Several times a week I would sit in Stan's Doughnuts, eating one of their ethereal maple bars, like no other maple bar I've ever eaten, or perhaps a "Wooden Blueberry" doughnut (named after the Wizard of Westwood), and look right at that theater. At night, I'd often see a film there. I was very glad when I read that the theater had been …
Several times a week I would sit in Stan's Doughnuts, eating one of their ethereal maple bars, like no other maple bar I've ever eaten, or perhaps a "Wooden Blueberry" doughnut (named after the Wizard of Westwood), and look right at that theater. At night, I'd often see a film there. I was very glad when I read that the theater had been saved. I only wish someone had done the same for Stan's, which closed for good in 2020.
Before Cinefamily, in the 1950s, in L.A. there was an "arthouse" cinema on La Cienga that showed indepemdant films, foreign films, Leni Reifenstahl Olympic films, and films that today would be considered porn. There was also, in the 60-70s, a cinama on Santa Monica Blvd., in W.L.A. that showed the same type of films. The Fox Venice did the same as well as having live concerts. It was a time.
I left Venice in 1980. I went back to visit friends around 20 yrs. later and it looked like a trash heap, I played at the Fox Venice on the bill with Canned Heat and John Lee Hooker. We were playing 3 nights a week, to packed houses, at the Comeback Inn. It was a wonderful time to be in L.A. Alas, it is no more.
The New Beverly fits the bill, doesn't it? For as long as I can remember (and according to a Google search, since 1978) that theater has been programming a different double feature daily. I can't count the number of great films I've seen there over the years. There are a number of other such theaters in L.A., though many have closed. The Silent Movie Theater, which became Cinefamily after its owner was murdered, was a treasure, and I believe by the time it closed it was the last theater in the U.S. that showed exclusively silent films.
Boston and Cambridge were once full of them. They were killed by the video stores in the 1980s. Suddenly, everything was coming out on video tape, and you could rent it for a modest fee. The real estate boom of the era didn't help, but it was home video.
Had to comment on banks. I had to open a new account and needed an appointment to open the account. I was asked if I could do this online. Since this was part of a trust, I was told I had to bring the trust paperwork to the bank. A digital copy wasn't good enough. I explained the irony of opening an account online but needing a physical copy of the trust. Moreover, the need to have an appointment to open said account. I only acquiesced to get the account open, and accept funds to later transfer into my non-brick and mortar bank later, where I get better customer service.
Several times a week I would sit in Stan's Doughnuts, eating one of their ethereal maple bars, like no other maple bar I've ever eaten, or perhaps a "Wooden Blueberry" doughnut (named after the Wizard of Westwood), and look right at that theater. At night, I'd often see a film there. I was very glad when I read that the theater had been saved. I only wish someone had done the same for Stan's, which closed for good in 2020.
Before Cinefamily, in the 1950s, in L.A. there was an "arthouse" cinema on La Cienga that showed indepemdant films, foreign films, Leni Reifenstahl Olympic films, and films that today would be considered porn. There was also, in the 60-70s, a cinama on Santa Monica Blvd., in W.L.A. that showed the same type of films. The Fox Venice did the same as well as having live concerts. It was a time.
I left Venice in 1980. I went back to visit friends around 20 yrs. later and it looked like a trash heap, I played at the Fox Venice on the bill with Canned Heat and John Lee Hooker. We were playing 3 nights a week, to packed houses, at the Comeback Inn. It was a wonderful time to be in L.A. Alas, it is no more.
The New Beverly fits the bill, doesn't it? For as long as I can remember (and according to a Google search, since 1978) that theater has been programming a different double feature daily. I can't count the number of great films I've seen there over the years. There are a number of other such theaters in L.A., though many have closed. The Silent Movie Theater, which became Cinefamily after its owner was murdered, was a treasure, and I believe by the time it closed it was the last theater in the U.S. that showed exclusively silent films.
Cinefamily is now Brain Dead and still plays some fantastic old/weird/art/horror/sci-fi/etc films.
Boston and Cambridge were once full of them. They were killed by the video stores in the 1980s. Suddenly, everything was coming out on video tape, and you could rent it for a modest fee. The real estate boom of the era didn't help, but it was home video.
Land is expensive. No need for rental stores. But then again, no need for physical banks either and there's still one of those on every corner.
Had to comment on banks. I had to open a new account and needed an appointment to open the account. I was asked if I could do this online. Since this was part of a trust, I was told I had to bring the trust paperwork to the bank. A digital copy wasn't good enough. I explained the irony of opening an account online but needing a physical copy of the trust. Moreover, the need to have an appointment to open said account. I only acquiesced to get the account open, and accept funds to later transfer into my non-brick and mortar bank later, where I get better customer service.