Meet the people who run Cinema Treasures!

posted by Patrick Crowley on October 26, 2007 at 11:00 am

We’re hosting a meetup in Los Angeles on November 8.

If you live in or near Los Angeles, this is your chance to meet Patrick Crowley, Ross Melnick, and Michael Zoldessy (as well as other users of the site). Topics will include the state of theater preservation, future plans for the website, and anything else you’d like to discuss.

And, if you don’t live in or near LA, don’t worry. We’re hoping to host more meetups in the future.

When:
Thursday, November 8
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where:
The Landmark 12
10850 W. Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
map

Note: we’ll be meeting in the lounge area, just adjacent to the main concession stand.

If you plan to attend, please leave a comment below so we know how many to expect!

Theaters in this post

Comments (43)

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on October 26, 2007 at 11:03 am

Great idea, guys. I look forward to a New York meet-up!

Patrick Crowley
Patrick Crowley on October 26, 2007 at 11:35 am

Thanks, Ed. We’re also hoping to have one in Chicago, so folks can meet Bryan Krefft.

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on October 26, 2007 at 1:41 pm

What a wonderful idea! Where can I get my free roundtrip tickets, accomodations at the Marriott and free car rental? :)

CHICTH74
CHICTH74 on October 26, 2007 at 11:40 pm

It would be great if their was a Chicago meet-up i for one would be their i hop that it happens. :)

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on October 26, 2007 at 11:41 pm

Please come to Boston some day.

uptownjen
uptownjen on October 27, 2007 at 2:52 pm

i’d be in for one in chicago! sounds fun!

exit
exit on October 27, 2007 at 3:36 pm

Anyone up for Carpooling from Hollywood?

exit
exit on October 27, 2007 at 3:37 pm

i can tell you Michael Zoldessy is a very cool guy and it’s worth the trip to meet him…

jmarellano
jmarellano on October 27, 2007 at 6:25 pm

I may try and go if I am free that night.

telliott
telliott on October 27, 2007 at 7:30 pm

I was just in Chicago last weekend…fabulous city!! Thanks to Cinema Treasures, i was able to figure out where all the old movie palaces in the Loop were and see what’s there now. Of course saw the Chicago, Oriental and Palace that are still there as well as the new Goodman site. Block 37 is finally under construction but I was able to see where the United Artists and Roosevelt were.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on October 28, 2007 at 1:43 pm

any plans on meeting up in northern NJ? I live near a major movie theater there and would check out mostly older theaters that are still thriving.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 28, 2007 at 2:31 pm

I will be there. Don’t forget my free book. 8-)

Patsy
Patsy on October 28, 2007 at 7:03 pm

I certainly would be there if I lived in the LA area. Please consider Atlanta for a CT get-together as a great location would be the fabulous Fox.

Ross Melnick
Ross Melnick on October 29, 2007 at 10:04 am

These are all great suggestions. Hopefully, we’ll have meetups in Chicago and NYC in the near future. Hope to see those in LA who can make it!

markinthedark
markinthedark on October 29, 2007 at 7:45 pm

It’s too bad the Cinema Treasures guys chose a new multiplex, rather than one of LA’s fine (and endangered) single screeners as a place to meet.

exit
exit on October 29, 2007 at 7:48 pm

You have an excellent point there, but how many single screeners have a place for a few people to hang out?

markinthedark
markinthedark on October 29, 2007 at 8:04 pm

You can fit hundreds in the lobby of the Village. They just can’t have a cocktail. Or sit at the Starbucks outside if you don’t want to buy a ticket.

Ross Melnick
Ross Melnick on October 29, 2007 at 9:04 pm

Dear Mark — We tried (to no avail) to hold a meetup at the National several months ago before it closed. After speaking with the manager of the theater, who approved our hosting it there pending approval of the owners, we never heard back from him despite follow up phone calls.

When we decided to relaunch this event it was with the intention of finding a cinema-related venue that could hold a number of people without worrying about showtimes beginning or ending and getting in the way. The plight of the Village and Bruin is certainly something to discuss that night. I’m not sure how easily we could do that in their lobby. :)

Your point is very valid and it is something that we discussed before we picked this venue. Since it is our first, we wanted to see what the turnout is before deciding to begin asking other theaters to let us take over for the evening.

exit
exit on October 29, 2007 at 9:15 pm

I suppose the Bridge and ArcLight would be just as vaild for this purpose… The Grove has an adjacent cafe sort of thing…

Does anyone else think the Landmark looks kinda unfinished? That white neon on the theatre walls comes off more like industrial flourescent… Ah well, that’s a discussion for elsewhere…

markinthedark
markinthedark on October 29, 2007 at 10:09 pm

I finf the Landmark rather cold and sterile. Needs some warmth in the lobby, which feels too much like an upscale mall.

Patrick Crowley
Patrick Crowley on October 30, 2007 at 2:04 am

Honestly, our main focus is just meeting all of you.

We chose the Landmark because it has a nice lounge area, decent parking, and it’s not as crowded as the ArcLight or the Bridge. (Brownie points for their 4K projection of Blade Runner).

In the future, though, I’m sure we’ll have opportunities to meet elsewhere. If you would like to host us next time, please get in touch!

exit
exit on October 30, 2007 at 2:18 am

I’ll have to wait for whenever you meet in Hollywood. West LA at night is too much of a schlep for me. I think it’s like three busses, a cab and a boat from here.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to fax some supportive letters to the Cultural Heritage commissioners in time for the hearing on the National Thursday morning.

exit
exit on October 30, 2007 at 2:20 am

Okay it’s late and that was a very embarrassing typo…

exit
exit on October 30, 2007 at 2:22 am

May I take this opportunity to request that future site enhancements include the ability to go back and re-edit our own posts? : )

dhill01
dhill01 on October 30, 2007 at 10:51 am

I support preservation of the original theatres.

KramSacul
KramSacul on October 30, 2007 at 6:49 pm

I agree with Mark Capbell. The Landmark complex is like the antithesis of what this website stands for. Do they even have curtains or constant height screens?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on October 30, 2007 at 7:00 pm

I prefer spending my money & time on scope films, but I seem to recall reading that moe than 80% of films are flat. So, why should it be important to this website that the screens be constant height rather than max size for all those flat films? There’s probably even more arthouse films that are flat……

and, in general, as is said again & again, this website stands for all cinemas, not only historic single screen movie theaters.

exit
exit on October 30, 2007 at 7:07 pm

I imagine wherever you may choose, it’s going to be out of the way for some of us, who don’t live near WLA or wherever. If the criteria were a somewhat quiet bar/lounge area, that served liquor and/or food, and was close to a cinema but didn’t require a ticket purchase… well, what else is there beside the ArcLight, the Bridge, the Grove, the Landmark, the Silent Movie Theatre, Universal Citywalk, the Beverly Center or the food court next to the Chinese 6 at Hollywood & Highland?

Based on everyone’s thoughts, sounds like the ideal place might be Joe Musil’s Museum of Theatre Design, but it’s in Santa Ana… and the nearest food or liquor is downstairs.

It’s a nice idea anyway. Let’s see who can show up, and where they’re traveling from…

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on October 30, 2007 at 7:08 pm

i agree with you. The multiplex changed the way movies were shown and made some single screen theaters extinct. Some theaters have become live venues or public places, while others have cut up into several theaters or rebuilt as movie theaters. Cinema Treasures is the #1 site when it comes to finding info on old and current movie theaters, as well as future theaters that will open in the future.

DouglasKnapp
DouglasKnapp on November 2, 2007 at 5:58 pm

I would like to attend your meetup. I’ve recently become involved with an attempt to save the National Theater in Westwood from demolition. Would love to get any ideas on how to convince the LA Cultural Heritage Commission to approve the National as an Historic-Cultural monument and save the folks of Westwood another multi-million dollar condo complex.

Simon Overton
Simon Overton on November 4, 2007 at 6:24 pm

I’ve just moved to Oregon and NOW you come up with this wonderful idea!
.Joseph Musil’s AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THEATRICAL DESIGN, located in Santa Ana, is oh-so-close to the I-5 freeway can seat up to 40 in the magnificent auditorium.
It also has a large outer (public) lobby and there are three huge garages all within 2 blocks.
Call Joe at 714-667-6959 and see what he can come up with as a hosting place.
Wish I could be there -Simon Overton (Joe’s former stage manager!)

exit
exit on November 4, 2007 at 6:34 pm

There is a photo tour of that museum online.

hillsmanwright
hillsmanwright on November 4, 2007 at 8:07 pm

I’ll be there. Can’t wait to see you guys again. Hooray for Joe Musil. His place might be a good idea for the next time the Cinema Daddies come to town. As far as what the web site is all about… I remember the effort to save the Cinerama Dome, it was too new, too impractical to re-use, etc. etc. etc. Like it or not, multiplexes are a big part of cinema exhib history, just as saving once-reviled suburban theatres that are now 40-50 years old is happening more and more. Some have even been untwinned. How many exhibitors really care more about the quality of the picture they put on their screens than their profit center – the concession stand. I truly believe Landmark cares. Films are shown in the proper aspect ratio, in focus, reels in the proper sequence – all with a genuine concern for the patron’s film-going experience. On the other hand, it’s fun to go to a funky, older rep house like the Beverly or the old Bleecker Street Cinema. Bottom line- anything that can be done to preserve, promote and enhance the movie-going experience of sitting in the dark with hundreds of strangers all experiencing the wonder and emotional experience of a well-made film, then I’m all for it. See y'all at the NuWilshire tonight!

exit
exit on November 5, 2007 at 6:06 am

I’m thinking if I manage to schlep all the way out to WLA on public transit (must remember my passport) I may as well see a movie at the Landmark. They have DAN IN REAL LIFE now, starts 430 ish, just enough time to get out for the meeting… Has it occurred to anyone else to take full advantage of a trip to this new theatre? Was there once before and was shocked that the room I was in was taller than wide and looked like a big square TV screen. They can’t all be that bad…

hillsmanwright
hillsmanwright on November 5, 2007 at 10:05 am

Dr. Roadshow, if you can get there, gerew will chauffer you home, after checking your papers. Big square screen? Hmmm, can you say 1:33? Some of the auditoriums seemed to be shaped oddly, but in this case, in these theatres, the show is not the theatre, but what’s on the screen. Go see Blade Runner, in what Scott says is its last iteration. As an old sprocket head, gerew was blown away by the quality – even the blacks – of the digital projection. For Landmark, I do believe patron comfort is up there with image and sound quality. Lots of lobby space, big bar and lounge, friendly helpful staff, sparkling clean rest rooms – with fresh flowers. The decor is not necessarily my cup of tea either and I’m not crazy about all-reserved seating. Nevertheless…

exit
exit on November 5, 2007 at 2:36 pm

DR?? Me? I know the Landmark is clean… i don’t hate the place, I just wonder what they were thinking when they built a multiplex from the ground up with some cinema rooms that look like they were shoehorned into an existing, oddly shaped space.

Anyway, to bring us back to the topic here, The Landmark complex seems to be a logical place for Ross and co. to meet people, and I hope it goes very well for them. That’s why I’m thinking of making the journey.

BroadwayTheatresLA
BroadwayTheatresLA on November 5, 2007 at 4:23 pm

No one called to ask me if the meeting could be held at the Los Angeles, Palace or Tower theatres… I would have said yes. I’m not hard to contact folks. www.losangelestheatre.com

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on November 5, 2007 at 9:36 pm

Wow, what a gorgeous palace. I’d change the meeting place if I were you but given the late hour, I doubt it will happen. Maybe next time?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 6, 2007 at 4:17 pm

I’m driving from Long Beach to WLA at rush hour, so if the venue changes I hope someone lets me know.

Patrick Crowley
Patrick Crowley on November 6, 2007 at 6:00 pm

We’re still meeting at the Landmark, everyone.

Indeed, it’s a bit late to be changing the venue, despite the very kind offer from Frank Schultz at the Los Angeles Theatre.

Hopefully, we can work something out for next time.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 22, 2010 at 2:18 pm

Love Cinema Treasures I am on it most everyday.

MPol
MPol on July 3, 2011 at 6:44 pm

I’m with Ron Newman on this one. A Boston meet-up would be cool!

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