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Eternal places
Jan. 16th, 2008 | 10:41 pm
Making a night at a particular movie theater an "event" is not easily done in Hollywood. Film and theaters
and moviegoing is as important here as driving an American car in Detroit or loving the Red Sox in Boston.
There are so many elaborate theaters around town: Max Grauman's Chinese Theater, The Egyptian, El
Capitan, and even the new ArcLight megaplex. My favorite, though, above all, is The Vista: Every evening
spent there is an event.
renaissance facade with green awnings. The entrance is
tucked around the corner and its marquee greets enticingly.
Outside on the sidewalk, there's a miniature version of
Grauman's famous plaza of handprints albeit with quirkier
stars like Elvira. The box office, with its ornate hieroglyphs
gives a clue as to the grand old-Hollywood movie palace
that lies inside.
Built in 1923 at the height of Egypt-mania, they show one
first-run movie a week on the enormous silver screen.
In its 85 year history, the Vista has shown second and third
run films, the classics under the Landmark chain, and even
pornos in the seventies.
The crowd is an eclectic mix of remarkably civilized moviegoers. The audience is quiet, claps at the end,
and stays through the credits. After all, they might be looking for their own name, or the name of a loved
one. During the renovations, the owners removed every other row of seats, creating six feet of legroom. No
one ever has to step over anyone else.
Sitting in the midst of all of this lush nostalgia, I have a feeling that almost any movie is better when shown
here.
Exiting the theater after my first visit, with
themes of Eternal Sunshine skating around
my head, I thought that I, too, would like to
erase all memories of certain moments,
some events, a few relationships. I stared
for a few seconds at the marquee that night
to burn the image into my subconscious.
No matter where I am or who I'm with,
The Vista is a place I definitely didn't want to
forget.
Maybe my crush on The Vista is because it's
my own neighborhood treasure. I walk up to
The Vista at least once a month, usually
alone, and with just enough cash for a ticket.
I admit that sometimes I'm tempted by the
fresh popcorn or the Toblerone bars sold in
the lobby. I like it that the employees
remember me. Movies are important here.
I am important here. And still I am anonymous.
My last trip to The Vista is yet to come.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n.
-Alexander Pope, excerpt from Eloisa to Abelard
Comments
The Vista in Pictures:
Jan. 16th, 2008 | 10:41 pm
Making a night at a particular movie theater an "event" is not easily done in Hollywood. Film and theaters
and moviegoing is as important here as driving an American car in Detroit or loving the Red Sox in Boston.
There are so many elaborate theaters around town: Max Grauman's Chinese Theater, The Egyptian, El
Capitan, and even the new ArcLight megaplex. My favorite, though, above all, is The Vista: Every evening
spent there is an event.
- My first trip to The Vista came soon after my move to L.A.. I had made a
new friend and being both a Kaufman fan and a longtime Hollywood
resident and history buff, he took me to a Sunday evening showing of
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-- a movie whose themes
massaged the nature of memory and love with emotionally withdrawn
Joel and freespirited Clementine.
- We parked a few blocks away on Hillhurst and walked in the
ubiquitous chilly night air past The Good Luck Bar and past the
confusing intersection where Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset
Boulevard merge.
renaissance facade with green awnings. The entrance is
tucked around the corner and its marquee greets enticingly.
Outside on the sidewalk, there's a miniature version of
Grauman's famous plaza of handprints albeit with quirkier
stars like Elvira. The box office, with its ornate hieroglyphs
gives a clue as to the grand old-Hollywood movie palace
that lies inside.
Built in 1923 at the height of Egypt-mania, they show one
first-run movie a week on the enormous silver screen.
In its 85 year history, the Vista has shown second and third
run films, the classics under the Landmark chain, and even
pornos in the seventies.
- The interior is dressed in an ancient-Egypt-
meets-art-deco style that seems uniquely
Hollywood. The lavish Valley of the Kings-
inspired auditorium was left to the sands of
time until a refurbishment in the nineties
restored the reds, purples and golds to their
former glory.
- Just the ornate ambience is enough to thrill
moviegoers: on either side, the walls are
molded to suggest five obelisks, each topped
with the looming face of a pharoah staring
down. Serpents abound. Red velvet curtains
shield the screen, and blue drapery fills the
mock "windows" between the obelisks, with
faint light suggesting twlight illumination
seeping in from outside.
The crowd is an eclectic mix of remarkably civilized moviegoers. The audience is quiet, claps at the end,
and stays through the credits. After all, they might be looking for their own name, or the name of a loved
one. During the renovations, the owners removed every other row of seats, creating six feet of legroom. No
one ever has to step over anyone else.
Sitting in the midst of all of this lush nostalgia, I have a feeling that almost any movie is better when shown
here.
Exiting the theater after my first visit, with
themes of Eternal Sunshine skating around
my head, I thought that I, too, would like to
erase all memories of certain moments,
some events, a few relationships. I stared
for a few seconds at the marquee that night
to burn the image into my subconscious.
No matter where I am or who I'm with,
The Vista is a place I definitely didn't want to
forget.
Maybe my crush on The Vista is because it's
my own neighborhood treasure. I walk up to
The Vista at least once a month, usually
alone, and with just enough cash for a ticket.
I admit that sometimes I'm tempted by the
fresh popcorn or the Toblerone bars sold in
the lobby. I like it that the employees
remember me. Movies are important here.
I am important here. And still I am anonymous.
My last trip to The Vista is yet to come.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n.
-Alexander Pope, excerpt from Eloisa to Abelard
Comments
The Vista in Pictures:
I took this one just yesterday.
