One of the world’s most iconic theaters is previewing its next chapter as both Sony and Alamo Drafthouse announce major investment plans in Tinseltown.
The Cinerama Dome was an iconic movie theater that first opened on Sunset Boulevard back in 1963, heralded for its geodesic dome architecture and specifically designed to screen widescreen films. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Cinerama Dome and the adjacent ArcLight Hollywood theater closed, remaining idle in the years since.
Now, Texas-founded Alamo Drafthouse and its parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, have unveiled plans to breathe new life into the Hollywood staples. Sony is officially set to restore and reopen the Cinerama Dome with its original name and branding, while Alamo Drafthouse will reimagine the ArcLight Hollywood site as a 14-screen Alamo Drafthouse, according to a company release on Wednesday, July 22.
Construction on both projects is slated to begin this August, and both Cinerama Dome and Alamo Drafthouse Hollywood are earmarked to open sometime in 2028 under current project timelines.
“[The Cinerama Dome] isn’t simply a famous theater. It is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, a living piece of Hollywood history, and one of the most important moviegoing destinations ever created,” the release read in part, adding: “The Dome will once again serve as a premier destination for 70mm exhibition, major premieres, blockbuster events, filmmaker series, and repertory programming created specifically for the venue.”
With the creation of Alamo Drafthouse Hollywood, the revitalization of the ArcLight will double as the theater chain’s West Coast flagship, company officials said. Its emphasis will be on “first-run films, curated repertory programming, dine-in service, special events, fan celebrations, and designated karaoke rooms,” and preservation efforts are underway to save the theater’s 35mm and 70mm screening capabilities.
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