ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters will be closing down permanently. Pacific Theaters has been operating in California since 1946 and the ArcLight Cinemas opened its first location in 2002 in Hollywood next to the Cinerama Dome which made it a Hollywood favorite. The Cinerama Dome has been featured in a number of projects, including 2019’s Best Picture nominee Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
Theaters in Los Angeles were shut down for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in March theaters were given the approval to start operations at limited capacity, which has started to see promising returns for the box office as Godzilla vs. Kong has set pandemic records. Recently it was reported that California movie theaters would be able to open at full capacity starting June 15, 2021, but it appears that wasn’t soon enough to save one of the biggest theater chains in California.
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According to Deadline, ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters will not be reopening. The Decurion Corporation, which is the parent company of both the ArcLight Cinemas and the Pacific Theater chain has decided to shut down the 300 screen locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The news shocked many filmgoers and fans. The company released this statement:
After shutting our doors more than a year ago, today we must share the difficult and sad news that Pacific will not be reopening its ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres locations.
This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward.
To all the Pacific and ArcLight employees who have devoted their professional lives to making our theaters the very best places in the world to see movies: we are grateful for your service and your dedication to our customers.
To our guests and members of the film industry who have made going to the movies such a magical experience over the years: our deepest thanks. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you.
The ArcLight movie theaters, specifically the location in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. with the Cinerama Dome was a favorite among filmmakers and would often boost special screenings with directors. It fostered a friendly filmgoing experience as they were strict on no texting or talking during a movie and would not allow seating once a showing had started. The location was such a prime spot, that Quentin Tarantino was famously upset when Disney forced the chain to exclusively screen Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Cinerama Dome throughout the entire holiday season which prevented The Hateful Eight from playing there.
The news of the ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters closing is a huge blow to moviegoers in the state of California. This reduces the number of locations fans can see movies at, now putting more distance between them and a theater and may instead stay home instead of venturing out further with bigger crowds. If AMC can stay in business past the pandemic, it will give them a greater hold on the moviegoing market in and audiences are given fewer choices on where they can see a movie. More importantly, though, it means the loss of a piece of history, as Pacific Theaters had been part of the state for over 60 years. The ArcLight and the Cinerama Dome are iconic staples of Hollywood and unless someone buys it, that will be lost forever.
Source: Deadline
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