The Cinerama Dome, an iconic movie theater in Los Angeles, is set for a grand reopening in 2028. Closed since the onset of the COVID pandemic, the theater will undergo restoration thanks to a collaboration between SONY Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
SONY Pictures announced that it will lease and restore the famed theater. Alamo Drafthouse will handle programming and operations, including the adjacent multiplex’s 14 screens. Tom Rothman, CEO of SONY Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm about the project, highlighting the Dome’s significance in celebrating the moviegoing experience.
“Hot damn! We’re bringing the Dome back, baby,” said Rothman. “We believe in moviegoing to our core, and there’s no other venue like the Dome on Earth.”
Michael O’Leary, leading Cinema United, sees the Dome’s revival as a sign that the movie theater experience has returned after the pandemic’s impact. Escott Norton, a board member of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, recognizes the Dome as the quintessential Hollywood experience. Reminiscing about past visits, Norton described the immersive experience of watching films in this unique geodesic auditorium.
The Cinerama Dome was constructed in 1963 by William Forman, the founder of Pacific Theaters, and initially designed to showcase the Cinerama film format. This format was part of a widescreen trend aimed at drawing audiences away from television and back to cinemas. The Dome premiered with the movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” which became a significant event in Hollywood.
Karen Sharpe, widow of Stanley Kramer, director of the movie, recalled the film’s premiere, noting the attendance of notable figures such as Bobby Kennedy and Adlai Stevenson. However, President and Mrs. Kennedy missed the event due to their trip to Dallas.
Over the years, the Dome catered to movie enthusiasts, often becoming an extension of the films it exhibited with special decorations and installations. It hosted numerous premieres and events, cementing its place in Hollywood culture.
When the theater’s operators faced bankruptcy during the pandemic, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino expressed interest in purchasing the theater, emphasizing its status as one of his favorite landmarks in Los Angeles. Despite his interest, other activists and preservationists, including 27-year-old filmmaker Benjamin Steinberg, played crucial roles in saving the theater. Steinberg’s campaign to protect the Cinerama Dome attracted significant attention, rallying public support and intervention.
Steinberg’s efforts included projecting images onto the Dome, leading to increased awareness and prompting a reaction from the property’s owners. Although considered an escalation, Steinberg’s actions potentially influenced the preservation decision.
As the restoration moves forward, SONY has pledged to both preserve the Cinerama Dome’s historical importance and secure its future.