Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90027
4473 Sunset Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90027
51 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 137 comments found
I saw that episode and was pleased to note that they use mylar (or plastic?) displays on the marquee, old-school style, rather than just hanging letters that spell out the title of the feature.
The exterior with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” on marquee was featured for a few minutes in tonight’s episode of TNT TV’s “Southland” cop drama show.
I was there on Sunday for the 1:30 showing of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, which drew a very big crowd for a matinee. The theater is beautiful and the projection was perfect. I like the fact that they have screen curtains. Last time I went there, about ten years ago, they didn’t. The only minus is that the curtains look too modern for that theatre. A shiny gold curtain flooded with red lights would look better with the classic decor. By the way, I live in Virginia, and whenever I travel I make it a point to visit single screen theaters. On this trip west, I visited the Vista, the Crest, and the Regent.
Attended the 9:45PM showing on 6/15 of “Super 8”. A great crowd a little over 200 in attendance. Many people in the industry go to the Vista. I just realized that the opening for Elvira’s weekend horror movie on KDOC was filmed here.
Parking note: I take the Red Line from North Hollywood and get off at the Sunset-Vermont station. The Vista is only two blocks east. If in need of a quick bite, stop at Von’s right on the way and pick up a sandwich and a Starbucks-they have seating.
I was reading an article about the demolition of the National in Westwood (sad) , and ended up finding the updated official website for the Vista and the Los Feliz 3, run by Vintage cinemas (happy).
Some great interior shots HERE
I love this place and am so happy that it still exists in this day and age of multiplexes and on-demand movies at home and watching movies on mobile devices.. We’re lucky to have it in the neighborhood.
It’s still open and they’re showing “The Fighter”. I usually just Google it and it takes me to Vintage Cinema.
I get a redirect when I go to their website, but apparently the theatre is still open.
I’ve rediscovered the Vista when I went to see “The Social Network.” What an awesome theater: lots of leg room, good popcorn, great prices. Downside: yeah parking sucks but you just have to drive around. I did see a roach in the bathroom. But all in all, the theater is clean. The audience is gay, straight, young, old, metrosexual. A nice neighborhood theater that seats a lot of people. Please support this single screen theater so that we don’t have to go to the Grove or pay obscene prices like at the Archlight.
I add to this album of vintage theaters and memorabilia from time to time:
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Here’s a photo I shot in November 2010:
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Ah, Ken Roe did post that the Monica started life as a cinema, so that answers your question.
It opened in 1940 as the Monica Theater. Nothing on the Studs page to indicate if it was legit or cinema. Why would you ask that here?
QUESTION: Was the Tomkat Theatre on Santa Monica ever a legitimate movie theater?
Color photo of the Vista showing MAGNOLIA:
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The theater can be seen in the title sequence for the new run of Elvira’s Movie Macabre TV show.
I was at the record store today and saw that the band Suicidal Tendencies were photographed standing atop the marquee for the cover of their “Lights, Camera, Revolution” album.
It’s quite fitting that Ed Wood had an office here and the premiere of Tim Burton’s great movie that Martin Landau won the Academy Award for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi.
In Rudolph Grey’s book “Nightmare of Ecstasy” about Ed Wood, According to Valda Hansen, “ NIght of the Ghouls” played as Revenge of the Dead here.
“Born to Raise Hell,” one of the most violent gay roughies, had its West Coast premiere here on November 26, 1975.
Steven Wells is right. It was gay 76 – 79. The early 80s it was a revival house. Mid to late 80s it was a second run double feature house…and a great place to go!
Anyone know how to reach the Vista management? I want to see about renting it for a charity event (we were at Fairfax Regency until the landlord closed it down due to roof damage). The phone listed just gives time and cost and hangs up.
Another L.A. theatre with an interesting past.
Interesting.
I disagree with William: I’m pretty sure the “porn era” was mid- to late-eighties.
Where’s the best place to park when coming here? Deep off into the surrounding neighborhood or is there a lot off Vermont or Sunset?
Here is another night photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y2suffk