Top 5 Historic L.A. Movie Theaters Still in Business

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Top 5 Historic L.A. Movie Theaters Still in Business
Take in a Local Movie at One of Hollywood's Historic Movie Theaters
By Sylvia Cochran
Takeaways

    Grauman's Chinese Theatre - a Movie Theatre with a Chinese Pagoda
    El Capitan Theatre -- Local Movie Theatre for Walt Disney Pictures Premieres
    Grauman's Egyptian Theatre - the Most Famous of L.A. Movie Theaters

With the local movie industry a staple in L.A., movie theaters that play them have sprung up throughout the decades. While one movie theatre may be a showpiece of art deco design, another is a local movie palace, Egyptian style. Check out some of Hollywood's grandest offerings to the industry.

Pantages Theatre - Flagship of the Art Deco L.A. Movie Theaters
Situated at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90028, the Pantages Theatre is one of the art deco movie theaters that made the old movie palaces famous. From 1949 until 1960, it was the venue of the Oscars and associated festivities. Its most famous movie showings were Spartacus and also Cleopatra.
Today there are 2,691 seats and the Pantages Theatre accommodates Broadway musicals, although it still has a movie screen tucked away.

Cinerama Dome - One of L.A.'s Newer Historic Movie Theaters
It is hard to miss the Cinerama Dome at 6360 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90028. Built in 1963, it is one of the new historic movie theaters in Los Angeles. The geodesic dome design ensures a one of a kind acoustic enjoyment that movie goers first experienced at the premiere of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
856 movie fans now enjoy current movie listings as well as the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles at the Dome.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre - a Movie Theatre with a Chinese Pagoda
At 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90028, Grauman's Chinese Movie Theatre dates back to 1927. This was the local movie theatre of choice for Cecil B. DeMille's adaptation of King of Kings. The Chinese pagoda on the outside is the most noticeable bit of architecture on Hollywood Boulevard, and the telltale Chinese dragons ferociously guard the entrance way.
At this time, there are 1,492 open seats and it is a favorite for Warner Brothers and Universal Studios movie premieres. If you don't mind the extra cost, you can reserve a VIP lounge and have private concessions at your beck and call.

El Capitan Theatre -- Local Movie Theatre for Walt Disney Pictures Premieres
Located at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90028, this is the one among L.A. movie theaters that screened Citizen Kane when competitors wouldn't. Later it would also host premieres by Cecil B. DeMille, change its name in honor of Paramount Pictures, and then finally come under the wings of Disney.
Park at the Hollywood and Highland Center, across the street from the El Capitan movie theatre; the concierge offers partial validation. As you step inside, enjoy the Indian themed interior and downstairs prop displays. With 1,550 seats, this is a mid sized venue, which is great for the kids.

Grauman's Egyptian Theatre - the Most Famous of L.A. Movie Theaters
This 1922 venue was the inspiration for the subsequent Chinese Theatre. Find this local movie theatre at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90028. The Egyptian Theatre showed movies featuring Douglas Fairbanks, and later on became instrumental in hosting the talkies.

There are currently two seating areas, one offering 616 seats and one additional room with only 78 seats. The latter is a favorite for private screenings and theatre rentals. At this time, regularly scheduled events include cult movies, niche programming, and film festivals.

Sources
http://www.broadwayla.org/theatre/neighborhood.asp?id=2; http://www.arclightcinemas.com/; http://www.manntheatres.com/; http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/; http://www.americancinematheque.com/indexegyptian.html   

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