Regency 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.

I am guessing we are nearing the end for the Village and Bruin? Shutter Island opened today at the Village without a Digital Presentation, so I guess they removed the projectors. While the premiere of Hot Tub Time Machine at the Bruin which was scheduled for March, has been removed from the Mann site. I thought we would hear something about their future by now, but it looks like they will just go dark and stay that way. Pretty much more empty spaces in the once thriving Westwood.

Looking at the lack of enthusiasm Mann is giving the Chinese, they really are indicating they do not care any longer. Sad, these were always my favorite theatres.

Is that a bad sign? Film is a better medium than digital.

Doesn't make a difference to me. But Mann has pretty much been Digital for everything they have booked at the Village over the past few years or so. It makes me think they removed the projectors as a sign that they are indeed winding down.

That is pure conjecture on your part. Perhaps Mr. Scorsese asked for film, since he is a purist.

How unbelievably sad if the Village and the Bruin close. I have heard lots of rumors---all unconfirmed at this point--that several companies have expressed strong interest in these theaters. There are a few longshots who have kicked around the tires including Johnny Brenden, the grandson of Ted Mann, who now runs Brenden Theaters, a 100 screen chain in Nevada and Northern California, and has enormous affectation for his late grandfather's once great Mann chain. Also two chains that have recently purchased or leased theaters in Southern California including Muvico(a new complex in Thousand Oaks) and Rave (the Beverly Cinema) are said to be interested. And my instinct tells me that Pacific Theaters would be interested. Curious as to why Brad thinks that AMC would not be intersted?

Does AMC run any single-screen theatres, anywhere? Their name means American Multi-Cinema, after all...

The Seattle Cinerama, but they just program and run it. Paul Allen restored and owns it. The arrangement was made under General Cinema.

I really do not see AMC, it is not thier style. I'm hoping some of the rumors are true. The Village really has a place in my heart, it was my first job back in 1980. Not to mention it is still the best screen to see a film in L.A., I like it over the Chinese and the Cinerama Dome. The thought of these theatres going dark sickens me. Muvico and Rave seem hungry to get thier foot in the door in SoCal and would put effort into them, so I'm hoping.

I've only known them as Mann theatres. Mann and Westwood have always been hand in hand. I still feel Westwood could get reborn and it would take someone with forsight to see what they can be later on. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I remember what Westwood used to be like in the 1970's and 80's, and it was really a magical place full of energy and excitement. The Village, the Bruin and the National played an enormous part in making Westwood special. I'm rooting for someone to keep the Bruin and the Village open---all I know is that there has been interest by those companies, nothing definite yet.

Rick Caruso, who built the Grove and the Americana in Glendale, recently gave an interview to Patt Morrison of the LA Times and spoke of wanting to do something in Westwood. He said he drives by there every night, and it makes him sad, knowing what it used to be.

Muvico and Rave could really make a significant impact in the area by leasing the Village or Bruin and making them their flagship theaters in SoCal. People don't really know these companies---a move like this would put them on the map.

Mann hasn't been the same since Ted Mann died---Warners and Paramount never invested in the brand after Ted. And the city and the people of Westwood aren't exactly the easiest to deal with. Losing Westwood as a center of movie going would be a tragedy.




Rick Caruso, the developer of the Grove and The Americana in Glendale, recently gave an inter

Ron Newman, the only single screen that I know of that AMC operates is in New York City, the 72nd street theatre, which went under the name of Loews Tower East many years ago.

This weekend is that rare occasion when you could see movies at every Westwood theater in one day... 12:00 Shutter Island (Village), 2:30 Wolfman (AVCO), 4:50 The White Ribbon (Regent), 7:30 Crazy Heart (Crest), and 10:00 Valentine's Day (Bruin). Why am I posting this? No real reason, other than I wish I could be there doing it right now... could be a fitting farewell to the Village and Bruin if they do end up going dark.

And AMC has a few single screens, mainly in NYC. But I'm pretty sure they were most all picked up from Loews.

Shutter Island is playing in digital at The Landmark down the street. (and they rarely play digital anything)

I know for a fact the digital projector was removed from the bruin.

I have a semi-confirmed rumor that Mann is out at the end of March and an independant company is taking over soon after.

I hope it is true that someone is taking over after March. Hopefully someone will also take interest in Westwood itself. It is hard to imagine Mann Theatres not being part of Westwood or L.A. for that matter. I grew up going to thier theatres and like I said was my very first job.

I can't imagine that the Village and Bruin will close, given their historical significance and their pivotal role in holding premieres. But I've seen Westwood become almost a ghost town over the last ten years...I am worried but hopeful.

if Mann does leave at the end of March will they take that awesome sound system with them, or would it still be there when the independent theater company takes over?

Stopped in at the Village to see Shutter Island in a real movie theater and also to say good-bye if and when Mann leaves the Village and Bruin next month. Happy to report that the theater was 3/4 full for the 7pm showing on Saturday night. Image and sound were fantastic as usual, but the Screenvision before the show is a real distraction and a bummer! I have not been to the Village for about 5-6 years and the last time was before the irritaing "Screenvision." Other then that I was happy to see the old girl in such fine shape and looking good. God, I hope someone steps up and picks up the leases for this theater and the Bruin. I cannot imagine them going dark; they are such a part of my life having seen films there for the better part of 35 years. Westwood continues it's downward decline as I noticed that they closed the "Chili's" resturant and the space is vacant. Hard to belive since everytime I went there in the last 5 years it was doing good buisness with UCLA students at the bar.

How can a major business district next to a huge university become abandoned? Where do the students eat and shop if not here?

Glad to hear that the business was brisk for Shutter Island at the Village. I'm planning a visit this Sunday to see it. Did not know Chili’s was gone. Someone needs to step in and resuscitate Westwood. Then there would be no issue in keeping these theatres open. I think in order to survive, the Village needs to be anchor for a new nearby multiplex to keep films in strong rotation. Something similar to the Cinerama Dome and once upon a time the Chinese.

I was about to ask the same question.

I hope that an ambitious exhibitor like Regency or Rave picks the Village and the Bruin up. I have no hopes for Pacific as they abandoned the Crest several years ago or Landmark as they seem to be abandoning or neglecting older theaters with the The Landmark nearby.

Laemmle?

The owners of these vacant businesses need to apply incentives to get vendors in them. I think the problem with Westwood is that it is not fun to visit any longer. There was a time when you went there to shop, eat, and see a film. Now that is The Grove, 3rd St Promenade, etc. When I go now, it is pretty much timed to just see a movie. There is noting else to do there other than that these days. And the number of theatres is drastically dwindling. I doubt Landmark will renew the Regent lease when it comes up renewal.

RAVE would be great. They seem to be serious about getting into L.A. exhibition. From the sound of it, the have taken a real interest in the Beverly Center. The Village and Bruin could be thier flagship theatres.

I'd be very surprised by Laemmle given they'd be RE-ENTERING the Westwood market... although they do seem like a fit...

But Rave's interest isn't in single-screens, but big megaplexes... I have a really hard time believing that, too, unless it's an undercover situation ala the Beverly Center.

But Rave could revialize the once planned multiplex behind the Bruin Mann was considering years back. It would have to be a plan for the future.

@ segask, the sound system would stay. my friend over there told me they were taking inventory of all the equip. especially the soundrack. plus when the national closed, all the equip stayed behind.

I agree about Rave. A few weeks ago, they acquired close to 35 theaters(over 300 screens) from National Amusement, almost doubling in size. They are now the 5th largest domestic chain( after Regal, AMC, Cinemark and Carmike). The Village and Bruin would give them a presence and a calling card. Those theaters are prestigious, and for a newer exhibitor like Rave, that would put them on the map....I agree that one of the theaters would probably have to be used as the anchor for a multiplex,like the ArcLight and the Cinerama Dome ---that's the only way the deal makes any economic sense. However building anything in Westwood is a nightmare of epic proportions.

In 1998, both Edwards and Pacific tried to buy the entire Mann chain.

"@ segask, the sound system would stay. my friend over there told me they were taking inventory of all the equip. especially the soundrack. plus when the national closed, all the equip stayed behind."

--posted by Talioni

thanks for the info Talioni! It is much appreciated. :)

C:\Users\BADBRAD\Pictures\MP Navigator EX\2010_02_27\IMG_0004.jpg.

Mann Theatre Ads for September 29, October 6 and October 13, 1976. Both Santa Monica and Westwood.

could you send these ads again?

In most cases it all depends on the lease as to what equipment is left in the theatre. The lease can just say equiped theatre and that can included just projectors, platter and sound system. Any upgrades could be taken out and sold, if it is not spelled out in the lease agreement. When Mann pulled out of the Vogue Theatre in Hollywood, the lease had an equipment clause in it. The theatre had tobe equipment to show film. Before it closed Mann replaced the good 70MM/35mm projector with a ok running Simplex XL and pulled out the Dolby working processor and repleced it with a old Dolby CP-50 which needed help to run. The amps were old semi-work BGWs. As for the former Mann Regent they took the good Dolby processor and replaced it with an older model they left the Norelco 70MM projector there because it had a problem. Mann did this over at their former Huntington Oaks 6 in Monrovia afew years before it closed by moving the Norelco AA-II 70MM/35mm projectors out for a pair of old Simplex 35mm projectors. All the chains have done this in the past.
Inventory is always taken at a closing. Plus there are old theatre equipment brokers that buy old equipment for the used market. Or they see what is up there in the booth and moved to storage for later use in another house.

My browser does not know how to follow URLs that begin with "C:" instead of "http:". Can you post another message with an http: URL for the ads?

Isn't C: his hard drive on his computer and not from a photo site.

"C" is always the hard drive on a computer, so those are ads he has stored on his computer. He needs to put them on a photo account like Flicks or webshots and link to them that way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/BADBRAD/IMG_0004.jpg

That worked Brad.

William, thanks for all the insider info on equipment that Mann has taken/left behind when they left those other theaters.

But since the Mann chain is shrinking nowadays, do you think they would probably just leave all the good projection/sound equipment this time?

I can't wait for April 1st. People are going to see who is operating the theatre on April 2nd and wonder "It's this some kind of April Fools joke?" To which it will not be. But that's all I can say at the moment.

Ed, we know your connections...at least I do. So I consider your statement a dead giveaway! :)

Good move for them. I'd better not see any blinding neon next time I go there.

Are they getting Grauman's & Chinese 6 too?

Ed, It sounds good to me. I will not believe it to be a joke.

segask it all depends on what the wording is on the lease as to what will be left in place or removed. When AMC closed the former GCC Beverly Connection 6, they sold the equipment to the people who run the Academy in Pasadena which also ran the Fairfax, South Bay etc. . The only thing they really might leave is the Norelco AA-II projectors (they weigh alot) and most of the speakers (since they are used). If they are still running other complexes select things might leave the theatre for a new home.

well I'm really glad to hear that the Village (and Bruin also?) will continue to be a first run house.

Does Rave have any THX certified theaters? Does anyone know if the new management of the Village will continue paying the THX certification fee?

Slight change of plans. Mann told the employees that they are going month to month after March. So I assume the deal isn't finalized.

I also heard Rave was the one taking over but that isn't confirmed at all. They typically run all digital and don't have projectionists. That's not going to sit well with the union. If a non-union theater wants to book red carpet premieres, there is going to be some drama.

Mann's month to month for the National lasted 8 months. But if Rave is negotating with the owners, Mann's involvement may not be that long. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I'm feeling better that these theatres will stay around and hope it will be for a indefinate amount of time.

Now, something has to be done about the Chinese.

Won't that limit their selection of films to only those released in digital format?

Pretty much every mainstream movie is offered digitally nowadays... Every new theater built by AMC, Regal, RAVE, etc is all digital.

Once a lease ends it could become a month to month type rental till one of the parties wants to end the rental of the property. Mann Theatres has been on a limited service type contract with the Projectionists union. As for any drama for red carpet premieres and the union. The studio will provide a studio staff projectionist for the event. Even with a union projectionist under the old contract the studio still had a back-up projectionist for the event.

Isn't Village running everything in DP anyway? What's the last movie they ran on film?

No, scroll up and you will see that their current attraction is on film.

Paramount (or Scorcese) must not have struck digital prints.

CLARIFICATION: Paramount (or Scorcese) must not have allowed digital prints to be struck. Or did Mann get rid of the DP equipment as they prepare to "move out"? That couldn't be the case...that dumb ass Screenvision thing is DP.

Yes, there is digital for SHUTTER ISLAND. The Landmark down the street has one screen DP, as do all digital-only AMC/Regal locations, plus the entire Krikorian and UltraStar Chains and God knows how many more.

HOWEVER, they pay more attention to LA. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS had digital prints available to many locations, but both the Dome and the Village ran it in 35.

Also-- Screenvision doesn't require a full-scale DLP projector. Many locations use basic, home-grade projection equipment for those.

Chris, I never said it was going to be Rave. I didn't even imply it.

Yeah, you didn't imply it. I simply made an educated guess. Shoot me.

Heh...that must mean we're either going to be VERY HAPPY (Arclight) or VERY PISSED (Regal/AMC) come April 1st. With this week's news that Arclight stole the Pasadena mojo back from Gold Class, maybe they're ready to take Westwood as well?

One can only dream...and wish...and hope...and wish...and hope...and wish...

Doubt it would be AMC or Regal. AMC is only interested in building big megaplexes they can later tear down and re-build. Regal has the downtown complex they are showcasing. Honestly, we will not know until it happens. Whoever it is, they are probably coming into Westwood with some kind of plan for the future.

Remember those leases on those two theatres were very high. Whoever comes in must keep films going through there fast to keep business going. You can't keep films in there over 4-8 weeks anymore. Some days if you are lucky your playing to 100 people or less. That does not pay the rent. Look at the last weeks of the National Theatre. There not going to raze the Village or the Bruin for a empty lot.

Whoever takes over the leases will probably be locked into a 4 or 5 year commitment. It is premature to speculate, but I would imagine the talk of a new nearby multiplex is being brought back to the table. With the loss of the National, Festival, Plaza, Mann Westwood 4 Plex and United Artists they have the 'Seats' now for something new. The Village and Bruin could play a film for one to three weeks and move it over to the multiplex. Both theatres along with the Regent have the great location, they are essentially the heart of Westwood.

Westwood itself is really the problem, CPR needs to happen in order to get people back into movie theatres. It need to go back to the Westwood of the 70's and not the MONSTER it became in the 80's before it emploded. It is going to be interesting to see what goes down.

Hate to say it, but a return to the 70's won't cut it in this society. Gone are the days when folks will walk from theatre to theatre in any given neighborhood to see the latest flicks. They want everything under one roof. WE'LL still do it because we're purists, but

The best option for whomever gets Village/Bruin is to negotiate building an adjoining multiplex attached to either theatre.

I am talking about the early - Mid 70's when Westwood had shopping, eating and films. The 80's things really exploded and it became too big for its britches. Westwood needs to get people interested in coming there again. I do agree about a new adjoining multiplex. The Arclight Cinemas pretty much saved the Cinerama Dome.

The funny part is, someone has already spilled it in this thread in this thread a couple days ago, but everyone is still speculating.

I'm dumb and blind (you NOTICED I was wearing glasses, right Ed?) so I will GLADLY continue speculating.

It's either...

Regency (won't be a shock - seeing as how someone connected to the family that owns them took over the National lease when Mann shut 'em down.

Rave (because, legally, you have to yank our chain to protect company secrets...we know the hustle!).

Arclight (Arclight Westwood would blow a huge crater in the LA market! They'd singlehandedly crush AMC Century 15 and force Landmark to revert back to the snobby arthouse they were built to be. AND...the multiplex would be a ground up build!)

Not Regency. Not Rave. Not Arclight/Pacific. And it's not Regal, or AMC, or Landmark, or Cinemark, or Laemmle, or Muvico, or Krikorian, or Carmike, or Harkins, or Wehrenberg, or Gold Class, or UltraStar, or Marcus, or Kerasotes either.

How about Mann on a month-by-month lease?

You beat me to it Mark. The April Fool's Joke is that Mann is going to continue to lease on a month to month.

Then suddenly close it?

I was kind of hoping for one of the first 3 choices above or Laemmle. If Mann is winding down I would just prefer they get it over with. Especially with the Chinese so I can actually see a movie I want to see there when I am in L.A. I think Book of Eli is must be on its 53rd week. Must be odd for those people on the tours to see the most famous movie house in the world completely empty.

I'm happy it is staying open for now. But the month to month makes it vulnerable opposed to someone taking over and be obligated to a lease. There a big films coming this spring and Summer and through the Fall. I would guess Mann will keep running it though the end of the year at least.

Laemmle running the Village, that's funny.

Hey, Laemmle has to do something. Sunset 5 is being slammed by the Arclight. Encino Town Center as well. The Royal and Monica 4 Plex are losing out to The Landmark.

To all you you here:

Instead of speculating, why don't you just go back and read the first line of what was posted by Talionis on Mar 3, 2010 at 1:33pm.

Talionis has a friend over there he wrote on Mar 3, 2010 at 1:33pm. They know whats going on...

if no one else is willing to commit to a multiyear lease, then I guess it makes sense for Mann to continue month to month, since April is when the blockbusters start coming out. Blockbuster season is usually April thru July or maybe August. But things are usually pretty dead at the boxoffice in September. Maybe Mann will keep going month to month thru July, then if no one has signed a lease yet the Village and Bruin will go dark.

Mann is playing themselves. And us.

If Laemmle ran the Village it would drain alot of money out of that chain. When Laemmle was in Westwood, they had to have Pacific Theatres book the Regent and Plaza for them. The cost of the lease for the Village and Bruin is at the million dollar mark a year.

@ Chris Utley, they still run screenvision in digital but it plays on a little mini-projector. Their NEC's are long gone.

So the consensus seems to be that Mann will continue running both the Bruin and Village on a month to month lease after April 1.

Has anyone heard anything about Johnny Brenden, Ted Mann's grandson, who now runs Brenden Theaters out of Las Vegas? It sounds like a longshot, but that's the name that I keep hearing.

Good news. It looks like the month to month will be going on longer than originally anticipated. They just re-installed digital projectors.

I don't think there will be good news until another operator takes over and commits to this theatre. Mann probably realized they wouldn't be able to book any 3-D movies without digital projection.

Funny you should say 3-D. A silver screen is being installed at the Bruin. (which is needed to play 3-D) Oddly, Mann has only done that for premieres like Beowulf and then switched right back to white screens.

This makes me think Rave is the front runner. The good news is that this is a commited company that will invest in it's theatres. Stay tuned.

Remember the studios sometimes pays or rents for special presentations.

Stay tuned for what, Talionis? Rave is not taking over the Village and/or the Bruin, and I would really like to know where people keep hearing this rumor. If you can't say on these boards, email me. ehavens at ravemotionpictures

Bummer...Is that a definite no? Rave is definitely not taking over the leases at the Bruin and the Village?

What about Muvico?

Is Mann really keeping it open past April 1? Clash of the Titans tickets on Sale at Chinese and other Mann theatres, but no Village. It would be a Village booking since it is a major Warner release.

"Good news. It looks like the month to month will be going on longer than originally anticipated. They just re-installed digital projectors."
--posted by Talionis

Talionis, you said projectors - as in more than one. Did you mean two digital projectors for the big screen in the Village, or did you mean a digital projector back in the Village, and one back in the Bruin also?

If they only have one in the Village, maybe they are still deciding whether to add another for 3D. Then they could charge a couple dollars extra per ticket, and that's why tickets aren't on sale yet?

@ Segask, a digital projector in the village and another in the bruin.

Apparently, the company that shall not be named (because i can't confirm it) backed out of the deal to take over April 1 because whoever takes over is also responsible for the Taco Bell attached to the Bruin and the Starbucks next to the village.

Village and Bruin have been booking movies until the end of the year.

Taco Bell????? Starbucks????? BUY 'EM OUT & RELOCATE 'EM BOTH!

Sheesh!

There is also a vacant store front on the other side of the village.

Prime real estate that's been vacant for years. Shows you how well Mann has been managed.

I'm still waiting to hear where Talionis keeps hearing Rave is taking over in Westwood...

"I also heard Rave was the one taking over but that isn't confirmed at all."

I didn't say I 'keep hearing.' I've already said more than I should. Talionis out.

I just hope someone takes over these theaters so we don't lose two of the most beautiful and iconic theaters in the country.

I can't imagine Westwood Village without the Bruin and the Village. Closing them would aboslutely tear the heart out of what is left of Westwood....

It's all about the cost of leasing and running them, which the bean counters have more of a say with a theatre chain. Theatres make money the longer they keep a film running in a complex. Here you have really no where to move it and keep it running. In Mann's 70's-90's they had the Plaza, Regent, Westwood Quad and later the Festival to move-over films into. So they made money keeping the films in that market. They also moved staffs to the nearby theatres to help and cut costs on the union projectionist staffs. All this was done to help cut costs. Westwood hit it's peak in the 1980's, it was going down hill fast in the 1990's. The lease is the major factor in how and who runs these theatres. The bean counters study has to how much it would cost to run these theatres and how much profit the chain could make. When Cineplex won the bidding war for the Odeon Westwood over Mann, UA, Edwards. This theatre never made a profit for the chain in the few years they ran it. The lease was about $250,000 a year, they wanted the Westwood market so bad. In it's day it was all about booking in that market with the studios. And with the studios locking the theatre into a 3-6 or 8 weeks for major releases. After the 1-2 week it becomes a deadzone, your playing to 5 people or so at a showing. In the old days a theatre not making money during the day the chains would make it a evening house. But that cuts staffing and power from your budget, but it also makes people go to nearby complexes that operate all day.
The only was to make these two Westwood landmark theatres in the future is to build that once planned plex behind the Bruin, but to take away some of the retail on the west side of the Bruin and make the Bruin the enterance to the planned plex. So you build over the alleyway behind the Bruin and have cafe and retail on the first floor and a second way into the plex theatres on the UCLA side of the building. So you dub this plex the Bruin 9 (plex with 8 screens for move-overs and the Bruin and Village as to main theatres).
The real thing to think about is the zoning and adding more parking for those people who live in the Westwood area to make this plex plan work right. Or one day as will save the Village and walk into the former Bruin for burger or book.

William is right about how the Bruin and Village will last. They need a adject Multiplex for move overs. That tactic saved the Cinerama Dome and is pretty much the only way single big screens can survive in today's market. Back in 1980 - 1982 when I worked at the Village there were big dead lulls in business. I really could only imagine how it is now. Mann will probably keep them for a month to month. But that would be short term and eventually will lead us back to these discussions about the pending closures. That is unless a major project is announced.

The pre-WW2 Alameda Theatre in Alameda, Ca., was finally saved after operating as a gym and is now the main entrance to a plex of cinemas smaller auditoriums.
If this simple plan were to be implemented with more historic theaters going dark then that would save many more of our nations treasures.

If the owners leased the theatres separately, the Bruin would probably be attractive enough for a theatre chain to invest in. A Bruin 9 or 10 plex in a marketplace setting would work. The Village is less practical in the long run...unfortunately. I worry about the Village as a movie theatre in the future. If they broke down the bacl wall extended the backstage, it could be utilized as a performing arts center of some sort. Otherwise, who knows what it will turn into. Hopefully not a church! I'd rather it become a gym.

I said it before and I'll say it again...

Arclight takes over the lease, builds the 10 plex behind the Bruin & keeps it and the Village & calls the whole darn thing ARCLIGHT WESTWOOD. Arclight's name ALONE would drive folks back to Westwood Village in DROVES!

They could even reduce the seating in the Village to 600 seats or so by extending the lobby and making that extra space their Gift Shop/Guest Services area.

Chris they have the extra space with those retail stores to the left and right of the front of the theatre, without screwing up the lobby.

But, as someone stated earlier, it's gonna be hard as heck filling 1300 seats on a 3rd week run of a whatever P.O.S. film is showing in January/February/March. Paring down the seats may help them to maximize numbers.

Although...they could use that extra space to make the Westwood Arclight Cafe a full-fledged restaurant.

Westwood does not need more restuarant space. The seat number of the Village is not the issue. Whoever leases the theatre will still be paying for the space. It would probably cost more to make it a restuarant than it would to account for empty seats.

But part of Arclight's "thing" is their Cafe. Heck...the Cafe is as much a part of their brand as their name. Should this MIRACLE come to pass, I'm 99.9% certain that the Cafe will be there too. Maybe not inside the Village...but it'll be there in some way, shape or form.

DISCLAIMER: I - OR NO ONE ELSE - IS SAYING THAT ARCLIGHT IS TAKING OVER THE VILLAGE/BRUIN. We're just doing a little friendly armchair quarterbacking.

I've never been to the Arclight cafe. Generally I just go see a film when I go there.

I do not think there is any chance Arclight Westwood will ever happen. The problem is that nobody had interest in film exhibition in Westwood these days.

That's the big problem now trying to reinvent Westwood again. Back in the day, Mann Theatres was able to have a 5 mile clearance on bookings for his Westwood houses. So Westwood and Hollywood had a Lock on the films playing Mann houses. Once that clearance was dropped Century City, Santa Monica just to name afew could play date and date with Westwood. And add the problems with zoning, parking and the people problems. It was easier to go to Century City, Santa Monica and other newer complexes. Westwood died a slow death. Look at the guy over at The Crest Theatre. He wants to sell the theatre and lease it back to run. Eric Chavez has been trying to find a buyer for a long while. AMC is still running the Avco Complex, but who knows how long that old GCC lease runs for. UA dropped out of the market. At one time they wanted to reinvent their Hollywood Flagship house the Egyptian by doing a Arclight setup around the large house there. The city zoning stopped that project. At least the theatre still stands in a somewhat restored way.

We have to all give in and admit that Westwood is dying out. No exhibitors have shown interest in the area, yet there has been (for a long time) ample opportunity to move in. Currently with the loss of the National, Festival, Plaza, United Artists and Mann’s Westwood there is the allotted number of empty seats to actually break ground on a new complex. This is without closing existing theatres the in the area. It has been no secret that Mann wants out, but exhibitors do not see Westwood as a major market any longer. Mann will probably operate the Village and Bruin on a month to month through the end of the year, but I think it will end with them finally pulling life support sometime next year.

Of the two houses, I think the Bruin will be the first to close. The marquee facade is the only real semi-original parts left. While the Village is closer to original with the 1940's remodel. It's a sad state of affairs when you can maybe only keep one open.

I truly think in the long run only one of the two could survive. That is "If" someone stepped in and did a multiplex adjacent to it. At this point I do not think it will happen anytime soon. They may lay vacant (like everything else in Westwood) for a long while. Somewhere down the line someone may get the idea to jump start Westwood; but I really do not think it is on any agenda, it would have been initiated by now.

One has to feel the Avco will not last once the lease lapses. The Wilshire Blvd. property seems like it would be a valuable snatch for offices, condos, or an expansion of the cementary. Doubtful Landmark will renew the Regent with the lease comes up for renewal. Westwood seems headed towards the same fate as Beverly Hills for movie exhibition.

That's what happened to all the First Run movie district in Los Angeles.
Downtown Los Angeles
Hollywood
Beverly Hills
Westwood

Everything moved West.

Santa Monica is the only place you can go west of here, otherwise you're in the Pacific Ocean.

Chris, bet every dollar you have that if there was ever a chance in the last ten years anyone could have built a Bruin adjunct cinema, it would have happened ten years ago. There are very specific reasons why it hasn't happened yet, and why it's not going to happen for many years. Parking is just one issue. Traffic is just one issue. Residents are just one issue. Film clearances are just one issue. And there are many others that I just cannot discuss here... not that I am some insider. I just happen to know certain things from being near the process.

Westwood could easily be resurrected. But it's going to take a lot of concessions from many different people with dissimilar interests to make it happen.

Yes, Santa Monica took business away from Westwood and so did Century City and all the newer plex built close by. Westwood could no longer hold those great opening weekend gross. The pie was cut into to many pieces.

I am a former insider on this location and Mann Theatres. I have given alot of clues as to what happened and things.

Premieres for Furry Vengeance Apr 18 @ Bruin and Back Up Plan Apr 21 @ Village have been added. Looks like business as usual for these theatres.

Clash of the Titans @ Bruin in 3D April 1st, day before opens officially.

Westwood is an absolute nightmare when it comes to any sort of building or redevelopment project. As a former resident, I can truthfully state that it may well be the the most difficult part of the city to try to build anything. I agree that the best scenario for keeping the Village/Bruin alive would be some sort of multiplex or ArcLight

Short of that, do you think any national change would consider the Village/Bruin as vanity projects, that just break even showing premiers and remaining as single screen theaters?

By staying a single screen theatre you are limited in product. If you play first run because of contracts with the studios as to how long the engagements are. Studios like to lock up first run screens for 4 to 8 weeks on Big pictures. Thats if you don't have one of those high end directors that demands more & more. As with everything like home and work these theatres run on budgets that the home office sets for each manager and the type of business. For payroll you are budgeted for how many people you sell tickets too. So for the first week or 2, the theatre is doing great. But in your third week it drops 60% from the last and your stuck with the film for a 6 week run. Everything is downhill from that point. You have to drop people from the payroll of the week. Now rent and power , water and all the other bills like candy and popcorn and soda all need to be paid. I remember this theatre that was on a COD plan with the candy people, and they could not pay a few times. (No Candy delivery) Over on the Fox Atlanta theatre tread a fromer manager wrote near the end of the theatre's operating life it took about $1000 a day to just open and operate for the day with payroll and all the other things I wrote about in this post. Ok that was 1975 and maybe the bookings were ok to fair. But the same thing goes for how a theatre runs in todays market. You have to have a good location and good bookings and being able to move-over the films for a good turn over. Look at the final months of the National Theatre. They got fair bookings but they had to holdover on some weeks and died because of the contracts and the landowner could make more on something else on the site. Ok today he owns a Christmas tree lot in Westwood. For the most part the Village Theatre is safer, because of the entire theatre is close to original look than the Bruin. The Bruin Theatre only has the marquee facade working for it to be saved. The auditorium is no longer in an original state with the side wall lighting. As a vanity project someone with deep pockets would work. But even those people want a return on their investment. I guess the area residents got a toned down version of Westwood more to their liking from the 1980's version of the mad house.

Even though the Village is able to get most of the Blockbuster Product, the films do not make a killing like they used to. Back in the day blockbuster films would approach 100 grand on a opening weekend. Now films like the Harry Potters, Spiderman, etc. probably make 10% of that on a opening weekend. Pretty much Mann has to count on premieres to help break even. Now with really no move over houses they are truly stuck with a film until the next booking. The Festival allowed them to have additional film product on hand just in case.

Thanks William and Brad. That is so true about the diminishing returns to the theater, even starting as early as after opening weekend.

One final point....Do the Village and Bruin make enough from holding the premieres to cover the nut? Any idea what a studio has to pay to rent the theater for a premiere? And someone mentioned that the lease was about $1 million a year for the Village and Bruin.

I'm not sure how much they get for premieres. It must be good enough money to help them with the operation costs of the theatre. When I worked at the Village in 1980-1982, they did not book premieres. They had an American Film Market screening of S.O.B., but that was about the only thing close to a premiere I remember. The premieres seem to become more frequent as the attendence began to slide in the 1990's.

These leases are around $1 million each a year. I'm kind of wondering if Mann is now getting a break on this month to month. I'd be interested in knowing if there was some kind of incentive to keep them running longer.

I've heard that the businesses in westwood don't like all the premieres. They usually lose money on premiere nights because they don't get much business from the fans lining the streets, and their regular customers stay away on premiere nights, because of traffic and parking hassles during premieres.

I wonder how much the annual THX certification fee is? Is it worth it? I remember reading several years ago over at film-tech.com they were saying that most customers only cared about seeing a movie in a THX auditorium if it was a star wars movie.

I mean since the studios are always using these two theaters for premiers, there are always tech people from the studios keeping the presentation quality here in first class shape anyway.

When THX was the big thing in theatres the annual THX certification fee was $10,000. If you look back at some of those Edwards plexes they built, before they were sold. They would build the plex with 2-4 THX houses and about a year late the THX logos came off the screens and walls ads in the theatres. The reason for two theatres is the main house runs the "A List" guests and the second screen is the over flow house. The old Plitt/Cineplex Century Plaza was a big favorite with the studios on premieres. Since they had a built in drive for limos in front and they had the big screen and the second large house and later the twins in the rear of the large house. As segask said it was a major problem with area businesses on premiere nights. And for anyone who has ever been in or seen the Westwood traffic at that time of the day, It sucks. For premieres the studio would do a sound tech with Dolby techs and studio projection staff
and then do a run though of the picture and after that goes well. Wait till the evening show time. In the old days the union projectionist would be the operator for the show. On problem with having no other theatre near by to move-over the film playing there is the studio has to buy out the whole day for the film playing there.

In the old days when union projectionists were respected. Now its nothing but popcorn poppers runing the booths. Very sad William, very sad.

And the chains gave us alittle more respect up in the booths.

April 1st comes this week....let's hope some national theater chain, or maybe some film heavyweight/billionaire, gets serious about taking over the leases for these two national treasures. Losing them would be a tragedy.

I think it has pretty much been established that they are staying open on a month to month, with Mann as the operator. I'm not holding my breath for anything else at this point. But I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will get a few more years from them.

OH MY GOD. It's REGENCY! It's REGENCY! http://regencymovies.com/

Yup, confirmed, Regency. The employees have to interview with them this week.

wow! So there it is. They're taking over the Bruin too.

yeah, on the Regency website you can inquire about renting the Village and Bruin:

http://regencymovies.com/rentals.php

well that's it - the end of the Mann era in Westwood. Just ten years ago Mann had all the theaters in the village north of Wilshire Blvd.

Village
National
Bruin
Festival
Regent
Plaza
Westwood 4 plex

I think that was all of them.

Is this for real? Regency is talking over the Bruin and Village lease? I am totally surprised but very happy that the Bruin and the Village will stay open. Awesome.....

This represents a real departure from the typical Regency theater, but this is great news.

now that its over, my compliments to Mann theaters. I hope Regency maintains the same high level of presentation quality and theater upkeep that Mann has right up to the end. I think this theater has the best overall sound of any of the big movie palaces in L.A. (though I never got to hear the big downstairs auditorium at the Avco before they twinned it, nor the old Plitt century plaza before it was chopped up). For overall presentation quality I rate the Village the highest out of all the palaces in westwood and hollywood.

But now that the Mann era is over, what do you guys think of the job Mann did with the Village theater over the years?

The moral of the story is...

NEVER PLAY EDWARD HAVENS IN A GAME OF POKER! :) I have a new found respect for you, brother. Made me (US!) think I (WE!) had lost my mind!

Now the big question...IS CHINESE NEXT?

does any one have any inside info on the length of Regency's lease?

Sorry, Chris, but this comes as a complete surprise to me. As I've said before, I am not an insider, but I do have access to an insider, and the last I heard, Mann was going month-to-month once the main lease expired.

It somewhat makes sense. Regency seems to want to be a player. They have taken over a few Mann theatres already. My guess is they will take more...or what is remaining. Yes, end of an era. The Village was my first job in 1980. Mann has always been a big part of Westwood. But hey, the theatres are staying open and Regency is anxious to make a name.

Wonderful news.. Makes me want to fly to L.A. from St. Louis and watch a movie at my favorite theatres in the country. Long live the Village and the Bruin!!!!!!!

Look for Regency Theatres to make the Village/Bruin announcement today, March 30. I'll post the release as soon as I get clearance from Regency. Such wonderful news! Having been forced out of the Fairfax, Regency now steps up to operate two gems. It's up to us to actually support them and buy tickets - and lots of their fresh-popped popcorn. While you're in the neighborhood, support the Crest with your $$, too.

linking email

Here's the release: Variety is mis-reporting that Regency bought the theatres. They're just leasing for now.

WESTWOOD, CA -- Regency Theatres is pleased to announce the acquisition of two of the most legendary movie theaters in Los Angeles. Beginning on Thursday, April 1, Regency Theatres will be the proud operators of the historic Village and Bruin Theaters located in the heart of Westwood Village.

“We are excited to be adding the iconic Village and Bruin Theaters to the Regency family of theaters” said Lyndon Golin, President of Regency Theatres. “These celebrated movie houses have been landmarks in Los Angeles since the 1930’s and we plan to extend their legacy far into the future.”
Built in 1930 and opened in 1931, the Village Theater has been a popular location to see movies for several generations of moviegoers. The theater's grand architecture, large auditorium (which seats over 1,300 patrons) and state-of-the-art presentation make it a destination movie theater for film fans everywhere. The most striking feature of the theater is the 170-foot white Spanish Revival-style tower which looms high over the Broxton and Weyburn intersection.
The theater is a favorite among movie studios, which frequently select the theatre to premiere their top films. The Village Theater will soon celebrate its 80th Anniversary.
The Bruin Theater, a streamlined Art Deco cinema, opened its doors in 1937 directly across the street from the Village Theater and the two have stood side-by-side for over seven decades.
The Regency Village Theater is located at 961 Broxton Avenue and the Regency Bruin is located just across the street at 948 Broxton Avenue. Movie information and ticketing is available at www.regencymovies.com

About Regency Theatres:
Based in Calabasas, family-owned Regency Theatres was founded in 1996 and operates 22 locations in Southern California as well as theaters in Nevada and Colorado.

Very nice! I posted this press release on my Facebook page with my own personal forward to my friends.

Regency also operates the Tamarac Square Cinema in Denver which was originally a Mann house.
The Tamarac was one that Mann actually built.

well I'm really glad it will remain a first run movie house. But obviously Mann was losing money here. Regency knows they'll lose money here. I wonder how long they plan to lose money here?

O, ye of little faith. As long as that attitude holds, it'll be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Regency isn't in the business of losing money, nor would they be expanding in this economic climate specifically to do so. They made money at the Fairfax, when others couldn't. Perhaps, the lower monthly rent they negotiated with the Skouras survivors who still own both theatres will make the difference between win and lose - profit or loss. If nothing else, both houses will have a much different feel than under the long, slow death march of all Mann's properties as they fulfill their announced intention of leaving the exhibition business. Rule #1 in exhib. - the property takes on the personality of its management.

We'll have to wait and see what kind of bookings they can get.

One thing's for sure. They'll still get premieres. Studios couldn't/wouldn't book with Mann's operation uncertain.

Anybody know much about Lyndon Golin's background? Is he a passionate exhibitor or more of a financial/numbers guy?

segask,
Not that I don't totally love the outright doom and gloom you're pontificating (and before the change has even taken place, no less), but I'm hopeful that Regency might be a bit more aggressive than Mann has been for the past decade. Mann spent the first decade of the new millennium letting their once great dynasty wither away one closure and demolition at a time. The worst part is Mann operates a great many of the Cinema Treasures this site is devoted to and they singlehandedly put almost all of them in danger. While I think that there are things that have happened that were outside Mann's control, I think an overriding lack of enthusiasm and aggression on Mann's part were directly responsible for the slow hemorrhaging they have seemed content to allow. I'll provide a pair of examples...

Los Angeles has a handful of theaters that people are willing to go out of their way for... The Dome, The Chinese, The Village, The Bruin, The Vista (and a list that used to include The Festival and The National). Yet The Village would almost always mirror the showings over at The Dome or Grauman's leaving several films without a premiere screen engagement. The Chinese and The Village are both theaters I would enjoy seeing a movie at. Why make me decide between them rather than giving me an option at both? Now I know that the reason for this is because those films are typically the most popular, but if something's playing at The Village and also at The Dome, I'm more inclined to drive the extra 20 or so minutes to hit The Dome. Which brings us to point number 2-

Regardless of what anyone thinks of the technical pros and cons of the Cinerama Dome, I don't think very many could dispute that it is probably the greatest movie experience in Los Angeles: reserved seating purchased with no service charge online, no on-screen advertising, great presentation (movie props and costumes in the lobby, the curtains always operate as part of the show), excellent staff, exciting alternative programming (Cinerama presentations, great Q&As), and a generally well-mannered, enthusiastic crowd. Mann took all the things people loved most about the Arclight experience and implemented NONE OF IT (and they had the better part of a decade to do so). Arclight took moviegoing and classed it up for a new era. Mann stuck to the same old rigid theatrical dogma that served them well in the 80s... except it's no longer the 80s. Think about it- In late 2001, Mann added 6 adjacent screens to Grauman's. A few months later, Arclight reopened The Dome with 13 additional adjacent screens. Which one of those two theaters was more forward thinking and which on is currently reaping the benefit?

As the market changed... Mann didn't, plain and simple and that's why they were losing money.

Now I do think there needs to be some kind of move over complex built in Westwood. The closing of all of those old screens (again, mostly Mann it seems) needs to be replenished somehow. It may not be possible behind The Bruin, but I know there's space available on Gayley and Lindbrook (both east and west side of the street- which could put a complex right on Wilshire). Unless the studios suddenly stop demanding a film play for more than a week, it's gonna be a necessity.

But I believe Regency knows the financials for these theaters (they wouldn't have taken then over if they didn't) and are prepared to work hard to make The Village and The Bruin the flagships of their organization (probably with an eventual eye towards The Chinese as well). But if anyone from Regency is actually reading this... Don't simply continue to run these houses same old same old as the classics they are (and how Mann ran them) but rather give people reasons to return time and time again.

lyndon, i dont know if you remember me I use to work for CinePlex in san francisco, where is Ron Faucett? how is your sister ? wheres Larry Oya? my email is here let me know if you know where they are Nice to see your the president of a Great Company Congrats!

The Dome has 14 theatres adjacent to it. As much as I like the Dome I have to disagree about it being the greatest movie experience. Personally, I always hope that a film is showing at one of the Arclight theatres also. To me the Dome does not always provide the best experience. It was not designed for alot of films. The curved screen sometimes hides information, once it hid subtitled dialog from view when I was watching a film. But that is my opinion. To me The Village is still the best overall movie viewing experience of the L.A. BIG SCREENS.

I have to say I do like the regular Arclight screens. The high ceilings, the perfect distance from the screen and the overall layout if quite pleasing for a multiplex. It obviously was designed for 'the experience' and not to just fill seats. Unlike The Grove and the AMC Century 15, which I find both just flat out terrible places to watch films.

Looks like Regency will kick things off at the Village with "Hot Tub Time Machine" on Thursday, Apr 1.

Co-sign 100% w/Cliff.

I've only encountered Lyndon Golin via email, but it's clear to me that he is truly passionate about film. He REALLY helped out my (former) Orange County film club and my (current) LA area film club by granting us access to the Regency line of theaters - discounts on concessions, club shoutouts before the film, etc. In OC we stood with amazement as he & his team resurrected the South Coast Village 3 from the hands of Regal - new seats, digital sound & adapting Arclight's famous trademark of introducing the film to the audience before it starts. The place has brand new life because of his work.

I am confident that Mr. Golin will do all he can to breathe new life back into these twin towers of Westwood Village.

Lyndon and Andy Golin are former projectionists from Local 150 in Los Angeles. Their sister managed the former Cineplex Beverly Center, before going to work for DTS. Their father bought and sold projection equipment from Canada. They were partners with another former Cineplex manager on that former Edwards Azuza plex and University 3 near USC area.

Village & Bruin will remain THX Certified. That's good to hear!

I drove 120 miles last month to see a movie here on the fear it would be closing. Even enduring Book of Eli was worth it, for this theater holds the best movie going memories I can remember. To hear it is not going to close, was the best news I have heard in a long time.

Seeing Grease in 1978 or so here was the first time I went to Westwood and the first time I really 'noticed' the presentation of films, and would go back at least twice a month with friends to catch films there. Thank heavens it survived.

Brad... 15, your right. I always think of the 14 as the total number and not just the new screens.

But you didn't really read what I wrote. I said regardless of the technical merits of The Dome. I was speaking of the pure Arclight experience. Not the movie viewing experience, but the overall experience (which I assume you agree with since you have nothing but praise for Arclight otherwise).

Now imagine if they took all of the best from the Arclight experience and utilized it at The Village and Bruin? I hope Regency treats The Village and The Bruin better than other theaters because they are.

Yes. The Arclight Hollywood screens are truly exceptional. I usually hate multiplexes, but all the screens are worthy of praise...even the small ones. I guess I should have read what you a bit closer.

I think Regency will treat the Village and Bruin like Royalty. They seem hungry to be exhibitionists and they could really make a name with these theatres. Mann really lost interest in Westwood, but I will give them props for maintaining them. They still look great, and the presentations never suffered.

Thanks Chris and William for the info on Lyndon Golin. I have also heard that he has been an extraordianry caretaker and protector of the Lido in Newport Beach. So I feel that these crown jewels of the once great Mann chain are now in good hands.

I know how enormously proud Ted Mann was of all his theaters, especially the Bruin and the Village. Sad to see that Mann Theaters is now just a shell of its former self. Once the 8th largest theater chain in the country and arguably the most prestigious and important of all the chains for much of the time from 1970-2000, it has fallen far.

Totally forgot to mention the Lido. That place is fantastic. Decor is lovely, sound is excellent and the screen is nice (except for 2:35:1 films...major cropping issues).

xaverian, Ted Mann purchased the troubled 276 screen National General Theatre chain in 1973 and sold it in 1986.

"segask,
Not that I don't totally love the outright doom and gloom you're pontificating (and before the change has even taken place, no less), but I'm hopeful that Regency...."

--posted by Cliff...


LOL, good grief, look at me. Here Regency has stepped in and saved what is just about my most favorite movie theater and my first reaction is to be Mr. Pessimistic.

Let me try that again. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Regency and wish them the best of luck with the village and bruin theaters. Hopefully this is the beginning of the comeback we've all been hoping for in westwood.

That's more like it-

:)

Regency website has posted THE LOSERS as coming April 23rd to the Village, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET April 30 at the Bruin.

I have moved my 2 film clubs' events for "The Losers" from Arclight Hollywood to the Village. Thanks for the heads up, Brad!

LAHTF's next "All About" will be a celebration of Regency Theatres taking over the Village and Bruin theaters. April 17, 9 a.m. Details to follow.

I thank God for Regency saving the Village and Bruin theatres, I saw Revenge Of The Sith at the Village twice and it will always be my favorite Star Wars memory (well after seeing the first one when I was a kid of course!).

All About the Regency Village, Regency Bruin & Majestic Crest Theatres
A free, comprehensive history presentation and insider’s tour of three beloved landmark historic theatres
A chance to see and appreciate these theatres as never before…

Saturday, April 17, 9:15am; doors open at 9:00am
Event begins at the Regency Village Theatre, 961 Broxton, L.A., 90024 and
Ends at the Majestic Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood, L.A., 90024
www.regencymovies.com & www.westwoodcrest.com
Plentiful parking in Westwood
Free Admission. The Public is Invited.

Celebrate Regency Theatres’ recent salvation of the Village and Bruin and learn about their rich histories - including several “face-lifts”. Take an insider’s tour to generally forbidden off-limits areas. Then, walk over to the Majestic Crest – slightly detouring en route to say hello to Marilyn Monroe and friends – and discover how this former legit house reinvented itself via Disney, Pacific Theatres, and Robert Bucksbaum.
Three amazing single screen historic theatres, a cemetery chockfull of the famous and dead, and a chance to rediscover Westwood - all in one Saturday morning!

POWERPOINT HISTORIES – researched and presented by theatre historian Ed Kelsey. See how the Village, Bruin and Majestic Crest have changed over the years. What’s original? What’s Skouras? What’s Disney? Hear the stories of these great theatres from their beginnings through today.
TOUR BEHIND-THE-SCENES – get a real insider’s look.
DISCOVER – how you can support the continuing successful operation of these historic gems.
EDUCATE & ADVOCATE – find out how you can become actively involved in LAHTF’s ongoing theatre preservation work around SoCal. Brief updates on the Friends of the Fairfax, Inglewood Fox Theatre Alliance, Grauman’s Chinese, Golden Gate, Atlantic, and LA’s Broadway Theatres.

Regency Village Theatre (1931 – Percy Parke Lewis) formerly Village, Fox Westwood Village, Mann Village
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/246/
Regency Bruin Theatre (1937 – S. Charles Lee)
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6/
Majestic Crest (1940 – Arthur W. Hawes) Westwood, UCLAN, Metro, Pacific Crest, Crest, Westwood Crest
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/34/
Join the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation on FaceBook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=125430125723

Many people are fascinated by the architecture of fantasy so beautifully on display in Southern California’s great historic theatres. People are also curious about how the theatres work. What does it look like backstage? What do the performers see when they look out across the footlights? Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's "All About" series gives the public an insider's look at these wonderful theatres and share parts of their histories - good and bad - as a way to encourage people to become actively involved in protecting and ensuring their futures.
The LAHTF is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, restoring and supporting the operation of Southern California’s historic theatres. For more information visit www.lahtf.org

Sounds like a great even. I'm going to have to try and make it.

Celebrate the salvaging of the Village and Bruin? Give me a break!

The Village and Bruin theatres were never in any danger. A number of companies were in talks with the owners to take over the buildings once Mann announced they weren't renewing their lease.

Yet, Regency actually did it. Thus, salvation. Everything else is just hot air. Hope the same companies are negotiating to take over the Chinese, Fairfax, etc.

Regency HAD the Fairfax when it closed. Allegedly, the building owner is intentionally not repairing the theatre so he can shuffle it off to the highest bidder. Anyone care to clarify?

There is a lot of info on the Fairfax Cinema treasures page at
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1163/

Salvation is the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc. The Village and the Bruin were never under the threat of harm, risk, loss, destruction or anything else. They were never going to close permanently after March 31st. There were a number of exhibitors who were negotiating to pick up the pair of theatres for their own circuit, if the right deal could be made. Regency was the one who signed the lease, and that's all there is to it. There was never an eminent threat of the two theatres closing and being torn down, and thus, no salvation. This was not a situation like the National.

Here is an LA Times ad from October 1973:
http://tinyurl.com/yabt62s

Went here on Saturday 4/24 with my film club to see "The Losers" (R-rated concept neutered down to PG-13 level execution). Regency looks to have exclusively booked with Warner Bros for both this and the Bruin. Both theatres featured upcoming WB/New Line flicks in their poster cases and all the trailers were WB/New Line.

House was roughly 10% full (that's 10% out of over 1000 seats for those unfamiliar with the place). No more Screenvision preshow - curtain was closed & stayed that way until showtime. Trailers/feature all ran on film. Did not take a tour of the joint to confirm whether or not DP is still installed here (I will try to hook up a tour with Regency's management the next time we see a flick here). Film print was clean & sound was top notch.

Let's all continue to support this place. Yeah, Arclight is the new king of the LA jungle, but there's no reason why the Village/Bruin can't rise up to their former level of success. A tell tale sign of how open the gate is for a re-awakening: Many of my film club members had never even been to the theatre before! After our visit, they'll be coming back!

Nice to hear about the curtain being closed, my single biggest annoyance on the few occasions where I actually go to a theater anymore.

"Allegedly, the building owner is intentionally not repairing the theatre so he can shuffle it off to the highest bidder. Anyone care to clarify?"

Chris, he's not repairing the building so he can replace it with condos/retail.

Thats too bad.

After all the fears of imminent closure of the Village and Bruin earlier this year I wonder how they are operating under the Regency banner. Are the programming and presentation standards being maintained, or infact, even better than when leased by AMC? After all the uncertainties of the future of these 2 theatres so recently, I sincerely hope the local population are supporting Regency in their faith in these showcases.

AMC never leased or operated these theatres, it was Mann Theatres.

Sorry William. Just another Senior's Moment.

Saw (ahem!) Sex And The City 2 here on the Sunday before Memorial Day. Presentation still up to standards & still THX certified. Of course, the only time the surrounds got any action in a flick like this were in a (ridiculous) wedding scene featuring Liza Minneli and when the girls sung "I Am Woman" in a karaoke bar.

I went to first show today of INCEPTION. Really liked the film and as usual the presentation was fantastic. Thank you Regency for talking over the theatre and keeping the Village a class act.