Best THX moments in the cinema

[anamorphic96]

I will have to give these theaters a second chance I guess. I do like the nostalgia factor of going to single screens so I will probably try some of these theaters again.

The funny thing about going to the Arclight for me is I dont get the multiplex feel when I go. People are polite and have only heard one cell phone go off. I get so absorbed in the movie because there no issues or distractions like I get everywhere else. The only real issue I have is the concession lines move painfully slow.

I will post some pics after my tour of Arclight. I'm also in Arizona right now doing an install for Harkins who actually builds nice theaters with sound systems done right. I will post some pics as I take them.

[Woochifer]

I will have to give these theaters a second chance I guess. I do like the nostalgia factor of going to single screens so I will probably try some of these theaters again.

The funny thing about going to the Arclight for me is I dont get the multiplex feel when I go. People are polite and have only heard one cell phone go off. I get so absorbed in the movie because there no issues or distractions like I get everywhere else. The only real issue I have is the concession lines move painfully slow.

I will post some pics after my tour of Arclight. I'm also in Arizona right now doing an install for Harkins who actually builds nice theaters with sound systems done right. I will post some pics as I take them.

A couple of other single-screen theaters that you should try out are the Crest Theater on Westwood Blvd. and the Vista Theater in Los Feliz Village. These are both single-screen theaters that operate as independent businesses (VERY rare in this day and age).

The Crest was extensively refurbished in the late-80s when Disney footed the bill to restore both the Crest and the El Capitan (in Hollywood, another very nice theater) so that both theaters could serve as showcases for Disney's releases. The El Capitan restoration was more extensive and celebrated, but the Crest Theater is a very nice theater in its own right. The refurb of the Crest included a THX installation, as well as some nostalgic murals (that glow in the dark), a fiber optic starscape in the ceiling, and an elaborate curtain that rises dramatically to "That's Entertainment." I saw several Disney features at the Crest, and it's a wonderful gem of a theater. It's smaller than the other THX auditoriums in Westwood, but the presentation quality was always up to par.

A few years ago, Pacific Theaters decided to sell the theater and it might have gotten torn down like the UA multiplex that formerly shared the same block (currently a drug store). But, an individual owner who made some money operating a film industry website decided to buy the theater and operate it himself. Since then, the Crest has had its share of ups and downs, but it's still there and currently showing The Last King of Scotland. I haven't been there since the ownership change, so I don't know if the same attention to detail is still there. But, from what I understand, the owner is there most of the time and often doubles as the ticket taker at the door.

The Vista is a beautifully preserved neighborhood theater that still shows first-run movies. It's been ages since I've been there, but from what I understand the owner has upgraded the sound system, so it now meets more modern standards. I'm not sure though if they've upgraded the acoustics (which is usually an issue with these older single-screen theaters).




As far as the Arclight goes, I think a big reason why the theater does not attract rude audiences is simple -- higher ticket prices, and reserved seating. When people pay more, they expect more. It also bumps up the average age of the audience. The reserved seating I think also keeps groups of chatty teens from congregating together. Plus, it helps that the ushers are very proactive about maintaining order. And the concessions don't need to go any further than the Hebrew National hot dogs and the kettlecorn!

Another theater well worth checking out (and this is way off the THX beaten path!) is the Silent Movie Theatre right around Melrose and Fairfax. As the name implies, it's a theater that shows mostly silent movies (schedule looks like they do screenings every Thursday night). It's got quite a history, including a former owner who was murdered in the upstairs office. But, as with the Crest, an independent proprietor saved the building from getting converted into a Persian rug gallery, and invested beaucoup bucks into fixing up the place. The theater itself is small, but very comfortable and noticeably different from other movie theaters. First off, the screen is in the old Academy aspect ratio and it's not acoustically transparent for screen speakers (for talkies, the speakers are off to the side). And there's no acoustical treatment anywhere with hard wood everywhere. Plus, there's the organ up front. All in all, a very different moviegoing experience, and a welcome break to occasionally jetison the mega-amped surround sound in favor of live accompaniment.