Century Plaza Theatres

2040 Avenue of the Stars  Century City (Los Angeles), CA 90067  | map | 

Opened: April 5, 1972 as the ABC City Theatres. It was initially a twin cinema with the two being advertised as ABC City Theatre One and ABC City Theatre Two. "Cabaret" was the initial attraction in the big house. The twin was part of the ABC Entertainment Center, with the film theatres on the south side of a central plaza and the Shubert Theatre on the north. The Los Angeles executive offices of the ABC television network were upstairs.

Thanks to Paul Rayton for sharing this photo he took in 1977. He was working with Jim Peters, the manager at the time, and took a number of shots for a promotional brochure the theatre intended to do. That didn't happen but the photos survive. Paul calls our attention in this shot to "A Chorus Line" on the marquee at the Shubert. This sit-down engagement, the first production outside New York, ran from July 1, 1976 until January 1, 1978.

The theatres were soon being advertised as the Century City 1 & 2, also known as the Century Plaza Twin and the ABC Century Plaza. When ABC sold their theatre circuit (what was left of Paramount-Publix) to Henry Plitt the twin became known as the Plitt Century Plaza Theatres. They were a favorite for trade screenings. Filmex used the theatres for their festivals in the late 70s and early 80s. The complex ended up as a Cineplex Odeon 4-plex after the big house was triplexed. 

Architect: Henry George Greene. He also had done the Northpoint Theatre in San Francisco, another ABC project. 

Seating: Initially as a twin it had 1,424 in the big house and 800 in the little one.

 

Screen sizes: It was a 28' x 61' curved Tecknikote lenticular XLR in the big house. The smaller house got a 25' x 48' Hurley Super Optica.

 

Projectors: Initially only the big side, called the ABC II, had 70mm. The little one was mono optical only. Both houses had Century machines, two in each booth. In the small house they used the Wil-Kin "Ultra-Vision" system with the two machines positioned at a 45 degree angle, hitting mirrors and shooting out a center port. Lamps in both houses were Christie 4,200 watt vertical units. 

 

Sound: The complex opened with a Century 6/4/1 transistorized system in one house, which used 50W Altec power amps. The system in the smaller house was by Electro Sound. Stage speakers were five Altec A4X in the big house, one A4 in the little house. 

 

Later equipment upgrades: The small house, #1, got an upgrade to 70mm in time for the 1975 Filmex, March 13-26. Kurt Wahlner notes: 

"At the 1975 FILMEX on March 25 they showed the LA Premieres of all five films nominated for Best Foreign Film, which included the 5-hour 70mm Polish film 'Potop' '('The Deluge') at 9:30 pm in #1. My friend Dave Hunter and I attended the event."

 

A Dolby CP100 processor was added in the big house in 1977. It got some use for a 70mm run of "Star Wars" that opened on July 6, part of a wider release after initially just being at the Chinese and Avco. Including a break for Filmex, they got 61 weeks out of it. Other equipment upgrades in 1977 included new lamphouses, speaker and amp improvements. 

 

The complex got another upgrade in 1982, ahead of the December 8 opening of "Gandhi," a film that had a 23 week 70mm run. Louis Bornwasser discusses his work: 

 

"I rebuilt both houses there just before 'Gandhi.' Was supposed to be [earlier, for] the West Coast premiere of 'Heaven’s Gate,' which was cancelled. Got two new screens, 2 new Century intermittents, changed to Christie 4000 watt horizontal lamphouses. 3000 watt Christies were there; we upped the rectifier and completely rewired the lamp houses. Would have been cheaper to pitch it all, but Christie called in favors to save face. We updated the CP100s, and all new power amps. Biggest difference was phasing and reconnecting all the stage speakers. New lenses and aperture plates."

 

The big house got John Allen's HPS-4000 speaker system in 1984.  

 

 

 

An opening day ad. Thanks to RideTheCTrain for sharing it on Cinema Treasures.  

A story about the new theatres appeared in the November 13, 1972 issue of Boxoffice:

"Entrances to ABC theatres are protected by elaborate canopy. Building is faced with imported marble chosen in Italy by architect Henry George Greene." 

 

"Some 3,200 yards of custom-woven Downs carpet cover floor of huge lobby. Concession stand in background separates entrances to the auditoriums."

 

 

"Booth of ABC II [the larger house] has Century projectors, Model JJ-3, capable of reproducing both 35 and 70mm film. Light source is Christie 4,200-watt xenon with 35/70 optical convertors."

 

 

 

"Auditorium of ABC II [the larger house] features 1,420 combination Massey Astro-Rockers and Loungers covered in a deep burgundy fabric of 100 per cent nylon. Backs are laminated teakwood." 

 

"Lobby-level restroom for handicapped adheres to new uniform building code specifications covering facilities in public buildings. Door is wide enough for passage of wheel chair."

"Wil-Kin's Ultra-Vision projection concept is used in ABC 1 [the smaller house]. Between Century projectors (with Cine-Focus) is Ultra-Vision Optiverter which allows machines to project directly at screen [both from the center port], eliminating horizontal keystoning. Lenses are special design by Kollmorgen." 

 

 

Called the Century City 1 and 2 in a 1973 ad located by Ken McIntyre. 

The first 70mm film to play the complex was a six week run of "The Sound of Music" that opened June 19, 1974. A four week run of "Jesus Christ Superstar" began November 21, 1975. "Lucky Lady" had an eight week run beginning January 30, 1976. "Dersu Usula" played for FILMEX on March 30, 1976. Thanks to Michael Coate for the research. See his "70mm Presentations in Los Angeles" article on the site In70mm.com.

 

 

A poster for the 1976 edition of Filmex. Thanks to Trent Reeve for sharing this as a post on the Lost Angeles Facebook page. One item on the schedule was a Tribute to George Pal that involved nitrate film. When they failed to get Fire Department approval to run it at the Century Plaza, it was moved to the Palms Theatre. Ken Robings comments:

 

"Back in the day, Filmex made little films about how to get to the Century Plaza while avoiding traffic. They were very funny, I think Buck Henry did the voice over."

 

An equipment upgrade in 1977 was covered in this August 7, 1978 story in Boxoffice:

 

 

"Chris Kontos (left) and Dane Denick inspect the Century City's new marquee which draws attention to Dolby sound. Christie xenon lamps were installed in both theatres."

 

 

 

"Dane Denick, (left) Christie Electric Corp's national marketing director; Jim Peters (center) Plitt Century City theatres; managing director, and Chris Kontos, Filbert Co. vice-president, inspect the newly-installed Christie xenon systems recently installed in the Century City theatres."  

The Boxoffice photo above was taken in the booth for Theatre #1, the small house. As part of the upgrade they had junked the Ultra-Vision system, replaced the Christie vertical lamps with 3Kw horizontal units and installed Century JJ2s, replacing the 35mm-only machines this side had opened with. Paul Rayton notes the glories of the booth for Theatre #1:

"The #1 theatre projection room was a projectionist's dream: one elevator from the subterranean parking garage had a stop in the hallway directly outside the access doors to the booth! Hallelujah! It was great during Filmex when, having to bring in a 16mm projector from an outside supplier, we could park downstairs and elevator up directly to just outside the door to the booth. OMG, felt I'd died and gone to heaven, having had to haul stuff up many stairs at their other Filmex locations, the Hollywood Paramount, and of course just next door, at Century Plaza II. After literally running up and down the stairs alongside the 'stadium' seating at the back of Century Plaza II ... at the end of the Filmex run I had to visit a chiropractor for a few visits to un-kink my back. Nope, was never reimbursed for those expenses, either!"

The 1978 Filmex included an April 19 screening of D.W. Griffith's "Broken Blossoms" featuring a full orchestra led by Fred Steiner. An April 9 Times piece noted that it would be "... the final screening of D.W. Griffith's original tinted print..." The fact that it was nitrate was noted in several Hollywood Reporter items as well as in a festival wrap-up article in the July 1978 American Cinematographer. Lillian Gish was there. So was Ken Robings, who says "It was beautiful, shimmering." Gary Lacher was also there:

"Yes, I was there. 'Broken Blossoms' with full orchestra playing the original score. Gaylord Carter was the organist. The film actually broke at one point but the organ played smoothly through and everything continued without incident. Lillian Gish was introduced afterwards."

The big house got an installation of the HPS-4000 sound system in 1984, when the theatre was still run by Plitt.

In 1987 Cineplex Odeon took over and triplexed the big house. The larger of the three chunks kept 70mm capability and the HPS-4000 sound system. The two smaller portions that had been the back of the house ended up with 35mm HPS-4000 systems. The 800 seater (that had been the little house in the twin days) was refitted for THX. The complex finished its days with a total of 2,000 seats and was advertised as the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza 4.

 

 

An August 21, 1987 ad for the reopening as a 4-plex. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site: Movie-Theatre.org.

Status: Closed in 2003 and demolished in 2004. The Shubert Theatre on the other side of the plaza was also demolished. There's a new twin tower complex on the site.

More interior views: 

 

 

 Looking toward the Theatre 1 end of the lobby. It's a Paul Rayton photo from 1977. 

 

A detail from the previous photo. The roped-off lounge area for beer and wine is down beyond the snackbar. Paul notes that the Century Plaza was one of the first theatres in the area to have a liquor license. 

 

 

 

The snackbar in 1977. Photo: Paul Rayton 

 

 

The "lounge" at the end of the lobby for beer and wine sales. Photo: Paul Rayton - 1977

 

 

 

The vast Theatre 2 end of the lobby -- and a view out to Avenue of the Stars and the hotel across the street. Photo: Paul Rayton - 1977 

 

 

A closer look toward the street. It's a detail from the previous image. 

 

 

 

The wall opposite the entrance doors in the Theatre 2 area. The stairs in the center led down to restrooms. Photo: Paul Rayton - 1977. Thanks for sharing all of these photos, Paul!

 

 

A 2003 Cineplex-Odeon era snackbar view. Thanks to Richard DuVal for sharing this and five other views in a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

 

From the back of Theatre #2, the big house, in 1977. Thanks to Paul Rayton for the photo.  

 

A detail taken from Paul's photo above.

 

 

The rear of Theatre 2 -- when it was still big. Thanks to Bill Gabel for the sharing photo, a contribution of his on Cinema Treasures.

 

 

A 2003 look at one of the auditoria. Thanks to Richard DuVal for sharing his photo. 

 

 

One of the auditoria in what had been half of the upper section of the big house. Thanks to Mark Campbell for this 2003 photo, one of many appearing on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre. 

More exterior views: 

1977 - Thanks to Paul Rayton for sharing this photo he took. It's another he took for the brochure that the theatre intended to do. Theatre 1 was playing the October 1976 release "Marathon Man." Theatre 2 had the January 1977 release "Freaky Friday" from Disney. 

 

 

1977 - The boxoffice with posters up for the November 1976 release "The Last Tycoon" in Theatre 1. It was playing with "Lifeguard." Disney's 1968 film "Never a Dull Moment" was in the big house. It was reissued on April 15, 1977. Photo: Paul Rayton 

 

 

1977 - An across-the-pond view of the southwest facade of the Plitt Century Plaza. On the marquee for Theatre 1 it was "The Last Tycoon" and "Lifeguard." Theatre 2 had Disney's "Never a Dull Moment." Photo: Paul Rayton  

 

1977 - The marquee and entrance plaza. It's a detail from Paul Rayton's photo appearing at the top of the page.

 

1978 - The theatres running "Star Wars" and the March release "House Calls." Thanks to Alison Martino for sharing this one on her Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. It later popped up on Cinema Treasures. 

 

Michael Coate comments: "The Century Plaza was one of a handful of venues that played 'Star Wars' during first run and continued playing it to and through the summer ‘78 re-release period. The Century Plaza's run of 'Star Wars' was 61 weeks although it included a temporary interruption during the spring of ‘78 for FILMEX." See his In70mm article "Star Wars: The North American 70mm Presentations."

 

 

 

1978 - Filmex ran from April 13 through May 7. Thanks to Paul Rayton for the photo.  

 

1978 - Another Filmex view from Paul Rayton. 

 

1978 - A closer look at the entrance. It's a detail from the previous photo. Thanks, Paul!

 

1978 - A July photo by Richard Lenoir. Thanks to Richard for sharing it as a post for the private Facebook group Friends of 70mm.

1980 - A shot with "Gilda Live" and "The Black Stallion" at the Century Plaza. Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the photo. 

 

1982 - A look west toward the Intercontinental with the Century Plaza Theatres on the left and the Shubert on the right. It's a Roy Hankey photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

 

1986 - The twin running "The Color Purple" and The Mission." Thanks to Phillip Cutler for locating the shot for a post on his Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles/SFV Facebook page. 

 

 

1988 - Picketing "The Last Temptation of Christ." It's a photo by Michael Haering in the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. The film opened August 12. Thanks to Michael Coate for sharing the image in a post about the film for the private Facebook group Friends of 70mm. He comments: "Note this actually opened in 35mm; three weeks into release, 70mm replacement prints were sent to the key bookings in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto." See his 70mm playdates list for the film on the site In70mm.com.

 

2003 - A photo by Richard DuVal. It's one of six views in his post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

2003 - Another shot by Richard DuVal. Thanks, Richard! 

 

 

2003 - A look at the just-closed theatre's entrance taken by Mark Campbell. That's part of a dead mall area underneath. The photo appears on the Cinema Tour page about the theatres. The page has twelve more 2003 photos (including some interior views) by Mark Campbell and Scott Neff.

 

The Century Plaza Theatres in the Movies:

 

We see the theatres in the Gilbert Cates film "Oh, God! Book II" (Warner Bros., 1980). See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for two more shots from the film. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for the screenshot. The film stars George Burns, Suzanne Pleshette and David Birney.

 

We get this look across the entrance in Ken Russell's "Whore" (Trimark, 1991). The film stars Teresa Russell, Benjamin Mouton, Antonio Fargas and Elizabeth Morehead. Amir Mokri was the cinematographer. This was supposedly his answer to the glamorous life portrayed in "Pretty Woman." Thanks to Eric Schaefer for the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of the Million Dollar, Cameo and Arcade theatres from the film. 

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for lots of discussion and a few more photos.

The website From Script To DVD has a page on the Century Plaza as part of their section on 70mm equipped theatres in Los Angeles. 

See Alison Martino's 2009 Vintage Los Angeles blog post "ABC Entertainment Center."

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