Here is the latest on the Novato: http://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150810/novato-groups-plan-for-new-downtown-theater-inching-closer-to-reality#disqus_thread
During the early 70’s it usually had exclusive engagements (Mary, Queen of Scots, Travels with My Aunt, Amarcord)or exclusive reissues (The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind). Westwood and Hollywood would share first runs, not Beverly Hills.
Before HBO, heavyweight boxing title fights were satellite fed to various large capacity theatres, the Pacific Beverly Hills among them. Several of the seats in the center of the theatre were removed to accumulate the satellite equipment. I worked the Ali-Forman title fight in 1974. The house was sold out. This was the “Rope a Dope” fight which Ali won. At the end, we had a bunch of pissed off people who spent considerable cash for a half hour of boxing.
Opened in spring 1972 as a ABC theater. “Cabaret” was the first movie booked. It played in Theater #2, the larger of the two. The only way to access the auditorium was a steep flight of stairs. Many times we ushers had to lift and carry terrified wheel chaired bound patrons up and down those steps. Whoever was booking that placed had a rather difficult time finding anything to play in the smaller theater. The Movie of the Week “Brian’s Song” played there for a couple of weeks to consistent empty houses. A Orson Wells narrated documentary also was shown. I was part of the opening staff, my first job. Worked there a whole five months until they laid off the entire male staff. Two years later I received a settlement check from a class action suit from that. I saw “Jaws” there on opening day.
Regarding Bradley’s previous comment, “Star Wars' opened at the Avco in Westwood and Chinese in Hollywood.
When “The Exorcist” opened in late 1973, the National in Westwood had an exclusive engagement. Almost every showing was sold out well into January of 1974. Mann Theaters was looking for another place to show it. All their large theaters still had contacts with their holiday film and couldn’t break them except the Fine Arts. When the local community found out “The Exorcist” was about to takeover the Fine Arts, they asked the Beverly Hills City Council to enact new street parking laws, which effectively prohibited filmgoers from parking on the street. With all the fuss the film did still quite well there.
When it became two theatres in the early 90’s, there cut the last third of the seating and made it the second theatre. The larger (#2) main theatre looks and feels like the original. #3 and #4 are brand new “screening rooms”, maybe seats a hundred each. Cinema West’s original plans were to open a 8 or 10 plex down the street, but the town of Fairfax said no to that.
The theatre did not close because of local complaints, it closed because moviegoers went to Westwood or Hollywood. The town had no night life to boot. I worked there as an usher in 1974.
I worked as an usher and later an assistant manager there from March 1973 thru Spring 1975. Pacific Theatres had the lease at that time. Although I never counted all the seats, we said the capacity was 1314. The night janitor started working there in 1947. What a nice guy! Most of the movies booked there were sub-runs, but a few times we would have exclusive engagements for reissues. Both “The Sound of Music” and “Gone With The Wind” were there for several months each during my employment. I still have several “Lawrence of Arabia” road show programs that I found in one of the old dressing rooms backstage. What a great place to see films. I couldn’t believe Beverly Hills, with all it’s money, couldn’t save that wonderful palace,
The theater closed down permanently on April 24th 1969. The Shoes of the Fisherman played for 23 weeks
Here is the latest on the Novato: http://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150810/novato-groups-plan-for-new-downtown-theater-inching-closer-to-reality#disqus_thread
Currently CityROCK Climbing Center.
It now has three screens. Upstairs offices were converted into the third screen.
When did this close as a movie theatre?
During the early 70’s it usually had exclusive engagements (Mary, Queen of Scots, Travels with My Aunt, Amarcord)or exclusive reissues (The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind). Westwood and Hollywood would share first runs, not Beverly Hills.
The latest on the Novato. http://www.marinij.com/business/ci_16330462
Before Albert Szabo was at the AVCO he managed the Beverly Theatre.
Before HBO, heavyweight boxing title fights were satellite fed to various large capacity theatres, the Pacific Beverly Hills among them. Several of the seats in the center of the theatre were removed to accumulate the satellite equipment. I worked the Ali-Forman title fight in 1974. The house was sold out. This was the “Rope a Dope” fight which Ali won. At the end, we had a bunch of pissed off people who spent considerable cash for a half hour of boxing.
The Festival is open and currently playing a double feature of “Bad Santa” and “Mystic River.”
Opened in spring 1972 as a ABC theater. “Cabaret” was the first movie booked. It played in Theater #2, the larger of the two. The only way to access the auditorium was a steep flight of stairs. Many times we ushers had to lift and carry terrified wheel chaired bound patrons up and down those steps. Whoever was booking that placed had a rather difficult time finding anything to play in the smaller theater. The Movie of the Week “Brian’s Song” played there for a couple of weeks to consistent empty houses. A Orson Wells narrated documentary also was shown. I was part of the opening staff, my first job. Worked there a whole five months until they laid off the entire male staff. Two years later I received a settlement check from a class action suit from that. I saw “Jaws” there on opening day.
Regarding Bradley’s previous comment, “Star Wars' opened at the Avco in Westwood and Chinese in Hollywood.
When “The Exorcist” opened in late 1973, the National in Westwood had an exclusive engagement. Almost every showing was sold out well into January of 1974. Mann Theaters was looking for another place to show it. All their large theaters still had contacts with their holiday film and couldn’t break them except the Fine Arts. When the local community found out “The Exorcist” was about to takeover the Fine Arts, they asked the Beverly Hills City Council to enact new street parking laws, which effectively prohibited filmgoers from parking on the street. With all the fuss the film did still quite well there.
The theatre opened in 1970. The first film to play was Watermelon Man.
When it became two theatres in the early 90’s, there cut the last third of the seating and made it the second theatre. The larger (#2) main theatre looks and feels like the original. #3 and #4 are brand new “screening rooms”, maybe seats a hundred each. Cinema West’s original plans were to open a 8 or 10 plex down the street, but the town of Fairfax said no to that.
The theatre did not close because of local complaints, it closed because moviegoers went to Westwood or Hollywood. The town had no night life to boot. I worked there as an usher in 1974.
I worked as an usher and later an assistant manager there from March 1973 thru Spring 1975. Pacific Theatres had the lease at that time. Although I never counted all the seats, we said the capacity was 1314. The night janitor started working there in 1947. What a nice guy! Most of the movies booked there were sub-runs, but a few times we would have exclusive engagements for reissues. Both “The Sound of Music” and “Gone With The Wind” were there for several months each during my employment. I still have several “Lawrence of Arabia” road show programs that I found in one of the old dressing rooms backstage. What a great place to see films. I couldn’t believe Beverly Hills, with all it’s money, couldn’t save that wonderful palace,