128 N. Artsakh Ave. Glendale, CA 91206 | map |
Opened: June 14, 1991 as an 8 plex, the Mann Exchange 8, with an address of 128 N. Maryland Ave, on the east side of the street between Broadway and Wilson. It had become a 10-plex by the time of this 2007 view in toward the boxoffice from Maryland Ave. The complex is now operated by Look Cinemas. Photo: Bill Counter
It's a block south of the stage end of the Alex Theatre. This section of the street has been renamed Artsakh Ave. There's an entrance to the Exchange complex on Brand although the theatres are a block east of Brand. The auditoria of the complex back up to the south side of Wilson Ave.
Website: www.lookcinemas.com
Seating: 2,500 as a 10 plex. The complex is now down to 780 seats in 10 auditoria.
In 1991 Mann also operated the Alex Theatre, which they closed in September of that year. One screen in the original Exchange 8 plex was 70mm equipped. In 1996 it became a 10 screen complex called, unsurprisingly, the Mann Exchange 10, with 2 additional screens added in vacant space across a hallway from the original 8 plex. One of the screens in the twin was the complex's largest.
It was operated by Mann Theatres until the expiration of their lease. Their last day of operation was June 30, 2011. In March 2011 the L.A. Times speculated about the future with their story "Shut Glendale Theaters might become nightclubs." The nightclub idea didn't happen.
The twin addition was jettisoned with the original 8 plex, as the Glendale Exchange 8, operated by Lance Alspaugh's Vintage Theatres beginning in July 2011. Vintage is the firm that had the Vista and still operates the Los Feliz. Vintage closed the complex February 28, 2012, partially because Galaxy Cinemas had reopened the former Mann Marketplace 4, a block south of the Exchange complex.
After a remodel it reopened in August 2013 as the MGN Five Star Cinema, a 10 screen complex with "dine-in" options. The seating in the auditoria in this mode ranged from 30 to 104. They closed in April 2017.
"The whole property spans some 60,000 square feet, spread across 10
different screens. There will also be a stand alone bar and dining area
in the lobby, in addition to the reclining seats, and in-theater food
and drink menu."
They
declared bankruptcy in October 2020 but have reopened certain locations such as in Simi Valley and Bakersfield. Former SMG CEO Brian Schultz has taken over the Glendale venue and other
locations as a new circuit called Look Cinemas. In "Look Dine-In Cinemas has opening date for Glendale location" a June 30 Los Angeles Daily
News story they noted that July 29 was the reopening date. Look is also the new operator for the former Studio Movie Grill sites in Downey, Monrovia and Redlands.
An upstairs lobby view as the Mann Exchange 10 in 2011. Thanks to Danny Baldwin for the photo, a post on Cinema Treasures.
A 2011 look down the upstairs corridor for auditoria 3 to 10. Thanks to Danny Baldwin for the photo, another post on Cinema Treasures.
The main floor entrance lobby for auditoria 3-10, south of the breezeway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021
More exterior views:
1991 - Mann advertising the new theatres on the readerboard at the Alex Theatre, a block north of the Exchange. The circuit closed the Alex in September 1991. It's a photo from the Walt Disney Co. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating it.
2002 - The entrance on Brand. Thanks to Scott Neff for his photo, a post on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
2002 - Signage near the boxoffice. Thanks to Scott Neff for his photo on Cinema Tour.
2007 - Looking north on Maryland Ave. toward Wilson St. The beige structure we see beyond the palm trees up in the 200 block is the stagehouse of the Alex Theatre. Photo: Google Maps
2009 - Looking at the back of the auditoria as we look west on Wilson St. toward Maryland Ave. The Laemmle Glendale is now over on the far right, just beyond that red pickup. Photo: Google Maps
2011 - Thanks to Danny Baldwin for this boxoffice view, a post on Cinema Treasures.
2012 - Under renovation to become the short-lived Five Star Cinema. Photo: Google Maps
2016 - The redecorated Wilson St. end of the complex during the Five Star era. Photo: Google Maps
2019 - The closed MGN Five Star complex. We're looking south on Maryland / Artsakh Ave.Photo: Google Maps
2021 - Looking east on Wilson Ave. That's the the screen end of auditoria 1 and 2. Photo: Bill Counter
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Studio Movie Grill. The Cinema Tour page on the Exchange has 6 photos from Mark Campbell and Scott Neff. Thanks to the contributors on these two sites for information about the various dates for different operators.
See Fred Topel's 2024 post on the Cinema Tour Facebook page for 13 photos.
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