AMC Criterion 6

1313 3rd Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Unfavorite 10 people favorited this theater

Showing 1 - 25 of 61 comments

Jake Bottero
Jake Bottero on September 8, 2022 at 8:26 am

It’s a Brookstone retail crap store at present.

turnkey
turnkey on August 3, 2022 at 1:26 pm

The above description is not quite accurate. I worked in Santa Monica in the early-mid 1980s. The theater was not “razed around 1983” – it had to be later than that, either the late ‘80s or early '90s. And let me tell you, after the theater was sold by the Mann company (late '70s?) it went DOWNHILL just like the rest of the Santa Monica mall. At one time it was a .99 and even .49 theater showing double and triple “grindhouse” type fare. The poor manager made attempts at respectability but the majority of the audience was homeless or riff raff types. He even tried screening “The Ten Commandments” – for free – around Christmas time, thinking families might show up – but was horrified, or so I heard, when the theater was packed with transients.

BRADE48
BRADE48 on July 13, 2017 at 11:32 am

Not really demolished. The building remains. It was gutted out for retail.

Edward Havens
Edward Havens on July 12, 2017 at 9:26 pm

Status should be changed to “Demolished.”

br91975
br91975 on June 2, 2017 at 10:45 am

A Victoria’s Secret location currently occupies the former AMC Criterion 6 space.

R68Dtrain2500
R68Dtrain2500 on January 28, 2016 at 10:36 pm

This movie theater has been close for 3 years

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on January 5, 2015 at 1:16 am

I walked by the other day and the portion of the building that held the theaters has been stripped down to the beams.

Edward Havens
Edward Havens on February 14, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Ted Mann passed away in 2001.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on February 13, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Mr. Mann? Why I don’t think there’s been a Mr. Mann since… hmm… when? The 80’s?

1Wendymovies
1Wendymovies on February 13, 2014 at 3:08 am

Why????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was Hoping some How this Theater would Reopen!!!!!! This is a Personal Loss For Me!!!!!!! I Have Felt Heartbroken Since Mr. MANN sold it to AMC!!!!!!! No Offense, but what a Great Place with Great Memories' Like The Corners of My Mind Misty Water Color Memories'!!!!!!!!!!

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on February 12, 2014 at 11:13 pm

Sadly, the blade and marquee have been removed…

1Wendymovies
1Wendymovies on November 10, 2013 at 1:35 am

This was a very Busy Popular Theater every time I was there I felt a Warm Loving Feeling this Place will be missed what a sad loss and it didn’t have to be that way I can’t fatham what they were thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1Wendymovies
1Wendymovies on November 10, 2013 at 12:55 am

I Loved This Theater it Ment the World To Me I will never feel the same about going to the Movies Again!!!!!!!!!! Thank You Very Little Stupid People Wrong Thing to Do this was the Best Place Ever What Were you Thinking You Lack Sentiment How Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alan Bell
Alan Bell on April 9, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Another article on its closing: http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/AMC-Criterion-6-Goes-Dark-On-Third-Street-Promenade/37216

Richie_T
Richie_T on March 30, 2013 at 12:10 pm

That’s too bad… That was the nicest theater on the promenade… the nicest in Santa Monica even…

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on March 30, 2013 at 2:41 am

Hey, I just finished reading the article linked above, and the last line cites CT!

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on March 30, 2013 at 2:36 am

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.

BRADE48
BRADE48 on December 28, 2012 at 3:32 pm

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.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on December 16, 2012 at 5:25 am

This article about AMC withdrawing its proposal to build a new theater in Santa Monica also indicates that the Criterion 6 may still close.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on December 8, 2012 at 2:48 am

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.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 9, 2012 at 4:56 pm

June 27th, 1990 grand opening ad has been uploaded in the photo section.

GaryParks
GaryParks on July 23, 2011 at 12:54 pm

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.

 Also, the 60s marquee of the Criterion can be glimpsed in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," in the background of several shots filmed along the street (the stolen bike scenes) with a generic "Cartoon Cavalcade" advertised on the reader board.
                
William
William on October 13, 2010 at 2:40 pm

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.

dctrig
dctrig on October 13, 2010 at 1:54 pm

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.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on June 22, 2010 at 12:40 pm

Here’s an article about AMC’s acquisition of this theater: View link