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.
The Historic Vista Theater Is Now Open
The marquee of the newly renovated Vista Theater in Los Feliz. It opened Saturday, November 11th with screenings of the 1993 film True Romance.
(
Victoria Alejandro
/
LAist
)
Topline:
A month after its 100th anniversary, the historic Vista Theater reopened Saturday after a three-year closure. How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro swung by the Los Feliz landmark to hear from folks excited to hear that it’s finally back in business.
Why it matters: The 400-seat Vista Theater first opened its doors in Los Feliz in 1923 but it went dark in 2020 during the pandemic. Its future was uncertain. For months, the iconic marquee simply read: “To Be Continued." That is until filmmaker and theater owner Quentin Tarantino announced in 2021 he had purchased the Vista from Vintage Cinemas.
"I hear the inside is gorgeous, I hear he refurbished it all," said Matt, who was waiting in line with his partner Sunny. "It was one of our favorite theaters to go to for years."
Support for LAist comes from
Added moviegoer Jesús: "I've been coming {to this theater} for like the past 20 years." An L.A. newcomer who told us his name was Tony added he and his partner are excited to check out the Vista and all the vintage theaters in the city.
Why now: The theater will kick off its regular program schedule on Friday, Nov. 17th with Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving and then Ridley Scott’s Napoleon the following week. But this past Saturday, fans got a sneak peek at the remodeled theater with two different screenings of the 1993 filmTrue Romance, which was written by Tarantino.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist