Los Angeles Theatres: Egyptian 2 and 3 / Arena Stage

Opened: 1972 by United Artists Theatre Circuit as the Egyptian 2 and 3. These theatres were in an existing concrete block store building facing onto Las Palmas Avenue. The twin shared a boxoffice with the main Egyptian Theatre auditorium.

Beyond is the 1922 vintage Egyptian Theatre, here with an interesting view of its jagged forecourt wall. The red brick building is the former Christie Hotel, now a Scientology owned building. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016

The decor was multiplex tacky. Even for the time it was not a great filmgoing experience. The twin closed, along with the rest of the complex, in 1992. This building is not part of the Netflix/American Cinematheque operation in the original Egyptian Theatre just to the west.

Reopening: The wall down the center was removed, making it a single theatre with the entrance on Las Palmas Ave. It's used by the Theatre of Arts, a drama school, as a small playhouse and class space called the Arena Stage.

Seating: 85 as a legit venue

The school re-eqippped the venue as a movie house and from 2010 to 2017 ran films in the evenings, calling it the Arena Cinema. The schedule focused on independent or neglected product. A blurb that once appeared on the Arena Cinema website:

"In 2010, the school (under the leadership of President James Warwick) began an association with Christian Meoli and Voltaire Media, to operate and handle outside bookings. Meoli and Warwick worked in an economical manner together to upgrade the theatre into a dedicated commercial venue, thus returning the space to its roots of cinema. Meoli brought exhibitor experience from working alongside Carmike at The Crest Theatre in Westwood in his role as VP Marketing with Bigfoot Entertainment. He also brought a DIY sensibility and a desire to create an exhibitor experience for distributors and filmmakers."

2017 saw an expansion with the opening of the Arena Cinelounge Sunset at 6464 Sunset Blvd. and Arena Cinelounge Santa Monica at 1526 14th St., in the former Santa Monica Screening Room. The Hollywood Times had an April 2017 story about the opening of the Sunset and Santa Monica locations. The article noted that Cinelounge head Christian Meoli would also be involved in programming a ramped up schedule of film events at the Montalban Theatre.

Status: The theatre continues to host occasional productions as the Arena Stage but use seems to be very infrequent. And it's no longer running as a cinema. The Arena Cinelounge operation continues at their Sunset Blvd. location.

Interior views:

A lobby view from an old Facebook page from the theatre had up c. 2012. We're looking west toward the doors facing the Egyptian.

The north side of the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

The south wall of the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A c.2012 screen view from a now-abandoned Facebook page.

More exterior views:

To get to the Egyptian 2 and 3 you'd walk down the forecourt area but take a left and go off to the separate building on the east side of the main theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

The side of the building that you'd see on your way to the Egyptian 2 and 3. Note the areas on the wall where windows had been filled in. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

The corner entrance to the former Egyptian 2 & 3 in 2010. Note the glamorous UA tile work and light bulb array. Photo: Bill Counter

The Las Palmas Ave. facade of the building at night. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for this c.2012 shot of the building, appearing on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

The ARENA signage atop the old United Artists entrance lighting canopy. The photo is one that was once on the Arena Facebook page.

A c.2012 view of the southwest corner of the building that once appeared on the venue's Facebook page.

A 2017 look north on Las Palmas. That's the Egyptian, getting a new paint job, off to the left. Photo: Google Maps

In the walkway behind the buildings north of the theatre. We're looking south toward the Arena Stage entrance. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

2 comments:

Richard KilroyNovember 12, 2021 at 4:24 AM
I was the projectionist at the Egyptian (both the main house and the II and III) - I recall this very well. We were always ashamed of the II and III because customers believed that the theaters in the back of the complex would be as awesome as the main house.