As a huge cinema fan, I’ve been following the story of the Cinerama Dome here in LA with a heavy heart. It’s such an incredible landmark! Well, there’s some new hope – it seems Sony and Alamo Drafthouse are discussing potentially taking over operations of the theater. That could be fantastic news for movie lovers like me.
The theater and next-door ArcLight Hollywood cinema have been shut down since March 2020. It was confirmed in April 2021 that they wouldn’t reopen, and the buildings have remained empty ever since, attracting a lot of attention from the public.
Representatives for Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Movies
The popular Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Hollywood movie theaters are one step closer to reopening after a license for selling alcohol is expected to be granted.
The news of Sony and Alamo’s interest in the property was first reported by Deadline.
A public hearing in May about selling alcohol at the location allowed residents to share their thoughts about the property.
Kim Cooper, a local advocate for historic preservation, emphasized that recent difficulties haven’t been about conflict between residents and owners. She explained that people genuinely want to collaborate and work towards restoring the property.
The Dome has been owned by the family of William R. Forman, who founded Pacific Theatres and originally opened the venue in 1963. Following a recent meeting, Elizabeth Peterson-Gower, a consultant for the owners, told The Times they expect to announce a reopening timeline soon.
Hollywood Inc.
As a huge film fan, I was surprised to hear that Sony Pictures just bought Alamo Drafthouse! It’s cool they’re expanding their reach into the dine-in cinema experience – there’s only one Alamo Drafthouse location in Los Angeles right now, but this could mean big things for moviegoers who love food and films together.
In 2024, Sony bought Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theater chain with locations in major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.
The recent news about the Cinerama Dome follows a successful summer for movies, with people returning to theaters for films like “The Odyssey,” “Toy Story 5,” “Backrooms,” and “Obsession.” There’s been a growing appreciation for the movie theater experience itself, and for special film formats like IMAX 70mm and traditional 70mm film, which are only available at a limited number of theaters nationwide.
Los Angeles theater is experiencing a revival. The Alex Theatre in Glendale is screening the movie “The Odyssey” for the first time in over three decades, and the American Cinematheque has reopened the Westwood Village Theater—now called Directors Village—thanks to a group of filmmakers who have become its new owners.
2026-07-22 02:31