The Sunday Memory Drawer - The End?

 

Having worked with a bunch of actors on a project over Zoom the last few months, I finally had the opportunity to see one of them in person for dinner last week.  A 22-year-old actor from Virginia who had the misfortune of moving to Los Angeles last September.  In the middle of a pandemic where virtually everything was shut down.   Whoops.

He's a talented kid who should do well and I am happy to give him his very first IMDB credit.   But he's still a newbie as far as Southern California goes.   He is still exploring the city and the coast.   But, over burgers, he lamented something that he would miss.

He always wanted to see a movie at the Cinerama Dome.

Tear forming in Len's eye.

The news broke last week that the venerable Cinerama Dome and adjoining Arclight Hollywood theaters would not be re-opening.   Indeed, Arclight is shutting down all 300 screens in the United States as the parent company, Pacific Theaters, does the same.

To quote my writing partner's pet phrase, "we are never allowed to have nice things."

As a movie buff, there was/is no better place to see a big blockbuster than the Dome.   That's where you go for the latest Spielberg flick or the newest Star Wars chapter.   Wrapping the image of the film around the audience, there is no experience like it on earth.

Now the Dome first opened in November, 1963.  Its first night was the world premiere of the classic "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."   As a matter of fact, the movie's director, Stanley Kramer, supposedly helped design the auditorium.

While over the years it was the hot spot for first run fare, the Dome always celebrated its roots by showing some of the classics as well.   I saw "Giant" there.  I saw "How The West Was Won" there.   I saw "Lawrence of Arabia" there and you could literally count every grain of sand.

They did movies and they did them right.

In 2002, the parking lot behind the Dome was turned into what would become the first Arclight multiplex.   With its enormous airport terminal-like lobby and accompanying restaurant with surprisingly good food.   They elevated movie-going to an art form.

The ushers would announce the films.   They would run maybe two or three trailers and no more.  (Take that, AMC)  The reserved seats were comfy.   Plus it catered to a real Hollywood crowd.   Over the years, I saw the likes of Teri Hatcher and Pierce Brosnan and Richard Chamberlain there, along with countless other supporting players whose faces were always more remembered than their names.

And, even better, the Arclight made their own caramel corn.   To die for.  This is why the Arclight Hollywood became my primary cinematic destination for the last twenty years.

The Dome, I believe, has some sort of landmark status.   My fear is that the folks at Scientology will turn it into some kind of cathedral.  My hope is that some film maker with big pockets takes over the whole property and keeps it going as it should.  A place where movie memories are made and continued.

I truly hope that my young actor friend gets to visit the Arclight and, specifically, the Cinerama Dome at least once.

Dinner last night: Pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe.