Movies

Beloved historic movie theaters Westwood Village and Bruin to close this week

BBG News

As a longtime resident and avid moviegoer in Los Angeles, I’m deeply saddened by the news that Westwood’s historic Regency Village Theatre and Bruin are closing later this week. These iconic cinemas have been part of my life for decades, providing me with countless memories of watching classic and contemporary films with family and friends.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m sad to share that Westwood’s iconic cinemas, the Regency Village Theatre and the Bruin, will be shutting down towards the end of this week.

Regency’s Bruin & Village Theaters will close permanently on Thursday, July 25, according to an email confirmation from Lyndon Golin, the company’s president.

For the past 14 years, Regency has overseen the management of two theaters. However, their leases for these properties are set to expire towards the end of this month, according to Golin.

I’m thrilled to be part of the team working tirelessly to save our cherished landmark, the Village Theatre. This iconic 170-foot Spanish Revival-Art Deco “wedding cake” tower has been calling Westside moviegoers since 1931. The closing is only temporary, and I’m grateful for director Jason Reitman and others spearheading this noble cause. We successfully acquired the theater in late February but have yet to reveal a timeline for renovations or an opening date for its grand re-opening. Our dedication remains unwavering as we breathe new life into this historic gem.

The future of the neighboring Bruin, established in 1937, is undecided; it wasn’t acquired together with its flashier sister venue.

The Bruin’s owners express their gratitude towards the Golin Family and Regency Theaters for the past 14-year partnership in a released statement, which was given to us by their representative. At present, the owners are considering potential new ventures for the Bruin.

In the ’60s-set film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” by Quentin Tarantino, the two theaters gained notable recognition as filming locations.

The venue, formerly called the Fox Westwood Village and designed by Percy P. Lewis, was designated as a historic cultural monument in 1988. It initially belonged to the Fox theater chain but later joined Mann Theatres in the 1970s.

Last year, I came across the news that the beloved theater was up for sale. Hearing this, I couldn’t just sit idly by and watch as it might be transformed into a retail store or another business catering to the UCLA community. So, I sprang into action and rallied a team of dedicated filmmakers to secure the venue before it was too late.

The owners have announced plans to enhance the appearance of the Village, featuring a large-format 70mm screen, an improved sound system, and a spacious auditorium capable of seating over 1,300 people. Their ultimate goal is to exhibit a combination of new releases and classic films in the revamped cinema.

“Reitman expressed his enthusiasm in an interview with The Times last February, sharing his captivating plan which encompasses dining, drinking, cinema, art gallery visits, and the presentation of both new and classic films. We’re eager to bring this experience to everyone.”

Representatives of Reitman‘s group did not respond to queries Sunday for additional details.

I found myself joining forces with others in an attempt to rescue the Village Theatre on Broxton Avenue last year. Movie houses across Los Angeles and the country were reeling from the double blow of COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and the writers and actors’ strikes, making it a challenging time for cinemas like ours to stay afloat.

Movie theaters have faced a delayed recovery of foot traffic due to the film production pipeline moving sluggishly, making it challenging for many operators to bounce back.

Several businesses, such as ArcLight Cinemas with six sites in the Los Angeles region, and the Westside Pavilon’s Landmark Theatres, unfortunately did not make it through the pandemic.

Despite some setbacks, there have been signs of recovery in the film industry. For instance, Universal Pictures’ “Twisters” earned over $80 million in domestic sales during its first weekend. Furthermore, Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has been a massive success, bringing in approximately $1.4 billion in global revenue since its release in June.

Other individuals have expressed confidence in the independent cinema industry. Four years ago, Netflix acquired the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Film director Tarantino bought the historic Vista Theater in Los Feliz in 2021. And just last month, Sony Pictures Entertainment took over management of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain, including its downtown L.A. location.

Reitman’s team is a star-studded lineup of award-winning filmmakers and other talented individuals. Some notable names include Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, and many more, such as Christopher McQuarrie, Judd Apatow, Damien Chazelle, Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus, Bradley Cooper, Alfonso Cuarón, Hannah Fidell, Alejandro González Iñárritu, James Gunn, Rian Johnson, Gil Kenan, Karyn Kusama, Justin Lin, Phil Lord, David Lowery, Chris Miller, Todd Phillips, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Jay Roach, Seth Rogen, Emma Seligman, Emma Thomas, Denis Villeneuve, Lulu Wang, and Chloé Zhao.

Up until Thursday, “Twisters” can be watched at the Bruin theater, while “Fly Me to the Moon” is being shown at the Village theater, as indicated on Regency Theatres’ website. Regency Theatres manages around 20 cinemas, mostly in Southern California.

This is a developing story.

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2024-07-22 23:38

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