Landmark Theatres is the largest art house movie theater chain in the United States. It is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner through their 2929 Entertainment. The chain shows mostly first run independent, foreign film, and restored classics though some Landmark theaters also show more mainstream movies. The chain occasionally shows digital movies on digital projectors in place at most theaters. The theaters are also known for selling gourmet concession stand offerings such as gourmet coffee, espresso drinks, fresh-baked goods, imported chocolate and candy offerings. It has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California.[1]
Landmark Theatres (originally Parallax Theatres) was founded in 1974 by Kim Jorgensen. The first theater acquired by the chain was the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles. Jorgensen hired Steve Gilula and Gary Meyer in 1976, who later became stockholders, with the acquisition of the UC Theater in Berkeley, California. In the 1980s, Landmark acquired Santa Fe-based Movies, Inc. and Seattle-based Seven Gables. In the 1990s, Landmark Theatres was acquired by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. Landmark Theatres continued to grow throughout the 1990s and developed multiplex theatres of its own in San Francisco; Cambridge, Massachusetts; St. Louis; Chicago; New York City; Atlanta; Indianapolis; and the largest one on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. Jorgensen later became a movie producer, selling out his interest in Landmark in 1989. Gilula and Meyer sold their interest in 1995.
In March 2007, the group took over ownership of three Ritz theaters in Philadelphia. A Landmark Theater opened in downtown Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood in November 2007. Landmark Theatres presently operates about 57 theaters in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Atlanta's Landmark Midtown Art Cinema serves as the official venue for the Atlanta Film Festival and Atlanta's gay film festival, Out on Film. In 2007, Landmark opened a flagship theater complex at Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles, California that includes "Living Room" brand auditoriums. The "Living Room" concept features smaller capacity theaters (30-50 people) with sofas, ottomans, side-tables and other home-like amenities.[2]
In April 2011, Cuban placed Landmark Theatres up for sale, but he added that he wouldn't sell the company unless the offer was "very, very compelling."[3]