It’s lights out in La La Land.
Arclight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres are closing all locations across California, some 300 screens total, including Hollywood’s famed Cinerama Dome.
The Sunset Boulevard landmark, immortalized in scenes of “Melrose Place” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” shut its doors last spring amidst the global coronavirus pandemic that devastated the movie theater industry.
On Monday, Pacific Theatres announced that it wouldn’t be reopening.
“This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward,” the chain said in a statement.
Built in 1963, the Cinerama Dome has become a beloved destination for cinephiles and moviegoers alike.
Many took to social media to mourn the loss of a Los Angeles institution.
“Devastating. Too many losses to process. It’s just too much,” Lulu Wang, the writer and director of The Farewell, tweeted.
“At some point when I’m less upset, I’ll tell you guys a funny story about my first time meeting Quentin Tarantino in the lobby of Hollywood Arclight.”
Meanwhile, others attempted to manifest possible solutions.
“Brad Pitt buy the arclight challenge,” Veep actor Timothy Simons tweeted.
There might be some hope yet for the future of the moviegoing world’s favorite (and only) concrete geodesic dome.
Deadline reports that the decision made by Decurion, the company that owns Arclight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres, is part of a heavy lease negotiation.
So all the Arclight needs is a Hollywood hero to save the day.
