ArcLight Hollywood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ArcLight Cinemas and the Cinerama Dome.
ArcLight Cinemas and the Cinerama Dome.

The ArcLight Hollywood is a 14-screen multiplex located at 6360 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, in the United States of America. All 14 screens feature stadium seating, and carry a THX certification for optimal sound and picture presentation. The building is located adjacent to the Cinerama Dome, which is now part of the Arclight complex. The theater opened March 22, 2002 and is a subsidiary of The Decurion Corporation, which also owns Pacific Theatres.

The courtyard entrance of the Arclight Hollywood complex.
The courtyard entrance of the Arclight Hollywood complex.

Contents

[edit] Amenities

ArcLight Hollywood provides numerous amenities to its guests. Each theater has reserved seating. When a patron buys a ticket—whether online, at a kiosk, or with the assistance of a clerk—the patron also selects a desired seat.[1] The ArcLight's front seating is positioned as far back from the front of the theater as the screen's height, reducing the need to "crane" one's neck when viewing a film from the front seats. The seats in the ArcLight's theaters are wider than average and feature arm rests that are wide enough to support usage by patrons on both sides of the arm rest simultaneously.[1]

Unlike the majority of contemporary theater chains, there are no ads or movie trivia displayed on screen prior to the feature presentation. The only promotional material shown before showtimes are trailers and a brief ArcLight "feature presentation" logo.

At showtime, immediately before the trailers begin, an employee (called an Usher Greeter) introduces the film to the audience and states the ArcLight's policies regarding quality assurance, i.e. two ushers will remain in the theater until a few minutes after the film has begun, to ensure that the picture and sound quality are acceptable.[2] Five minutes after the scheduled start time of a film has elapsed, further seating is prohibited, reducing interruptions.

The ArcLight Hollywood concessions stands strive to serve high quality items, such as all-beef hot dogs, gourmet chicken sausage on baguettes, premium bottled water, imported chocolates, fresh popcorn with real butter, and caramel corn made on-site. Popcorn and beverages come in only two sizes.

ArcLight is almost unique among contemporary theaters, as the large lobby area also holds a gift shop with books, magazine, art, clothing items, music, and other entertainment-oriented items. In addition, there is a full-service café and bar, which serves lunch and dinner, and is available with or without purchasing a movie ticket. A smaller bar is located upstairs, which is mainly open on weekends or during special events, and which has a more limited menu. Both feature indoor and outdoor dining areas.

In addition to special event screenings, the ArcLight regularly holds "21+" screenings in which patrons must be 21 years old or older to be admitted and patrons may consume alcoholic beverages purchased from the theater's bar.[3] The ArcLight routinely features exhibits of local art or props and costumes from current films.

Plans to open more ArcLight theaters are underway. ArcLight Sherman Oaks opened November 16, 2007 in place of the Galleria Pacific Theater, after extensive remodeling, with a grand opening event scheduled for December 14.

ArcLight Hollywood is known to be a good place for celebrity sightings because of its Hollywood location, quality of picture presentation, and myriad of special screenings and events, which often feature Question and Answer sessions with actors and directors.

ArcLight has a membership program in which frequent movie-goers can earn points towards free concession items, movie tickets, or discounts in the café or retail store. They also sell tickets on their website with no service charge, which can be printed out or picked up at will call.

[edit] Parking

Parking is located off Ivar to the west and DeLongpre to the south and off Sunset, just east of the Cinerama Dome in an adjacent garage at a rate of $2.00 for four hours, with validation and $6.00 maximum for the whole day. The parking garage is not owned by ArcLight, and also serves several restaurants, stores, and a gym located in the ArcLight complex, as well as Amoeba Music, which has its own parking lot but offers validation at the Ivar structure as well.

[edit] Other Locations

December 14, 2007: ArcLight Sherman Oaks was Inaugurated.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Welcome to ArcLight, where movie-lovers belong. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
  2. ^ Denby, David. "Big Pictures", The New Yorker, 2006-12-25. Retrieved on 2007-01-15. 
  3. ^ Café Bar. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.