El Capitan returns in all its cinematic glory.El Capitan El Cap·i·tan A peak, 2,308.5 m (7,569 ft) high, in the Sierra Nevada of central California. Its dramatic exposed monolith rises some 1,098 m (3,600 ft) above the floor of the Yosemite Valley. returns in all its cinematic glory Cut to the chase: After a heated battle in late 1989 over whether to redesign Hollywood's El Capitan into a flashy dual cinema, the durable theater will reopen this week fully restored to its original splendor -- and with a possible big box-office contender, Disney's "The Rocketeer rock·et·eer n. 1. One who launches, rides in, or pilots rockets. 2. One, such as a scientist, who is an expert in rocketry. ," as its premier feature. The 65-year-old theater was closed in September 1989 because the decor had become timeworn and obsolete. Burbank-based Disney, which leases the theater along with Los Angeles-based Pacific Theaters Corp., said it wanted to turn the cinema into an upbeat art deco-style flagship for Disney's new movie releases. Among other changes, Disney officials wanted to divide the theater in two. But Hollywood preservationists and community activists shouted for the El Capitan to be restored in its entirety. "Nobody had been pushing the idea of restoring it," said Robert Nudelman, chairman of the Hollywood Project Area Committee. Finally, in April 1990, Disney and Pacific Theaters scrapped their plans for an art deco art deco (ärt dĕkō`; är dākō`, ärt) or art moderne (är môdĕrn`, ärt) redo To reverse an undo operation. See undo. and decided to restore the entire structure to its original form. They won't say how much was spent on the project. But they do say they opted for restoration because they found a lot of the original decor was still intact, not necessarily because of the preservationists' request. However, "we listened closely to them," said Dick Cook, president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Co., a division of Disney. The El Capitan was built to be a playhouse and opened in 1926 with an East Indian-style decor. It was changed to include the screening of motion pictures in 1941, with the premiere of Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane Citizen Kane rich and powerful man drives away friends by use of power. [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 149] See : Arrogance ." But then the theater was bought by Paramount Communications Paramount Communications Media and communications corporation. It was founded (as Paramount Pictures Corp.) by W. W. Hodkinson in 1914 as a film distributor. It became a motion-picture company two years later and won attention with stars such as Mary Pickford, Gloria Co. and became known as the Paramount Theater. Its owners covered up most of the old decor with a big shell and tried to make the theater look more modern. In 1989, when Disney announced its plan to remodel re·mod·el tr.v. re·mod·eled also re·mod·elled, re·mod·el·ing also re·mod·el·ling, re·mod·els also re·mod·els To make over in structure or style; reconstruct. the theater, some of the plaster from the shell was uncovered, and theater preservationists realized the building could be fully restored. With the restored El Capital Theater as its centerpiece just west of Highland Avenue, an eight-block portion of Hollywood Boulevard has been designated as the Hollywood Cinema District. PHOTO : The refurbished 65-year-old theater: |The Rocketeer' will be its debut feature |
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