1262 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map | (310) 474-7866 Website: www.carmike.com | bigfootcrest.com | on facebook | Architect: Arthur W. Hawes Seating: 500 Opened: December, 1940 by Frances Seymour Fonda, the second wife of Henry and mother of Peter and Jane Fonda. History: World War II brought success for the house as a theatre featuring newsreels on the program. For awhile it was called the UCLAN. In the 70s it was renamed the Metro. Pacific Theatres acquired the theatre in 1985, and it was then known as the Pacific Crest. In partnership with Disney, the auditorium was reconfigured, the screen was brought forward, new proscenium and sidewall treatments were devised and a gussied-up marquee was designed. Almost all of the current decor is from the Disney/Pacific Theatres remodel designed by Joe Musil, who also worked on the re-do of the El Capitan. It's also been known as the Westwood and the Westwood Crest. It was renamed the Majestic Crest when it was operated as an independent by Robert Bucksbaum from 2003 to 2010. When the building sold in August 2010, Mr. Bucksbaum had had it on the market since 2008, the year it was declared a cultural-historic landmark. The theatre is currently owned by Bigfoot Entertainment, an international firm
involved in film and TV production and financing. Crack reporter Kevin Roderick had the story of the 2010 sale on LA Observed: "Majestic Crest in Westwood sold." Also see Patrick Goldstein's post for the L.A. Times: "Robert Bucksbaum on Selling the Crest Theatre." It was operated for Bigfoot by Carmike Cinemas, a large chain headquartered in Georgia. Bigfoot is a major shareholder in Carmike Theatres. It was their only California site. They were advertising it as the Bigfoot Crest. The theatre was upgraded in late 2010 with digital projection and 3-D capability. Status: The Crest closed early October, 2011. Bigfoot put it up for sale in December 2011. According to a story on LA Curbed, the asking price is $4.5 million, or it can be leased for $16,000 per month on a triple net basis. Tom Maloney of Maloney Commercial, 323-251-2556, has the listing. The Crest on video: See the short video "Insiders Peek #4: Village, Bruin, Crest" on the LAHTF YouTube channel. More information: See the Crest page on Cinema Treasures. For additional exterior photos go to Cinema Tour. And take a peek at the nice photo spread devoted to the Crest Theatre on Cinema Sightlines.  The rear of the auditorium. photo: Bill Counter  The house right sidewall. photo: Bill Counter  A sidewall detail. photo: Bill Counter [ click any image to enlarge ]
 A great 2010 view of the proscenium. photo: Mark Peacock. On the LAHTF Facebook page: full size view  A 2010 view of the bar photo: Mark Peacock. On the LAHTF Facebook page: full size view Also see Mark's Vintage Theatres photo set on Flickr |  The Crest Theatre in Westwood. photo: Bill Counter The photos are from October 2007 unless otherwise noted. [ click any image to enlarge ]  The outer lobby. photo: Bill Counter  Another outer lobby view. photo: Bill Counter  The entrance to the house right aisle. photo: Bill Counter  The snack bar area in 2007. photo: Bill Counter about photos from other We've tried to give appropriate credit. Please contact us if there are incorrect attributions, links that no longer work or other issues. A link near each image will direct you to a full size version on the website hosting it. Assume that all the images are subject to copyright restrictions. Contact the webmaster of the site in question concerning reproduction or other use. Bigfoot Crest on Facebookwww.facebook.com/cresttheatre A 2011 view of the Crest signage with the new "Bigfoot" neon added. On the Crest Facebook photo album: full size view  A 2009 look at the auditorium by Pamela Smith. full size view  A booth view by Pamela Smith -- from before the 2010 equipment upgrade. See the Projection Booth set for 11 more. full size view The reflection you're seeing is from a platter. See more great views on the Crest's other Facebook albums.
Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation
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the LAHTF
Facebook photo album for many
Westwoodby
Marc Wanamaker Arcadia Publishing | Google Books preview  A 1963 photo in Mr. Wanamaker's collection. We're at Westwood and Wellworth -- looking north toward Wilshire Blvd. |
The Majestic Crest Theatre |
