AMC Criterion 6
1313 3rd. Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
1313 3rd. Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
8 people
favorited this theater
The original 1924 built Criterion Theatre, which was once part of the Fox West Coast Theatres circuit, was razed around 1983 to make way for this newer 6-plex.
Sitting near the AMC 7 and the Loews Cineplex Broadway 4, this popular movie house is located on Santa Monica’s bustling 3rd Street Promenade.
Mann Theatres took over the Criterion in 1991 and in 2001, remodeled the interior and exterior of the theater. The architectural firm Behr Browers Architects of Westlake CA were responsible for the remodel. It is one of the most successful theaters in the circuit.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 47 comments)
That’s what I thought. I didn’t know the downstairs were stadium. I have never seen a movie downstairs. Only upstairs twice in the same auditorium.
William, where is Chuck allen now? he was my DM at Fashion Island, i really liked him and Anita.
John, I haven’t seen him in years. When I was working for Warner. My boss and Chuck Allen and the manager would go out to dinner on one of our pictures opening weekends.
Mann has taken this theater off their website not long ago. Checking the recording they still have it as the Mann Criterion. Tomorrows news ads will tell the story..
Now listed amongst the AMC Theatres in the Los Angeles times page.
It is listed under AMC in the LA Times Calendar section today. AMC Criterion 6, all three Cinemas on the Promenade are listed under AMC.
Here’s an article about AMC’s acquisition of this theater: View link
Went to the Criterion 6 for the first time on 10/12. The $6 senior Tuesday is a great deal, but the $5 flat rate evening parking is $2 more than Westwood(where you can sometimes find a free spot). Saw “Case 39”, 10:05PM show in one of the downstairs auditoriums. Only eight of us watching quite a good movie-much better than the reviews. The little girl is tremendous, almost as good as the one in “The Bad Seed”, which the Aero showed months ago.
The vertical sign and marquee are amazing-are they reproductions or restored originals?
Thanks for all the experts on this board-I learn a lot.
They are both reproductions of the original vertical and marquee signage. The only original part of the built is the facade wall were the marquee is, the rest of the building is new.
It should be noted that the organ from this theater was used for at least a few recordings by Gaylord Carter, though I believe this was after the organ had been removed from the Criterion to a new home.