"Loving Couples"

Susan Sarandon buys a ticket at the Fox Westwood Village, 961 Broxton Ave., near the end of "Loving Couples" (20th Century Fox, 1980). It's actually about straying couples. Susan, a TV weathergirl, had been living with Stephen Collins but she started going out with James Coburn. But that was only after Stephen started an affair with Shirley MacLaine, who was married to James. Got all that? 

 

Anyway, James dropped Susan off and went to look for a parking space. When he joins her in the long line for the next show she starts with the small talk: "How far away did you park?" 

 

 

 

As the line moves it gets more serious. When she tells him that things aren't working out, he says maybe that this wasn't the best place to talk about it.

 

 

 

As they approach the ticket taker she tells him it's over. At the Bruin across the street it's "Time After Time."

 

 

 

He's stopped by the ticket taker. The couple behind is taking this all in.

 

 

As she continues into the lobby she says "I only bought one ticket. Goodbye."

Also featured are Sally Kellerman and Nan Martin. Jack Smight directed. The cinematography was by Philip H. Lathrop. Thanks to Stephen Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatres in the film and getting the screenshots.

See the pages about the Village Theatre and the Bruin Theatre on the L.A. Theatres site for a history of the two buildings along with hundreds of photos.

On IMDb: "Loving Couples"

"Fool's Paradise"

We get this fine look down on the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood in "Fool's Paradise" (Lionsgate, 2023). Charlie Day, playing a man with mental issues and unable to speak, is put on a bus to be dumped in downtown Los Angeles because there's no money to pay for his treatment in a psych hospital. He's picked up on the street by Ray Liotta because he's a plausible double for an alcoholic movie star. They need him to finish their film "Billy the Kid," the title seen on the marquee in this premiere shot.

 

The film also stars Adrien Brody, Jason Sudeikis, Kate Beckinsale, Ken Jeong, Edie Falco and Jason Bateman. Mr. Day wrote and directed. The cinematography was by Nico Aguilar.  

 

How many theatres are needed for one premiere? This film needs three. When we go in the lobby for the "Billy the Kid" premiere we're at the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. 

 

From the lobby at the Los Angeles we head in to watch the film and find that the auditorium we're in is that of the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway. 

 

It's in 3-D! Ken Jeong,  Ray Liotta, Charlie Day, Adrien Brody and Kate Beckinsale settle into their seats. 

 

After the traveler opens we get this shot of "Billy the Kid" with the nicely lit Palace proscenium.

See the pages about the Village Theatre, the Los Angeles Theatre and the Palace Theatre on the L.A. Theatres site for a history of the three buildings along with hundreds of photos. 

On IMDb: "Fool's Paradise" 

"Coffins On Wheels"

We get this shot of a truck turning behind the Fox Westwood Village in the 17 minute short "Coffins On Wheels" (MGM, 1941). It was part of their "A Crime Does Not Pay" series. The truck was doing fine but there were a bunch of kids going a little too fast down the hill on nearby Weyburn Place. And the used car dealer who sold the car knew it had bad brakes. Joseph M. Newman directed.

 

 

Another shot of the truck with the theatre in the background. There's an accident when the kids' car overturns when trying to avoid the the truck. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for posting these screenshots, and others, as Noirish post #59815. He notes that the 16 minute film can be seen on YouTube.

See the pages about the Fox Westwood Village on the Los Angeles Theatres site for the history of this 1931 vintage landmark.

On IMDb: "Coffins On Wheels" 

"The Preview Murder Mystery"

A washed up star thought dead comes back to take revenge on the director and actors doing a remake of what had been his greatest triumph in Robert Florey's "The Preview Murder Mystery" (Paramount, 1936). This view of a preview at Grauman's Chinese is seen at the beginning of the film. Reginald Denny, Gail Patrick, Frances Drake and Rod La Rocque are the stars.

Kurt Wahlner has identified the footage as being from the April 7, 1931 premiere of "Dirigible." He comments: "You may notice a dirigible-shaped cutout suspended over the entrance. Additionally, if you play with the curves, you may see that the hanging banners say 'DIRIGIBLE.'" Visit Kurt's site www.GraumansChinese.org where he has, among other treats, information on every film to ever play the theatre. 

When they actually get around to the preview of the film "Song of the Toreador" we're in Westwood at the Fox Westwood Village.

A shot during the screening. We're not at the Fox for the interior views. Presumably these were done on the Paramount lot.

Everyone is on their guard and thinks the screening is going without incident but, when the lights come up, the star of the remake is found dead. 

See the pages about Grauman's Chinese and the Fox Westwood Village on the Los Angeles Theatres site for the history of these two landmarks.

On IMDb: "The Preview Murder Mystery"

"Blue Thunder"

We get a drug deal in front of the Fox Westwood Village Theatre spotted from a police helicopter by Daniel Stern and Roy Scheider in John Badham's "Blue Thunder" (Columbia, 1983). On the marquee it's "Mommie Dearest." The film also stars Malcolm McDowell, Warren Oates and Candy Clark in a tale of a new police helicopter being developed for sinister uses.

See the page about the Fox Westwood Village on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about this historic venue.

Before Daniel Stern gets killed by guys working for the Feds he stashes an incriminating tape in a dumpster at the Pickwick Drive-In in Burbank. Scheider has sent his girl friend, Candy Clark, there to retrieve the tape. In this shot he's checking on her progress from the air.

A closer look at the screen tower. Note the side extensions for a CinemaScope expansion. 

Candy Clark rooting through the dumpster. The police will be arriving soon for a chase as she tries to get the tape to a TV station. Thanks to Ron Strong for noting the presence of the Pickwick in the film on his Bijou Memories page about the theatre.

Visit the page about the Pickwick Drive-In on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the theatre.

On IMDb: "Blue Thunder"

"The Kid Stays in the Picture"

In "The Kid Stays in the Picture" (USA Films, 2002) we get this lovely shot from some stock footage of the Warner Hollywood playing the three-strip Cinerama epic "How the West Was Won." It had a 93 week run opening February 20, 1963. More of the Getty Images footage this Warner shot was taken from can be seen as "Hollywood Blvd. 1965 [sic]," a one minute+ ride down the street on YouTube from Alison Martino.

This documentary about the career of producer Robert Evans features Evans himself along with archival footage of Eddie Albert, Peter Bart, Mia Farrow, Charles Bludhorn and many others. It's based on the 1994 book by Evans of the same title. The direction and adaptation was by Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen.

Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for spotting the footage of the Warner in the film. For more about the theatre see the Warner Hollywood pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

Later we get some footage at the Fox Westwood Village when Evans discusses the problems getting "Love Story" made and the tremendous business it did when it opened in December, 1970.

A shot of the usher taking tickets at the Fox Westwood. Across the street we get a bit of the Bruin's marquee.

See the pages on the Fox Westwood and the Bruin on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about these two historic venues.

On IMDb: "The Kid Stays in the Picture"

"Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" - Bruin and Fox Westwood Village theatres

The pages about theatre locations used in "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood":
| Cinerama Dome - June 13, 2018 | Vogue, Pussycat and Egyptian - July 13 to July 23 | Grauman's Chinese - July 26 | Excelsior High School - September | Bruin and Fox Westwood Village - October 14 - 15 | Pantages and Vine - October 22 | Van Nuys Drive-In - October 24 | Earl Carroll Theatre - November 2 |

The Bruin Theatre at 948 Broxton Ave. in Westwood was used for a scene where it's showing "The Wrecking Crew," a February 1969 release starring Dean Martin, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate. The Fox Westwood Village (now known as the Regency Village Theatre) across the street and the adjacent Starbucks were also dressed as if it were 1969. Businesses down the block from the Bruin as well as across the street were also redecorated.

Here we've got the showtimes up in the boxoffice and an assortment of newspaper racks and period-appropriate garbage cans to be placed in the area. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018

Posters up at the Bruin for "The Wrecking Crew." Did it ever play the Bruin? Unknown. It opened wide February 11, 1969 -- but not at the Bruin. They were running "The Magus" at the time. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018

Looking east along Weyburn. That business with the awning is getting turned into a Hamburger Hamlet. It's currently a Taco Bell. Margot Robbie, as Sharon Tate, takes a little stroll around the neighborhood. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018

A look back toward the theatre with craftspeople working on the storefronts, including a new Campbell's Men's Shop they're creating. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018 

Storefront work underway across the street from the Bruin. The walk Margot's character takes includes a look at this side of the street. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018

The Fox Westwood Village at 961 Broxton Ave. also saw some action. Here the posters are going up for "Pendulum," an April 1969 release with George Peppard, Jean Seberg and Richard Kiley. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018  

More posters deployed at the Village. Note in the frames below it still says "A Star is Born," the film at the theatre at the time of the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018

The Village with its marquee redone for "Pendulum." Look at that cute cafe to the left with the Cinzano umbrellas and rattan chairs. It's a disguised Starbucks. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018

The marquee letters up for "The Wrecking Crew." Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018

 

 

Margot Robbie, playing Sharon Tate, with Quentin the day of the Bruin shoot. Thanks to the New Beverly Facebook page for sharing the photo in a 2023 post on the occasion of Quentin's 60th birthday. 

Quentin and his DP, Robert Richardson, discussing a shot. Margot is toward the left in the short skirt and white boots. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018

Margot and Quentin under the marquee. It's an October 15, 2018 photo by Andrew Cooper for Sony that appears on IMDb.

 

 

A look at the businesses across the street from the Bruin as Margot takes a walk. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for finding the October 15, 2018 photo on IMDb. It was taken by Andrew Cooper for Sony.

The snackbar with 1969 prices. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018

The Bruin at dusk. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018 

The Fox Westwood Village at dusk. Note the barely visible markings in the street. It's now a scramble crosswalk but Tarantino's team painted it out so the intersection's crosswalks would have a 1969 look. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018


The Fox Westwood Village and Bruin theatres in the film: 

Margo Robbie, as Sharon Tate, picks up a hitchhiker on Wilshire. She drops her off in this lot and, for a moment, we have no idea where we are.

Panning up, it becomes evident we're in Westwood behind the Fox Westwood Village. 

Continuing the pan up to the top of the tower. 

Margot walking by the Fox Westwood Village. She was in the neighborhood to pick up a book as a present for her husband.

A glorious smile as she sees what's playing at the Bruin across the street.

They're running "The Wrecking Crew," a film Sharon Tate appears in.  

Trying to convince the cashier to let her in as she was in the film. That's the Fox Westwood and a disguised Starbucks across the street.

Pointing at her name on a lobby card displayed in the boxoffice window.

Posing in front of the display cases for a photo taken by the cashier.

In the lobby as Margot turns down the manager's offer of something from the snackbar. 

In the theatre watching the film and enjoying the sparse crowd's reactions to her performance. We see almost nothing of whatever interior that was used to film the scene.

Coming out of the theatre after the screening. 

See the pages about the Fox Westwood Village and the Bruin Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of these two Westwood venues.

The "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" pages:  
| back to top - Bruin and Fox Westwood Village | Cinerama Dome | Vogue, Pussycat and Egyptian | Grauman's Chinese | Excelsior High School | Pantages and Vine | Van Nuys Drive-In | Earl Carroll Theatre |