Sony and Alamo Drafthouse are reportedly in discussions to reopen the long-shuttered Cinerama Dome and the adjacent ArcLight Hollywood multiplex, a move that could resurrect two of Los Angeles' most beloved moviegoing landmarks. The venues have been dark since the pandemic forced their closure in March 2020.
Pacific Theatres, the former operator of the theaters, filed for bankruptcy, leaving the Cinerama Dome, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, abandoned. The properties remain owned by the family of Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman, who originally built the futuristic dome in 1963. According to reports, the Forman family has been meeting with various studios and theater operators in an effort to find a partner to revive the historic site. Both AMC and Amazon MGM reportedly declined the opportunity.
The prolonged closure of the theaters became a symbol of Hollywood's post-pandemic struggles and broader economic challenges in Los Angeles, sparking petitions and protests from residents. The Cinerama Dome, inspired by architect R. Buckminster Fuller, has been a frequent venue for major movie premieres and was famously depicted in Quentin Tarantino's film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
The ArcLight Hollywood, known for its modern moviegoing experience, offered amenities such as reserved seating, gourmet food, and plush stadium-style recliners. The potential reopening of these venues would contribute to a broader revival of Los Angeles movie houses, joining recent additions and renovations like the David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum, Quentin Tarantino's restored Vista Theatre, the Eagle Theatre revival by nonprofit Vidiots, Netflix's renovation of the Egyptian Theatre, and upgrades to the Alex Theatre for major first-run releases.