AMC Criterion 6
1313 3rd. Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
1313 3rd. Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
9 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 was one of the most successful theaters in the circuit.
It was closed on March 30, 2013.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 57 comments)
June 27th, 1990 grand opening ad has been uploaded in the photo section.
May not be open for much longer. According to an article in this issue of the Santa Monica Daily Press —
http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/120812.pdf
— the owner has received permission from the city to convert the theatre space to retail. The majority of the article deals with the proposed new multiplex AMC wanted to build on Fourth, but the author dropped this bombshell in the last two paragraphs. See page 10.
This article about AMC withdrawing its proposal to build a new theater in Santa Monica also indicates that the Criterion 6 may still close.
I went here when it was a single-screen, large auditorium. The best double feature I saw was “Oh, Lucky Man!” plus “The Boys In The Band.” I’ve been to the six-plex, and it’s terrific. Good sight lines, good audience. Why do they want to destroy a successful theater? Money, of course! Screw what the audience who is supporting the theater wants! Typical corporate business.
This is the one screen in SM that should remain open. The AMC7 and the BROADWAY 4 are awful. Maybe SM should have less screens, it is probably the boost Westwood needs.
Bad news, Brade48: The AMC Criterion 6 closed yesterday. Front page news in the Santa Monica Daily Press. It looks like the space will be turned into retail.
http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/033013.pdf
Status should be changed accordingly.
Hey, I just finished reading the article linked above, and the last line cites CT!
I used to go to the movies in L.A. 3 – 4 times a week. When the neighborhood theaters started closing, most of the movies stopped appealing to me. I set up a state-of-the-art theater and built a fantastic collection of films. I have everything I ever wanted, including dozens of films that never made it to VHS or DVD (thanks to certain studio connections from when I worked in the industry; new copies just seem to crawl out of the vaults).
So, any problems? Yes, I’m now separated from the theaters and the people, and I used to live for going to the movies. I got tired of seeing these theaters close, seeing the admission go up over and over, and I hate those f'ing action adventure, flash cut, Star Wars, superhero films. How many times can seeing a building be blown up be exciting? The neighborhood theaters closed when people started supporting the malls and multiplexes, and I reluctantly withdrew.
Tonight’s midnight double feature is “Eegah!” plus “The Undertaker and His Pals.” Admission is free, the popcorn is fresh, and nobody with a cell phone will be admitted.
That’s too bad… That was the nicest theater on the promenade… the nicest in Santa Monica even…
Another article on its closing: http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/AMC-Criterion-6-Goes-Dark-On-Third-Street-Promenade/37216