If you like the Arclight, then I imagine you would like the Bridge, Mike. They have an IMAX there, and the auditoriums I’ve been in have all had stadium seating, etc. Personally, I prefer to see movies at the Chinese, Fox Village, places like that. These new places have good presentation, but no history or splendor.
There’s a mistake in the description above. The bridge that connects the two parts of Westside Pavilion doesn’t stretch over Pico Blvd, but over Westwood Blvd.
I was down at the LA Conservancy last night and ended up having a nice talk with a guy who volunteers for that organization and the Santa Monica Conservancy. He’s particularly interested in preservation issues, and he said that the whole of the NuWilshire is protected, not just the facade as I had been led to believe from local newspaper coverage.
Assuming this is correct, if the NuWilshire gets turned into retail, it will probably resemble the Studio City theater that got turned into a bookstore. You can still see the flyspace intact, etc.
On February 7th, 2009, the Los Angeles Historical Theater Foundation will be hosting another of its “All About” series at the Globe-Morosco. Tour the theater and learn about its history. Doors open at 10 a.m., event starts at 10:30.
That building in your photo, with the numbers 5455… Shortly after I moved to L.A., a friend invited me to lunch to celebrate my birthday. She was working in that building, and we had our lunch on the roof. The view was amazing that day.
To be fair, LawMann, it wasn’t a theater back then. All you would have seen was the blade sign and marquee. That’s all I saw, and I never guessed that it had been a theater.
“I guess that Landmark Theatres was not making a ton of money off tickets and concessions to make it work as a theatre for the chain. First off the chain only makes a small precent off the tickets it sells, the studios get the lions share of the money for tickets sold.”
First, is this true for foreign and indie movies? That’s what the NuWilshire showed, not mainstream Hollywood fare.
Second, an employee of the theater just said that they were making a ton of money at that location. Do you know differently, William?
And Nushboy, did you see my suggestion from Jan 5? It might have gotten lost in all the posts… but you might want to look into the Santa Monica Historical Society with the items you mentioned.
John, the lease was not up. Landmark chose to leave early, probably hoping that their loyal customers would head over to the new location at the Westside Pavilion. It might be why the building sits empty — the new owner might not be able to do anything until it expires (that’s what’s happening with the old See’s Candy location across the street). So the new owner paid a lot of money for the building, drove out the retail tenants, and now is earning squat from the place… That’s business!
Ron, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights are still the big political party, but for running the rest of the city, the business types are calling the shots. Basically what that seems to come down to is development that is out of balance with what the infrastructure can handle. So the city merely exists now to provide the 3rd Street Promenade with customers. Anything that might appeal to locals gets the ax if it doesn’t bring in shoppers with dollars bulging out of their pockets.
You are correct, William. I commented on this on the Mayfair page. The only thing getting preserved in Santa Monica (as far as movie theaters are concerned) are facades. The lawyer representing the owners of the Mayfair had the nerve to call this “adaptive reuse.”
But the business types are running this town right now, and they want density, more customers, more shopping. They don’t really care what happens to the community…
RDtoo, I was just joking. I was born at Wyandotte General and grew up over in Southgate. Sometimes it’s easier to say you’re from Detroit because no one knows where Wyandotte (or Southgate, for that matter) is.
Then it sounds like you want the Santa Monica Historical Society. They have a space over on Euclid, but are supposed to move into the new library very soon.
“This theater’s name sounds "streamlined” or Googie-esqe, but the theater is not streamlined at all!"
To address an ancient issue, you’re confusing two types of architecture: Streamline Moderne and Googie. Streamline Moderne started in the 1930s, and took its inspiration from the shapes of aeroplanes, locomotives and ocean liners. The Academy Theater of Inglewood is a classic example of the Streamline Moderne style — smooth, flowing shapes and free of Art Deco’s obsessive details.
Googie comes from the 50s and is most typically associated with coffee shops, car washes, and fast food. It involves elements such as upswept roofs, sharp angles, large plate glass windows, exposed steel beams and flagcrete walls. See the Wich Stand in Ladera Heights in comparison to the Academy Theater. Very different.
Yes, the Aero building is not very streamlined. But the place was built for Douglass Aircraft Factory employees, and that’s where the name comes in, not from representing any particular style.
According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, the Mayfair is ready to be turned into…
— have you guessed it? —
… a facade!
Yes, like the Criterion and El Miro theaters before it, like the Llo-Da-Mar bowling alley, and soon, the NuWilshire theater, the Mayfair’s front is to be preserved while behind it is constructed a modern monstrosity of 38 apartment units, ground floor retail, and underground parking. Santa Monica will continue its winning streak of destroying history in favor of ever-increasing density.
The lawyer representing the property owner is quoted as saying, “It’s a good example of adaptive reuse of a landmark property where landmarking doesn’t impede responsible redevelopment of the site.” I interpret this to mean “we’re throwing the public a bone here, now get out of our way.”
Interestingly, Carol Lemlein, president of the Santa Monica Conservancy, is quoted that “It’s a difficult compromise but at the same time it still gives us a sense of history in a way that certain other buildings where the facade appears to have been pasted onto a modern building (don’t). Those are called ‘Walls of Shame’ by people in preservation.” Well, I imagine she should know, since that seems to be all that happens in this city.
The shoe repair guy relocated to Main St, I think he’s still in Santa Monica. The watch/jewelry repair guy moved over to Santa Monica Blvd, just two blocks away.
No, they cleared out the shoe repair and the watch repair guys within a few weeks of closing the theater. For some reason, there’s a big pile of dirt in the watch repair space.
David’s right, Nushboy, maybe you could give the Santa Monica Conservancy a shot at your theater materials.
I live around the corner from the NuWilshire, and I have to tell you that I’m so enthusiastic about having a Lucky Jeans store that close to me, I’m beside myself with civic pride. Of course, there’s one within walking distance on the Promenade, and another within walking distance over on Montana Avenue, but we can never have enough Lucky Jeans stores…
The Azteca is presently undergoing a complete remodeling, and it is unlikely that anything from the past will remain. Yesterday, part of the word “Azteca” was visible on one outside wall, but that too will soon be gone. We managed to go inside and talk to a few of the guys doing the work. It’s going to become a live venue. There’s a stage, and lighting already in place. It also appears that they enclosed and leveled off the balcony.
If you like the Arclight, then I imagine you would like the Bridge, Mike. They have an IMAX there, and the auditoriums I’ve been in have all had stadium seating, etc. Personally, I prefer to see movies at the Chinese, Fox Village, places like that. These new places have good presentation, but no history or splendor.
There’s a mistake in the description above. The bridge that connects the two parts of Westside Pavilion doesn’t stretch over Pico Blvd, but over Westwood Blvd.
I was down at the LA Conservancy last night and ended up having a nice talk with a guy who volunteers for that organization and the Santa Monica Conservancy. He’s particularly interested in preservation issues, and he said that the whole of the NuWilshire is protected, not just the facade as I had been led to believe from local newspaper coverage.
Assuming this is correct, if the NuWilshire gets turned into retail, it will probably resemble the Studio City theater that got turned into a bookstore. You can still see the flyspace intact, etc.
There’s a “For Lease” sign on the building now.
On February 7th, 2009, the Los Angeles Historical Theater Foundation will be hosting another of its “All About” series at the Globe-Morosco. Tour the theater and learn about its history. Doors open at 10 a.m., event starts at 10:30.
Ken,
That building in your photo, with the numbers 5455… Shortly after I moved to L.A., a friend invited me to lunch to celebrate my birthday. She was working in that building, and we had our lunch on the roof. The view was amazing that day.
To be fair, LawMann, it wasn’t a theater back then. All you would have seen was the blade sign and marquee. That’s all I saw, and I never guessed that it had been a theater.
“This particular Landmark theatre has been making more money than all other theatres,”
From Nushboy’s previous comments, it sounds like he has some idea of the theater’s place in the Landmark hierarchy.
I don’t believe foreign movies are getting as strict of terms as Hollywood fare. They don’t have the leverage.
“I guess that Landmark Theatres was not making a ton of money off tickets and concessions to make it work as a theatre for the chain. First off the chain only makes a small precent off the tickets it sells, the studios get the lions share of the money for tickets sold.”
First, is this true for foreign and indie movies? That’s what the NuWilshire showed, not mainstream Hollywood fare.
Second, an employee of the theater just said that they were making a ton of money at that location. Do you know differently, William?
And Nushboy, did you see my suggestion from Jan 5? It might have gotten lost in all the posts… but you might want to look into the Santa Monica Historical Society with the items you mentioned.
John, the lease was not up. Landmark chose to leave early, probably hoping that their loyal customers would head over to the new location at the Westside Pavilion. It might be why the building sits empty — the new owner might not be able to do anything until it expires (that’s what’s happening with the old See’s Candy location across the street). So the new owner paid a lot of money for the building, drove out the retail tenants, and now is earning squat from the place… That’s business!
Ron, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights are still the big political party, but for running the rest of the city, the business types are calling the shots. Basically what that seems to come down to is development that is out of balance with what the infrastructure can handle. So the city merely exists now to provide the 3rd Street Promenade with customers. Anything that might appeal to locals gets the ax if it doesn’t bring in shoppers with dollars bulging out of their pockets.
You are correct, William. I commented on this on the Mayfair page. The only thing getting preserved in Santa Monica (as far as movie theaters are concerned) are facades. The lawyer representing the owners of the Mayfair had the nerve to call this “adaptive reuse.”
But the business types are running this town right now, and they want density, more customers, more shopping. They don’t really care what happens to the community…
“overkill on the codes and regs.”
Yeah, who cares if the building collapses during an earthquake?!
This is no longer the ImaginAsian Center, but the “Downtown Independent.” Some sparse info at:
http://www.downtownindependent.com/
RDtoo, I was just joking. I was born at Wyandotte General and grew up over in Southgate. Sometimes it’s easier to say you’re from Detroit because no one knows where Wyandotte (or Southgate, for that matter) is.
Then it sounds like you want the Santa Monica Historical Society. They have a space over on Euclid, but are supposed to move into the new library very soon.
Well, technically, last year. But yes, it is one of a dying breed…
“This theater’s name sounds "streamlined” or Googie-esqe, but the theater is not streamlined at all!"
To address an ancient issue, you’re confusing two types of architecture: Streamline Moderne and Googie. Streamline Moderne started in the 1930s, and took its inspiration from the shapes of aeroplanes, locomotives and ocean liners. The Academy Theater of Inglewood is a classic example of the Streamline Moderne style — smooth, flowing shapes and free of Art Deco’s obsessive details.
Googie comes from the 50s and is most typically associated with coffee shops, car washes, and fast food. It involves elements such as upswept roofs, sharp angles, large plate glass windows, exposed steel beams and flagcrete walls. See the Wich Stand in Ladera Heights in comparison to the Academy Theater. Very different.
Yes, the Aero building is not very streamlined. But the place was built for Douglass Aircraft Factory employees, and that’s where the name comes in, not from representing any particular style.
According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, the Mayfair is ready to be turned into…
— have you guessed it? —
… a facade!
Yes, like the Criterion and El Miro theaters before it, like the Llo-Da-Mar bowling alley, and soon, the NuWilshire theater, the Mayfair’s front is to be preserved while behind it is constructed a modern monstrosity of 38 apartment units, ground floor retail, and underground parking. Santa Monica will continue its winning streak of destroying history in favor of ever-increasing density.
The lawyer representing the property owner is quoted as saying, “It’s a good example of adaptive reuse of a landmark property where landmarking doesn’t impede responsible redevelopment of the site.” I interpret this to mean “we’re throwing the public a bone here, now get out of our way.”
Interestingly, Carol Lemlein, president of the Santa Monica Conservancy, is quoted that “It’s a difficult compromise but at the same time it still gives us a sense of history in a way that certain other buildings where the facade appears to have been pasted onto a modern building (don’t). Those are called ‘Walls of Shame’ by people in preservation.” Well, I imagine she should know, since that seems to be all that happens in this city.
Ouch. I completely missed that. Sorry!
The shoe repair guy relocated to Main St, I think he’s still in Santa Monica. The watch/jewelry repair guy moved over to Santa Monica Blvd, just two blocks away.
No, they cleared out the shoe repair and the watch repair guys within a few weeks of closing the theater. For some reason, there’s a big pile of dirt in the watch repair space.
David’s right, Nushboy, maybe you could give the Santa Monica Conservancy a shot at your theater materials.
I’m hoping that the guy who bought the theater, ran out the tenants, and planned to make big bucks in retail is kicking himself in the ass about now.
Meanwhile, the City Landmarked facade is slowly rotting away…
I live around the corner from the NuWilshire, and I have to tell you that I’m so enthusiastic about having a Lucky Jeans store that close to me, I’m beside myself with civic pride. Of course, there’s one within walking distance on the Promenade, and another within walking distance over on Montana Avenue, but we can never have enough Lucky Jeans stores…
Lucky Jeans store!
Lucky Jeans store!
Lucky Jeans store!
(spit!)
Yeah, and the old laundromat next door closed, and the Shoe Pavilion down the block closed… the neighborhood is starting to look pretty run down.
The Azteca is presently undergoing a complete remodeling, and it is unlikely that anything from the past will remain. Yesterday, part of the word “Azteca” was visible on one outside wall, but that too will soon be gone. We managed to go inside and talk to a few of the guys doing the work. It’s going to become a live venue. There’s a stage, and lighting already in place. It also appears that they enclosed and leveled off the balcony.