Save the Iconic Cinerama Dome: Hollywood Rallies as Theater’s Future Hangs in Balance!

Ben Steinberg has embarked on a campaign to see the revival of his beloved movie venues, ArcLight Cinemas and the iconic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.

Steinberg initiated a petition last month which quickly attracted over 30,000 supporters. Following this, he organized a meetup at the Cinerama Dome, where approximately 50 people joined him for a group photograph to express their hope for the theaters’ reopening.

The venue’s owner, Pacific Theatres, has remained closed since the pandemic lockdown. Although there have been sporadic indications of renovation over the years, Steinberg, an actor and filmmaker, has noted that any plans to reopen the theaters appear to be suspended indefinitely. “It was just one of my favorite places in the world,” Steinberg remarked.

“There are currently no plans to reopen this year,” Steinberg shared, citing a conversation with the property manager who confirmed the ongoing closure during a recent visit to the site.

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Larry Blum, also an actor, reminisced about watching “Hair” at the theater back in 1979. He described the now-shuttered cinema as an “eyesore.” When asked why he attended the photo event, Blum expressed his belief that the theater deserves recognition alongside other historic Hollywood venues like the Chinese Theater and the Pantages, known for their distinctive architectural beauty.

The area around the theater, once bustling, now seems almost deserted. On a recent weekend afternoon, only four customers were seen at the nearby Veggie Grill, and the Wildbird restaurant was completely empty.

Gunzi Merchant, a film researcher, added his voice, noting, “We have many remarkable movie palaces like the Chinese Theater and the Egyptian, but this one hails from the early ’60s. The interior is truly unique and unlike any other.”

Jessica Brown, another supporter of Steinberg’s campaign, shared her thoughts. Having moved to the area in early 2020, she recalled seeing “First Man” directed by Damien Chazelle at the Cinerama Dome. “I previously lived in the North Bay area, where one of the theaters was converted into a Dick’s Sporting Goods. I don’t want to see that happen here,” she stated.

Despite Pacific Theatres’ closure, the property still belongs to its parent company, Decurion Corporation, led by Christopher Forman. Decurion has declined to comment on Steinberg’s efforts.

Steinberg has learned from conversations with employees at the site that Decurion is not interested in selling or reopening the theaters, even though there has been buyer interest. “I think it’s very unfair to the people of Los Angeles,” he stated.

As a private entity, Decurion is under no legal obligation to sell or reopen the complex. However, Steinberg remains hopeful that the collective voice of film enthusiasts and industry professionals can bring about change.

In 2023, there was a glimmer of hope that the Cinerama Dome might reopen by 2025. Plans were even made to rename the complex to Cinerama Hollywood, and a liquor license application was filed in 2021. However, Steinberg believes that contracts for the renovations have since expired.

As the cinema industry continues to recover from the pandemic, Los Angeles residents remain hopeful that the Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas will one day welcome moviegoers again. Meanwhile, major film screenings and premieres have shifted to other venues like the AMCs at the Grove, Burbank, and Century City, leaving independent films struggling to find an audience. Whether Decurion Corp. will respond to Steinberg’s campaign remains to be seen.