Picwood Theatre
10872 W. Pico Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90064
10872 W. Pico Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90064
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 245 comments found
@Coate: sorry, I was agreeing with you and confirming according to the best of my recollection…thought you might like concurrance from someone who was actually there for the entire run.
BobSe: Why are you repeating me??? Just two comments before you I had stated the Picwood showed “E.T.” after the Cinerama Dome and that it ran 22 weeks. If you were agreeing with me, then say so. Otherwise, please pay attention.
The 1980’s was the last true decade that had outstanding projection in theatres, run by true projectionists. They ran the theatres without automations to run curtains and lights.
Funny how I clearly remembered seeing “E.T.” at the Picwood but had forgotten the Dome. I’ve always been pretty good at remembering where I saw certain films, especially in a unique place like the Dome, so the impact of this one must have been pretty significant to have wiped that part out.
Boy, do I miss the long runs of great films.
The Picwood ran “E.T.” on a limited release after it left its exclusive engagement at The Cinerama Dome. We ran it until we opened “The Dark Crystal”. IMDB tells us the it opened on December 17, 1982. Anyone any good at math? If the dates are correct, Picwood ran “E.T.” for 22 weeks.
BobSe, you ran such a great show that I remember bringing you caviar! Picwood had such classy people :–)
FWIW…The Picwood’s run of “E.T.” began July 16, 1982, which was the film’s sixth week of release. The Cinerama Dome played it as a Los Angeles (city and county) exclusive for its first five weeks of release. The Picwood’s engagement ran, I believe, for 22 weeks.
sweet…that’s great to hear from someone after all these years
Yes, it would have been within the first 2-3 weeks. That’s great to hear, and it was a VERY good one!
@ChasSmith: if you were there in the first month I probably ran the show. The other projectionist was let go the day before it opened so I was working 14 hour days. Hope it was a good one.
Sadly, the only film I know I saw at the Picwood was “E.T.” It was my second time to see it (don’t remember where else it opened) and I remember so clearly waiting out in front (probably in a line) on a beautiful sunny afternoon with friends who were seeing it their first time. Love the photos here, and I’m sorry I didn’t get there for other films.
William (aka Bill). That is correct. The booth was pretty much a mess when I got there. The first feature I ran there was Wolfen in 70mm Dolby. I was there until summer 1985. Clark stayed until the theater closed. I went over to Cineplex Brentwood Twin just a few months before the Pic was raised.
BobSe, You won the bid after Autley Musslewhite and Ozzie Pence left. Then you Paul Marks ran it. And after Marks Clark Wood. Before Picwood you was over at SRO’s Paramount Theatre.
Thank you…
Hi BobSe, You ran a good show Bob. It was nice have you in that booth.
@MarcS: we played The Dark Crystal right after “E.T.”. Both were 70mm Dolby presentations and we went back to 35mm for almost a year after Crystal closed. The only gospel film we ran was “Gospel”, which ran for about 2 months. Tom Campion was the manager at the time and Clark W and I ran the booth.
Picwood was a Great Theatre to work in those days. Marc you still have those tapes. :)
Grandison, I don’t recognize your cuteness from the picture on here, FB me: “Mark Takoda”. William,such a zen answer, but YOU’RE RIGHT! Thank you! PS-I still have the videotapes you made for me :–) Also, don’t know if it’s been mentioned on here, but you can see the Picwood in the Get Smart episode with the bald bowling league :–)
MarcS, I thought I was the cutest Asst. Manager on the planet! Oh well, my heart is broken. ;) Lisa was quite amazing, though, and I learned a lot from her. I remember tripping over the stacks of cash when we had “E.T.”, but not the gospel movie.
The only one that comes to mind is the movie “Gospel”.
LisaN was the best and cutest Asst. Manager on the planet. Okay, so maybe I still have a crush on her ;–) There were three Gospel movies that came out in 1982, anyone remember which one played at the Picwood after E.T. ???
Here’s the Picwood as cover girl, Boxoffice, May 7, 1949.
This is from the LA Times on November 7, 1948:
Opening soon of the new Picwood theater at Pico and Westwood Blvd. has been announced. The new structure has 1500 seating capacity, 1000 on the first floor. The theater is owned by Earl Collins and will be managed by Phil Isley, of Dallas.
Here is a 1959 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/c7nwaj
In that picture of the marquee with “Thief”, it was a move-over from the Plaza Theatre in Westwood. I was working at the theatre at that time and put up those letters for that engagement.