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New Beverly Cinema

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New Beverly Cinema
NameNew Beverly Cinema
CaptionExterior of the theater on a screening night
Address7165 Beverly Boulevard
CityLos Angeles
CountryUnited States
Opened1978 (current incarnation); building erected 1929
Capacity~200
TypeRepertory cinema

New Beverly Cinema The New Beverly Cinema is a repertory movie theater in Los Angeles known for programmed exhibitions of classic, cult, and contemporary films. Situated in Mid-City near the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, the theater operates in the context of Los Angeles cultural institutions such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Cinematheque, and the Film Forum circuit. Its programming has attracted attention from filmmakers, critics, and scholars associated with Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

History

The building that houses the theater was constructed during the late 1920s, contemporaneous with developments like the Great Depression and the expansion of Hollywood. The site has served various entertainment purposes, with antecedents linked to neighborhood theaters that operated under names reflecting trends comparable to the Roxy Theatre (New York City), Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the Egyptian Theatre (Los Angeles). The venue became the New Beverly Cinema in 1978 during a period shaped by figures like Roger Corman, George A. Romero, and Pauline Kael who influenced repertory and cult programming. Over subsequent decades, the theater intersected with movements represented by New Hollywood, No Wave Cinema, and the rediscovery efforts of archives such as the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art (New York).

Programming and Film Series

Programming at the theater emphasizes 35mm and 16mm projection, echoing preservation practices promoted by institutions including the Academy Film Archive, the British Film Institute, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Series have featured retrospectives of auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, and Federico Fellini while also highlighting genre strands linked to John Carpenter, Dario Argento, Russ Meyer, Curtis Harrington, and Jess Franco. Special programs have engaged with movements such as Italian neorealism, French New Wave, German Expressionism, Film Noir, and American independent cinema. Collaborations and guest appearances have involved personalities associated with Variety (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, Sight & Sound, and film societies like the Pacific Film Archive.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and stewardship shifted over time, with stewardship periods shaped by local entrepreneurs and cinephiles akin to figures associated with Movie Madness Video and exhibition advocates from Cinefamily and the Echo Park Film Center. In the 2000s, the theater's management intersected with directors and collectors whose networks included Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Kurt Russell. Operational decisions have been influenced by municipal policies from the City of Los Angeles and arts funding models comparable to grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, private benefactors linked to Sony Pictures Entertainment, and partnerships with distributors such as Janus Films and Criterion Collection.

Venue and Facilities

The theater is a single-screen venue with seating and projection infrastructure consistent with repertory houses like the Twelve Oaks Theatre and the Orson Welles Cinema. Projection equipment historically prioritized optical standards associated with Technicolor, Eastman Kodak, and film gauges used by the American Society of Cinematographers. Infrastructure upgrades mirrored initiatives undertaken by venues such as the Music Box Theatre (Chicago) and the Angelika Film Center, balancing analog projection with contemporary sound practices linked to Dolby standards. The lobby and marquee operate within commercial corridors that include landmarks like The Wiltern and the Vista Theatre.

Cultural Impact and Reception

The theater has been cited in coverage by outlets including Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian for its role in sustaining repertory culture alongside institutions like the British Film Institute and the Museum of the Moving Image. Filmmakers, critics, and scholars from networks around Sundance Institute, Film Independent, and university programs at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and USC School of Cinematic Arts have referenced the venue when discussing archival exhibition, cinephilia, and community screening practices. The theater's preservation of celluloid projection has been contrasted with trends at multiplexes operated by companies such as AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas.

Notable Screenings and Events

Notable screenings and events have included premieres, retrospectives, and guest-curated programs involving personalities like Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, David Lynch, Nicolas Cage, and Christopher Nolan. The venue has hosted special presentations tied to film cycles and restorations associated with archives such as the George Eastman Museum, the Film Foundation, and the National Film Preservation Foundation. Benefit screenings and festivals at the theater have intersected with organizations like Screamfest Horror Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and commemorations for filmmakers honored at the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival.

Category:Cinemas in Los Angeles Category:Repertory cinemas