100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608 | map |
Opened: June 30, 1987 as the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas with showings of eighteen classic films. Regular first-run exhibition began July 1. At the time of the opening it was the largest movie theatre complex in the United States. It featured three snackbars plus a "Pariesienne-style" cafe. Initially the parking was free. There was no CityWalk when the theatre opened and one could drive up right in front. Thanks to Scorsese_Finest for sharing his 2023 photo on r/imax Reddit.
The location was initially envisioned by MCA Universal as a Mann project. That changed after MCA bought a 50 percent interest in Cineplex Odeon. The complex is now operated by AMC as the Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood.
Website: www.amctheatres.com
Architects: Mesbur + Smith of Toronto, the firm that did all of the Cineplex projects during this era.
Jon Jerde was the architect for the adjacent CityWalk area, opened in 1993. In 1988 he had been hired to work on a master plan for Universal City. The plan that emerged in 1989-90 was a collaboration between Jim Nelson, then director of planning and development for Universal's commercial development group, Jerde, and Richard Orne of Jerde's office.
Equipment: At the opening all 18 houses were equipped with Dolby Stereo. 10 of them were THX certified. The two largest houses (#1 and #14) had 35/70mm capability with two machines plus a platter in each booth. The other two 70mm houses (#5 and #10) were single machine + platter installations. For the opening they ran "Adventures in Babysitting" and "Innerspace" in 70. The latter ran on two screens.
Projectors and soundheads were Simplex. Strong xenon consoles were used. The platters were by Strong except Christie Autowinds were used for the four 35/70 houses. Screen 5 still has 35/70mm capability, although now with a Century JJ2. In 2023 the theatres had runs of "Oppenheimer" and "Dune: Part 2" in both 70mm Imax and regular 5 perf 70. In October 2024 they had "Joker: Folie à Deux"in 15 perf 70.
A March 1988 JBL brochure detailing their equipment that was used for the installation.
A closer look at the Simplex 35/70 machine and Strong console for screen 10. This and screen 5 were single machine setups. The two largest theatres in the complex, 1 and 14, were the other 70mm houses. They both had two machines and changeover capability.
The IMAX auditorium, #19, was added in 2000. Dual laser machines were installed in 2015. It still has the ability to run IMAX 70mm film. The future of 70mm Imax film was discussed in "Only One 70mm Imax Theatre Remains in Los Angeles and It's Going Away Too,"
a story by Germain Lussier for the site Slash Film. The "Going Away
Too" refers to the fact that they expected digital to take over
entirely. But the house still retains 70mm capability. Ignore the photo with the story -- it's not the Imax at Universal.
Thanks to Mike Breiberg for the fine
comparison below showing Universal's 58' x 79' Imax screen compared to, among others, the 46' x 96' screen at the Chinese and the
67.7' x 88' screens at Irvine Spectrum and Regal Ontario Palace (both
have 70mm + digital).
See Mike's post on the Imax & Film Enthusiasts Facebook page for many comments.
Following the 2016 renovations the 18 regular houses all had laser projection and ATMOS sound.
Seating: Originally it was 5,504 total in 18 auditoria on two levels. The main floor layout is theatre 1 (originally with 787 seats, now their "Prime" house) paralleling the west side of the lobby and 2 to 5 along the west side of the building. 6 to 9 are along the north wall, behind the bar area. 10 to 13 are along the east side of the complex with theatre 14 (originally with 780 seats) paralleling the east side of the main lobby.
Upstairs it's the balcony for theatre 1 closest to the west stairs, 16 and 15 on the west side of the lobby. There's a bar in the center of the upstairs lobby with two entrances to 19, the Imax house, behind it. Along the east wall it's 17, 18 and then the balcony of house 14 closest to the east lobby stairs.Edward Havens comments on the seating:
"When I worked at the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas in 1991, the seating was as follows: 1: 787 (607 on the main floor, 180 in the balcony); 2 and 13: 283; 3, 4, 11 and 12: 280 each; 5 and 10: 324 each; 6: 221; 7: 220; 8: 219; 9: 225; 14: 780 (612 on the main floor, 168 in the balcony); 15: 174; 16: 175; 17: 173; 18: 177. 1, 5, 10 and 14 were 70mm capable. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14 were THX certified.
"When I worked for AMC in 2013-2014, the seat counts had changed considerably: 1 and 14: 376; 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13: 163 each; 5 and 10: 217 each; 6, 8 and 9: 131 each; 7: 130; 15 and 17: 98 each; 16 and 18: 93 each; Imax: 369."
"When I worked for AMC in 2013-2014, the seat counts had changed considerably: 1 and 14: 376; 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13: 163 each; 5 and 10: 217 each; 6, 8 and 9: 131 each; 7: 130; 15 and 17: 98 each; 16 and 18: 93 each; Imax: 369."
The complex was redone with stadium seating in 2007 after AMC took over. The seat count was then down to 3,004. During a 2016 renovation recliners were installed in the 18 regular houses but not in the Imax theatre, #19. The current capacity is 1,973. The post-recliner seat counts are as follows:
1: 177 on the main floor + 18 in the balcony, 2: 86, 3: 86, 4: 86, 5: 118, 6: 63, 7: 62, 8: 62, 9: 63, 10: 116, 11: 86, 12: 86, 13: 86, 14: 175 on the main floor + 18 in the balcony, 15: 55, 16: 49, 17: 55, 18: 49, 19: 377
The main floor counts for theatres 1 and 14 are from the seating charts on the website. The posted capacity at the back of each theatre says 143
Thanks to Michael Coate for sharing this L.A. Times ad. He notes: "The day prior to the grand opening this complex held a
special all-day celebration of the 18 most popular movies (one for each
screen in the complex) as determined by a Los Angeles Times newspaper
reader poll. In a post for the Friends of 70mm private Facebook group Michael listed the films they ran:
"Gone With the Wind," "Casablanca," "E.T." (70mm), "Star Wars" (70mm), "The Sound of Music," "Citizen Kane," "The Wizard of Oz," "It’s a Wonderful Life," "The Godfather," "Ben-Hur," "Top Gun," "Lawrence of Arabia," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Platoon, "Doctor Zhivago," "Back to the Future (70mm)," "The African Queen," and "Singin’ in the Rain."
"Stars turn out to help open 18-theater complex," was an Associated Press story about the June 30 event. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Dbellis54 for spotting its appearance in the July 3 issue of the Columbus Dispatch. The story:
"UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- Charlton Heston came to see 'Ben-Hur,' and Jimmy Stewart took in 'It's A Wonderful Life' to help open an 18-yjeater complex its owners say seats more people than any other in the world. The public got its first view Wednesday of the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas.
"Nestled in the heart of the Universal Studios compound, the $16 million, 120,000-square-foot Cineplex has 18 wide-screen theaters with 5,940 seats on two levels. The next-largest competitor, Radio City Music Hall, has 5,874 seats. The company that built the complex here has another 18-screen theater in Toronto, with fewer seats.
"A gala premiere was held this week for 6,000 guests, and the movie lot setting was enhanced with a couple of the stars of the 18 all-time favorite movies that were shown. The crowd hushed, then broke into applause, when Stewart walked into the lobby and took the escalator to see his classic hit. In another theater, Heston watched 'Ben-Hur.'
"The ushers wear burgundy tuxedoes [sic] and there's real butter for the popcorn, to be washed down with Perrier, expresso [sic], mocha cappuccino or herbal teas. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children. If expectations are realized, the Cineplex will bring in $10 million during the center's first year."
A two-page opening day ad. Thanks to James Stegall for sharing these as a post on the Cinema Tour Facebook group. Michael G. Poole comments:
"I worked for Cineplex in Toronto at the time. I
had to fly to LA to deliver this ad to the Los Angeles Times... on a 9
pm flight ... deliver it to the paper and then just turn around again
and fly back to Toronto. It was a $3000 delivery. Crazy stuff!! Cineplex
was opening and renovating lots of theatres at the time."
Boxoffice profiled the theatre in their September 1987 "Buyers Directory" with "Cineplex Odeon Launches Dazzling New Flagship," a four-page story that's been posted on Cinema Treasures by Mr. Ride the C Train. page one | page two | page three | page four |
The IMAX auditorium was added in 2000.
Later it was called Universal Citywalk 19, Citywalk Stadium 19, and, after the 2001 Cineplex bankruptcy, Loew's Citywalk
Stadium 19. AMC has operated the complex since 2006. Beginning January 27, 2006 it was called the AMC Loews Universal City 18.
An ad for the complex as the Citywalk Cinemas from May 4, 2007. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site: Movie-Theatre.org. AMC's ads also called it the Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX.
It was renamed the Universal Cinema in December 2016. This rendering for the 2016 entrance remodel appearing on a page about the project on the website of Whiting -Turner, the general contractor. In addition to exterior work, the project involved re-terracing auditoria and creating a black box look, installation of recliners, and renovation of lobby areas.
Also see a page about the 2016 work on the website of The Design Collective. The L.A. Times covered the redo with "Universal CityWalk’s AMC Theater redesign: No concession lines, a total black box auditorium and a social lounge," their December 21 story by Libby Hill.
A 2023 wander around the "Oppenheimer" lobby displays and a peek into the Imax theatre is on YouTube from Disneyworld Vacationer.
Downstairs lobby areas and theatres 1 to 14:
A look up the lobby stairs in 1987. It's a photo from the project's architects, Mesbur + Smith of Toronto. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Lionel for saving five interior photos as well as two exterior shots that once were on the firm's website and sharing them as posts in the photo section of the CT page about the theatre.
Looking in the front doors in February 1998 with the lobby occupied with a display for "Blues Brothers." Thanks to Scott Neff for sharing his photo on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
The look of the main lobby following the AMC renovations of 2007. It's a shot by Bluepupae on Flickr.
The new look for the lobby after the 2016 re-do. Note that the center stairs were removed. It's a photo from a page on the website for The Design Collective that profiles their work on the renovation.
The view in from the front doors in 2024. Photo: Bill Counter
The boxoffice and east stairs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A look west across the inner lobby toward theatre #1, their "AMC Prime" house. The entrance to theatre #14 is just out of frame to the left. 1 and 14, originally the two largest houses in the complex, run parallel to the west and east walls of the main lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The main floor bar in 1987. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon
The bar area during the 2016 renovation project. Thanks to Fred Topel for sharing his photo on Cinema Treasures.
The renovated main floor bar area, now called The "Marketplace." The soda machines are behind the wall on the left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The "Hall of Soda Machines." We're looking through to the west lounge area. Beyond it's the corridor with theatres #2 to 5. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
In the lounge looking south toward theatre #1. Soda machines are off to the left, the west hall with screens #2 to 5 is off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A view out toward the main lobby from the west lounge. The entrance to theatre #1 is on the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The entrance to theatre #1. On the left there's an elevator around the corner, in case you want to go up to the balcony of this house or to the theatres on the second floor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A 1987 view of theatre #1. This house and #14 are the only two with balconies. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon
The rear of theatre #1 in 1987. This house and theatre #14 had 35/70 capability using either a platter or doing changeovers. Two smaller theatres, #5 and #10, were also 70 equipped, each with a single machine and platter. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon
The new black look for theatre #1, originally
seating 830. Note the new enclosure at the front of the balcony for the
digital projector. Photo: The Design Collective - 2016
Across the back of theatre #1. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The screen in theatre #1. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The "lobby" for theatre #1's balcony. What had been initially been seating for 180 is now just 18. A single row of 9 recliners on each side of a new projection pod. It's a ramp to get to the far side, stairs around the corner to the house left section. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Looking along the house left recliners toward the new projector pod. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
In the house right section of the theatre #1 balcony. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The front of theatre #1's original booth and the new pod. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A look down the west hall. Down there on the left you're along the house right wall of theatre #1. At the far end it's an exit onto CityWalk. To the right are screens #2, 3, and 4. Theatre #5 is behind us, in the northwest corner of the complex. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The entrance to theatre #2 at the end of the hall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Looking into #2. The capacity here is 86. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The back of house #2. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatre #5, back in the northwest corner of the building. #6 is on the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatre #5, once with a capacity of 324. Now with the recliner installation it's 118. This theatre retains 70mm capability, although now with a Century JJ and a platter. The original installation used a Simplex 35/70. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of theatre #5. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
In the back hall: the entrances to #6 and 7 adjacent to the west lounge area. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatre #7, capacity 62. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of theatre #7. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
At the east end of the back hall, with theatre #5 at the far end. On the right are screens #6, 7, 8 and 9. #10 is behind us. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
In the back hall looking east toward theatre #10, in the northeast corner of the complex. The entrance to theatre #9 is on the left edge of the image. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The screen end of #10, once equipped for 70mm. The original capacity was 324. Now with the recliners it's 116. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of theatre #10. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Outside theatre #10 looking down the east hall toward #11, 12 and 13. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The far end of the east hall, in front of the exit doors out to CityWalk. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Back up the east hall beside the east lounge. The snackbar area is beyond. The entrance to theatre #14 is on the left with the main lobby just beyond. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A look into the east lounge area from the main lobby. That's theatre #11 straight ahead. #14, the big house on the east side of the complex, is right behind that Costa Coffee display. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The entrance to #14, the big house on the east side of the complex. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The hall at the back of #14, once part of the seating area. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A look into #14. Once with 780 seats, it's now 193. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Across the back. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of theatre #14. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The 2nd floor "lobby" for theatre #14, once part of the seating area. The ramp is to the house left section, stairs around the corner from the display go to house right. The balcony originally had a capacity of 168. It's now only 18, a single row of 9 recliners on each side. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The screen of theatre #14 as seen from the house left section. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
In the house right section looking toward the projector pod. The pod, added in 2016, is located down lower than the original booth. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatres 15 to 19:
A 2016 upstairs lounge view by Marcus Yam that appeared with "Universal CityWalk’s AMC Theater redesign: No concession lines, a total black box auditorium and a social lounge," the December 21 L.A. Times story by Libby Hill.
The 2024 view from the top of the west escalator. Photo: Bill Counter
A look to the west. On the left it's the entrance to the balcony of theatre #1, the "Prime" auditorium. Along the west wall it's #16, #15, and the house left entrance to #19, the Imax house. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The entrance to the balcony of theatre #1. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatre #15. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Theatre #15, capacity 55. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of #15. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Looking across to the house right entrance to the Imax theatre. Along the east wall it's #17, #18 and the balcony entrance to #14.
The upstairs men's room, tucked in between the house right Imax entrance and theatre #17. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The house left entrance to the Imax auditorium in 2007. Thanks to Chris Utley for sharing this shot on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
The house left entrance to the Imax auditorium in 2023. Thanks to Scorsese_Finest for sharing this as part of an an r/imax post on Reddit about going to see "Oppenheimer" in 70. He notes that they were running trailers digitally before the feature.
A look to house left in the Imax theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
Looking back from the front. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The rear of auditorium #19 from house right. To the left below the railing it's just stairs down to an exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The 1.43 ratio Imax screen. It's 58' x 79'. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
A view from the top during a pre-show. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The print of "Joker: Folie à Deux" coming out of the elevator at booth level. It's shipped on three platters. This shot, as well as the five below, are from "IMAX film for Joker being loaded at Universal Citywalk," a 73 second video appearing on r/imax Reddit.
The first third getting positioned on the makeup table.
Making a roll out of the leader.
Threading over to the QTR platter system.
The film gets wrapped around the ring hub and then that is secured in position.
Winding it onto the platter. The second reel and third reel will get spliced to it.
A shot taken at the end of an October 2024 "Joker: Folie à Deux" screening shared by Analogvisual on the r/imax Reddit.
Looking toward the stairs from the house right Imax entrance. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
The view to CityWalk. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024
More exterior views:
1987 - When the theatre opened there was no CityWalk and you could drive right up to the front. It's a photo from the project's architects, Mesbur + Smith of Toronto.
Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Lionel for saving five interior
photos as well as two exterior shots that were once on the firm's website and sharing
them as posts in the photo section of the CT page about the theatre.
1987 - A night view, photographer unknown. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon
1988 - A view from a JBL brochure. Thanks to Lionel for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. The brochure can be seen on the site Yumpu.
1998 - An entrance view shared by Scott Neff on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
1998 - A closer look at the marquee. Photo: Scott Neff - Cinema Tour
2007 - A look at the redesigned entrance after AMC took over. It's a shot from one company that worked on the project: SEGD, "designers of experiences."
2007 - Thanks to Chris Utley for sharing this facade shot. It was a post on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
2007 - A signage detail. Photo: Chris Utley - Cinema Tour
2011 - Thanks to David Simpson for sharing this photo he took on Cinema Treasures.
2011 - A view toward some of the CityWalk attractions shared by Jeterga on Cinema Treasures.
2016 - A photo from The Design Collective, a group that worked on the renovation project that year.
2024 - An entrance view with the front doors covered with material for "Wild Robot." Photo: Bill Counter
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the complex. The site Cinema Tour has a page with 1998 and 2007 photos by Scott Neff and Chris Utley. Michael Coate and William Kallay have a page about the theatre on the site From Script to DVD. The page about the theatre on Yelp has hundreds of photos.
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