Theatres you like but don't patronize

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This is hard to explain, but here goes: as much as I love the fact that slightly grubby sub-run theatres like Lyndon Golin's Regency Fairfax and the Silent Movie theatre a block or two south are doing pretty well, I never really feel like actually driving over and plunking down five or six bucks for a cheap seat at either establishment.

That sounds shitty and unhelpful, but most of us are fairly passionate about seeing movies only at deluxe, blue-chip locations or at home on DVD, and no in-betweens. Call them high-thread-count venues....I don't care...but I just don't want to schlub it when I'm out seeing a film. Same deal with the New Beverly Cinema...wait, they've put in new seating and have cleaned up the sticky floors?

And yet I love the fact that others in the Fairfax disrict (i.e., the nearby retirement-age community, under-30s with not much money, etc.) love the Fairfax and the Silent Movie theatre. The Fairfax district would be immeasurably harmed if either one of these theatres were to shutter. I mean that. Is this coming out right?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM

comment #1

erniesouchak says ...

I've been to the Silent once, and although the novelty was cool I don't think I'd go again -- I'm 6' tall and was way too cramped. Haven't been to the Regency Fairfax in some time, but for just $3 I'd have a hard time complaining. Still, I'd rather pay $6-$10 and see an old movie at the Egyptian any day.

Posted by erniesouchak at June 25, 2007 12:29 PM

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

Actually, the Fairfax theater charges $3 a ticket, which is a great deal if you don't mind waiting a bit after flicks pass through the Arclight and The Grove. [BTW, the July schedule and a bit of the August schedule is up for The New Beverly.] I've never actually been to the Silent Theater, but I wanted to when Potemkin was playing, but I was sick. :(

Posted by D.Z. at June 25, 2007 12:33 PM

comment #3

D.Z. says ...

ernie: The Egyptian's alright, but they've got nothing but old movies nowadays. They used to do more premieres until they bought the Aero.

Posted by D.Z. at June 25, 2007 12:34 PM

comment #4

Monument says ...

I know what you mean Jeff. I love that these places exist but I don't go either mainly for the same reason as erniesouchak. I'm 6'7" and sitting in those old theater seats is literally a painful experience.

Posted by Monument at June 25, 2007 12:38 PM

comment #5

Geoff says ...

The New Beverly offers films that can be hard to find. Others I just want to see on a big screen, no matter how crappy the sound or screen is, or how uncomfortable the seats may be.

Posted by Geoff at June 25, 2007 12:47 PM

comment #6

erniesouchak says ...

Actually I think a bigger problem with the Egyptian is that when their FT programmer Dennis Bartok departed a few years back, they decided to cut corners and not hire a replacement. The programming overall hasn't been as ambitious or interesting. But I'm sure the expense of the Aero is a factor.

Posted by erniesouchak at June 25, 2007 12:54 PM

comment #7

christian says ...

listen to the precious ones above. where the film elite don't go to meet.

grow a pair you wankers.

the new beverly is about the experience of going to the movies. they have a great new system and you can watch beauty new prints of whatcha need for 7 bucks and a coke and licorice for under 5.

jeff will rant about the death of some mezzo-mezzo tradition then brag about he's the first to abandon it. on his chopper.

quick hurry home, i hear y'alls netflix que has overflowed!

Posted by christian at June 25, 2007 12:54 PM

comment #8

christian says ...

and check out modsandrockers.com for their kickass 2007 lime-up at the egyptian -- including the first 35 mm screening of SKIDOO in over 25 years where i'll be guestin'.

nothin' going on? whateva! SKIDOO!

Posted by christian at June 25, 2007 12:58 PM

comment #9

christian says ...

yes, it's a kickass LIME-UP because they're also premiering the doc on Nilsson...

Posted by christian at June 25, 2007 1:01 PM

comment #10

Craig Kennedy says ...

I used to go to the Fairfax when it was a Laemmle theatre because it would show movies I couldn't necessarily see anywhere else. Now that it's a bargain theater I'd only go there as a last resort to catch a film I missed when it originally played.

Crummy seats aside, the New Beverly and Silent Movie Theatre are treasures. LA is better for having them.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at June 25, 2007 1:04 PM

comment #11

berg says ...

harry nilsson actually sings the end credit roll to Skidoo ... a must see L-film, as is Harvard Man ...

Posted by berg at June 25, 2007 1:14 PM

comment #12

jeffmcm says ...

The Fairfax is a gorgeous theater, and since some of us don't get to go to advance screenings for free, playing catch-up at a second-run is sometimes necessary.

Posted by jeffmcm at June 25, 2007 1:24 PM

comment #13

Edward Havens says ...

Eh, why you gotta pick on Lyndon? He is one of the good guys (along with most of the Golin family).

I don't mind the Fairfax. I just wish they would get the 70mm weekend screenings that Rob Bartha used to hold in the late 80s and early 90s back on track there.

Posted by Edward Havens at June 25, 2007 1:26 PM

comment #14

Larry says ...

All these places are great, and people who refuse to go to them aren't movie lovers, they're comfort lovers. And seeing a film for the first time on DVD is a pretty sad experience compared to seeing it on the big screen.

Posted by Larry at June 25, 2007 1:38 PM

comment #15

Monument says ...

I'm sorry but a bad seat will ruin a great movie any day of the week. Those old movie theater seats were built for people 5'10" and below, it has to be a really great movie for me to want to subject myself to that.

Posted by Monument at June 25, 2007 2:00 PM

comment #16

Pelham123 says ...

The New Beverly is indispensable to L.A. (they could, however, use some new seats, but small quibble.) Tonight they have a nifty 007 double feature of the great "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and the weird '70's Bond of "The Man With The Golden Gun".

Posted by Pelham123 at June 25, 2007 2:03 PM

comment #17

Chris Willman says ...

Not sure I would call a theater that shows only 1920s and '30s movies "sub-run." Maybe "sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-run."

Posted by Chris Willman at June 25, 2007 2:07 PM

comment #18

jeffmcm says ...

Monument, you have to admit that you are...abnormally larger than most.

Posted by jeffmcm at June 25, 2007 2:08 PM

comment #19

Monument says ...

Too true, hence the nickname

Posted by Monument at June 25, 2007 2:18 PM

comment #20

christian says ...

and the regency is going to start up midnight movies again!

Posted by christian at June 25, 2007 2:49 PM

comment #21

Terry McCarty says ...

I remember the Fairfax 70mm screenings too--particularly the Australian roadshow print (slightly cut by Aussie censors) of THE WILD BUNCH that Bo Hopkins and Peckinpah's son Matthew attended.

Re the Silent Movie Theatre, it's also a good venue for intimate concerts/one-person shows such as last Tuesday's Sinead O'Connor concert showcasing her THEOLOGY album (released, or "dropping" in youthful slang, tomorrow) and Sandra Bernhard a couple of years back.

Posted by Terry McCarty at June 25, 2007 4:00 PM

comment #22

filmradar.com says ...

I LOVE silent film and enjoy going to the Silent Movie Theatre. The new owners are now showing 35mm which is really nice! They have also been showing some rare stuff like the recent screening of TWELVE MILES OUT. The theatre is really nice and in great condition too.

Posted by filmradar.com at June 25, 2007 6:03 PM

comment #23