I made a mini radio documentary about LA cinemas which featured the Four Star for BBC radio back in 1996, when I was a correspondent in LA. I also recorded a “From Our Own Correspondent” for the World Service and BBC Radio 4 about the man who ran it. He’d grown up working in cinemas in the mid West, where his own father was a theatre manager. And he had turned the Four Star into a revival house in the early 90s I think, with old friends running the projector and the concession stand. They installed a proper silver screen and had an impressively eclectic programme. Lots of William Holden, too, as that was his favourite actor. Sadly, as other contributors have pointed out, the landlord sold the property to a south American church and it closed in 97, I think. It was a privilege to have met the team who ran this place with such passion and love of film.
This cinema was built with a beautiful curved screen in I think 1968 to show the big Cinemascope productions. In the few years before the disastrous conversion I got to see the restored digital print of “Spartacus” (complete with Anthony Hopkins dubbing Olivier’s lines for the previously censored bath scene in which he discusses “oysters” with Tony Curtis). I still remember that excitement when the curtains opened wider and wider at the start to the extremes of that fabulous curved screen. My dad took me to see my first James Bond film here (The Spy Who Loved Me). They also ran a fabulous 70 mm season in the summer of 93, which included “The Right Stuff”. Can you imagine? On the biggest Screen in Europe! The foyer were full of weird 60s stained glass, like something out of old Star Trek episodes. There was lots of wood panelling. Very 60s and charming. I miss it. Sniff.
The British Film Institute had hoped to reopen the Rialto as a West End venue for the National Film Theatre (somewhat similar to American Cinemateque). It was a brilliant proposal. But of course big business prevailed. The Fashion Cafe opened and shut within a year or two. Presumably the cinema was gutted. It is now a Hard Rock Casino. I can’t walk past it without thinking everytime what a wasted opportunity.
I think I’ll stay away. Thanks for the update. The Curzon Mayfair is one of the few remaining gems of that era.
I made a mini radio documentary about LA cinemas which featured the Four Star for BBC radio back in 1996, when I was a correspondent in LA. I also recorded a “From Our Own Correspondent” for the World Service and BBC Radio 4 about the man who ran it. He’d grown up working in cinemas in the mid West, where his own father was a theatre manager. And he had turned the Four Star into a revival house in the early 90s I think, with old friends running the projector and the concession stand. They installed a proper silver screen and had an impressively eclectic programme. Lots of William Holden, too, as that was his favourite actor. Sadly, as other contributors have pointed out, the landlord sold the property to a south American church and it closed in 97, I think. It was a privilege to have met the team who ran this place with such passion and love of film.
Have they kept any of the original interior, cjc? I haven’t dared go in since the desecration.
This cinema was built with a beautiful curved screen in I think 1968 to show the big Cinemascope productions. In the few years before the disastrous conversion I got to see the restored digital print of “Spartacus” (complete with Anthony Hopkins dubbing Olivier’s lines for the previously censored bath scene in which he discusses “oysters” with Tony Curtis). I still remember that excitement when the curtains opened wider and wider at the start to the extremes of that fabulous curved screen. My dad took me to see my first James Bond film here (The Spy Who Loved Me). They also ran a fabulous 70 mm season in the summer of 93, which included “The Right Stuff”. Can you imagine? On the biggest Screen in Europe! The foyer were full of weird 60s stained glass, like something out of old Star Trek episodes. There was lots of wood panelling. Very 60s and charming. I miss it. Sniff.
The British Film Institute had hoped to reopen the Rialto as a West End venue for the National Film Theatre (somewhat similar to American Cinemateque). It was a brilliant proposal. But of course big business prevailed. The Fashion Cafe opened and shut within a year or two. Presumably the cinema was gutted. It is now a Hard Rock Casino. I can’t walk past it without thinking everytime what a wasted opportunity.