Westwood Village was the third significant theatre district to evolve in Los Angeles. With the construction of the UCLA campus in the mid 1920's, there was a chance to develop a unique shopping and entertainment district for faculty and students.
By the 1970's, Westwood had the largest concentration of first run screens in the Los Angeles area. With the decline of the traditional theatre districts downtown and in Hollywood, having a premiere and exclusive run at a Westwood Village theatre gave a film a touch of class that couldn't be duplicated elsewhere in the city.
Westwood has lost some screens as you'll see by the photos below. With the advent of multiplexes, the demise of exclusive runs and the rise of other westside locations things aren't what they once were.
about the photos below...
The photos on the left side of the column below are generally those displayed on image searches on Google Images, Yahoo! or other databases. You can click on the image to see how it was found in context. There's also a link to the website itself or a specific article for your further investigation.
The photos on the right side of the column below are 2007 images by Bill Counter. These you can click on for a larger view.
All images are subject to copyright.
Avco Cinema
10840 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90014 | map |
(310) 475-0711 showtimes
Website: www.amctheatres.com
Opened: 1972 as a tri-plex by General Cinema. The large theatre was twinned in the 90's.
Status: Remains a major first run venue now operated by AMC.
More information: See the Avco Cinema page on Cinema Treasures.
Bruin Theatre
948 Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
| map |
(310) 208-8998
Website: www.manntheatres.com
Opened: 1937
Architect: S. Charles Lee
Status: Still a major first run venue operated by Mann Theatres.
See our Bruin Theatre page for more information and photos.
Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |
(310) 208-5454
Website: www.geffenplayhouse.com
A legit theatre offering a varied season.
The Majestic Crest
1262 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |
(310) 474-7866 showtimes
Website: www.westwoodcrest.com
Architect: Arthur W. Hawes
Opened: 1941 as the Crest.
Status: Now known as the Majestic Crest, it it independently operated.
See our Crest Theatre page for more photos.
Mann's Festival Theatre
10887 Lindbrook Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |
(310) 208-2765 showtimes
Website: www.manntheatres.com
Opened: 1970 as the United Artists Westwood in a building that was a Ralph's supermarket in the 20's. It was later remodeled by UA as the UA Egyptian. Cineplex Odeon took over the lease and remodeled again for a 1988 opening as Odeon. The current interior is standard late 80's cineplex with tube lights on the walls between acoustic panels, etc.
Architect: The building was designed in the late 20's by Russell Collins for Ralph's.
Seating: 560 (with a balcony).
Status: A first run venue now operated by Mann Theatres.
More information: See the Festival Theatre page on Cinema Teasures. Visit Cinema Tour for some additional exterior photos.
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org Here's a 1940's image from the Library's collection when the building was still a Ralph's supermarket.
Mann's Village Theatre
961 Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90014 | map |
(310) 208-5576 showtimes
Website: www.manntheatres.com
Architect: Percy Parke Lewis
Opened: 1931 as the Fox Westwood Village.
Status: Still a major first run venue after more than70 years and a favored site for premieres.
See our Fox Westwood Village page for more photos and information.
Mann's Westwood 4
1050 Gayley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
| map |
Opened: 1975 by Mann Theatres (as a tri-plex) in a building that had been a Safeway. The largest auditorium was twinned in 1985. This was largely a moveover house for Mann.
Status: Closed in April 2002. The site is now a Whole Foods Market.
More information: See the page on Cinema Treasures. There's a shot of the exterior (and not much else) on the Cinema Tour page.
National Theatre
10925 Lindbrook Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
| map |
Opened: March 27, 1970 by NGC, the then operator of the remanants of the Fox West Coast chain. Acquired by Mann Theatres when they bought the chain and operated by them until March 2007.
The National hosted many record breaking exclusive runs over the years and was known for its giant screen and terrific 70mm presentations.
Seating: 1112
Status: Mann exited the theatre and then it was running for awhile as an independent but closed again in October 2007. Demolished in 2008.
More information: All the National Theatre fans have posted their laments (and notes about the great movies they saw at the National) on Cinema Treasures.
Mark Campbell on Cinema Tour
www.cinematour.com Lots of pictures by Mark Campbell, Adam Martin and Scott Neff of the late, lamented National are here on the National page of this great website.
Not that there's a lot to see inside -- the auditorium is the fully draped 70's look as you can see in this Mark Campbell photo. full size image
Plaza Theatre
1067 Glendon Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
| map |
Seating: 650
Status: Closed October 2004. The theatre was demolished for a new development encompassing the whole block as seen in the photo at right.
More information: See the Plaza page on Cinema Treasures.
Mark Campbell on Cinema Tour
www.cinematour.com An exterior photo of the Plaza by Mark Campbell, appearing on the Cinema Tour page devoted to the Plaza Theatre.
Regent Theatre
1045 Broxton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
| map |
(310) 281-8223
Website: www.landmarktheatres.com
Opened: 1966
Seating: 400
Status: The Regent was operated for years by Mann but was aquired in 2002 by Landmark Theatres. They've done a refurbishment throughout. Current booking policy is first run or moveover mainstream product. Lots of Disney, etc.
More information: See the Regent page on Cinema Treasures. Several photos are on Cinema Tour.
UA Westwood 4
10889 Wellworth Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |
Also known as the UA Coronet.
Status: Closed 2001. Remodeled into a CVS pharmacy. Note that on the left side of the photo you can see the Crest just down the street on Westwood Blvd.
More information: You can see a photo on Cinema Tour. About as exciting then as in its current incarnation.
Roadside Peek
www.roadsidepeek.com Here's a shot of the exterior when it was still the UA from this great site's Westwood Theatres page.
Billy Wilder Theatre
at The Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |
hammer museum film events (310) 443-7000
ucla film archive events (310) 206-3456
Opened: December 2006
Seating: 295
This state of the art theatre offers Hammer programs (free!) as well as a full schedule of classics, recent restoration work and lots of other goodies.
Hammer Museum on Flickr
flickr.com/photos/hammermuseum
This great photo of the Wilder Theatre interior is one of many images on the Hammer's Filckr site. full size view
Filming in Westwood...
