Looks like the city of South Pasadena has “closed” the Rialto due to violation of some city ordinances. The city has posted a notice on the front door stating that the Rilato is in violation of city codes and a fire hazard. It’s anyone’s guess whether the owner will put any money into the theater to fix the problem and bring it up to code. I belive Landmark had a few years left on their lease before it ran and was renting the theater out for parties, screenings and filming. Until the theater is brought up to code, they won’t even be able to do that and the theater … just sits there … crumbling away. I would be interested to know if anybody else has information about the current condition of the Rialto.
Just got back from a trip to NOLA and made a point of stopping by the Prytania Theater to see it. What a wonderful place! Had to see it as it plays a big role in one of my fav novels: “A Confederacy of Dunces.” A lovely small, charming neighbourhood theater and a wonderful place to see a film. Attended the 2:30 pm matinee of “Alice in Wonderland” in 3D. This theater runs digital now and what a presenation! Sound is clear and loud and the projection is first rate. Truly a great theater to watch a film. Matinee was about 1/3 full for a weekday. Sadly, this is the only theater left open in New Orleans and the last single screen theater in the whole state of Louisiana. No open theaters remain on Canal Street and the devastaion that was caused by Katrina is very evident when you see the condition these theaters are in. The Prytania Theater is truly a gem in a great city.
Arclight Hollywood – $15.50 to see a film, albeit in the best way possible. Wonder if there are enough people in the Pasadena area that will feel the same way. Will defintely price out a large amount of people who won’t pay $15.50 to see a film. That being said, I am very happy to hear that Arclight is opening a Pasadena location. Welcome to the neighbourhood!!
Stopped in at the Village to see Shutter Island in a real movie theater and also to say good-bye if and when Mann leaves the Village and Bruin next month. Happy to report that the theater was ¾ full for the 7pm showing on Saturday night. Image and sound were fantastic as usual, but the Screenvision before the show is a real distraction and a bummer! I have not been to the Village for about 5-6 years and the last time was before the irritaing “Screenvision.” Other then that I was happy to see the old girl in such fine shape and looking good. God, I hope someone steps up and picks up the leases for this theater and the Bruin. I cannot imagine them going dark; they are such a part of my life having seen films there for the better part of 35 years. Westwood continues it’s downward decline as I noticed that they closed the “Chili’s” resturant and the space is vacant. Hard to belive since everytime I went there in the last 5 years it was doing good buisness with UCLA students at the bar.
What made “The Empire Strikes Back” the best of the first trilogy was the script by Lawrence Kasdan. The film has real gravitas and ends on a real down note; Han captured by Boba Fett and on his way to Jabba the Hut; Luke with a severed arm and the hint that Vadar may be his father; the rebel alliance scattered. No happy ending. George Lucas should have left well enough alone. My opinion was that the second trilogy was so bad that it made Stars Wars: “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” look lke Citizen Kane and Grand Illusion in comparision. I don’t know what to make of “Return of The Jedi” but it was better then any of the second trilogy that’s for sure- even with those Ewoks!
Would it kill the owner to at least paint the building? I mean c'mon. I now he won’t sell it under any circumstances to the city, but how about at least putting a coat of paint on it?
Well done you guys and keep up the good work. I’ve found a community of people and a home for folks like myself who still care about these theaters and remember a time when seeing a film at a real movie theater meant something. Also a great resourse for the hstory of these theaters and they live on in memory because of it.
The presentation of the New Beverly is just fine and is the absolute best I can remember in the 30 + years I’ve been going. Everytime I go to The “Beverly” I am always happy to see something new that has either been added or replaced since the last time I was there. I was out a few weeks ago for a great double feature of “Death Wish 3” and “Rolling Thunder” and noticed that the front doors had been replaced and brand new. I love this theater with all my heart. Los Angeles is very lucky to have it and some great programing coming up in January 2010 including a showing of “The Exiles!”
The theater does appear in the opening credits to that paen to the disco life “Thank God it’s Friday” along with the old Osco’s Disco on La Cienega and 3rd Street in Los Angeles. When the film was shot in 1977, I belive the El Rey was still a revival house prior to it’s concersion to a nightclub in the 1990’s.
If they could insure that there would be no cel phones, blackberrys or devices with a bright display that distract from the film. Also, police the theater to prevent people from talking, kicking your chair, or other distacting behaviour, then maybe, just maybe I’d consider this theater. The sad reality is that people no longer have even the slightest vestiage of consideration or manners when it comes to going to a movie theater and paying $30 a ticket will not solve the problems. I’m old enough to remember when theaters – real movie theaters – had ushers with flashlights to keep patrons from this type of behaviour. Now it’s just commomplace and accepted and just plain sad. No wonder prople stay home and get the film from Netflix.
I’d pay the $30 if it would guarantee people not kicking the back of my seat, checking their cel phone or Blackberry in the middle of the film or talking during the feature. I’d pay the $30 if they could do that.
Sad, sad, sad. Bummer about it finally closing. Knew it was going to happen for quite some time, but thought maybe it could hold on even with the ugly Regal 14 theaters opening soon. I won’t be giving my money to the Regal – I hate these supermarket theater establishments and the cel phone people are rude as can be. Loved the Laemmle Grande. Was there when it opened in 1984 and saw “Carmen” and many, many other films during it’s 25 years of operation. I’ll hate to see it go. I’ll be by one last time to say good-bye before they close their doors. God speed.
Dinner and a movie. Dinner at the newly renovated and greatly improved “Delores' Resturant” on Santa Monica Blvd, just a block west of the Nuart. Plenty of food for your money at Delores' and dinner specials which include desert as well. Plenty of parking in city lots off of Santa Monica blvd. Then walk accross the street and catch a film at the Nuart. Convenient and affordable – especially if you catch one of the Nuart’s bargain matinees for $7 a show.
Had not heard that about the LACMA film series being saved. Cheers for posting that very good news. LACMA, along with the New Beverly and Cinemateque must be preserved and supported so that we can see films in the way they were meant to be seen.
American Cinemateque does not have deep pockets and I doubt they would take on the Chinese even if they had the funds. Cinemateque survives primarily on membership and donations and the staff is comprised mostly of volunteers for it’s screening and events. The $10 admission is a bargain as it allows you 2 films in the original format and the best extant print available along with guest speakers who discuss aspects of the film on any given night. I doubt that $10 per head goes a long way in covering their overhead, so I really don’t think that Cinemateque is a player in taking over the Chinese. They have their hands full with the Aero and the Egyptian and God bless them for it.
Thank you Michael for the confirmation for that is more then I could have expected. I see you at the theater when I attend as I did your father for many, many years. He was a good man and is very much missed. So, thank you again for that good news and also to Quentin Tatantino – a big thank you as well – for stepping in and saving this Los Angeles treasure. For those of us who remember when there were many such revival theaters in LA, the continued operation of the New Beverly is fantastic news as it is now the last of it’s kind and even more of a treasure especially as we watch as more single screen theaters are closing one by one. So, thanks again for confirming this good news and I’ll be sure to say hello if I see you in the box office or behind the snack bar counter. Cheers!
I saw it during it’s original run at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood USA on August 19th,1979. Bought the tickets 2 weeks ahead of time at the Cinerama Box office in antiscipation for the whopping price of $5.00 each! They were tickets printed especially for the run with the date of the showing and the name of the film. Lined up an hour ahead of time so we could sit in the “sweet seats” at the Dome. When you walked in they gave you a special program with the credits as this was the original 70mm version without any end credits. This was very much an event. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. The 6 track multi-dimentional sound at the Dome was amazing with the soundtrack surrounding you as the sound travelled from one channel to another and from front to back. Absolutely amazing. I forget what types of speakers the Dome ran back then, maybe JBL’s, but the sound was magnificent! When the film ended I was blown away but knew I needed to see it again, so I ran out and around to the box office (now closed) and bought 2 more tickets for the following Sunday. Seeing Apocalypse Now at the Cinerama Dome in it’s original run in 1979 counts as one of the greatest days of my love of film and I was very disappointed to see that Arclight or American Cinemateque had not scheduled a 30th anniversary screening of the film at the Dome or Egypitian theater. But on August 19th, 2009 I’ll screen my DVD copy on my flat screen and have my own 30 year anniversary party.
To clarify in my previous post, when they opened the Hollywood and Highland complex in 2001, the Chinese became part of an even larger tourist attraction and the forecourt became home to a thriving buisness of Comicbook Superhero impersonators. On any given weekend you’d see, Superman, Batman, Spiderman (3 of them!), The Hulk, Wonderwoman and pretty much you name it. They even made a film of them called “Confessions of a Superhero” which follows 4 of them – including one Superman who claims to be the son of the late actress Sandy Dennis. The impersonators make their money off tips and some even have anger issues and have been arrested from time to time, but my main objection is how kitchy the Chinese Theater has become because of them.
I’ll go back to seeing films at the Chinese when they restore the original box office and get rid of the impersonators. Also, Mann did a terriable job in the last few years in booking the theater and really did a lot to reduce the class this place once had. When I was last there in 2006 to see “Superman” I swore it would be my last until things changed. Let’s hope that whichever chain picks up the lease improves the situation. Hell, at this point I’d even welcome Disney!
Footage from the unreleased film “Uncle Meat” by Frank Zappa has footage of Frank and the Mothers of Invention in all their glory performing at the Garrick in 1967 which has a quick shot of the house from the stage and indicates that it was indeed a very small space.
Looks like the city of South Pasadena has “closed” the Rialto due to violation of some city ordinances. The city has posted a notice on the front door stating that the Rilato is in violation of city codes and a fire hazard. It’s anyone’s guess whether the owner will put any money into the theater to fix the problem and bring it up to code. I belive Landmark had a few years left on their lease before it ran and was renting the theater out for parties, screenings and filming. Until the theater is brought up to code, they won’t even be able to do that and the theater … just sits there … crumbling away. I would be interested to know if anybody else has information about the current condition of the Rialto.
Just got back from a trip to NOLA and made a point of stopping by the Prytania Theater to see it. What a wonderful place! Had to see it as it plays a big role in one of my fav novels: “A Confederacy of Dunces.” A lovely small, charming neighbourhood theater and a wonderful place to see a film. Attended the 2:30 pm matinee of “Alice in Wonderland” in 3D. This theater runs digital now and what a presenation! Sound is clear and loud and the projection is first rate. Truly a great theater to watch a film. Matinee was about 1/3 full for a weekday. Sadly, this is the only theater left open in New Orleans and the last single screen theater in the whole state of Louisiana. No open theaters remain on Canal Street and the devastaion that was caused by Katrina is very evident when you see the condition these theaters are in. The Prytania Theater is truly a gem in a great city.
Arclight Hollywood – $15.50 to see a film, albeit in the best way possible. Wonder if there are enough people in the Pasadena area that will feel the same way. Will defintely price out a large amount of people who won’t pay $15.50 to see a film. That being said, I am very happy to hear that Arclight is opening a Pasadena location. Welcome to the neighbourhood!!
Stopped in at the Village to see Shutter Island in a real movie theater and also to say good-bye if and when Mann leaves the Village and Bruin next month. Happy to report that the theater was ¾ full for the 7pm showing on Saturday night. Image and sound were fantastic as usual, but the Screenvision before the show is a real distraction and a bummer! I have not been to the Village for about 5-6 years and the last time was before the irritaing “Screenvision.” Other then that I was happy to see the old girl in such fine shape and looking good. God, I hope someone steps up and picks up the leases for this theater and the Bruin. I cannot imagine them going dark; they are such a part of my life having seen films there for the better part of 35 years. Westwood continues it’s downward decline as I noticed that they closed the “Chili’s” resturant and the space is vacant. Hard to belive since everytime I went there in the last 5 years it was doing good buisness with UCLA students at the bar.
What made “The Empire Strikes Back” the best of the first trilogy was the script by Lawrence Kasdan. The film has real gravitas and ends on a real down note; Han captured by Boba Fett and on his way to Jabba the Hut; Luke with a severed arm and the hint that Vadar may be his father; the rebel alliance scattered. No happy ending. George Lucas should have left well enough alone. My opinion was that the second trilogy was so bad that it made Stars Wars: “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” look lke Citizen Kane and Grand Illusion in comparision. I don’t know what to make of “Return of The Jedi” but it was better then any of the second trilogy that’s for sure- even with those Ewoks!
Would it kill the owner to at least paint the building? I mean c'mon. I now he won’t sell it under any circumstances to the city, but how about at least putting a coat of paint on it?
Well done you guys and keep up the good work. I’ve found a community of people and a home for folks like myself who still care about these theaters and remember a time when seeing a film at a real movie theater meant something. Also a great resourse for the hstory of these theaters and they live on in memory because of it.
The presentation of the New Beverly is just fine and is the absolute best I can remember in the 30 + years I’ve been going. Everytime I go to The “Beverly” I am always happy to see something new that has either been added or replaced since the last time I was there. I was out a few weeks ago for a great double feature of “Death Wish 3” and “Rolling Thunder” and noticed that the front doors had been replaced and brand new. I love this theater with all my heart. Los Angeles is very lucky to have it and some great programing coming up in January 2010 including a showing of “The Exiles!”
Come out and support this theater!
Keep up the great work Michael and God bless you!
John J. Impressive stats. Cheers. Well done. Always dreamed of doing that. Respect and agree with your top 10 of the decade as well.
The theater does appear in the opening credits to that paen to the disco life “Thank God it’s Friday” along with the old Osco’s Disco on La Cienega and 3rd Street in Los Angeles. When the film was shot in 1977, I belive the El Rey was still a revival house prior to it’s concersion to a nightclub in the 1990’s.
If they could insure that there would be no cel phones, blackberrys or devices with a bright display that distract from the film. Also, police the theater to prevent people from talking, kicking your chair, or other distacting behaviour, then maybe, just maybe I’d consider this theater. The sad reality is that people no longer have even the slightest vestiage of consideration or manners when it comes to going to a movie theater and paying $30 a ticket will not solve the problems. I’m old enough to remember when theaters – real movie theaters – had ushers with flashlights to keep patrons from this type of behaviour. Now it’s just commomplace and accepted and just plain sad. No wonder prople stay home and get the film from Netflix.
Good-Bye Grande 4-Plex and thanks for 25 years of memories.
Can’t help but think that opening the Michael Jackson film “This Is It” on all 14 screens is overkill. Oh, that’s right – doesn’t AEG own LA Live?
Score one for our side. Hope this catches on and other theater chains take note.
I’d pay the $30 if it would guarantee people not kicking the back of my seat, checking their cel phone or Blackberry in the middle of the film or talking during the feature. I’d pay the $30 if they could do that.
Sad, sad, sad. Bummer about it finally closing. Knew it was going to happen for quite some time, but thought maybe it could hold on even with the ugly Regal 14 theaters opening soon. I won’t be giving my money to the Regal – I hate these supermarket theater establishments and the cel phone people are rude as can be. Loved the Laemmle Grande. Was there when it opened in 1984 and saw “Carmen” and many, many other films during it’s 25 years of operation. I’ll hate to see it go. I’ll be by one last time to say good-bye before they close their doors. God speed.
Dinner and a movie. Dinner at the newly renovated and greatly improved “Delores' Resturant” on Santa Monica Blvd, just a block west of the Nuart. Plenty of food for your money at Delores' and dinner specials which include desert as well. Plenty of parking in city lots off of Santa Monica blvd. Then walk accross the street and catch a film at the Nuart. Convenient and affordable – especially if you catch one of the Nuart’s bargain matinees for $7 a show.
Had not heard that about the LACMA film series being saved. Cheers for posting that very good news. LACMA, along with the New Beverly and Cinemateque must be preserved and supported so that we can see films in the way they were meant to be seen.
American Cinemateque does not have deep pockets and I doubt they would take on the Chinese even if they had the funds. Cinemateque survives primarily on membership and donations and the staff is comprised mostly of volunteers for it’s screening and events. The $10 admission is a bargain as it allows you 2 films in the original format and the best extant print available along with guest speakers who discuss aspects of the film on any given night. I doubt that $10 per head goes a long way in covering their overhead, so I really don’t think that Cinemateque is a player in taking over the Chinese. They have their hands full with the Aero and the Egyptian and God bless them for it.
Thank you Michael for the confirmation for that is more then I could have expected. I see you at the theater when I attend as I did your father for many, many years. He was a good man and is very much missed. So, thank you again for that good news and also to Quentin Tatantino – a big thank you as well – for stepping in and saving this Los Angeles treasure. For those of us who remember when there were many such revival theaters in LA, the continued operation of the New Beverly is fantastic news as it is now the last of it’s kind and even more of a treasure especially as we watch as more single screen theaters are closing one by one. So, thanks again for confirming this good news and I’ll be sure to say hello if I see you in the box office or behind the snack bar counter. Cheers!
Tarantino bought the New Beverly? Can anybody else confirm this?
I saw it during it’s original run at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood USA on August 19th,1979. Bought the tickets 2 weeks ahead of time at the Cinerama Box office in antiscipation for the whopping price of $5.00 each! They were tickets printed especially for the run with the date of the showing and the name of the film. Lined up an hour ahead of time so we could sit in the “sweet seats” at the Dome. When you walked in they gave you a special program with the credits as this was the original 70mm version without any end credits. This was very much an event. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. The 6 track multi-dimentional sound at the Dome was amazing with the soundtrack surrounding you as the sound travelled from one channel to another and from front to back. Absolutely amazing. I forget what types of speakers the Dome ran back then, maybe JBL’s, but the sound was magnificent! When the film ended I was blown away but knew I needed to see it again, so I ran out and around to the box office (now closed) and bought 2 more tickets for the following Sunday. Seeing Apocalypse Now at the Cinerama Dome in it’s original run in 1979 counts as one of the greatest days of my love of film and I was very disappointed to see that Arclight or American Cinemateque had not scheduled a 30th anniversary screening of the film at the Dome or Egypitian theater. But on August 19th, 2009 I’ll screen my DVD copy on my flat screen and have my own 30 year anniversary party.
To clarify in my previous post, when they opened the Hollywood and Highland complex in 2001, the Chinese became part of an even larger tourist attraction and the forecourt became home to a thriving buisness of Comicbook Superhero impersonators. On any given weekend you’d see, Superman, Batman, Spiderman (3 of them!), The Hulk, Wonderwoman and pretty much you name it. They even made a film of them called “Confessions of a Superhero” which follows 4 of them – including one Superman who claims to be the son of the late actress Sandy Dennis. The impersonators make their money off tips and some even have anger issues and have been arrested from time to time, but my main objection is how kitchy the Chinese Theater has become because of them.
I’ll go back to seeing films at the Chinese when they restore the original box office and get rid of the impersonators. Also, Mann did a terriable job in the last few years in booking the theater and really did a lot to reduce the class this place once had. When I was last there in 2006 to see “Superman” I swore it would be my last until things changed. Let’s hope that whichever chain picks up the lease improves the situation. Hell, at this point I’d even welcome Disney!
Footage from the unreleased film “Uncle Meat” by Frank Zappa has footage of Frank and the Mothers of Invention in all their glory performing at the Garrick in 1967 which has a quick shot of the house from the stage and indicates that it was indeed a very small space.