Grassroots Cinerama Dome campaign on pause following incident at theater

by

After a five-year effort by local supporters to bring back a historic Los Angeles movie theater, plans are now on hold due to an incident that occurred there Friday night.

Ben Steinberg, a 26-year-old film student at Cal State Northridge, has been a passionate advocate for reopening the historic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, which closed during the pandemic in March 2020. He started a petition on Change.org that has gathered over 31,000 signatures, urging the owners, Decurion Corp., to either reopen the theater or find a new operator. Steinberg also has a significant social media presence, with almost 12,000 followers across various platforms.

On Friday night, Steinberg and his team projected images of two members of the Forman family – who own the Dome’s parent company, Decurion – onto the Dome building itself, along with the message “Mr. Forman REOPEN THE DOME!” Police arrived around 9 p.m. after receiving a call about the projection, which had been running for about two and a half hours. A projectionist and security guard were also present.

Steinberg told The Times on Sunday that they received notification the property owner considered their actions harassment and an escalation, and requested they stop immediately. They complied without argument.

Decurion didn’t respond to a request for comment on Monday. Police confirmed the details of what happened.

Movies

I was so saddened to hear about the closing of ArcLight Cinemas – it really felt like the end of an era for movie lovers like me. It got me thinking about all the incredible experiences I’ve had in those theaters, and it turns out filmmakers like Rian Johnson and Jon M. Chu feel the same way. They’ve been sharing some really touching memories, and it’s clear ArcLight wasn’t just a place to watch movies, but a special part of the Hollywood landscape.

The Cinerama Dome, known for its white tile exterior and unique marquee, first opened in 1963. In April 2021, Pacific Theatres announced it would remain closed. The company, which also operated ArcLight Cinemas and was owned by Decurion, stated that despite extensive efforts to find a solution, they were unable to keep the theaters open.

The venue has seen occasional activity since then, mainly involving applications for licenses and permits. For example, last October, Dome Center LLC applied for a permit to operate there.

Since joining the ArcLight Hollywood multiplex in 2002, the Dome became a beloved Los Angeles movie destination, hosting many premieres and special events. It even appeared memorably on screen in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 Oscar-winning film, “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.”

Steinberg has temporarily put his campaign to save the Cinerama Dome, which started in April 2021, on hold, but he’s eager to restart it when he can. The police complaint filed on Friday was the first time Decurion had responded to him in any way.

Steinberg believes this clearly shows what the other party is trying to achieve. He stated it’s the first indication they’ve received that the other side wants them to stop, and he considers it a direct threat.

California

For Steinberg, the effort to save the movie theater has become more than just about enjoying films in a beloved space; it’s now a question of who controls the city’s cultural scene.

Steinberg emphasized the Cinerama Dome’s importance to Los Angeles, calling it a symbol of the city. He also shared his personal fondness for the theater and expressed a desire to return and enjoy movies there again. He believes everyone in Los Angeles deserves to have access to this landmark and shouldn’t be deprived of it by its remaining unused.

Even though Decurion legally owns the properties, their private and unclear business dealings are frustrating movie fans who worry about the future of cinemas in the city.

Steinberg initially didn’t expect much reaction when they first shared the news, but the Cinerama Dome has clearly captured people’s attention. It’s become more than just about the building itself, though. It symbolizes what’s happening in Los Angeles and across America, where large companies can buy up historic landmarks, leave them empty, and discourage efforts to revitalize them.

Read More

2026-04-07 01:01