National Theatre
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
10925 Lindbrook Drive,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
64 people
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Showing 501 - 525 of 755 comments
Thanks Alan for the info.
I last saw Rita at the Criterion or Culver Plaza, its been so long.
By the way, William, when I last saw Rita she was managing at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. That was about a year ago so I don’t know if she’s still there or not.
I ran into Barton outside the Village Theater on the opening night of Spiderman 3. He’s actually the one who told me that the National was about to re-open although he also told me that he thought they would get Pirates 3. If that had happened, I would actually have seen it IN WESTWOOD!
Best wishes,
Alan Sanborn
By the way, William, when I last saw Rita she was managing at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. That was about a year ago so I don’t know if she’s still there or not.
I ran into Barton outside the Village Theater on the opening night of Spiderman 3. He’s actually the one who told me that the National was about to re-open although he also told me that he thought they would get Pirates 3. If that had happened, I would actually have seen it IN WESTWOOD!
Best wishes,
Alan Sanborn
Hi Armand. You DEFINITELY need to get some serious publicity out on your Midnight shows! If not for this list, I would NEVER have had a clue about The Exorcist showing! I drove by the theater Thursday and couldn’t see anything about it in the box office although on Saturday I noticed the TINY little paper ad you had in your window at the far end of the box office. There’s also no mention in the L.A. Times about your midnight shows nor is there any number given to contact your theater.
That said, I’ll do my best to spread the word to my friends.
By the way, I saw Sicko this week and it’s incredible! I really think you’re going to do HUGE business with it! Every American seriously NEEDS to see this film! When do you start selling tickets or are they already on sale?
Best wishes,
Alan Sanborn
Roadshow email me at to set up an interveiw.
Ok F the Bannan Republic thing. That stuff was all news to me. I was standing in the door of the auditorium when he said it. As far as I know we have the lease till next may and the owners are planing to keep it for three. But we need more business definately! So Hint Hint Come to the Midnight Shows cause that will help us out alot! This week I should have flyers with all the midnite shows come by and pick some up. If anyone is coming to Joshua or Transformers I will be there (long hair, Blue shirt) you can talk with me if you have any questions.
I worked at the Village one year with Harry Francis, and another with Mr. Haines. It was a blast working back then. The Westwood theatres were the “it” theatres back then. I was hoping for a comeback for Westwood and the National would stay.
Banana Republic? With ALL THE EMPTY spaces in Westwood now they have to tear down the National to put a crappy store that will last only a year?
As if there isn’t enough empty retail space in Westwood that Banana Republic can’t occupy!!! Foot traffic will be lousy for them at this location. My prediction is that the Banana Republic will be vacant 3 years after opening. Instead of an empty classic theatre, Westwood will have another empty retail space.
Has anyone seen what Banana Republic did to the Colesium Theatre in Seattle? At least the shell of the building is intact, but the inside has no hint that it was ever a theatre, except for the historic photos an the wall. Odd way of “preserving” a theatre.
What about Rita at the Village and later the 4-plex. What about Barton at the the Village also.
i know i realized that shortly after, some kind of strange typo on my part..I meant Tightrope!! I don’t what the hells wrong with me ((smack)) ((smack)) —smacking myself Christ,..need to focus on what i’m writing, my mind has turned to mush ((smack)) I remember Barnossy and Chuck Allen—who looked like a space alien. Barnossy was always coming around with flash inspections “we need to get you some black shoes” And MR Haines from the Village. Do you remember Dean (forget his last name) from the Regent in ‘85, and then Mike Lancaster, and how about my old friend William Edwards who managed the Plaza for years. Then there was Rick Pulsepher who managed the National in the later 80’s (and I noticed he posted something on this board) this was when I was fired by the asst manager Isaac for eating M&M’s on duty
Frank Ramsey was a good manager to work for at the National. Around that time in Westwood there was Harry Francis which opened the National was over at the Village Theatre. And Bob Shapiro (last manager at Fox Wilshire) was over at the Bruin Theatre. When Bob retired Harry Francis moved over to the Bruin. And Elmer Haines got the Village Theatre. And the DM was Alan Bamossy for the area and then Chuck Allen.
Above Damon posted Tightwalk with Clint Eastwood, for the record it’s “Tightrope”.
The only chance I can see is finding some equivalent to Paul Allen, who had the means to save and upgrade the Seattle Cinerama, a chain of pub/diner Cinemas who’d like to get into the LA market in a big way, or a company that wanted to showcase a new presentation technology, like Sony and its 4k… Let’s face it, Money talks louder than all the petitions in the world.
I’ve signed it and encouraged others to, put for the record, even if BR backs down, that would not stop the owner from tearing it down for something else. I suggest some media attention, (TV/print) and industry attention (Variety, etc). For those of you who haven’t seen PRESERVE ME A SEAT, http://www.apartment101films.com/ that would give you a good idea of what kind of a fight we have ahead of us.
The url for the petition is: View link
I was attending the LA Film Festival screening of Chasing Ghosts at the National tonight and the director of the program confirmed that the National was being torn down in six months to make room for Banana Republic. The entire audience was in shock when the announcement was made.
editman—
I remember Frank Ramsey, i believe he was still there when i first started (mid-1984, during the engagement of Tightwalk with Clint Eastwood) It was around that time he was replaced by a young Mac Carter. I seem to recall Ramsey (if it is him I’m thinking of) was a really really nice guy and was very kind to the employees. He was certainly the easiest-going manager i can remember working for. It was only under rare occasions when he would flip his lid, actually i can only remember it happening once and it was fully justified since nobody did any work including the assistants, and i think he was under tremedous pressure fom the higher ups. I was sad to hear of his demise some years later
Jeremy I tried to search the petition site and could not find one to save the National.
Well all those big ideas came before I saw the bad news… i say we boycott Banana Republic!
Well Mr. Packard, (any relation to the Stanford?) you list some interesting choices.. I must be one of a handful of people who have heard of all those titles, but my favorite is definitely BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS. How about THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE while we’re at it? add in MARY POPPINS, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, DOCTOR DOLITTLE, THE LITTLE PRINCE, OLIVER! WIZARD OF OZ, plus the original WILLY WONKA, and you might have a good morning matinee series.
For Midnight I’d suggest…
Monthly Camp Classics: SHOWGIRLS, MOMMIE DEAREST, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, SEXTETTE…
Behind the Music Series: CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC, ABBA THE MOVIE, COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER, ALMOST FAMOUS, SONG OF NORWAY, STAR IS BORN ‘76, THIS IS SPINAL TAP and its little known sequei…
80s cult favorites DIRTY DANCING, FOOTLOOSE, FLASHDANCE, XANADU, FAME.
Awful Sequels: STAYING ALIVE, GREASE 2…
Memorable Musicals, like THE MUSIC MAN, GREASE, DREAMGIRLS, CABARET, CHICAGO,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, a double feature of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and THE BAND WAGON, STAR IS BORN ‘54, UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, MEET ME IN ST LOUIS, EASTER PARADE, GIGI, SHOW BOAT, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT 1-2-3…
50s-60s Roadshows like MY FAIR LADY, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, SOUND OF MUSIC, KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SWEET CHARITY, BEN-HUR, CLEOPATRA, HAWAII, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, SPARTACUS, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, THE BIBLE… ensuring the prints are complete with Overture, Intermission, etc. and playing them in true roadshow fashion would set these apart.
“Miss-Cast” musicals series: GYPSY, HELLO, DOLLY!, MAME…
“Non-Singers Singing” PAINT YOUR WAGON, MAN OF LA MANCHA, EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU…
Sex-Change series: YENTL, TOOTSIE, VICTOR/VICTORIA…
Christopher Guest series: WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, BEST IN SHOW,
A MIGHTY WIND, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION…
Musical Remakes with their Originals: GOODBYE MR. CHIPS Peter O' Toole & Robert Donat, LOST HORIZON ‘37 and '73, AUNTIE MAME & (LUCY) MAME, NIGHTS OF CABIRIA & SWEET CHARITY, SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT & A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC…
I agree with previous suggestions for a 70s Disaster series, which should start with the good picture that began the trend – AIRPORT, and its guilty pleasure sequels, followed by POSEIDON ADVENTURE and it’s sequel, EARTHQUAKE, ROLLERCOASTER, THE SWARM, HINDENBURG, JAWS…
“Visitors” Series: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, E.T., STARMAN, THE VISIT, EXPLORERS, FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR. STRANGE INVADERS…
Epic/Blockbusters: 2001, GRAND PRIX, STAR WARS series, JAWS…
Timeless Classics: GONE WITH THE WIND, CITIZEN KANE…
To increase the draw, 70mm wherever possible, invite cast/crew from the films to appear/speak. If you had a digital projector (preferably 4K) all the recent digital clean-ups like GWTW, SINGIN IN THE RAIN, BEN-HUR, etc. would be much higher quality than most of us have seen before. (Sony should put one in just for the publicity)
To lessen the cost, contact the homevid companies to sponsor, maybe also record labels and/or stores; have CD/DVD for sale in the lobby.
Advance Ticket Sales (individual feature or several by choice) could ensure prime seat locations, bring in money sooner, and be a good gauge of interest.
Armand/Philip/Inwood, I know a reporter who would like to interview you… The National, and what you’re doing with it, deserve some attention.
What??^ Where did you hear that from Jeremy?
I have made a petition entitled Save the National Theater. Please go to www.petitiononline.com and sign it.
Bad news everybody. The National will be closed in six months to make room for a Banana Republic. This is horrible news for lovers of cinema because this is one of the last single screen theaters left in Los Angeles. Something should be done to stop this.
I worked at the National from June ‘76 (starting with “The Big Bus”) through December '81 (“Reds”). Great times. During that time, I saw on the average of two movies every week free at one of the Westwood theatres via the wonderful “pass system”. While at the National, the Manager was Frank Ramsey, a huge personality with a number of colorful greetings. He loved his dog (anyone remember the name, Tinkerbell?) and appreciated his employees. Those were the days when stars would regularly visit Westwood and premiers were almost weekly occurrences at the Village, Bruin, National, Avco, etc. Thanks to Michael Coate for his great movie list!
My suggestion for midnight shows, undoubtedly no existing prints available
Catch 22
The Manitu
Suspiria
Fighting Back
Drum
Yessongs
Phantom of the Paradise
SpaceHunter
Hey Good Lookin'
Fuzz
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Little Murders
Sorcerer
Reckless
The Other
Popeye
Beyond the Door
Dang, I was hoping the Exorcist was going to play sometime in July. I can’t make it down there this weekend. Oh well, I will be there for Terminator :) Thanks for the midnight movies.