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Mann Closes Valley West?
posted by
BradE41
on
August 25, 2005 at 11:45 am
TARZANA, CA — I noticed that Mann closed it’s Valley West 9 plex in Tarzana. I’m not quite sure why, unless the valuable property it was on was sold. It was the only theatre in Tarzana and I would imagine it was profitable. The Valley West was taken over by Mann in 1982 after being a 2nd run 6-Plex named Theeeee Movies of Tarzana. They always showed double features of 2nd run films and would often move titles around and pair with new titles. Mann later added 3 screens and showed first run fare.
Comments (5)
Mann Valley West shut down
By Brent Hopkins and Evan Pondel, Staff Writers
TARZANA – Mann Valley West rolled its last reel Thursday night, clearing the way for demolition of the theater and some nearby shops and for construction of an upscale retail development.
Bounced between owners for decades, the movie house was one of only a few remaining on Ventura Boulevard, and it bowed out with late showings of “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo” and “Skeleton Key.” Mann representatives confirmed that Thursday night’s shows were the last.
“I’m really saddened by the news,” said Jennifer Lewis, who worked there as an usher at age 16 and now owns Body & Sol Swimwear up the block. “The Mann is where I go see all my movies. It’s a Tarzana landmark.”
The development company notified business owners several months ago of renovation plans to bring in an upscale grocery and other high-tone shops.
Although the theater lacked the stadium seating and ritzy digital projection of the megaplexes, local residents expressed displeasure at its closure.
“Most of the residents here in Tarzana got very upset,” said Helen Itria Norman, president of the Tarzana Property Owners Association. “You get used to having something in a location, even if you don’t patronize it.”
She said the theater and neighboring buildings, including Shoe Pavilion, would be razed in October to make way for extensive construction. retail, restaurants and possibly condominiums will be developed in three phases.
Norman said residents have lobbied the developers to include a new theater in the construction plan.
“They’re very sad about losing it, but they accept the fact that the new shopping center will be most attractive,” she said. “We’ll do our best to make it succeed.”
Charles Greene, a North Hills resident who still made the trip down to Tarzana, mourned the loss of the theater he’d frequented for years.
“I try to get in for the cheap matinee,” he said. “There’s a lot of the old theaters closing down. It’s sad that they’re closing.”
I think Pacific’s Sherman Oaks Megaplex had something to do with the closing of the Mann Valley West. Old multiscreen theatres cannot compete with the Megaplex. Im surprised the valley West lasted as long as it did. I mourn the loss of the La Raina and Studio theatres along Ventura Blvd, they also were Mann theates.brucec
You can’t forget the Pacific’s Encino Theatre that once sat along Ventura Blvd..
Theeee Movies of Tarzana was designed, built and operated by Ron Lefton starting in 1973. It was an old supermarket before Lefton made it a 6-plex theater. He operated the theater until 1982 when he sold it to Mann Theaters. When it first opened, it was the only 6-plex in the west San Fernando Valley. Lippert’s Americana 6 was the other 6-plex on the east side. Lefton and his father, at different times, also operatered the Pan Pacific, Oriental, Clinton and Gordon in the Hollywood, W. Los Angeles areas.
Dont forget that on the west end of the valley, this theatre had competition from AMC’s Promenade 16, and just north of it there was the Mann Plant 16.
This theatre lasted a long time.