The Cinerama Dome, a legendary movie theater in Los Angeles, is preparing for a significant revival. Closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater will reopen in 2028. SONY Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema are leading its restoration.
Restoration Plans
SONY Pictures plans to lease, restore, and reopen the Cinerama Dome. Alamo Drafthouse will manage programming and operations for the Dome and 14 other screens in the nearby multiplex. Tom Rothman, CEO of SONY Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm, highlighting the Dome’s importance to the film-going experience.
“We believe in moviegoing down to our soul, and no venue on Earth stands more for that than the one-of-a-kind Dome.” – Tom Rothman
Michael O’Leary, from Cinema United, noted the Dome’s reopening as a sign of recovery from the pandemic. Escott Norton of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation also celebrated the news.
A Historic Venue
The Cinerama Dome was built in 1963 by William Forman, founder of Pacific Theaters. Designed by a French architect who studied under R. Buckminster Fuller, the geodesic structure was tailored for Cinerama, a widescreen format popular in the 1950s. The Dome debuted with the film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, playing at the theater for two years.
Karen Sharpe, widow of director Stanley Kramer, recalled the star-studded premiere, attended by notable figures like Bobby Kennedy and President Kennedy, who had to decline due to unforeseen events in Dallas.
An Icon of Film Culture
Over the years, the Dome became a beloved venue for cinemagoers. It often featured thematic decorations, like the Godzilla replica and Shrek’s ears. The theater hosted many premieres and events, with Quentin Tarantino among its admirers. Despite bankruptcy concerns during the pandemic, efforts to preserve the Dome intensified.
Saving the Dome
Benjamin Steinberg, a filmmaker and actor, played a pivotal role in campaigning to save the Dome. His efforts included street rallies and an online petition with over 30,000 signatures. Steinberg even projected images onto the theater’s exterior to urge its reopening.
Norton acknowledged the impact of Steinberg’s activism. While SONY’s involvement ensures the Dome’s preservation, Steinberg’s actions brought awareness to its cultural significance.
The future of the Cinerama Dome looks promising, with SONY and Alamo Drafthouse committed to preserving its legacy while ushering it into a new era.
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