Today’s LA Times has an interesting piece on the Crest. Apparently, the new owner is a company called Bigfoot Entertainment out of Venice, and Carmike is merely managing the theater for Bigfoot. Bigfoot and Carmike are both owned in part by the same private eqity firm in Hong Kong. They intend to show 75% big studio releases, but plan to reserve 25% of the Crest’s screen time for independent features produced by Bigfoot….
That’s a bummer about Carmike raising the age for discount tickets, but from their future bookings, it looks like they are very serious about making the Crest a destination for great movies on the Westside.
It’s Carmike Cinemas, believe it or not. Patrick Goldsmith has a nice piece in today’s LA Times on Robert Bucksbaum, the owner, and his feelings on selling the theater. Carmike, headquarted in Columbus, Georgia, is the nation’s 4th largest chain. This will be their first theater in California. I have to admit this is a big surprise, and I hope Carmike devotes the reosurces and money to keep this amazing theater a viable and exciting location for exhibiting motion pictures.
Re: Edward and Tlsloews comments on March 15/16….I was wrong about Rave and the talk on Rave came not from people in the exhibition business who probably knew better, but producers/executives and studio types….
Thanks Chris and William for the info on Lyndon Golin. I have also heard that he has been an extraordianry caretaker and protector of the Lido in Newport Beach. So I feel that these crown jewels of the once great Mann chain are now in good hands.
I know how enormously proud Ted Mann was of all his theaters, especially the Bruin and the Village. Sad to see that Mann Theaters is now just a shell of its former self. Once the 8th largest theater chain in the country and arguably the most prestigious and important of all the chains for much of the time from 1970-2000, it has fallen far.
Is this for real? Regency is talking over the Bruin and Village lease? I am totally surprised but very happy that the Bruin and the Village will stay open. Awesome…..
This represents a real departure from the typical Regency theater, but this is great news.
April 1st comes this week….let’s hope some national theater chain, or maybe some film heavyweight/billionaire, gets serious about taking over the leases for these two national treasures. Losing them would be a tragedy.
Thanks William and Brad. That is so true about the diminishing returns to the theater, even starting as early as after opening weekend.
One final point….Do the Village and Bruin make enough from holding the premieres to cover the nut? Any idea what a studio has to pay to rent the theater for a premiere? And someone mentioned that the lease was about $1 million a year for the Village and Bruin.
Westwood is an absolute nightmare when it comes to any sort of building or redevelopment project. As a former resident, I can truthfully state that it may well be the the most difficult part of the city to try to build anything. I agree that the best scenario for keeping the Village/Bruin alive would be some sort of multiplex or ArcLight
Short of that, do you think any national change would consider the Village/Bruin as vanity projects, that just break even showing premiers and remaining as single screen theaters?
The consensus seems to be that Mann will run it on a month to month lease after April 1. I have heard that Rave, which took over the Beverly Center 13 from Mann last summer, is seriously considering taking over the Bruin and the Village.
A longshot may be Johhny Brenden, Ted Mann’s granson who now runs a 100 screen chain in Las Vegas.
So the consensus seems to be that Mann will continue running both the Bruin and Village on a month to month lease after April 1.
Has anyone heard anything about Johnny Brenden, Ted Mann’s grandson, who now runs Brenden Theaters out of Las Vegas? It sounds like a longshot, but that’s the name that I keep hearing.
I agree about Rave. A few weeks ago, they acquired close to 35 theaters(over 300 screens) from National Amusement, almost doubling in size. They are now the 5th largest domestic chain( after Regal, AMC, Cinemark and Carmike). The Village and Bruin would give them a presence and a calling card. Those theaters are prestigious, and for a newer exhibitor like Rave, that would put them on the map….I agree that one of the theaters would probably have to be used as the anchor for a multiplex,like the ArcLight and the Cinerama Dome —-that’s the only way the deal makes any economic sense. However building anything in Westwood is a nightmare of epic proportions.
In 1998, both Edwards and Pacific tried to buy the entire Mann chain.
I can’t imagine that the Village and Bruin will close, given their historical significance and their pivotal role in holding premieres. But I’ve seen Westwood become almost a ghost town over the last ten years…I am worried but hopeful.
I remember what Westwood used to be like in the 1970’s and 80’s, and it was really a magical place full of energy and excitement. The Village, the Bruin and the National played an enormous part in making Westwood special. I’m rooting for someone to keep the Bruin and the Village open—-all I know is that there has been interest by those companies, nothing definite yet.
Rick Caruso, who built the Grove and the Americana in Glendale, recently gave an interview to Patt Morrison of the LA Times and spoke of wanting to do something in Westwood. He said he drives by there every night, and it makes him sad, knowing what it used to be.
Muvico and Rave could really make a significant impact in the area by leasing the Village or Bruin and making them their flagship theaters in SoCal. People don’t really know these companies—-a move like this would put them on the map.
Mann hasn’t been the same since Ted Mann died—-Warners and Paramount never invested in the brand after Ted. And the city and the people of Westwood aren’t exactly the easiest to deal with. Losing Westwood as a center of movie going would be a tragedy.
Rick Caruso, the developer of the Grove and The Americana in Glendale, recently gave an inter
How unbelievably sad if the Village and the Bruin close. I have heard lots of rumors—-all unconfirmed at this point—that several companies have expressed strong interest in these theaters. There are a few longshots who have kicked around the tires including Johnny Brenden, the grandson of Ted Mann, who now runs Brenden Theaters, a 100 screen chain in Nevada and Northern California, and has enormous affectation for his late grandfather’s once great Mann chain. Also two chains that have recently purchased or leased theaters in Southern California including Muvico(a new complex in Thousand Oaks) and Rave (the Beverly Cinema) are said to be interested. And my instinct tells me that Pacific Theaters would be interested. Curious as to why Brad thinks that AMC would not be intersted?
Just read a interview where Michael Connelly, the great writer, talks about going to the Vagabond during his first week in LA in the 1980’s and catching a double feature of Chinatown and The Long Goodbye.
Thanks for the info….I will check out the Daily Bruin article….
The LA Times article says Bigfoot paid $4 million for the Crest. Any idea what Bucksbaum paid for it? Did he make any money off this deal?
Today’s LA Times has an interesting piece on the Crest. Apparently, the new owner is a company called Bigfoot Entertainment out of Venice, and Carmike is merely managing the theater for Bigfoot. Bigfoot and Carmike are both owned in part by the same private eqity firm in Hong Kong. They intend to show 75% big studio releases, but plan to reserve 25% of the Crest’s screen time for independent features produced by Bigfoot….
That’s a bummer about Carmike raising the age for discount tickets, but from their future bookings, it looks like they are very serious about making the Crest a destination for great movies on the Westside.
It’s Carmike Cinemas, believe it or not. Patrick Goldsmith has a nice piece in today’s LA Times on Robert Bucksbaum, the owner, and his feelings on selling the theater. Carmike, headquarted in Columbus, Georgia, is the nation’s 4th largest chain. This will be their first theater in California. I have to admit this is a big surprise, and I hope Carmike devotes the reosurces and money to keep this amazing theater a viable and exciting location for exhibiting motion pictures.
I’d say Regency—-after taking over the Village and the Bruin, the Majestic fits into their corporate philosophy.
Re: Edward and Tlsloews comments on March 15/16….I was wrong about Rave and the talk on Rave came not from people in the exhibition business who probably knew better, but producers/executives and studio types….
Thanks Chris and William for the info on Lyndon Golin. I have also heard that he has been an extraordianry caretaker and protector of the Lido in Newport Beach. So I feel that these crown jewels of the once great Mann chain are now in good hands.
I know how enormously proud Ted Mann was of all his theaters, especially the Bruin and the Village. Sad to see that Mann Theaters is now just a shell of its former self. Once the 8th largest theater chain in the country and arguably the most prestigious and important of all the chains for much of the time from 1970-2000, it has fallen far.
Anybody know much about Lyndon Golin’s background? Is he a passionate exhibitor or more of a financial/numbers guy?
Is this for real? Regency is talking over the Bruin and Village lease? I am totally surprised but very happy that the Bruin and the Village will stay open. Awesome…..
This represents a real departure from the typical Regency theater, but this is great news.
April 1st comes this week….let’s hope some national theater chain, or maybe some film heavyweight/billionaire, gets serious about taking over the leases for these two national treasures. Losing them would be a tragedy.
Thanks William and Brad. That is so true about the diminishing returns to the theater, even starting as early as after opening weekend.
One final point….Do the Village and Bruin make enough from holding the premieres to cover the nut? Any idea what a studio has to pay to rent the theater for a premiere? And someone mentioned that the lease was about $1 million a year for the Village and Bruin.
Westwood is an absolute nightmare when it comes to any sort of building or redevelopment project. As a former resident, I can truthfully state that it may well be the the most difficult part of the city to try to build anything. I agree that the best scenario for keeping the Village/Bruin alive would be some sort of multiplex or ArcLight
Short of that, do you think any national change would consider the Village/Bruin as vanity projects, that just break even showing premiers and remaining as single screen theaters?
I just hope someone takes over these theaters so we don’t lose two of the most beautiful and iconic theaters in the country.
I can’t imagine Westwood Village without the Bruin and the Village. Closing them would aboslutely tear the heart out of what is left of Westwood….
Bummer…Is that a definite no? Rave is definitely not taking over the leases at the Bruin and the Village?
What about Muvico?
The consensus seems to be that Mann will run it on a month to month lease after April 1. I have heard that Rave, which took over the Beverly Center 13 from Mann last summer, is seriously considering taking over the Bruin and the Village.
A longshot may be Johhny Brenden, Ted Mann’s granson who now runs a 100 screen chain in Las Vegas.
So the consensus seems to be that Mann will continue running both the Bruin and Village on a month to month lease after April 1.
Has anyone heard anything about Johnny Brenden, Ted Mann’s grandson, who now runs Brenden Theaters out of Las Vegas? It sounds like a longshot, but that’s the name that I keep hearing.
could you send these ads again?
I agree about Rave. A few weeks ago, they acquired close to 35 theaters(over 300 screens) from National Amusement, almost doubling in size. They are now the 5th largest domestic chain( after Regal, AMC, Cinemark and Carmike). The Village and Bruin would give them a presence and a calling card. Those theaters are prestigious, and for a newer exhibitor like Rave, that would put them on the map….I agree that one of the theaters would probably have to be used as the anchor for a multiplex,like the ArcLight and the Cinerama Dome —-that’s the only way the deal makes any economic sense. However building anything in Westwood is a nightmare of epic proportions.
In 1998, both Edwards and Pacific tried to buy the entire Mann chain.
I can’t imagine that the Village and Bruin will close, given their historical significance and their pivotal role in holding premieres. But I’ve seen Westwood become almost a ghost town over the last ten years…I am worried but hopeful.
I remember what Westwood used to be like in the 1970’s and 80’s, and it was really a magical place full of energy and excitement. The Village, the Bruin and the National played an enormous part in making Westwood special. I’m rooting for someone to keep the Bruin and the Village open—-all I know is that there has been interest by those companies, nothing definite yet.
Rick Caruso, who built the Grove and the Americana in Glendale, recently gave an interview to Patt Morrison of the LA Times and spoke of wanting to do something in Westwood. He said he drives by there every night, and it makes him sad, knowing what it used to be.
Muvico and Rave could really make a significant impact in the area by leasing the Village or Bruin and making them their flagship theaters in SoCal. People don’t really know these companies—-a move like this would put them on the map.
Mann hasn’t been the same since Ted Mann died—-Warners and Paramount never invested in the brand after Ted. And the city and the people of Westwood aren’t exactly the easiest to deal with. Losing Westwood as a center of movie going would be a tragedy.
Rick Caruso, the developer of the Grove and The Americana in Glendale, recently gave an inter
How unbelievably sad if the Village and the Bruin close. I have heard lots of rumors—-all unconfirmed at this point—that several companies have expressed strong interest in these theaters. There are a few longshots who have kicked around the tires including Johnny Brenden, the grandson of Ted Mann, who now runs Brenden Theaters, a 100 screen chain in Nevada and Northern California, and has enormous affectation for his late grandfather’s once great Mann chain. Also two chains that have recently purchased or leased theaters in Southern California including Muvico(a new complex in Thousand Oaks) and Rave (the Beverly Cinema) are said to be interested. And my instinct tells me that Pacific Theaters would be interested. Curious as to why Brad thinks that AMC would not be intersted?
Just read a interview where Michael Connelly, the great writer, talks about going to the Vagabond during his first week in LA in the 1980’s and catching a double feature of Chinatown and The Long Goodbye.