kicked off its “Last Remaining Seats” film screenings in movie palaces 35 years ago. When the annual series hits key theaters this month , there will be far less trepidation in the air about the fate of some of the key theaters and the neighborhoods they’re in than there was back in 1987. One thing that’s very different, now versus then: the number of filmgoers who’ll beto the Orpheum and the Los Angeles, the two theaters that will host five of the six screenings.
The Orpheum and Los Angeles have been the two most reliable anchor theaters for Last Remaining Seats since 1987. “Downtownchanged significantly during that time” since the series began in 1987, says Linda Dishman, who took over as president-CEO of the Conservancy just a few years after that. .”We’re very happy that a lot of things have happened on the street: The Orpheum was restored and opened in 2001, and we have the Theater at Ace Hotel that opened in 2014. But there’s still more work to do.
Adaptive reuse has been a boon, as well. “When I first came 30 years ago, there were several studies done that said they didn’t think that 12 theaters could operate on Broadway, partly because they’re such large theaters. So that was something that we knew was a possibility, that some of the theaters might be used for other things like an Urban Outfitters or an Apple store. And to a large extent, having more options just adds to the vitality of the street.
Ew, gross! Totally gaudy!