David Kennedy on May 28, 2009, at 10:55AM – #1

If the event is so successful and has been for years now, I wonder why it hasn't been expanded? Instead of six films, why not twelve or more? Wouldn't the Conservancy simply make more money and wouldn't that be a good thing? (Hmm, should the fundraiser make $100,000 or $200,000? Hmm, decisions, decisions.) Is it really that challenging for the theaters to mount these events? Why don't the people promoting downtown push for expanding this event? Maybe there could be a holiday version in December? Attracting more people downtown to historic theaters is obviously a worthy goal.

Twenty-three years ago, this was a great idea. It still is. However, if the event has 'maxed out' with sold-out shows, why not expand it? As it stands now, it is an annual fundraiser for the Conservancy and they or others seem to have not considered the possiblities and benefits for expansion. Too bad.

Cindy Olnick on May 28, 2009, at 12:16PM – #2

Thanks, Ed, for the great write up and amazing photos. Thanks, David, for your note. A lot of people have asked the same question: Why not expand Last Remaining Seats? While it would certainly help in our fundraising efforts, our mission is historic preservation. We started Last Remaining Seats 23 years ago as a way to raise awareness of the amazing historic theatres on Broadway, which were in decline and vulnerable to extinction.

We're thrilled that the series has developed such a great following, but its goal has always been - and continues to be - to raise awareness of L.A.'s historic theatres, prove their viability, and pave the way for other organizations to do their own programming.

The true revitalization of Broadway as an entertainment district will happen only with diverse programming from a wide range of organizations. That, in turn, relies on consistent patronage. Groups like the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival are trying very hard to follow our lead and program exciting events in Broadway's historic theatres. But they won't succeed if people don't come to these events.

We urge everyone downtown and throughout Los Angeles to take advantage of these great new options. For instance, in just a couple of weeks, the Jules Verne folks will host a day-long tribute to Tony Curtis - with Mr. Curtis in attendance! - at the Million Dollar Theatre. This is a one-of-a-kind event and a vital fundraiser for the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival in the fall. (http://www.julesvernefestival.com/spip.php?rubrique99&lang=fr)

We also urge organizations to take advantage of the Conservancy's Broadway Initiative Cultural Partners Program, through which we help promote non-Conservancy events on historic Broadway. Contact me for details (colnick@laconservancy.org).

Trudi Sandmeier on May 28, 2009, at 12:56PM – #5

David - Clearly, great minds think alike!

The Conservancy will be hosting our 4th annual holiday matinee on the first Sunday of December again this year - get your holiday shopping taken care of, have a great lunch at Cliftons, and come join us for the movie!

Thanks for your support and we'll see you on Broadway...

Cindy Olnick on May 28, 2009, at 01:02PM – #6

Oops, I neglected to say that the Tony Curtis event is being co-produced by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation - http://www.lahtf.org/

JM on May 28, 2009, at 02:37PM – #7

Year after year, these LRS events are so much fun and last night was no exception. I guess it's special because they don't show films all the time, although I wish there were more options Downtown, given its role in the history of film and vaudeville. On the non-historic front, the Laemmle 4-plex is mmm-OK, Downtown Independent is still trying to find its identity, and the LA Live multiplex will open next year. I'm very happy that the Million Dollar Theatre is screening the Tony Curtis films in June, but I also wonder why no one is filling the niche for movies.

Suze on May 28, 2009, at 03:38PM – #8

Just curious; has David Kennedy ever had a positive post on anything? He is always first with a complaint I've noticed.

Is that all there is?

Perhaps he could sponsor a screening?

MarkB on May 28, 2009, at 08:58PM – #10

No one's yet mentioned the LA HIstoric Theater Foundation. The group is co-producing the Tony Curtis tribute at the Million Dollar Theater. Longer term, its trying to build a constituency to revive the theaters as regularly-operating venues. Like many smaller civic/charitable groups, it could always use more membership $$$ and more volunteers to help bring change to Broadway.

Jasmijn on May 29, 2009, at 10:33AM – #12

This is our 2nd year of living downtown and will be our 2nd time experiencing LRS. I didn't know what that was until I moved here. I should point out an extra delight of this series, besides seeing great movies in these wonderful venues (at least, based on last year's experience): the behind-the-scenes look at the theaters. Getting to go up in the projection rooms of the Orpheum and the LA were super interesting, and the volunteers explained all about the lights and cameras and so forth. Plus the view is incredible!

Cindy/Linda: a holiday series would be great! Even just 3 nights of classic seasonal movies would be great fun, and it sure sounds like you'd have an audience.

Haven't done any of the LAHTF's events; will look their schedules up. Thanks for the tip. We are all going to the Tony Curtis event.

As JM wrote, the Laemmle is quite adequate for an ordinary, let's-go-see-a-movie-tonight experience. It's convenient and reasonably priced and there's usually something I want to see. We've gone a number of times, especially matinees with the kid.

Otherwise, for the special (modern!) movie night, it's only a short ride on the Red Line to Hollywood. The Hollywood & Highland stop gives you both the El Capitan and the Chinese RIGHT THERE, halfway to the Hollywood & Vine stop is the Egyptian, and it's only a 10 minute walk from the Hollywood & Vine stop to the Arclight (Star Trek at the Cinerama Dome: YES!)

Jean-Christophe Jeauffre on May 29, 2009, at 10:50AM – #13

Hello every one,

Jules Verne Festival's crew speaking. We're happy to confirm you that we stand ready to bring exciting shows & screenings to the wonderful Palace Theaters of Broadway and to make them, with Paris, a new home to the Jules Verne Awards series of events. We enjoyed creating these shows at the Shrine and at the Los Angeles Theater. Next is the Magic of Tony Curtis June 13 at the Million Dollar Theater, then this fall with big surprises. (www.julesverne.org). With our brilliant partner the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Fundation we intend ot offer more exciting opportunities on Broadway, Our Conservation mission has been dedicated since our creation in 1992 in Paris to the notion of Nature Conservation. We are excited to ad to this notion Historic places. LA is fascinating to us, we need to preserve its history. LAC and LRS are heroes to us: working on preserving history in a city based on the ever-changing-buiding/moving on concept is not a small thing!! Let's all meet at the TONY CURTIS event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Some Like it Hot at the Million Dollar Theater... Tony is very excited.

Live long and Prosper to the Last Remaining Seats and thank you for bringing back the glory of the Theatres! Jean-Christophe Jeauffre & Frédéric Dieudonné (cofounders of the JVF)

JM on May 29, 2009, at 12:51PM – #14

MarkB, thank you for the info on the LA Historic Theater Foundation. Jasmijn, I agree: the El Capitan and the Chinese are great. In fact, the latter is one of Los Angeles' most obvious but best kept secrets. Nobody really seems to watch films in that big, beautiful room. All the tourists are right outside taking photos, but there's hardly ever anyone in there. I love it! And, finally, I just got my tickets for the Tony Curtis event and I'm looking forward to it (as well as the rest of the Last Remaining Seats screenings, of course).

Dana Gabbard on June 02, 2009, at 06:32PM – #15

David Kennedy asks "If the event is so successful and has been for years now, I wonder why it hasn't been expanded?" I would hazard it is a great amount of work to put this event on. The logistics are immense. Probably they fear twice as many playdates might dilute it and strain their capacity. As it is they HAVE expanded--it used to be 4 Wednesdays in June, now they are at six. About a decade ago the event was discovered and it went from well attended to a near mob...

And all you folks gungho for more paydates--have you joined the Conservancy and volunteered to help with LRM? They need more worker bees to expand the event the way you want it to.

Tony Bill mentioned the wonderful matter paintings in The Sting but couldn't recall the name of the artist. It was Albert Whitlock--here is a link to an article on this legendary matte artist: http://www.theasc.com/magazine/july00/whitlock/pg1.htm

David Kennedy on June 03, 2009, at 06:57AM – #16

Dana, that's why I asked. Maybe your speculations are right. Maybe the risk/reward for the Conservancy has diminishing returns. However, Cindy didn't really answer that question.

I did find it odd that she didn't seem grasp the connection between fundraising and the Conservancy's preservation mission. I'd presume raising more money would provide more resources to make the mission happen. Oh well, not my problem.

It is great that others have chimed in with details about the other various organizations mounting events at the historic theaters. The hope is other owners, like Steve Needleman, will figure out what they have to do to turn their buildings into functioning facilities. I suspect Rich is right and they don't have the mojo to get it done. That is unfortunate.

I used to be a member of the Conservancy for over a decade. However, a few years back during a family budget crunch (should I buy diapers or renew?), I let me membership lapse. Yeah, I should get my credit card out today. But, that does raise an interesting point. I wonder how many downtowners are actually members of the Conservancy? My sense is the Conservancy doesn't really 'live' downtown; that its membership comes downtown for events like this this and then heads back home to the suburbs. Given the residential boom of the past decade, maybe the Conservancy should have a downtown chapter?

Part of the reason I moved downtown back in 1998 was because I was a member of the Conservancy. I recall having this conversation with myself, "If you really care about these buildings, shouldn't you do something more than send a check to these guys?" I felt that treating downtown like an exotic museum piece had its limits. The point wasn't to preserve downtown, but to make it live. So I moved here. Best thing I ever did. But, that's another story.

Yeah, yeah, Cindy. I'll get the credit card out today.

kay on June 04, 2009, at 03:36PM – #17

The LA Conservancy's office is actually at 523 W. 6th Street, so I'm not sure how much of "a downtown chapter" David Kennedy requires.

I'm sure the LA Conservancy & the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) would welcome downtown residents as members and volunteers. But outreach is a bit baffling when the LAHTF & Jules Verne Festival's Tony Curtis double feature series were apparently flying under the radar of such savvy downtowners as David Kennedy -- this despite generous coverage by blogdowntown.

The LAHTF has actually offered free basement to projection booth tours of 9 Broadway and Hill historic theaters with skeleton crews.

It's a lot of volunteer labor to put these on (and I dare say more so for the Conservancy's LRS). While membership is always appreciated, times are tight and anyone willing to volunteer their time and/or expertise is gratefully welcomed.

The next free LAHTF theater tour is July 25th. Open to the public (downtowners and not welcomed alike) www.lahtf.org