Revival theaters across Los Angeles are revived this summer
GEORGIA GRAY, Norton Avenue resident, waits in line at the New Beverly Cinema. Photo by Dinah Yorkin
With climate change making the Los Angeles heat more unbearable than ever, a new activity to fill these long summer days has risen in prominence: seeing movies in revival theaters.
Dotted all across the city, revival theaters are exactly what they sound like: they screen classic, under-appreciated or forgotten films, essentially “reviving” them. As large corporate theaters seem to be full of endless sequels, never-ending trailers and audiences that can’t put their phones away, it seems that the allure of seeing films in those theaters has waned.
However, that glamor has been renewed in revival theaters: they always feature a visually, dramatically or stylistically captivating film; there are very few trailers or none at all; and employees at these theaters are not at all daunted by the prospect of kicking someone out for checking his or her phone. Moreover, tickets are much more affordable.
This renaissance has certainly been aided by new technology, specifically the app Letterboxd. Letterboxd allows its users to log and review each film they see and connect with other film lovers. In the past year, Letterboxd’s popularity has grown exponentially, with filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann joining the app. This popularity has helped to spawn a resurgence of film fanatics — or film appreciators, at the very least — that have begun to frequent revival theaters in increased numbers.
With plenty of revival theaters available, the one I find myself at the most is not a theater at all, but an organization called the American Cinematheque, which plays in three theaters across Los Angeles: the newly renovated Egyptian Theatre at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., a theater in the Los Feliz Theater at 1822 N. Vermont Ave. and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 1328 Montana Ave. With three theaters available to the organization, their daily programming, combined with their summer festivals such as “Bleak Week” (featuring grim films like “Make Way for Tomorrow” and “Sorcerer”) and “Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest” (featuring 70mm prints of a wide range of films from “The Remains of the Day” to “Inception”), ensures that, any day of the week, you can find a film that will strike your fancy.
Not heralded for its fantastic design, New Beverly Cinema (owned by Quentin Tarantino) at 7615 Beverly Blvd. is heralded (at least by me) for its fantastic lineup of films. From cult classics like “Harold and Maude” to pulpy thrillers like “Race with the Devil” to Tarantino’s own beloved movies, the New Beverly is a fantastic place with great vibes to pass summer nights.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Academy Museum at 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Its two theaters play far fewer films than the New Beverly and the American Cinematheque. Also, with screenings of films like “Rebel Without a Cause” or “The Red Shoes,” the films they play are less eclectic but still powerful. However, the true draw of the Academy Museum is the two state-of-the-art theaters, which feature plush seats and excellent sightlines. Unfortunately, the one drawback is that no snacks are allowed.
For a perfect summer night, my friends and I grab a bite to eat at a classic diner, such as Swingers Diner, the Clark Street Diner or Fred 62 (which is coincidentally and conveniently right across the street from the Los Feliz Theater, which plays classic films in Theater 1), before heading out to one of the many revival theaters across Los Angeles.
For a complete list of programming in each revival theater, visit revivalhubla.com.
Written by Dinah Yorkin
Yorkin will be a senior at Marlborough School this year and interned at the Chronicle this summer.
Category: Entertainment