iPic Westwood
10840 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
10840 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90024
34 people favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 281 comments
It’s obvious Westwood is a dead zone for moviegoing. From 10 commercial movie theatres with 19 screens just ten years ago to three single screeners today, with nary a sellout at any of those houses no matter what is playing is proof of that.
The moviegoing public today would rather go down Westwood Blvd. a mile or so and go to a certain twelve-screener with smaller rooms with smaller screens, because there is more and cheaper parking closer to the building, more things to do near the theatre and a nice wine bar right there in the lobby. Or they’ll go a couple miles down Santa Monica Blvd. to a certain fifteen-screener with smaller rooms and smaller screens, because there is more and cheaper parking closer to the building, more things to do near the theatre and a place to have beer and wine next door to the theatre.
If they come back to the IPic Theaters at Avco Center in 2013, it’ll be solely because there isn’t anything else like it in the area, because it’ll be expensive to keep the kids and tightwads out, and they’ll be beer and wine right there at your seat.
But the problem is that it doesn’t really live on… at least not in the way that it was know and loved for. I saw Empire Strikes Back here in the early summer of 1980 and it shaped my life. Not just the movie but this particular theater and the experience it housed. It created my love of movies and the movie-going experience, influenced me to work in the theater business and, now, the movie business, and is one of the single strongest memories I have from my childhood. So from the sounds of it, they’re pretty much gutting the place to turn 4 screens to 6, add a kitchen, and generally create glorified living rooms (with screens that I’m sure will be about as cinematic as most living rooms). Then again, AMC pretty much killed any magic the AVCO had when they butchered the premiere screen downstairs. All I know is that the iPic version of the AVCO will be about as impressive and transformative a theater as that dirt lot that sits where the National used to be.
Although I’m not 100% behind the concept of iPic, it comforts me to know that the Avco will live on in some capacity.
George Lucas' AMERICAN GRAFFITI played here as a limited release on August 1, 1973.
At this point I would say it is safe to assume that Westwood is a dead theatre district. It is gone the way of Beverly Hills. There is no reason to Arclight the Village, re-open the Crest or even attempt to make a success of the Avco. Westwood has had its day and I think it is time to put the final nail in the coffin. It is now kind of like a Los Feliz type of zone.
The Dinner theatre is a different subject; Yeah I know they are popular NOW, but it is a novelty and novelties always ware off. My bet is this AVCO will open nicely but will be gone 10 years from now
The plain and simple truth is, exhibitors go where the patrons go. If people didn’t want dinner theatres, there wouldn’t be so many dinner theatres opening. If the people didn’t want the screening lounge seating with plush leather sofas and love seats, there wouldn’t be so many of these types of auditoriums being converted.
Westwood’s issues with theatrical exhibition could be fixed in a heartbeat, if those in charge of Westwood Village wanted those changes. But they don’t. They don’t want the excessive traffic problems of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. They don’t want an Arclight-style setup for the Bruin or Village. They don’t care if the Crest or the Festival ever open again or they get torn down like the National and left as unused plots of land.
It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and bemoan what’s wrong with the exhibition industry. The Avco wouldn’t be where it’s going now, and the Crest and Festival where they remain, if the business supported their staying open in their previous states.
I think exhibitors are going the wrong direction. They are compromising presentation for profit and driving people away. I’m spoiled because I grew up with the greatest theatres in Los Angeles, All of Westwood, The Plitt Century Plaza, Picwood, The Criterion, Aero, Wilshire Santa Monica, Monica TWINS, a slew of single screens in Beverly Hills and a Blvd of theatres in Hollywood including the Pantages to see films.
We actually almost lost the Dome when the Arclight was being designed. Thankfully it did not happen, now the Arclight saved the Dome and remains an important venue for films.
AMC monster plexes, the DINNER theatres, the over-hyped 3D and IMAX IMO have destroyed the integrity of film Exhibition. There is rumor of a exclusive 70MM showing of PT Anderson’s The Master at the Village Westwood. That would be wonderful…I’ll be there.
The plans for the AVCO are really sad and desperate. There is nothing appealing to me about it and I think it will fail.
This is awful. People are rude and unruly as it is in movies these days. Can’t people stop eating long enough to watch a damn movie? Film exhibition is in the toilet. If it weren’t for Arclight Hollywood and hanging on Village I don’t think I would ever go to the movies.
Latest news about Boca Raton-based IPic Theaters plans to open a luxury six-plex at this location: View link View link
Wow!! 480 seats spread across 6 screens! And sorry, I don’t want servers summoned into the theater at the push of a button. People talking during movies is bad enough, now we have to get ready for people ordering food and drinks during the show? The biggest problem with theaters today is that people act like they are in their living rooms. Now a chain is going out of its way to totally recreate that environment. I guarantee you that when it comes to picking a theater, iPic a different one.
Operator will be iPic: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-ipic20120731,0,2155931.story
No word leaked yet on new operator?
The Avco officially Re-opened as a 4 plex in November 1993; Carlito’s Way on 2 screens, My Life and The Three Musketeers were the premiere films with the remodel. I went openening day to see Carlito’s Way.
It’s scary how inaccurate our memories can be on things like this. I found some of mine confirmed on your list, but could have sworn I saw “Carrie” and “Silent Movie” in the main auditorium there. Oh well, this is endlessly fascinating.
Thanks for that pointer. It’s a great listing. If only there were many more like it.
silver, Cliffs, Howard, Chas, etc.:
A few years ago I compiled a comprehensive listing of everything that played in the Avco’s large auditorium. The list included plenty of detail ideal for an introductory write-up (opening date, transition date of conversion to 4-plex, longest-running engagements, info on presentation types, etc.). I’m not surprised my list is being overlooked since it is buried on Page 6 of this theater’s comments.
I think I liked the site better when comments all appeared on the same page. And in just checking my 2008 comment that included the list, I see the formatting got all screwed up in the transition from the old site to the new site. New-and-improved website, my ass!)
I think we can all agree the AVCO needs a generous, detailed description. How do we go about getting that done?
Silver, I’ve written many of the Introducions & haven’t noticed any of mine being shortened or disappearing. Even for LA, usually I (here in Philly) or Ken Roe (over the pond in London) take it upon ourselves to write a much more complete Intro than the skimpy one this one has. Only once did I see a movie here, in 1988, did I see a movie here, “The Milagro Beenfield War” in what my notes say was a large auditorium.
If I’m not mistaken, it was fall of 1993 that the main house was twinned to create a totally useless 4-plex.
What year was it that the Avco got subdivided up into 4 screens?
To the Cinema Treasures operators: Historical info of thissort always used to be in the overview descriptions at the top of the page for theaters, but seems to have been deleted in many cases with the recent site redesign for some reason… Why?
For that matter, this overview doesn’t even include basics like the year built or opened… What gives?
They had to gut the whole theatre interior because of the asbestos in the complex. Before the main house was twinned it seated around 1100 or so. And having worked there , there was alot of room inside.
They will most likely just gut it out and start from scratch. The first floor has quite alot of space for those who remember when it was a large screen. I still have to think it will be somewhat awkward though. Not really sure if it will catch on unless the food is good because I would imagine the presentation of the film will be unimpressive.
There’s actually more space in there than you’d think. Everything is set up like tetris. It’ll have to be a small kitchen and obviously small theatres but I see them putting the kitchen where the employee break room was.
I am curious how they plan to break up the auditoriums and where they plan to put the kitchen.
I think i just threw up a little while reading this……