WHAT'S LURE OF A $14 MOVIE? PLUSH SEATS, LOBBY WINE, FREE PARKING, RESTAURANT ALL A DRAW.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer HOLLYWOOD - Every plush seat in the house is reserved, patrons can casually sip wine in the lobby until curtain time and valet parking valet parking n. Parking arrangements provided by a commercial establishment, such as a restaurant, whereby patrons leave their cars at the entrance and attendants park and retrieve them. Noun 1. is an option. If this sounds like an evening out at the theater, it is. But not at the Ahmanson, the Shubert or any other Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. stage venue. It's the new ArcLight Hollywood The ArcLight Hollywood is a 14-screen multiplex located at 6360 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California in the United States of America. All 14 screens feature stadium seating and carry a THX certification for optimal sound and picture presentation. , a movie complex opening Friday directly behind the historic Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. . The ambitious Pacific Theaters Pacific Theater or Pacific Theatre may refer to
tr.v. stunned, stun·ning, stuns 1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow. 2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise. 3. moviegoers barely a year ago. ``We think it's an excellent value considering what is included in the price,'' said Christopher Forman, ArcLight chief executive officer. ``It's a place intended for the movie-lover.'' The theaters feature what Forman said is the best in sight and sound technology. The wall-to-wall screens are slightly curved and positioned to be in line with stadium seats placed to create ``optimal viewing angles,'' said Forman. While some might recoil recoil /re·coil/ (re´koil) a quick pulling back. elastic recoil the ability of a stretched object or organ, such as the bladder, to return to its resting position. at the prospect of paying $14 for a movie ticket, industry experts believe a movie-making town like Hollywood is the place to give it a try. ``This is the hometown of many movie aficionados and industry folks and there seems to be a greater-than-normal interest in movies,'' said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. ``I think if there's any place in the world where a theater like this can do well, it would be Los Angeles.'' The ArcLight will make its debut on the same day at the reopening of Pacific Theater's Cinerama Dome, which has been closed for renovations for almost two years. The historic theater has been upgraded and will reopen its doors Friday with a showing the 20th anniversary version of ``E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.'' The film had its world premiere Noun 1. world premiere - (music) the first public performance (as of a dramatic or musical work) anywhere in the world performance, public presentation - a dramatic or musical entertainment; "they listened to ten different performances"; "the play ran for 100 at the domed theater 20 years ago. The ArcLight and Cinerama Dome are the centerpiece of the $100 million Dome Entertainment Center, which will also include a 24-Hour Fitness club as well as restaurants and retail shops scheduled to open by summer. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler said the new complex should be able to carve out to make or get by cutting, or as if by cutting; to cut out. - Shak. See also: Carve a niche for itself as Pacific Theaters takes advantage ``of the Hollywood name and brand to promote this new concept.'' ``The fact that this is Hollywood means that people will drive long distances to a movie experience because they want something special,'' said Gubler. ``People are going to have to get used to paying $14 to see a movie but they are promising the best movie experience possible.'' The experience begins with expansive lobby areas designed for guests to congregate con·gre·gate tr. & intr.v. con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing, con·gre·gates To bring or come together in a group, crowd, or assembly. See Synonyms at gather. adj. 1. Gathered; assembled. 2. before and after a movie and have a cocktail or some dessert and coffee. There is also a sit-down restaurant at the ground level that offers a full menu. Tickets to the ArcLight can be purchased online, over the telephone or at automated kiosks in front of the theater. Unlike other automated ticket services, there is no service fee for advance purchase. Tickets can also be bought the old-fashioned way, at the box office including the Cinerama Dome's original ticket booths on Sunset Boulevard that had been shuttered shut·ter n. 1. One that shuts, as: a. A hinged cover or screen for a window, usually fitted with louvers. b. for decades. All tickets are reserved with guests choosing from the front, middle or back of the auditorium. ``The reserved seating means you don't have to worry about where you are going to sit or needing to save a seat,'' said Forman, who added that the process also eliminates the need to wait in line even for the biggest blockbuster movies. Among the features inside the theaters: seats that are 3 inches wider than the industry standard of 25 inches; double-wide armrests to eliminate elbow battles; rows of seats that are 48 inches apart, providing for increased leg room; and a front row considerably further back than traditional theaters, designed to eliminate any neck craning. Ushers will show patrons to their seats; there will be no commercials prior to a film although there will be movie trailers; and an ArcLight employee will personally introduce a film before it begins. ``When we created this concept, we addressed every detail of the movie- going experience,'' Forman said. ``We've focused on the ease of our customers' journey from the design of our Web site to the layout of our lobby and hallways to in-auditorium enhancements.'' Guests also will get three hours of free parking with valet parking available for an additional fee. The snack bars will offer the usual fare with some unique additions such as freshly made caramel corn Caramel corn is a confection made of popcorn covered in caramel or molasses, creating a sweet, crunchy treat. Mixes of caramel corn often contain nuts, like peanuts or almonds. and smoothies. ``A world where you can ask $14 for a movie ticket is possible only when you are offering something more to the movie-goer, and it sounds like they are doing that,'' observed Dergarabedian. ``If the experience is as good as promised, it could fly. But if you transferred this idea to other parts of the country, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. .'' Pacific Theaters does hope to expand its ArcLight concept to other parts of the country with plans to open a complex in Bellvue, Wash. The opening of ArcLight is the latest high-profile facility launched by the Pacific Theaters chain in recent months, including Friday's opening of the Grove Stadium 14 adjacent to the Farmers Market and the November debut of Galleria Stadium 16. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) David-Paul Shapiro appears to be dancing with Nicolas Cage as other celebrities watch at the ArcLight Hollywood theater. The wax figures wax figures, sculptures usually made of beeswax or tallow, which is susceptible to modeling, casting, and coloring. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used wax to make sacred images or death masks. from Madame Tussaud's in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. will be on display at the movie theater when it opens Friday. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion