Mann Bruin Theatre

This theatre was built in 1931 the same year as the larger Village across the street. It was as well a Fox West Coast Theatre. In the 70's it became a 70mm theatre and is state of the art today.

Correction: The Bruin opened in 1937. Architect was S. Charles Lee.

The Bruin became a 70mm house in 1978. The first film to play in 70mm was "Capricorn One" from Warner Bros.. The two Norelco AAII projectors came from the Carthay Circle theatre. The #2 machine head was changed out in the early 90's.

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

Mann altered their website, official webpage / showtimes now at
http://mann.moviefone.com/showtimes/theater.adp?theaterid=89

Here is an opening year photo at this link:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015714.jpg

Like Westwood itself, the Bruin is in need of a makeover inside.

The photo posted by J.F. Lundy above has "Boy Meets Girl" playing on the marquee which dates it at 1938, a year after the Bruin opened.

I worked as projectionist at the Bruin from 1975 until 1997. I ran some great films there, lots of premiers."All the President's Men" was the first premier I worked. Quite often, I would meet celebs there. Biggies I remember were "Terms of Endearment" played there exclusive for several months.As William (above)wrote, The Bruin installed 70mm in 1978. I was working there at the time and worked on the installation of the Norelco AAII Projectors. As he said "Capricorn One" was the 1st of many 70mm pix to play there.Some of the HUGE Boxoffice pix in 70mm were "Road Warrior" Blade Runner"
I have pictures of many of the marquees, as well as pix of the projection installation. I also made a short comedy film called "Walk-In' at the Bruin and used theatre staff to play customers. People still laugh when I run this film. Soon hope to make this available on DVD. Anyone interested?

I am currently the union projectionist/engineer for The Mann Bruin, Westwood, and other Mann theatres in the Westwood area. I have been here since april 2003. The Bruin is still a first run theatre, and is often used as “overflow house” for the big premieres across the street at The Village. It is also still host of its own premieres. The last one was Dreamworks’ Red Eye in August 2005. I am very interested in any pictures or film shot at The Bruin over the years. Please let me know….

Here is a photo of the Bruin Theater.

This is another photo of the Mann Bruin.

CALLING ALL THEATRE / MOVIE ENTHUSIASTS!!!

T'he Los Angeles Theatre' on South Broadway, LA is playing host to the UK television show 'Dead Famous LIVE'. We are currently looking for people who would like to come along as part of the studio audience.

'Dead Famous LIVE' is a studio entertainment show all about Hollywood History and the paranormal. We will be welcoming celebrity guests on to the show and investigating famous locations around Hollywood which are rumoured to be haunted including the Los Angeles Theatre itself.

This is an invaluable chance to get access to the Los Angeles Theatre, the place where Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' premiered in 1931 and to have a thoroughly great day out! (And its free!!)

We're transmitting 'Live' back to the United Kingdom so expect it to be exciting and fun!

We will be filming on three days from 11th - 13th November between 11.30am - 4pm. If you are interested in coming on one or all of these days then email me for tickets!

george.hughes@twofour.co.uk

I look forward to your responses!

The facade looks similar to the Trylon Theater's facade in Queens, N.Y. Did other theaters have this feature?

If you refer to the concave wall with giant fluting above the marquee, that was a common feature of many buildings, whether theatres or retail shops, all around Los Angeles during the Art Moderne period. Another theatre with a similar feature was the Arden in Lynwood, a few miles southeast of downtown. If you refer to that splendid round marquee, that was a feature of several theatres that occupied corner locations, including the RKO Hillstreet, the Warner Downtown, and the Wiltern.

Here is a photo of the foyer, circa 1937, from UCLA collection:

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/001/17/i0011702.jpg

Nighttime shot

This is another modern photo of the Mann Bruin Theater.

Here is a 2006 photo of the Mann Bruin.

How about some interior shots? I've been to the Westwood, across the street, in '01 and saw Planet of the Apes there. They have a killer sound system (THX certified) but the screen is a bit small. It can't be much larger/smaller than Baltimore's Senator.

Here a few shots from the Mann Theatres site.

http://www/manntheatres.com/premieres/theatres/bruin.php

Forgot a dot.

http://www.manntheatres.com/premieres/theatres/bruin.php

Thanks, William. The interior doesn't look as nice or ornate as my memory of the Westwood, but more like a studio screening room.

The theatre had these nice side wall lights at one time, but they removed them during one of the later remodels.

MESSAGE FOR THOMAS L. and OTHER PROJECTIONISTS!

Hey Gang! My name is Todd and I learned the trade on carbon-arc projectors in college back in 1988. I currently freelance as a projectionist in Los Angeles in people's private homes, at talent agencies, etc. I also work the Palm Springs Int'l Film Festival in January.

I'm wondering if any esteemed and tenured fellow projectionists know of any full or part-time work at your own wonderful venues or in the L.A. area in general. I simply love this work...and have the greatest respect for it!

Thanks in advance for any help! ToddHavens@sbcglobal.net

Try calling Local-150 and talk to Carl the Business Agent about work in the Los Angeles area. Because theatre projection does not pay the good rates as it once did. Because most of the staffing is done by the managers & assistants or the ushers types nowadays. Your about 10 years late on making fair money at this trade in Los Angeles. I use to work the Bel-Air circuit in Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Malibu and the studio stuff, when I was based in Los Angeles. There was so much work and theatres to work at that time. Other then working in management or as a usher/projectionist, you might give Carl a call.

Thanks, William! I have a call into Carl. Another projectionist recommended I do the same in contacting him.

I've done the platter projectionist thing back in Ohio for what was $3.50/hr, I think. Tragic. That was over ten years ago. I still think there are niches of opportunity out here, I just imagine they're not to the multitude of Hollywood's former glory.

Thanks, again!

Thanks, William! I have a call into Carl. Another projectionist recommended I do the same in contacting him.

I've done the platter projectionist thing back in Ohio for what was $3.50/hr, I think. Tragic. That was over ten years ago. I still think there are niches of opportunity out here, I just imagine they're not to the multitude of Hollywood's former glory.

Thanks, again!

Thanks, William! I have a call into Carl. Another projectionist recommended I do the same in contacting him.

I've done the platter projectionist thing back in Ohio for what was $3.50/hr, I think. Tragic. That was over ten years ago. I still think there are niches of opportunity out here, I just imagine they're not to the multitude of Hollywood's former glory.

Thanks, again!

Thanks, William! I have a call into Carl. Another projectionist recommended I do the same in contacting him.

I've done the platter projectionist thing back in Ohio for what was $3.50/hr, I think. Tragic. That was over ten years ago. I still think there are niches of opportunity out here, I just imagine they're not to the multitude of Hollywood's former glory.

Thanks, again!

(Sorry, Gang...there appears to have been a glitch in the Matrix.)

This is a 2007 photo of the Mann Bruin.

Recent nighttime view of the Bruin Theater:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/wstwdBruinmar92007.jpg

I attended many movies at the Bruin, all throughout the mid-50s to the present. If you'd like to see classic shots of the exterior and interior from days of old, it's featured in John Frankenheimer's first film, The Young Stranger, with great exterior shots and lobby shots (as well as street shots of then Westwood - it's available on a region 2 DVD), and, from the earlly 60s, Hall Bartlett's The Caretakers, where we get great exterior shots of Polly Bergen walking up to the theater and buying a ticket, then great lobby shots as she enters the theater, and best of all, great auditorium shots when she goes beserk and runs up in front of the screen.

Amusingly, I saw a sneak preview of The Caretakers AT the Bruin - it was quite odd to be sitting in the auditorium watching Miss Bergen go berserk in the same auditorium!

One of the best screenings I've ever been to was at the Bruin. For the Thursday sneak of Snakes on a Plane, someone brought two huge trash bags full of rubber snakes, and would throw them throughout the audience at the appropriate times during the movie. There was constant hissing as well. And when Sam finally exclaimed his classic line ("I want these mf snakes of this mf plane"), there was literally a standing ovation. You couldn't even hear him finish his line because everyone was cheering at the top of their lungs. Cinematic experiences like that are truly priceless.

Oh-- and Heather Graham was there too. How random!

HOW DOES THE THEATER DO ....

Here is a recent view of the Mann Bruin.

Saw Drew Barrymore there once...

Here is a photo of the Mann Bruin dressed up for the Simpsons movie.

We moved away from L.A. 12 years ago. Is there still a Hamburger Hamlet directly next door to the Bruin? We would eat there and could watch as the line formed. When the line reached the middle of the Hamlet, we knew it was time to get in line.

Nope, sadly the Hamlet is now a Jerry's Deli. Feh.

This is another recent photo of the Mann Bruin.

I went to a premiere of a Bond film in 1985 at the Bruin. My roommate worked for Mann Theaters at the time. As we were filing in on the red carpet, someone in the audience shouted out "How did those two losers get in?". People are cruel. After the movie, we tried to get into the food area but were tossed by the guards. We ended up at Hamburger Hamlet.

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!

In your travels Howard tell us about the stage at the Village to put on shows.

William, I've been in all the Westwood Village theaters, but I don't know the Village's stage size or whether it could be expanded. If you or others know, please comment directly on the Village page rather than here, on the Bruin page.

I worked at the Village (1980-1982) and remember the backstage not being too deep beyond the screen.

Recent views:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdBruinOct222007003.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdBruinOct142007004.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdBruinOct22200700010.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.

This is a view of the interior.

That last shot of the interior of the Bruin was taken from the Mann Theatres web site.

http://www.manntheatres.com/premieres/theatres/bruin.php

They should complain to the other website about stealing their photo.

Thief!

Was that directed at anyone in particular?

Here is another recent photo.

A recent night view can be seen here.

I tried to cover the same time period for the Bruin as I did for the Village; this is what I remember for Summer 1979 through 1986. My memory is shaky during early 1983 so I did not pursue dates.

1979

6/15 PROPHECY (5 Weeks)
7/20 THE FRISCO KID (4 Weeks)
8/17 MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN (6 Weeks)
9/28 TIME AFTER TIME (5 Weeks)
11/2 RUNNING (6 Weeks)
12/14 CHAPTER TWO (14 Weeks)

1980
3/28 SERIAL (4 Weeks)
4/25 WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM (3 Weeks)
5/16 THE HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS (5 Weeks)
6/20 ROUGH CUT (2 Weeks)
7/4 AIRPLANE! (12 Weeks)
9/26 ORDINARY PEOPLE (11 Weeks)
12/10 THE COMPETITION (12 Weeks)

1981
3/6 ALL NIGHT LONG (5 Weeks)
4/10 NIGHTHAWKS (6 Weeks)
5/22 OUTLAND (6 Weeks)
7/3 S.O.B. (4 Weeks)
7/31 VICTORY (4 Weeks)
8/28 GALLIPOLI (4 Weeks)
9/25 CHARIOTS OF FIRE (12 Weeks)
12/18 SHARKY’S MACHINE (7 Weeks)

1982
2/5 PERSONAL BEST (8 Weeks)
4/2 CHARIOTS OF FIRE (RE:4 Weeks)
4/30 PARTNERS (3 Weeks)
5/21 THE ROAD WARRIOR (3 Weeks)
6/11 GREASE 2 (2 Weeks)
6/25 BLADE RUNNER (4 Weeks)
7/23 THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (11 Weeks)
10/8 LOOKIN’ TO GE T OUT (2 Weeks)
10/22 IT CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD (2 Weeks)
11/11 LOVE CHILD (1 Week)
11/18 TEX (3 Weeks)
12/10 THE TOY (?)

1983
THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (Re-Issue), MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD, EXPOSED, HAMMETT, TRADING PLACES, BEYOND THE LIMIT, THE DEAD ZONE, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

1984
POLICE ACADEMY, THE NATURAL, GREMLINS, CLOAK & DAGGER, FLASHPOINT, PLACES IN THE HEART, THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL, FALLING IN LOVE, CITY HEAT

1985
TUFF TURF, THAT'S DANCING!, WITNESS, GOTCHA!, FLETCH, MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME, SUMMER RENTAL, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, AFTER HOURS, THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW, JAGGED EDGE (MO), SPIES LIKE US, CLUE (one week), SPIES LIKE US (switched back after a week with Regent who took CLUE booking)

1986
DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS, GUNG HO, AT CLOSE RANGE, POLTERGEIST II:THE OTHER SIDE, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, TOP GUN (MO), CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, CROCODILE DUNDEE (MO), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Am I the only one who gets the message "This image or video has been moved or deleted" when I click on the countless Photo Bucket links on this website?

Some of the links are dead. They are all posted by users, rather than by the site, and sometimes the users don't keep their Photobucket (or Webshots or whatever site they've linked to) accounts, or they run out of space and remove older photos to make room for new ones. I do still see hollywood90038's three photos of the Bruin linked on October 28 last year, though.

No matter what site your in, don't even bother if "PHOTOBUCKET" is available for pictures......they're never there, just deleted.

According to a picture seen in the documentary on the Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III DVD, that film (Leatherface) played at this theatre.

From 2007, at night:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/wstwdBruinmar92007.jpg

I recently went back to the Bruin after an almost twenty year hiatus. 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 Bruin, I am concerned that the Bruin, penultimate to the Village in status in Westwood, may close along with the Village. 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?

Here's a great shot of the Bruin circa 1956. I've also added photos of the Lido, the Stadium, the Vogue, and the Wiltern, so check 'em out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/whitesheik/Bruin1.jpg

Hainesway can you give us the link to the other photos?

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3390/

The Lido.

The Vogue.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/496/

The Stadium

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/499/

And the Wiltern.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/19/

The year given for this photo is 1982.

Here is a 1948 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/64dtf4

Ned Fairbairn, we had to meet. I did some projection fill-ins there also.

Here is a December 2008 photo.

This is a 2009 photo.

Here is a photo taken last year:
http://tinyurl.com/dl2nvk

1981 Photo

1982 Photo

1983 Photo

Here is a July 1975 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/ptvyce

A picture of the booth in the 1990's
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39915489@N06/3666918772/

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 Village and Bruin have two things going against them.

The first is the nearby AMC 15 and LANDMARK 12 who have clearance to play the same films. With the blockbusters like Harry Potter available all three locations, the Village ends up third choice.

THE BIGGEST OBSTICLE is that Westwood Village is a complete drag. They have done nothing to entice the public to really come there. The parking is still awful and Rents are still ridiculous. Retails have bailed and have chosen not to come into the village whatsoever because the lack of return. There are places that have been empty for a decade. It is not an ejoyable place to hangout any longer. When I go see a film at the Village and Bruin I time it so I can see the film and then leave.

Doubtful any chain will take these leases in this current economy, and with Westwood a mess. It would take someone with foresight to hope it will turn around at one point. But Westwood has no interest in becoming a mecca again and will probably just ended up as it has settled into.

We can only hope that the owners will offer a deal to Mann to keep operating them until perhaps they find a new lease holder. I'm not sure when the lease expires, but Mann was flexable with the National for a while and kept it open an additional 8 months.

I'm very sad about this. Those 2 theatres and the National have always been my favorites since I was a teenager. THere will never be anything like them ever again.

Having never been privileged to visit this theatre, as well as the Village, and indeed, the now lost National, is it possible that Mann might consider twinning or even tripling these iconic theatres in an attempt to secure their future? Please note - this is NOT my preferred option, but better than the fate that befell the National. BTW. What now occupies the land that used to be the National?

Mann had drawn plans for plexing the Village way back in the mid 80's. The California Theatre in Huntington Park has a auditorium that is very like the Village. It was tri-plexed with the main theatre as the big house and the balcony split into two small theatres. They ran two walls just off the center line in the balcony so they could use the single projection booth for all three theatres. It works but it is not that great.
Mann does not own the property and the think the owners would not want to ruin the theatre.

That would have been an expensive undertaking for the Village. They would have had to add a elevator. The Bruin is large but narrow, the only way to could plex it is to either add on screens behind the main, or just gut the theatre out and build a whole new complex extending back into the parking lot.

Bercy, there's still an empty lot where the National used to stand -- with a sign reading, "prime retail space opening Spring 09!"

Here is a photo taken Sunday:
http://tinyurl.com/krmce8

Here is another 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/nm8b3k

Ken, the two 1982 American Classic Images you linked to show a pole with a flourish on top sticking out of the center portion of the marquee. It's not in the 81 or 83 photos. I wonder if it was something related to "Chariots of Fire," the movie they were showing when those shots were taken... maybe an Olympic torch??

perhaps I need to return to my optometrist again, but I could swear the marquee reads Chariots of Fire.

Yes, that torch was a promotional touch that Warner Bros. did for the film "Chariots of Fire". Over the years the studios would do little promos to theatre fronts and marquees. In the Los Angeles market they did many of these displays at the Village, Bruin, National, Chinese, Cinerama Dome, Hollywood Pacific and Pantages Theatres and others. So people who grew up in the area got to see many of these displays as they went to the these theatres. Having worked with Warner Publicity shoting many of the marquees during this time of the 80's and 90's..

There was a guy at Warner in the early 80's when I worked at the Village who used to be in charge of the displays; he would visit Harry Francis and they would visit at the outside cafe next to the Bruin for hours. I cannot remember his name. But yeah the displays were great. I still have the "Arthur" silhouette from when it booked for the Bruin.

Alot of great memories at those theatres in Westwood. It is going to be my saddest day as a moviegoer when the Village and Briun close. I still get sad when I see the still empty lot where the National stood.

Brad41, his name is Ron Chan. He took over alot of these promos when Marty Weiser passed away. Marty was the one who dressed the Cinerama Dome with a easter hat for "Mame" and held that special screening of "Blazing Saddles" at the Pickwick Drive-In. We all learned alot from Harry Francis during those days about Showmanship.

Marty Weiser used to visit the Mann theatres in Westwood practically every weekend. The displays were phenomenal. Much of the fun going to the BIG theatres like the Village, Bruin, National, Picwood, Avco (when it was a major theatre), Plitt Century Plaza, Chinese, Pantages, Pacific Hollywood, Cinerama Dome etc. during the 70's / early 80's was seeing how the studios were going to "dress" them. We'll never have that again; the new theatres do not have that charm.

Any current news on plans for this theatre? Is it going to say -Pottery Barn - in big letters across the marquee after March 2010.

I doubt that retail will take over the Bruin or the Village...at least anytime soon. There are so many empty retails spaces as it is in Westwood. It really is not a shopping district these, parking is awful, and

I'm wondering if Mann will extend the lease a bit for the Bruin and the Village. They operated the National 8 months after the lease lapsed. Maybe they will come up with a short term 'deal' with the owners.

If the owners lease the theatres separately the Bruin could survive as a theatre. That is if there someone revives the plans to build additional screens behind it. Who knows what is being discussed at this point. Westwood needs to be revived before a movie theatre or retail space with truly trive again.

The digital projector was removed this past week. Time is winding down . . .

Any chance of Arclight Westwood?

November 2009 photo of the Bruin Theatre courtesy Matt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mister_goleta/4149808156/in/pool-72675154@N00/

Mann's lease here is up in 2 months. Any news of future plans for this place?