Dome and would keep the turnover of films quite rapid. Right now after a week or so when the film opens and dies down it is pretty empty. Harry Potter begins its 5th week the Friday and will just be coasting until they get a new film on the 21st. Mann 'probably' would consider extending the leases if they recieved a 'break' in the rents. But at this point they really just want out of film exhibition all together.

I do think eventually Westwood could have a comeback. Hollywood did, Santa Monica did. But it would take foresight by a chain to look towards that future and build those additional screens. They would have to accept the fact that they would take a loss for a while before it turns into green.

In the near future I think the Village and Bruin could go dark for a while. I'm not too sure they would turn retail since there are so many empty spaces in Westwood already. With the thought of that corner going completely dark, you have to wonder if someone will step in. The Village theatre is the heart of Westwood and will really be a glaring loss. As far as movie theatres in Westwood Village itself, it will just be the Regent and who knows how long Landmark will carry that lease. I bet they will drop it once the lease expires.

Westwood as a city needs to step up and do thier part also. In the past 20 years they have not done anything about the parking situation. They need to decide if they want it just to slowly turn into a sleepy college town or if they want revenue again. It is going to be interesting to see what happens.

Brad, Westwood isn't a city. It's a district of LA.

Well, if you want to be technical. :-)

Not technical, but I wonder how much that affects what happens in Westwood. Is the city neglecting Westwood in favor of other, larger commercial prospects elsewhere?

I really get the impression that L.A. County has no interest in Westwood these days. Downtown L.A. is really blossoming, Hollywood and the Fairfax are have turned around for the better. I'm thinking that Westwood will remain dormant for a long while, unless someone takes a chance. I'd really be interested if there are any talks with the owners of the Bruin and Village with anyone.

Parking has been a problem for over 20 years. The area home owners have kept a lid on growth. The movie theatres had a seat vs. parking space number to work with. Traffic into that area is bad on week days and weekends. Santa Monica came out of the ashes of the former mall. When you had that 5 mile clearance, you had to go to Westwood. When they dropped that policy the numbers started to come crashing down.

As long as Parking is awful, Westwood will have difficulties thriving again. I believe I read that any new Theatre additions have to provide "X" amount of parking spaces, and that may be an obsticle also.

If I had to choose between the Village and the Bruin the Village would win hands down.The Homeowners in the area is another reason for the decline of Westwood besides the parking.Westwood is located in a very expensive part of the city. I have witnessed the rise of Westwood as a moviegoing hub and the decline.Im sad to see the decline of Westwood as moviegoing hub due to the rise of Santa Monica,Century City and Westside Mall movie Plexes.These plexes can be anywhere USA and there nothing special about them.brucec

I agree. It is sad seeing them go. I grew up with these theatres. We've already lost the National, Picwood, Plitt Century Plaza and the original Avco theatre. All of which were extraordinary theatres, the likes of which we will never see again. The Village and Bruin (along with the Chinese, El Capitan and Cinerama Dome) are the only major theatres we have left. Part of the experience of seeing a film has always been where I went to see it.
Heck, I used to go to the Pantages as a child to see movies. The last film I saw there was The Outlaw Josey Wales.

The playing field has changed in the last 30 years of movie going in Los Angeles and the rest of the country. It also been about the dollar and how fast they get make it back. The art of presentation and the movie going experience get farth and farth away from us every year. I miss the theatres Brad posted above. I was lucky to have worked them, afew times before they closed. In some posts I've read here about people having a problem with a theatre or a presentation. It happens in all business. Without people making a commitment to being a patron of these theatres. We will lose more and more of them sooner. Your dollars are what keeps these classic theatres open and playing movies 365 days a year. Theatre owners try to keep many theatres open as long as they can. They can only open at night, cut staff hours etc.. They have to pay their bills to run these houses.
So go see a movie at the Village or Bruin. Show your support for these theatres.

Just to chime in on the parking issue...
Last September, me and the GF went to see 'Sleeping Beauty' at the El Cap. On a Saturday morning.
Parking was a cinch. $2 for 3 or 4 hours? Awesome.
So I gotta ask... how can parking on Hollywood be easier than it is in Westwood?
If you have an answer- you're half home to knowing why Westwood is the commercial dead-zone it has been.
And if you have a solution- you're just another corpse in the swath of NIMBY incompetence that has made Westwood what it is today.

what about amc? They have the avco. There aren't any other exhibitors of mainstream hollywood films in westwood (the regent and crest show arthouse films I think?) , so they wouldn't have to compete for bookings.

Landmark books mostly Disney fare at the Regent, sneaking in the occasional arthouse film if the Disney has nothing to provide. Crest does to some arthouse but seems to get mostly scraps (although lately they had The Hurt Locker and now Julie and Julia which is doing well. Both theatres seem to have had a reduced number of showtimes often only doing a 9-10 show on weekends and having the first matinee in the 1:30 - 2:30 range.

Does the Westwood Village business association no longer run a shuttle bus from the Federal Building parking lot to the Village? When I lived in the area, that seemed like an ideal solution to the parking issues. (Plus, it's not that long a walk from the Federal Building to the Village anyway.)

There is no shuttle bus anymore (unless I am mistaken). Much of that parking is now for federal employees and visitor parking for the post office and the federal building.

In point of fact, there is no parking shortage in Westwood. The problem is the cost of parking. While the city has a lot that offers two hours of free parking before 6pm, that does not cover movie time or dinner afterwards. Some have suggested that Mann would have done better if they validated parking. Perhaps it was economically unfeasible, but it would have helped A LOT.

but presumably the federal employees do not need it on Friday evenings and weekends, which is when that shuttle bus ran.

AMC would not take the Village and Bruin. Honestly, I really do not see any major chain snapping the theatres up. It would be a major investment because they would not run them as single screen theatres. They would have to add screens to make it worth their while. Another problem I see is no chain would want both. They would only want one of the screens to add these the additional screens. They would look at the other as dead weight. The owners may have no choice but to lease them separately. Eventually one of these houses remain and the other may be lost because of lack of interest.

There is so much red tape in building a new theatre complex in Westwood, which is why there has not been any movement by any theatre chain.

"In point of fact, there is no parking shortage in Westwood. The problem is the cost of parking."

And now the Bayside District Corp and the City of Santa Monica are talking about parking in my city being "undervalued" and wanting to raise rates. I wonder if they're going to turn the Promenade into the next Westwood.

If you're going at night, the Bronxton city lots (right across from the Regent) are actually pretty fair. While it's pricey if you go over the free 2 hours before 6 p.m., after that, it's a $3 flat fee. Yes, this is a buck more than the Hollywood & Highland or ArcLight complexes, but you can also stay for more than four hours. Not to mention, the Village is $1.25 cheaper than the Chinese and and $.50-$3 cheaper than the Dome, so it's really a moot point when you consider the total.

The challenges come when A) it's daytime and you wanna stay over 2 hours or B) the city lots are full (which happens quite often during peak times). As others have said, these SHOULD NOT be hard to solve, even though they criminally haven't been corrected.

Here are some photos from this weekend:
http://tinyurl.com/kqxtza
http://tinyurl.com/ndkhjb
http://tinyurl.com/ld6h86
http://tinyurl.com/mmsc6d

Made out with Mary Jo Trainer at the village theatre while watching the Man who shot Libert Valance. Think it was 1963. Everyone hung out in front of the Village theatre on Friday nights. Nect door was the Deli. Across the street was Mario's. Other side of the street of course was the Bruin theatre where I saw Bambi. I think I was about six years old. Next door was Hamburger Hamlet. Magic shop down the street, so was Desmonds Department store, See's Candy and Fedway. Westwood. Across from the Fox Village theatre was the wonderful outdoor Orang Julius stand. My friends and I paid fifty cents to watch a double feature , with cartoon and newsreel. Seventy five cents if you were over twelve. If we had no money we wouls go into the alley behing the theatre. Climb up the fire escape which led to the women's bathroom. Once inside the bathroom, walked into the upstairs lobby, then down the steps in the the main lobby. Then we would open the fire exit doors and let in all of our friends. Living and hangin out around Westwood village in the early sixties was like living in a perfect dream. No crowds, sleepy laid back and so friendly. On Dunday's I would ride my skateboard all over the village. Sometimes I would be the only person on the street for blocks....Then of course there was Sorrento Beach. That's a whole other story! Gary Abelov St. Louis , Mo

The restrooms at the Village are all on the main floor.

Well I can tell you that in the fifties and sixties they were definitely upstairs. I'm sure all of that was changed to accomadate the handicapped... Btw. I also went to the first "Smellorama" at the Village Theatre! I remember someone frying eggs on screen and the aroma of eggs was piped into the seating area. Also saw 3D movies there. One was 13 Ghosts. But the best ever was the double feature,"House on Haunted Hill" and "The Tingler" Every time the Tingler would appear our seats would vibrate! They put little vibration boxes under every seat.

Actually, Gary, you did not see the first "Smellorama" (sic) film at the Village. The competing "smell" films were Behind The Great Wall in AromaRama, which played for a week or two at the Four Star and then disappeared forever, and the real smell film, Scent Of Mystery in Smell-O-Vision, which played only one engagement in Los Angeles at the Ritz Theater on Wilshire. It died a quick death and has never been seen again other than in a smell free cut down version called Holiday In Spain that played a handful of engagements in Cinerama (it was reformatted for that process).

I am certain, however, that you saw some film that smelled at the Village, but not one in any smell process.

PLANET 51 had its premiere there Nov. 14th. but it's opening at the AVCO on the 20th.

When "2012" goes to the Crest and "New Moon" goes to the AVCO, you know Mann has given up on their Westwood houses.

I don't think that is the case. They seem to be filling the 2 screens with mostly Warner product. The Blind Side opens Friday at Bruin, I guess Ninja Assasin opens Nov 25 at Village, Invicus will probably be at Bruin 12/11 and Sherlock Holmes 12/25 at Village. Warner has been the biggest supplier for Mann over the past 3 decades and does co-operate the theatres.

If Mann still operated the National and Festival I'm sure 2012 would have been booked at the Village or perhaps the National. With only 2 screens they really cannot book much else these days.

no Avatar at The Village? :(

bah.

The leases run out next March right? I haven't been there in a while. I wanted to go to the Village to hear that awesome sound system one last time. I'm Looking at Warners' release schedule through next March. 'The Book of Eli' opens mid January.

Well maybe Avatar could play there for one week before Sherlock Holmes opens? I remember a couple summers ago Transformers 1 played at the Village for only ten days or so before making way for Harry Potter.

Actually,i think AVATAR will be going to the AVCO. Being a Fox movie and,looking at theGCC/AMC to MANN ratio of Fox movies,AVCO is a safer bet. but that's just me and,lord knows,i'm no expert. :)

Mann was booking Fox films in thier Westwood theatres during the mid-late 90's into the early 2000's. If it was 10 years ago no doubt Avatar would open at the Village, or perhaps the National.

bah.

You guys were right. Avatar tickets are on sale at the AVCO:

http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=467&rdate=12%2F18%2F2009

oh well.

Mann's lease runs through March?

November 2009 photo of the Fox Westwood Village courtesy Matt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mister_goleta/4149048433/in/pool-72675154@N00/

saw Book of Eli here last night (Saturday 1/30, 7PM). Probably less than 50 people there. On their website Mann doesn't seem to have any premiers booked for the Village, though one is scheduled for the Bruin in March.

http://www.manntheatres.com/premieres/upcoming.php

Mann is still doing a great job with the upkeep though. Clean and polished. No burnt out lights in the ceiling. They lowered the curtain in between the Screenvision prefeature show and the trailers. The balcony was open. That awesome sound system is still there.

Among the Coming Soon posters in the lobby was Clash of the Titans and also Hot Tub Time Machine. Both movies open March 26.

According to Mann Website THE BLIND SIDE and INVICTUS are opening Friday the 5th at the Village. I may go see BLIND, to see what all the fuss is about. Seems odd for them to bring back films but I guess there is not much more they can book. Less than 50 for ELI on Saturday night is not good. Were you able to talk to anyone there about closing date or if Mann will extend these leases a bit?

Maybe it's a special double bill for Oscar season (The Blind Side is up for Best Picture and Best Actress, Invictus is up for Best Actor).

Also, the posters for Clash Of The Titans and Hot Tub Time Machine are probably just for titles coming to the Chinese.

Theatre chains did this in the past around Academy nominations time. Both films have two nominations each.

I would say that CLASH OF THE TITANS will open still @ Village, and HOT TUB @ Bruin. But the question is, are they the last films for the 2 theatres? Will the theatres suddenly close the day after Easter? Even when Mann did not renew the National, they kept it open on a short term month to month for an additional 10 months.

"Were you able to talk to anyone there about closing date or if Mann will extend these leases a bit?"

--posted by BradE41


sorry, I didn't.

Clash of The Titans has just been pushed back a week to April 2.

http://www.thewrap.com/article/warners-bumps-clash-titans-april-and-3d-13805

SHUTTER ISLAND opening Feb 19 @ the Village. Tickets on sale now.

A theatre will have posters in the lobby up to the day it closes, and the status of posters in the lobby should never be used as an indicator of how long a theatre might still stay open.

Also, for Brad... Mann did not keep the National open once their lease expired. The people who operate the old Mann Culver Plaza took over the National on that month to month lease between May and October 2007, when it closed for good.

Edward, I think Brad is right. I was there on the final night Mann operated it and they were on a month to month at that point. Mann was supposed to have shuttered it earlier than they did. The other operators continued the month to month operation until it closed permanently.

Edward. Yes and No. The original lease for the National expired July 2006. They kept it running after that date until April 2007. May 2007 through Sept 2007 the Culver people leased it.