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Regency Village Theatre
Highsmithwestwoodvillagetheater.jpg
Regency Village Theatre with iconic tower
Location 961 Broxton Avenue, Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Built 1931
Architect Percy Parke Lewis
Architectural style(s) California Churrigueresque
(Spanish Colonial Revival)
Governing body Private
Designated June 21, 1988
Reference no. 362
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The Regency Village Theatre is a famous movie theater in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. It used to be called the Fox Theatre. It's located in Westwood Village, a lively area close to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Today, Regency Theatres runs the cinema. Many big Hollywood movies have had their first showings, called premieres, here. About 1,400 people can watch a movie at one time.

The Emoji Movie premiere at the Fox Theatre, Westwood Village 4
The Emoji Movie premiere at the theater

The Story of the Village Theatre

The theater was designed by Percy Parke Lewis. It opened on August 14, 1931. It was built in a Spanish Mission style, which looks like old Spanish churches. This theater was part of a big plan by Fox West Coast Theatres to build many cinemas. It was also part of the 1929 Westwood Village, a special area designed in a Mediterranean style. This village was planned by Harold and Edwin Janss.

Changes Over the Years

In the 1940s, some areas backstage were closed off. In 1951, the theater got a big makeover. It reopened with more seats, holding 1,535 people. The walls near the stage got fancy gold swirls. New seats and carpets were added, and the lobby was updated. It even got artwork about the California Gold Rush.

In 1973, the theater was sold to Ted Mann. He also owned the famous TCL Chinese Theatre. So, the Village Theatre became part of the Mann Theatres chain. In the late 1970s, new equipment was added to show movies in a special 70mm format. A bigger screen was also installed.

In 1988, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission named the Fox Theatre an Historic Cultural Monument. This means it's a very important building. Around 1998-1999, the theater was updated again with new seats and carpet.

New Owners and Modern Tech

In 2010, Mann Theatres closed down. Regency Theatres took over running the Village Theatre. They also started running another movie theater in Van Nuys.

In 2014, Regency added the amazing Dolby Atmos sound system. This makes the movie sound like it's all around you. It was ready just in time for the movie Transcendence. In 2019, it became the first THX Ultimate Cinema™ theater. This means it has top-notch sound and picture quality.

In 2024, a group of famous filmmakers decided to buy the theater. This group includes well-known directors like Jason Reitman, J. J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan. They plan to show props, costumes, and film collections from their own movies. The theater will still show movies as usual. They also want to add a restaurant, a bar, and a gallery.

Cool Architectural Features

One of the most famous parts of the theater is its tall, white tower. It's 170 feet high! This tower stands out over the streets of Broxton and Weyburn Avenues. It's built in a mix of Spanish Revival and Moderne styles. At the very top of the tower, there's a blue and white metal "Fox" sign. This sign was fixed up in the late 1980s.

You can see carved winged lions halfway up the tower. They sit at the bottom of columns that stick out. A blue and white sign that says "Fox Westwood Village" is at the bottom of the tower, right above the entrance. At night, the white tower glows with its illuminated signs. It really looks like a beacon!

The main building behind the tower has long rows of fancy Churrigueresque decorations made of stucco. On the corners of the building, you can spot carved griffins. These are mythical creatures with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

Hollywood Movie Premieres

The Regency Village Theatre is a very popular spot for movie premieres. About 24 new movies have their first big showings here each year. Many famous films have debuted at this theater, including:

And hundreds of other movies have had their big premieres here too!

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