The station entrance may not end up affecting the theatre. They are proposing two possible options. Option one would be the southeast corner of Hollywood and Highland, resulting in the current Ripley’s museum and the theatre property being affected. Option two would be the southwest corner, affecting the current souvenir shop and rear parking lot area. Option two would involve less demolition/disruption and afford the use of the large open lot running behind the blvd properties for construction equipment (option two makes far more sense, but civic projects aren’t always driven by common sense).
This theatre should be classified as closed. Cinelounge vacated the location some time ago and removed it from their website (they now operate at 6464 Sunset and a theatre in Tiburon, CA.). While it might be operating for occasional live theater performances, the venue is no longer screening movies.
The 2012 change in operators was due to Starplex departing the ownership structure which had overseen Starplex, ShowBiz, Movie Tavern, and iTZ (i.e. the separation agreement included relinquishing the Kingwood 15 to ShowBiz).
The flickering lights in that video appear to be one of the three line showtime lobby marquees; flashing gibberish because there is no TMS feed. While I’d like to think it’s a sign of some progress in the much anticipated reopening, it’s more likely that a breaker wasn’t turned off after core maintenance or a facility walkthrough.
The Cave Theatre’s lobby, along with the neighboring Howard Johnson’s (now an empty lot), were utilized in the opening segment of the 1979 adult film “Candy Goes to Hollywood”.
A welcome/advisory policy trailer from the Dragon Art Theatre (featuring Don Davison addressing the audience from his desk) is utilized by Something Weird Video for their “Dragon Art Theatre Double Features” vintage adult film series.
The Guinness Museum closed a few months ago and the interior is currently undergoing a significant remodel (looked to be stripped down to the framework). While some listings have it classified as temporarily closed, the owners (same family that runs the Hollywood Wax Museum) have taken down the Guinness Museum website and removed all references to the attraction from their existing website. Whether they are planning to relaunch a new Guinness Museum or looking to create a different attraction is unknown (I believe the family also owns the property).
I’ve seen some semi recent plans that list “cinema”, but as a generic “Retail/Restaurant/Health Club/Cinema” map legend color key; which seems to suggest more of a possible use than concrete plan. Considering the delays, setbacks, and current state of the theatre industry, I wouldn’t be surprised if ICON dropped out of the project (it’s certainly been over a year since they were mentioned as being attached).
Due to the original theatre’s layout they utilized periscope projection for some of the auditoriums (i.e. the image was projected onto a mirror, which reflected to a second mirror, and then to the screen). They had changed to a traditional setup by the time I spent some time at the theatre, but the periscopes remained in a former projection booth that had been converted into a meeting room.
This theatre’s address remains 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue. The 6464 Sunset Blvd location is a different theatre that has its' own page on Cinema Treasures. I.E. the group operating as Cinelounge moved, the theatre didn’t.
On a side note: In 2021 they utilized the adjacent Egyptian/Arena parking lot as the Cinelounge Drive-In (roughly 20 car capacity). Unfortunately, the drive-in operation was relatively short lived and shut down post COVID.
After perpetually postponing an H.R. Giger exhibit, complaints/legal actions over non refunded ticket money, and non payment of rent, the Multicultural Museum ceased operations. According to the landlord, the tenant, who was doing business under “Vogue Multicultural Museum”, abandoned the space and disappeared, owing over $1.2 million. As of 2024, the theatre is now home to the Victory Outreach Third Wave Hollywood church.
On 1/6/24 a fire destroyed a portion of the unfinished retail structures on the property (the cause is still under investigation). While the theatre shell was not affected, I would imagine this will hasten the city’s efforts to have the remaining unfinished structures removed.
The heavily remodeled/repurposed site opened, as the Rivian South Coast, on 12/9/23. While primarily a showcase for Rivian electric vehicles now, they have retained five rows of fixed seating in front of a single screen and stage (the foyer, concession, and twinning has been removed, creating a single “flow through” space); there is also some random couch/stool seating positioned around the displayed vehicles/information desks and pillow seating in the balcony area. A coffee shop is located adjacent to the courtyard, with outdoor seating. Overall, the remodel has resulted in a bright, open planned, retail space, with little remaining from the building’s cinema past.
Something new is developing at the theatre. The box office has been fully restored (had been walled over during the Hologram and lounge years) and there appears to have been some considerable work done inside. A public hearing notice about the building’s future use is posted on the front doors, but it is too far behind the security gate to read.
The theatre should be classified as demolished. Aside from a couple of out buildings, the entire mall property was razed (including the theatre). The ICON theatre will be a new build, located within a completely new development.
The Ace Hotel announced that they will be ceasing operations on 1/31/24 due to “complications” with the property owner. There have been some unofficial reports that the hotel will then look to reopen under a different operator/business model. Fortunately, the theatre is supposed to continue operating, uninterrupted, with new branding.
The theatre opened as a joint venture between Premiere Cinemas and industry veteran R.A. “Skeet” Noret (utilizing the Premiere branding, rather than Noret’s namesake chain). Following “Skeet’s” passing in 2016 the Noret offices closed, so I am unsure if his family has maintained an interest in the theatre or not.
This does raise the question, as to what is the largest U.S. city without a full-time cinema? Menefee, California has to be a contender, with a population of just over 100,000 and no operating cinema. However, unlike Grand Island, there are several within a reasonable driving distance.
Following the pandemic and slow return to theatre going over the past few years, it was definitely encouraging to see Oppenheimer cause such a sensation at the Chinese. As for the historic attendance vs modern revenue disparity, that also reflects the industry’s overall focus shift. The exhibition industry has become far more focused on per capita income than raw attendance in the post megaplex era; the Chinese’s remodel sacrificing seating volume for a “premium” experience exemplifies this business model shift.
Sadly, the interior of the theatre has now been completely demolished, leaving only the facade, marquee, and foyer intact for the new condo development.
Misc Information:
The theatre had an L shaped layout. The lobby/concession stand/restrooms being at the right side of the entry, with the auditoriums down a hallway directly in-line with the entrance; resulting in most people heading straight to their auditorium and forgoing the concession stand. In an attempt to steer customers towards concession and improve sales, a stanchion roped pathway was put up in the mid 80’s; forcing patrons into an arching detour around the perimeter of the lobby as they entered.
The four auditoriums added on the left side of the hallway in 84 were constructed from a neighboring unit which had run as a swap meet for several years. The unit neighboring on the right side of the theatre housed the “Silver Screen” during the late 80’s/early 90’s; a loosely cinema themed restaurant (i.e. in addition to the business name, they hung up a few classic celebrity pictures and movie posters).
It was simply a case of the land becoming more valuable than the existing business and a developer coming in with a significant offer. Back in 2019 the drive-in’s owner, De Anza Land & Leisure, were approached with a $34.4 million offer from the Oakmont Industrial Group. As part of the deal, Oakmont allowed the drive-in/swap meet to continue operating rent free until their redevelopment plans were finalized. With the project cleared to move forward in 2023, the drive-in/swap meet was forced to close.
The station entrance may not end up affecting the theatre. They are proposing two possible options. Option one would be the southeast corner of Hollywood and Highland, resulting in the current Ripley’s museum and the theatre property being affected. Option two would be the southwest corner, affecting the current souvenir shop and rear parking lot area. Option two would involve less demolition/disruption and afford the use of the large open lot running behind the blvd properties for construction equipment (option two makes far more sense, but civic projects aren’t always driven by common sense).
This theatre should be classified as closed. Cinelounge vacated the location some time ago and removed it from their website (they now operate at 6464 Sunset and a theatre in Tiburon, CA.). While it might be operating for occasional live theater performances, the venue is no longer screening movies.
The 2012 change in operators was due to Starplex departing the ownership structure which had overseen Starplex, ShowBiz, Movie Tavern, and iTZ (i.e. the separation agreement included relinquishing the Kingwood 15 to ShowBiz).
The flickering lights in that video appear to be one of the three line showtime lobby marquees; flashing gibberish because there is no TMS feed. While I’d like to think it’s a sign of some progress in the much anticipated reopening, it’s more likely that a breaker wasn’t turned off after core maintenance or a facility walkthrough.
The Cave Theatre’s lobby, along with the neighboring Howard Johnson’s (now an empty lot), were utilized in the opening segment of the 1979 adult film “Candy Goes to Hollywood”.
A welcome/advisory policy trailer from the Dragon Art Theatre (featuring Don Davison addressing the audience from his desk) is utilized by Something Weird Video for their “Dragon Art Theatre Double Features” vintage adult film series.
The Guinness Museum closed a few months ago and the interior is currently undergoing a significant remodel (looked to be stripped down to the framework). While some listings have it classified as temporarily closed, the owners (same family that runs the Hollywood Wax Museum) have taken down the Guinness Museum website and removed all references to the attraction from their existing website. Whether they are planning to relaunch a new Guinness Museum or looking to create a different attraction is unknown (I believe the family also owns the property).
I’ve seen some semi recent plans that list “cinema”, but as a generic “Retail/Restaurant/Health Club/Cinema” map legend color key; which seems to suggest more of a possible use than concrete plan. Considering the delays, setbacks, and current state of the theatre industry, I wouldn’t be surprised if ICON dropped out of the project (it’s certainly been over a year since they were mentioned as being attached).
Due to the original theatre’s layout they utilized periscope projection for some of the auditoriums (i.e. the image was projected onto a mirror, which reflected to a second mirror, and then to the screen). They had changed to a traditional setup by the time I spent some time at the theatre, but the periscopes remained in a former projection booth that had been converted into a meeting room.
This theatre’s address remains 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue. The 6464 Sunset Blvd location is a different theatre that has its' own page on Cinema Treasures. I.E. the group operating as Cinelounge moved, the theatre didn’t.
On a side note: In 2021 they utilized the adjacent Egyptian/Arena parking lot as the Cinelounge Drive-In (roughly 20 car capacity). Unfortunately, the drive-in operation was relatively short lived and shut down post COVID.
The theatre closed on 5/29/23 and held a liquidation sale of its' fixtures/equipment.
After perpetually postponing an H.R. Giger exhibit, complaints/legal actions over non refunded ticket money, and non payment of rent, the Multicultural Museum ceased operations. According to the landlord, the tenant, who was doing business under “Vogue Multicultural Museum”, abandoned the space and disappeared, owing over $1.2 million. As of 2024, the theatre is now home to the Victory Outreach Third Wave Hollywood church.
On 1/6/24 a fire destroyed a portion of the unfinished retail structures on the property (the cause is still under investigation). While the theatre shell was not affected, I would imagine this will hasten the city’s efforts to have the remaining unfinished structures removed.
The heavily remodeled/repurposed site opened, as the Rivian South Coast, on 12/9/23. While primarily a showcase for Rivian electric vehicles now, they have retained five rows of fixed seating in front of a single screen and stage (the foyer, concession, and twinning has been removed, creating a single “flow through” space); there is also some random couch/stool seating positioned around the displayed vehicles/information desks and pillow seating in the balcony area. A coffee shop is located adjacent to the courtyard, with outdoor seating. Overall, the remodel has resulted in a bright, open planned, retail space, with little remaining from the building’s cinema past.
Something new is developing at the theatre. The box office has been fully restored (had been walled over during the Hologram and lounge years) and there appears to have been some considerable work done inside. A public hearing notice about the building’s future use is posted on the front doors, but it is too far behind the security gate to read.
The Deja Vu completed a remodel and reopened sometime over the past couple of months.
The theatre should be classified as demolished. Aside from a couple of out buildings, the entire mall property was razed (including the theatre). The ICON theatre will be a new build, located within a completely new development.
The Ace Hotel announced that they will be ceasing operations on 1/31/24 due to “complications” with the property owner. There have been some unofficial reports that the hotel will then look to reopen under a different operator/business model. Fortunately, the theatre is supposed to continue operating, uninterrupted, with new branding.
The theatre opened as a joint venture between Premiere Cinemas and industry veteran R.A. “Skeet” Noret (utilizing the Premiere branding, rather than Noret’s namesake chain). Following “Skeet’s” passing in 2016 the Noret offices closed, so I am unsure if his family has maintained an interest in the theatre or not.
The property is being handled by The Location Portal (thelocationportal.com) for film shoots. So, you could try contacting them for information.
This does raise the question, as to what is the largest U.S. city without a full-time cinema? Menefee, California has to be a contender, with a population of just over 100,000 and no operating cinema. However, unlike Grand Island, there are several within a reasonable driving distance.
Following the pandemic and slow return to theatre going over the past few years, it was definitely encouraging to see Oppenheimer cause such a sensation at the Chinese. As for the historic attendance vs modern revenue disparity, that also reflects the industry’s overall focus shift. The exhibition industry has become far more focused on per capita income than raw attendance in the post megaplex era; the Chinese’s remodel sacrificing seating volume for a “premium” experience exemplifies this business model shift.
Sadly, the interior of the theatre has now been completely demolished, leaving only the facade, marquee, and foyer intact for the new condo development.
Misc Information: The theatre had an L shaped layout. The lobby/concession stand/restrooms being at the right side of the entry, with the auditoriums down a hallway directly in-line with the entrance; resulting in most people heading straight to their auditorium and forgoing the concession stand. In an attempt to steer customers towards concession and improve sales, a stanchion roped pathway was put up in the mid 80’s; forcing patrons into an arching detour around the perimeter of the lobby as they entered.
The four auditoriums added on the left side of the hallway in 84 were constructed from a neighboring unit which had run as a swap meet for several years. The unit neighboring on the right side of the theatre housed the “Silver Screen” during the late 80’s/early 90’s; a loosely cinema themed restaurant (i.e. in addition to the business name, they hung up a few classic celebrity pictures and movie posters).
It was simply a case of the land becoming more valuable than the existing business and a developer coming in with a significant offer. Back in 2019 the drive-in’s owner, De Anza Land & Leisure, were approached with a $34.4 million offer from the Oakmont Industrial Group. As part of the deal, Oakmont allowed the drive-in/swap meet to continue operating rent free until their redevelopment plans were finalized. With the project cleared to move forward in 2023, the drive-in/swap meet was forced to close.