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One Way to Take Care of Business
Westwood's Mann Village, seen here for the premiere of A Star is Born many years ago, may be the next to close, following Thursday's shuttering of the Mann Festival. Photo by Alan Light via Flickr
Cinema Treaures tells the history of the Festival:
Built within the site of the first Ralph's supermarket, the Mann Festival Theatre opened in 1970. Its understated exterior matches its simplistic, but comfortable auditorium.Why close the Festival? Well, the demise of the theatre--called "red ink on the Mann chain's books" by one historian, can be blamed on movie multiplexes; once upon a time Westwood was where movie fans flocked, first to see dazzling star-studded premieres, then to take their pick of first-run art house fare that filled the area's screens. But now the lure of dozens of screens in one venue, large auditoriums, impressive sound-systems, and stadium seating easily trump the one-screen small movie house. On top of that, many movie-goers prefer the fake-town ambiance of The Grove or Universal Citywalk, or the amenities of seeing a movie at the ArcLight--minus the commercials and with reserved seating.Neither flashy nor opulent, this single screen theater has been a popular Westwood venue for years.
Smaller premieres are also held here and, occassionally, Hollywood luminaries have been spotted at this quiet, out-of-the-way theater.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Mann Festival Theater was closed on July 30, 2009
The Festival on Lindbrook isn't the first movie theatre to close up in Westwood; "last year's demolition of the Mann National Theatre and previous losses of the Mann Westwood 4 and Mann Plaza, among others -- is further indication that Westwood's movie culture appears in danger of fading to black."
Next on the chopping block: The Village and the Bruin, both vintage 1930s, both with leases Mann has gone on record saying they will not renew, and both classified as "city historic-cultural monuments." Architecture wonks, Westwoodians, and local history buffs will know: The Village is Spanish Mission style with the neon-lit Fox tower and the Bruin is Art Moderne with a wraparound marquee.
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I don't recall the Festival being architecturally unique--but I have fond memories of attending a couple of Filmex's there.
But, my God, we've GOT to save the Bruin and the Village!!
id attribute the festival's demise less to multiplexes at universal or the grove and more to the recently built one at century city, only 5 minutes away.
since that multiplex opened, i haven't seen a single movie in westwood myself.
I absolutely adore old movie theatres, the Bruin and the Village are no exception. By, my goodness, such a hassle with traffic and parking there =\ The few times I was able to catch a movie at these venues is when I got dropped off & picked up by my bf afterwards!
Does that mean premiers will no longer be held at teh Village?! Will they move all premiers to the Chinese?!
Actually, I think it has more to do with the lack of cheap parking around Westwood, and the fact that driving around the westside has become even more congested in recent years. I used to LOVE going to see movies in Westwood. But if I've got a choice between driving 15 minutes to see a movie at a local 16-theater multiplex, or sitting in my car for an hour or more trying to get to Westwood, I'll take the multiplex every time. Yet another reason for L.A. to get its act together and build a subway system connecting UCLA and the Westside to the rest of the city.