Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
—<br />
temporary multiplex. "What attracted AMC to<br />
the job," Dashwood says, "was the phenomenal<br />
job [Cecchi Gori] did with the theatre. It's<br />
an absolute jewel, and customers are very<br />
pleased to have seen it renovated back to<br />
even better than—its former<br />
glory. Being in Beverly<br />
Hills, where the film community<br />
is, the producers and<br />
stars, we felt it would give<br />
AMC a chance to showcase<br />
our operational expertise, as<br />
well as to be able to run a<br />
beautiful theatre."<br />
Now in its fourth year run<br />
under the Cecchi Gori flag.<br />
the Fine Arts provides a<br />
quality of viewing a cut<br />
above some local theatres—and<br />
certainly several<br />
cuts<br />
above many theatres<br />
that make their living on<br />
foreign films. As Gross puts<br />
it, "It's a place for those who<br />
want to enjoy foreign films<br />
inatheatrethatdoesn'thave<br />
sticky floors." Indeed,<br />
keeping the theatre clean is<br />
one of the priorities at the<br />
Fine Arts; another is serving<br />
_^<br />
!;,DEi!|S<br />
high-quality beverages and food. At the concessions<br />
counter, patrons can choose from the<br />
likes of cappuccino, espresso, fresh-baked<br />
pretzels, Snapple drinks, and dried fiuits, in<br />
addition to the customary popcorn and soft<br />
drinks. As with all the features at the Fine Arts,<br />
everything is artfully displayed on polished<br />
counters. And, with a theatre capacity that tops<br />
out at 500, the lines are never very long.<br />
With its subtitled films, which show more<br />
fi^quently at the Fine Arts than in main.stream<br />
Then called the Reglna, the theatre drew a crowd<br />
with a Lugosi/Karloff scarefest in 1942.<br />
houses, the theatre .sees a higher percentage of<br />
deaf viewers. To expand the viewing opportunities<br />
for that audience segment, the Fine Arts<br />
made an agreement with the Tripod School for<br />
the Deaf and the Deaf Entertainment Foundation<br />
(DEF) and is showing English-language<br />
films for the hearing impaired. The program<br />
launched in summer 1995 with a special<br />
screening of Warner Bros.' "The Bridges of<br />
Madison County," complete with open-captioned<br />
subtitles and special captioning indicating<br />
musical song lyrics and<br />
sound effects. Holding<br />
more of such screenings<br />
for the deaf, Gross says,<br />
remains a key goal.<br />
Whether it's providing a<br />
more comfortable sancmary<br />
for art-house lovers and<br />
its many celebrity patrons,<br />
or whether it's serving as<br />
one of the most "authentic"<br />
old theatres now operating<br />
with modem sight and<br />
sound quality, the Fine Arts<br />
provides new-Hollywood<br />
fare in an early-Hollywood<br />
setting. It also represents a<br />
coming-together of two<br />
cultures, with Italian<br />
ownerCecchi Gori providing<br />
the expertise in foreign<br />
and AMC, one of<br />
films,<br />
America's top circuits,<br />
providing the management.<br />
Say AMC's Dashwood,<br />
"It's a bit of a throwback to the past,<br />
restoring some of Hollywood's glory. TTiere<br />
are not a lot of theatres in L.A., where Hollywood<br />
started. Most of the old beautiful single<br />
screens have gone by the wayside. I think the<br />
theatre is appreciated for that."<br />
m<br />
The movie trailer company with inspiring ideas for theatre owners.<br />
We entertain your patrons and work to malce profits for you.<br />
•<br />
Whethernearorfar,faraway...<br />
we produce trailers in all formats with stereo surround...<br />
and distribute worldwide, on budget and on time!<br />
PiKE PRODUCTIONS<br />
The Newport Company<br />
with the Hollywood Connection<br />
PHONE (401) 846-8890 ~ FAX (401) 847-0070<br />
PO Box 300 ~ Newport. Rhode Island 02840 USA
Change language