With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Some Jerk Pulled The Fire Alarm On 'Star Wars' Opening Night At The Grove
Imagine waiting months to finally watch the latest Star Wars movie—only to have the moment interrupted when some jerk pulls a fire alarm and ruins that moment for you and hundreds of other fans.
A fire alarm interrupted a screening of #StarWarsTheForceAwakens at @TheGroveLA theatres tonight, causing evacuation pic.twitter.com/YfPOLaS3sB
— Militant Angeleno (@militantangleno) December 18, 2015
Thursday night was the opening night for Star Wars: The Force Awakens—a movie so anticipated that some lined up as early as 12 days in advance—and hundreds were at the The Grove's Pacific Theatres to finally find out [redacted by the Walt Disney Company] and if [redacted by the Walt Disney Company]. That was all put on hold about 20 minutes into the film when a fire alarm went off around 8:10 p.m., prompting an evacuation of the entire theater.
So at the Grove watching Star Wars anddddd our theatre was just evacuated.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 18, 2015
No clue. Two fire engines, doesn't seem like anything major but man there's a lot of pissed off Star Wars fans
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 18, 2015
Thankfully it turned out to be nothing, and fans were allowed back in around 8:30, said TMZ. Screenings were restarted, but some of the more frustrated ones opted for refunds. "My kids want to still sit in there but... I don't know," Andrew Gouch told KTLA. "I don't drink—I may start." Gouch purchased tickets two months in advance.
Authorities have no suspects at the moment, but I think we all know who pulled that alarm:
While it turned out to be nothing and fans were able to restart the movie and find out that [redacted by the Walt Disney Company], it was still quite a scene:
The Grove evacuate the entire theater after fire alarm went off. #starwars #losangeles https://t.co/7EiwypHdU0
— Henry "Batman" Barajas (@HenryBarajas) December 18, 2015
Pacific Grove theater being evacuated during Star Wars. #StarWarsTheForceAwakens pic.twitter.com/DuK4BtmPjr
— Spike Feresten (@SpikeFeresten) December 18, 2015
Seeing #StarWars and The Grove theater just evacuated. Good times. pic.twitter.com/ct1GWJbnd2
— Grant Stoner (@Grant_Stoner) December 18, 2015
Fire alarm went off in middle of #StarWars at the Grove. Still don't know why... Nerve racking. pic.twitter.com/bV5YA5rNHF
— Harrison Kratz (@KratzH) December 18, 2015