Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and its Alamo Drafthouse exhibition operation are planning to restore and reopen iconic Los Angeles venue the Cinerama Dome.
The cinema, together with its adjacent Arclight Cinemas flagship venue, was shut down in April 2021 because of the covid pandemic and has remained closed ever since. Then owner Pacific Theatres filed for bankruptcy soon after the closure.
Opened in 1963, the Dome had long been a leading venue for premieres and events, with its 86-foot-wide, deeply curved screen engineered to immerse audiences in a panoramic viewing experience.
SPE said the Dome will undergo “restorative renovations” until early 2028 and be operated by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the exhibition company that Sony acquired in June 2024.
SPE will also reopen the 14-screen ArcLight as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Ravi Ahuja, chairman and CEO of SPE, said: “There is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome. It represents the kind of singular experience we value and champion. This is a meaningful moment for our company, our industry, and Los Angeles. We look forward to honouring and extending the Dome’s extraordinary legacy.”
SPE motion picture group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman added: “Hot damn! We’re bringing the Dome back, baby. We believe in moviegoing down to our soul, and no venue on earth stands more for that than the one-of-a-kind Dome. I am deeply proud that Sony is investing in Hollywood, literally. The Dome has hosted generations of unforgettable movie moments. Our goal is to preserve its legendary history while ensuring it remains vibrant now and far into the future.”
No comments yet