I didn't. I contacted my favorite theatre in LA--the incredible Arclight--to see why they weren't showing Pirates 2. They said it was because of Disney owning Grauman's (not far away). Too bad, it would be great in the Cinerama Dome.

Does anybody know what the next best screen is in LA?

David

I'm thinking the best place to see POTC 2 would be the El Capitan, especially since they have digital projection.

I contacted my favorite theatre in LA--the incredible Arclight--to see why they weren't showing Pirates 2. They said it was because of Disney owning Grauman's (not far away).

The person you spoke with got his theaters mixed up. Disney owns The El Capitan (http://www.elcapitantickets.com), which is across the street from the Chinese. That is the theater that has the Hollywood engagement of Pirates.

The Chinese is owned by Mann Theaters.

-Jeff

The person you spoke with got his theaters mixed up. Disney owns The El Capitan (http://www.elcapitantickets.com), which is across the street from the Chinese. That is the theater that has the Hollywood engagement of Pirates.

The Chinese is owned by Mann Theaters.

-Jeff
You know something--you are right. So why isn't the Arclight--LA's best theatre--getting Pirates?

Also in regard to the El Cap being a good place to see a movie--I like the feel of the place and the special Disney touches--but it's not a state of the art theatre like the Arclight.
David

You know something--you are right. So why isn't the Arclight--LA's best theatre--getting Pirates?

Also in regard to the El Cap being a good place to see a movie--I like the feel of the place and the special Disney touches--but it's not a state of the art theatre like the Arclight.
DavidNot exactly. The El Capitan has state of the art projection and sound equipment. Its interior design style, however, is not a a blend of modern midcentury and turn of the century design like the Arclight's. The El Capitan's exterior is Spanish Colonial while the interior is East Indian. The theater was built in 1926, and was restored to its original splendor about 16 years ago.

Anyway, the El Capitan has digital projection capability, which IS the state of the art in motion picture presentation (whether they actually present a film with digital projection is another matter; they might not, but then again it isn't guaranteed at the Arclight either), so combined with the classic movie palace surroundings there, it's likely the best of both worlds under one roof. Perfect for that film.

Don't get me wrong - I've been to the Arclight and it's a wonderful modern high-tech theater, but not all films are best presented in theaters with modern interior design (not talking about projection and sound, those are always important anywhere).

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest really fits in well at a classic movie palace with state of the art equipment, like the El Capitan, Grauman's Chinese, or the Mann Village Theater in Westwood, not only because it's a period film (of a sort) but because the spirit of the POTC films evokes the rousing pirate films of the Golden Age of Hollywood. And that can really add to the enjoyment of the films. In a sense such theaters tie Johnny Depp to Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Orlando Bloom to Errol Flynn.

You know something--you are right. So why isn't the Arclight--LA's best theatre--getting Pirates?

If the logic was that they weren't getting it because they're too close to the Disney-owned Grauman's, it would still apply to the El Cap as they're just across the street from each other.

I have no idea if that is the true story of why, but the mistake in theater named doesn't invalidate the reasoning.

As for the theater itself I don't really care what it looks like. Once the lights go down I'm not seeing any of that anyway. I want good projection, good sound, comfortable seats, and enough space between rows that people can get in and out easily.

Everything else is just pudding and I don't go to movies based on the pudding.

Remember too that every screen in the Arclight is THX approved for both sound and picture from every seat.

Remember too that every screen in the Arclight is THX approved for both sound and picture from every seat.

This is what I don't like about the Egyptian. While they may have a great sound system in the theater, the old design of the interior itself leads to many seats that have horrible sound. Some seats on both left and right sides under the balcony get a horrible "bounce-back" of sound. And still others have an echo-y reverb to them. If you get a good seat, it's great. But if you don't...it's worse than bad. I know Disney was aware of these peculiarities and was trying to come up with solutions even back then they first re-opened it. But as of about 7 months ago...the problem was still there.

No question I'd rather see it at the Archlight.

I like the Arclight fine with all its new high-tech and modern stuff, but I also love the movie palaces like the El Capitan. They're few and far between nowadays.

Remember too that every screen in the Arclight is THX approved for both sound and picture from every seat.Honestly, that doesn't mean as much anymore. When THX was new it meant a lot, but today there are plenty of theaters who advertise involvement in THX's TAP program but still have lousy presentation. However, the Arclight is very well-known and heavily trafficked (and is in Hollywood), so the likelihood that their management would permit any substandard film presentation is extremely low.

This is what I don't like about the Egyptian. While they may have a great sound system in the theater, the old design of the interior itself leads to many seats that have horrible sound. Some seats on both left and right sides under the balcony get a horrible "bounce-back" of sound. And still others have an echo-y reverb to them. If you get a good seat, it's great. But if you don't...it's worse than bad. I know Disney was aware of these peculiarities and was trying to come up with solutions even back then they first re-opened it. But as of about 7 months ago...the problem was still there.

No question I'd rather see it at the Archlight.The Egyptian, further down Hollywood Blvd., is the home of American Cinematheque, which is predominantly a revival/indie/foreign film theater. So I'm confused about which theater you're talking about now.

If the logic was that they weren't getting it because they're too close to the Disney-owned Grauman's, it would still apply to the El Cap as they're just across the street from each other.

It has to be stated again - DISNEY DOES NOT OWN GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE.

Mann Theatres owns it. http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/

The Arclight, Chinese, and El Capitan are all within 1 mile of each other. The El Capitan is Disney's flagship theater. They're not about to let a major competing theater within a mile of their flagship theater showcase one of their tentpole summer releases.

It has to be stated again - DISNEY DOES NOT OWN GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE. Yes, we all got that part. Even Alex got that part. I believe he was saying that "IF" the Arclight believes that they don't get the show because THEY THINK Disney owns the GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE and THEY THINK the GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE is getting Pirates, then even though THEY have the WRONG THEATER and the WRONG OWNERS, the concern about their proximity to a Disney-owned theater would still be valid when referring to the Disney-owned El Cap.

AVP

The Egyptian, further down Hollywood Blvd., is the home of American Cinematheque, which is predominantly a revival/indie/foreign film theater. So I'm confused about which theater you're talking about now.

Ooops! Yes. I meant to say the El Capitan. Don't know why the Egyptian flashed in my head there. My post above there was meant to refer to Disney's El Capitan. Sorry! :)

If the logic was that they weren't getting it because they're too close to the Disney-owned Grauman's, it would still apply to the El Cap as they're just across the street from each other.
It has to be stated again - DISNEY DOES NOT OWN GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE.

Mann Theatres owns it. http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/

The Arclight, Chinese, and El Capitan are all within 1 mile of each other. The El Capitan is Disney's flagship theater. They're not about to let a major competing theater within a mile of their flagship theater showcase one of their tentpole summer releases.

He's not saying Disney owns Grauman's, he's quoting the statement which supposedly came from an Arclight rep and pointing out that, as the El Cap is across the street from Grauman's it wouldn't make much difference.

Frankly, I don't even see why the question came up in the first place. Why would Disney open what will most likely one of the most anticipated films of this summer if not this entire year at the Arclight when they OWN the theatre down the block? I can see it now..."hey guys, you know, we're looking at a $100 mil opening week-end on Pirates but I'm thinking that the Arclight has better sound so let's leave Cars at the El Cap and open Pirates at the Arclight. Or, better yet, let's open Pirates at the El Cap AND give it to Arclight down the street, because that way people who can't get into the 2 o'clock show at the El Cap can just go down the street and give their money to Arclight instead of cooling their heels in the Disney Store next door having lunch while they wait to give their ticket money to us."

Surprised that the Arclight doesn't have it? I would have been astonished if they DID have it.

-TLMt

He's not saying Disney owns Grauman's, he's quoting the statement which supposedly came from an Arclight rep and pointing out that, as the El Cap is across the street from Grauman's it wouldn't make much difference.

Frankly, I don't even see why the question came up in the first place. Why would Disney open what will most likely one of the most anticipated films of this summer if not this entire year at the Arclight when they OWN the theatre down the block? I can see it now..."hey guys, you know, we're looking at a $100 mil opening week-end on Pirates but I'm thinking that the Arclight has better sound so let's leave Cars at the El Cap and open Pirates at the Arclight. Or, better yet, let's open Pirates at the El Cap AND give it to Arclight down the street, because that way people who can't get into the 2 o'clock show at the El Cap can just go down the street and give their money to Arclight instead of cooling their heels in the Disney Store next door having lunch while they wait to give their ticket money to us."

Surprised that the Arclight doesn't have it? I would have been astonished if they DID have it.

-TLMt
Yes, in the email I rec'd the rep said, "...you clearly know that Grauman's is owned by Disney." I have responded by pointing out, as was pointed out to me here, that's it's owned by Mann's.

Now let's clear up this "right down the street" business. They are actually almost a mile apart. They are on two different major streets and really pretty different areas. A mile does not sound like much but in LA it's plenty when it comes to screens. Look at the distances between the Bruin, Avco's and the Crest (which is owned by Disney). As you have pointed out they are looking for 100 million opening. This is accomplished by having the most screens. El Cap's revenue is a drop in regard to the total weekend and what's available at multiple screens--like the Arclight can provide. They would not open it there because it has the best projection, sound, etc., but to maximize screens.

El Cap would still sell out--it's real purpose is to be a promotion device for a movie. It's screen, cafe and gift shop is very insignificant to Disney's billions a year revenues.

My real comment is that I would love to see this movie at the best screens (for watching a film) in LA--the Arclight. And particularly in the Dome--where we saw two of the LOTRs movies.

Look at the distances between the Bruin, Avco's and the Crest (which is owned by Disney)..

Oh, boy, here we go again.

The Westwood Crest Theatre (which has digital projection capability as well, and is literally just down the street from the Bruin and Village theaters) is no longer owned by Disney at all. It was, at one time, the Pacific Crest Theatre, and Disney did have a business relationship with Pacific Theatres (which was how they came to eventually own the El Capitan as well), but the Crest Theatre was about to close in 2002.

http://www.westwoodcrest.com/owner.html

It was purchased in late 2002 and reopened in 2003 by its new private owner, Robert Bucksbaum.

http://www.westwoodcrest.com/press.html

Oh, boy, here we go again.

The Westwood Crest Theatre (which has digital projection capability as well, and is literally just down the street from the Bruin and Village theaters) is no longer owned by Disney at all. It was, at one time, the Pacific Crest Theatre, and Disney did have a business relationship with Pacific Theatres (which was how they came to eventually own the El Capitan as well), but the Crest Theatre was about to close in 2002.

http://www.westwoodcrest.com/owner.html

It was purchased in late 2002 and reopened in 2003 by its new private owner, Robert Bucksbaum.

http://www.westwoodcrest.com/press.html

My main point was about distances, not ownership--that El Capitan is no closer to the Arclight than many other screens are to each other in LA.

My main point was about distances, not ownership--that El Capitan is no closer to the Arclight than many other screens are to each other in LA.Sure, I understood that. Who knows? Maybe the Arclight will get POTC 2 a little further down the line.

Does anybody know what the next best screen is in LA?

Best house in the L.A. area is the Samuel Goldwyn Theater (http://ampas.org/facilities/theaterops/sgt.html) at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Absolutely state-of-the-art when it opened in 1975, it has been lovingly maintained and regularly updated ever since. Sound is impeccable, and although some seats are better than others, there isn't a bad seat in the house.

They're showing The Searchers (http://ampas.org/events/searchers/index.html) tonight, June 23, at 8 pm if you want to check it out.

--t

Best house in the L.A. area is the Samuel Goldwyn Theater (http://ampas.org/facilities/theaterops/sgt.html) at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Absolutely state-of-the-art when it opened in 1975, it has been lovingly maintained and regularly updated ever since. Sound is impeccable, and although some seats are better than others, there isn't a bad seat in the house.

They're showing The Searchers (http://ampas.org/events/searchers/index.html) tonight, June 23, at 8 pm if you want to check it out.

--tAnd at $5 a ticket, that is a MAJOR BARGAIN.

Please tell me you and the Mrs. are going tonight, tod. If I was in SoCal I'd be on my way there right now.

Best house in the L.A. area is the Samuel Goldwyn Theater (http://ampas.org/facilities/theaterops/sgt.html) at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

I used to think that too, but the DGA theatre is pretty spiffy too.

I used to think that too, but the DGA theatre is pretty spiffy too.

The DGA theatre is good, but there wasn't much of a rake last time I was there, which was, admittedly, a few years ago. I still prefer the Samuel Goldwyn.

--t