I stopped buying the LA Times a couple of years ago. The legendary Calendar section is a pale imitation of its former self. I now get my showtimes and whatnot via the internet like everyone else.
First time visit was last night (where I was welcomed with a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR in the middle of the flick!). Considerably smaller than the other 4 LA area accessible D/I’s, but clean, well staffed and yummy popcorn. Digital projection is nice and bright and no static interference from the FM radio sound.
Once more folks realize that this spot has reopened, it’s going to be a MONSTER! Heck, with a little reconstruction of their surrounding perimeter walls, they can fit another screen! Maybe 2 more!
Screens are up! Facebook page is up! Website is up! Looks like they’re going with the name Paramount Drive-In Theatres. Still no official opening date, but their Facebook page indicates that they will announce that in a week or so.
Website: http://www.paramountdrivein.com/
Their FB page has pictures of the screens and a local news report showing the screens being mounted on the site. Pretty spiffy!
BREAKING NEWS: The drive-in is RETURNING to this swap meet! The news reports says it’s gonna be a 2 screener (like it was originally) equipped with digital projection and all the trimmings. It’s slated to open in Spring 2014!
The article: http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/blogPost.do?id=1171
They didn’t lower any masking for “Gravity” either. Probably won’t for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” either.
I would suggest taking the issue up with IMAX, not theatre management. However…if they DO decide to move the masking, they’d better have someone in the projection booth at all times or else folks will complain about the masking staying low during 1:78 IMAX sequences.
BTW…the full screen IMAX sequence in Hunger Games was AMAZING! Can’t wait to see the FULLY EXPANDED screen in 2014 when the laser projection system is unleashed!
Addressing Scott’s point: There is a fine line between correcting inaccuracies & insulting someone. Many times that line is crossed. There IS a way to be corrective, but in a non-insulting tone.
Thanks Ross for putting your foot down. The vitrol reached horrifying levels as of late. Here’s to days of peace & movie memories!
Any plans to do a tribute to our late CT member Chuck Van Bibber? His family on some of the St. Louis theatre pages that he passed away recently? We had our battles (!!!) but he definitely merits a tribute due to his contributions to CT.
WOW! So very sorry to hear about your loss. I’ll make no bones about it – your dad and I (and many of us) had our battles here on Cinema Treasures regarding historical accuracy and whatnot. But one thing can’t be denied: his love and passion for cinema and movie theatres – particularly the ones in the great city of St. Louis – was real.
R.I.P. Mr. Van Bibber. May God comfort your family during this time of grief.
There are screens at run of the mill multiplexes BIGGER than the one at El Capitan. Not joking. For all the lavishness they put into the theatre including the high priced VIP seating and pre-movie shows, that screen is SMALL SMALL SMALL. No wider than 50 feet in my guesstimation.
Mark: They’ve been double booking ArcLight & Chinese since “Gravity” opened. Surreal, I know.
Gonna be difficult to focus on the movie due to…DDistractions. :)
I stopped buying the LA Times a couple of years ago. The legendary Calendar section is a pale imitation of its former self. I now get my showtimes and whatnot via the internet like everyone else.
7 days a week. All the LA accessible D/I’s run 7 days a week.
First time visit was last night (where I was welcomed with a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR in the middle of the flick!). Considerably smaller than the other 4 LA area accessible D/I’s, but clean, well staffed and yummy popcorn. Digital projection is nice and bright and no static interference from the FM radio sound.
Once more folks realize that this spot has reopened, it’s going to be a MONSTER! Heck, with a little reconstruction of their surrounding perimeter walls, they can fit another screen! Maybe 2 more!
Showtimes indicate that this is their soft opening.
Please update the theatre name w/the new info. As Brad said, it’s now named iPIC Westwood.
(Re)Opening Day: Friday April 18, 2014. They announced it today on their FB page.
It’s Mann Theatres that is extinct, not Pacific.
That makes sense since ArcLight books them.
Screens are up! Facebook page is up! Website is up! Looks like they’re going with the name Paramount Drive-In Theatres. Still no official opening date, but their Facebook page indicates that they will announce that in a week or so.
Website: http://www.paramountdrivein.com/
Their FB page has pictures of the screens and a local news report showing the screens being mounted on the site. Pretty spiffy!
Good friggin riddance!
I posted this on the Paramount D/I page a couple of weeks ago.
BREAKING NEWS: The drive-in is RETURNING to this swap meet! The news reports says it’s gonna be a 2 screener (like it was originally) equipped with digital projection and all the trimmings. It’s slated to open in Spring 2014!
The article: http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/blogPost.do?id=1171
I believe the La Jolla (San Diego), Chicago (opening later this year) and Virginia (opening in 2015) ArcLights are built from the ground up.
AMC had better turn this place into another Dine-In. It’s the only way the theatre will compete against ArcLight. And Laemmle.
Hold on to your popcorn buckets!
Tucked away in the recent announcement of ArcLight Cinemas expansion to Santa Monica, CA is the following:
“ArcLight also owns and operates the historic Cinerama Dome and programs the TCL Chinese Theatre and IMAX in Hollywood.”
Hmmmmm…
Great job, Michael!
They didn’t lower any masking for “Gravity” either. Probably won’t for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” either.
I would suggest taking the issue up with IMAX, not theatre management. However…if they DO decide to move the masking, they’d better have someone in the projection booth at all times or else folks will complain about the masking staying low during 1:78 IMAX sequences.
BTW…the full screen IMAX sequence in Hunger Games was AMAZING! Can’t wait to see the FULLY EXPANDED screen in 2014 when the laser projection system is unleashed!
Addressing Scott’s point: There is a fine line between correcting inaccuracies & insulting someone. Many times that line is crossed. There IS a way to be corrective, but in a non-insulting tone.
Thanks Ross for putting your foot down. The vitrol reached horrifying levels as of late. Here’s to days of peace & movie memories!
I believe it was Chuck1231.
Happy Thanksgiving
Any plans to do a tribute to our late CT member Chuck Van Bibber? His family on some of the St. Louis theatre pages that he passed away recently? We had our battles (!!!) but he definitely merits a tribute due to his contributions to CT.
WOW! So very sorry to hear about your loss. I’ll make no bones about it – your dad and I (and many of us) had our battles here on Cinema Treasures regarding historical accuracy and whatnot. But one thing can’t be denied: his love and passion for cinema and movie theatres – particularly the ones in the great city of St. Louis – was real.
R.I.P. Mr. Van Bibber. May God comfort your family during this time of grief.
I pity the poor souls who have to watch Episode 7 here in December 2015.
There are screens at run of the mill multiplexes BIGGER than the one at El Capitan. Not joking. For all the lavishness they put into the theatre including the high priced VIP seating and pre-movie shows, that screen is SMALL SMALL SMALL. No wider than 50 feet in my guesstimation.
“Demolished” means ABSOLUTELY TORN DOWN with no remains left. That picture is a GUTTED building, not a DEMOLISHED one.
You want demolished? Take a stroll around the corner and see the grassy knoll that was once The National.