El Capitan Theatre
6838 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6838 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
95 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 318 comments
One more thing, Bruce Martin (RIP) did a good job there as the chief projectionist back in the 90’s.
I worked there as a projectionist when it was the Paramount and I saw a Disney movie there as a non-projectionist after I retired. To tell you the truth, I was never really impressed by this theatre whether working as a projectionist or as an audience member. It’s probably because Grauman’s Chinese theatre which is on the other side of Hollywood Blvd is a more historic and better place to see (and hear) films. One thing though, the El Cap sure has a better looking marquee.
Went a second time to see “Nightmare Before XMAS”, 9:15P show last Saturday. Almost 800 in the theater; my wait line extended into the alley way behind the El Capitan. Ushers were very efficient, passing out the 3D glasses and bell bracelets as we waited. The first week the bracelets were RED this week GREEN.
As I was famished I ordered the personal pizza which turned out to be quite tasty(better than a pizza I recently had at a pizzeria in N Hollywood).
My $11 senior tix brought me a barrel of fun at the 7PM showing today of “Nightmare Before Christmas 3D”. Rob Richards played Phantom themed tunes before the show on the mighty Wurlitzer. We were given wrist bracelets with bells attached to shake when cued in the movie. Fun lighting and fog effects were used during the movie.
FYI, the Kids Combo for $5.50 gets you a soft drink, popcorn and small bag of M & M candy; you can add a jumbo hotdog-which I did- for $2.50.
Disney does it right with a souvenir quality jumbo ticket. About 300 were at my screening.
Giles- the $22 you refer to also includes a drink & popcorn. The $10-$13 seats constitute the vast majority of seating and actually are more screen friendly. The VIP seats are too close to an overpowering screen.
El Cap is the most successful single screen theater in the country and Disney is totally committed to it, so I don’t think it’s in any danger.
I think because it was Monday at 9:45 and it is a film that is caters to Adults or the Family Audience. The El Capitan seems to make is killing with Pixar and other Disney event films. Guarantee when TRON opens in December the El Cap will be filled to the max through New Years day.
When I went to see Secretariat Friday opening day @ 4pm there were only about 25 people in the audience.
well for starters Monday’s is the slowest day of the week, and two, 22 bucks for prime orchestra seats – major ouch – I thought we are still in a recession, personally I draw the line at $18.50 … tops.
Folks, I attended the 9:45PM showing of “Secretariat” on Monday 10/18. I expected a smallish crowd but there were only five of us! Each performance they have a free raffle for four club house tickets to Santa Anita and I won. What an experience for $10 senior/$13 general admission. On weekends the house organist plays the Wurlitzer, which I heard at the 7PM 9/5 screening of “Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.” (A very cute movie). I counted about 95 in the audience. The show included a live Tinkerbell and cascading confetti.
Friends, this is very scary: How can the El Capitan draw only five people when they have a magnificent sign and marquee, Disney enterprises around the world to direct tourist traffic, a revitalized traffic heavy Hollywood Blvd (“Red” was premiering across the street at the Chinese). I assume Disney employees and retirees also get admission discounts.
I for one will attend every upcoming movie at the El Capitan and urge others to do so. Wake up Angelenos-do you know what you are in danger of losing?
How would you like to get a personal tour of the El Capitan while it was a work-in-progress by designer Joe Musil? Now, thanks to Matt Spero, you can. Part one of two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_EMwrbURzI
You can find links to these and other theater videos on LAHTF’s YouTube channel.
Theatre designer Joseph Musil passed away on June 29th. 2010 after a long illness, He was 74 years old.
Loved the theater productions when the building next door was utilized for after film shows themed to the movie playing!
A May 2010 night shot I took:
View link
I assume the soundsystem will be upgraded to 7.1 discrete digital sound for ‘Toy Story 3’s 3D engagement?
I think those might be from 1999, if you look at the last photo.
Please explain how Disney is responsible for something that, from the link, appears to have happened in Michigan/Ohio? Plus that page is 5 years old!
DOCUMENTARY ON CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS – Lookn for interviewees, photos, videos of old hollywood
Hello,
I’m and independent filmmaker working on a documentary about old movie theatres in hollywood (Iris, Warner, Pacific, Hollywood, Vogue, Grauman’s Chinese, Egyptian etc..) that have had an impact on the hollywood community, both as a symbol of Hollywood as well as the historical and heritage effects it has had on “hollywood” as an industry. We are profiling theatres that are currently functioning as well as the obsolete. If you worked in these theatres back in the day (during their highlights) and have interesting stories to tell, photos to show, video to talk about I would like to hear from you. Many older movie houses are being demolished due to new developments and it is important to help future generation know and understand how these movie palaces have helped shaped the Hollywood we know today. If you have any photos or videos with personal stories you’d like to share, please contact me (323) 876-0975 – – You must owns the materials you are willing to share (taken the picture- recorded the videos, written the letters, etc…)
If you do have materials you’d like to send that may help in accurate information, you are welcome to send it to me.
Jorge Ameer
Classic Hollywood Cinemas
Box 3204
Hollywood, California 90028
“Mulan” (1998) opened at the Chinese.
Well, it is playing at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank so I guess that counts a little.
Even more surprising was that Old Dogs was not played at the El Captian (being that it was Disney’s big Thanksgiving movie). But also I was surprised that Ponyo didn’t run either (due to a long run of G-Force).
Very surprising. They will be holding Christmas Carol for quite a while.
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG opens December 11th @ Arclight Hollywood.
This is the first time,that i can recall,that a Disney produced animated film has NOT opened at the El Capitan since it opened.
To Don S.’s Oct 24th question above concerning the Hollywood Playhouse: This facility now known as Avalon nightclub , was never a cinema. It opened in 1927 as a legitimate theatre and then had various incarnations as a live performance space and radio/television studio before being converted into a nightclub. Therefore, probably the reason its not listed on CT although it does appear on other sites like CinemaTour as Hollywood Playhouse.
Now if only more theaters were this ornate! I did take a peak at their admission prices..WHOA!
Back in 2003, Harry Lime wrote about another El Capitan theater in Hollywood: “The Hollywood Playhouse (1927 – 1945), located at 1735 North Vine Street, recently The Palace and now The Avalon Theatre (a Clear Channel operation), was formerly the El Capitan, and the Jerry Lewis Theatre.”
Does this not have a page here? I’ve been searching on the various names (and checking “previous names”) and can’t seem to find it.
I stand corrected.