ARCLIGHT GOES DARK

Word spread Monday night that the ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres will be permanently closing all 16 of their locations, victims of the pandemic. It was devastating news for moviegoers in this neck of the woods—including the HITS family—who have frequented the Hollywood and Sherman Oaks ArcLight multiplexes all but exclusively since they opened in 2002 and 2007, respectively.

The centerpiece of the Hollywood ArcLight on Sunset Blvd. is the Cinerama Dome, which has been showing films since 1963. The Hollywood ArcLight was one of the highest-grossing movie complexes in the nation.

ArcLight and Pacific theaters are located in L.A.-area malls and shopping centers including Santa Monica Place, the Grove, the Americana at Brand in Glendale and Paseo Colorado in Pasadena.

“After shutting our doors more than a year ago, today we must share the difficult and sad news that Pacific will not be reopening its ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres locations,” reads a statement from owner Decurion Corp. posted on the ArcLight site. “This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward.

“To all the Pacific and ArcLight employees who have devoted their professional lives to making our theaters the very best places in the world to see movies: We are grateful for your service and your dedication to our customers.

“To our guests and members of the film industry who have made going to the movies such a magical experience over the years: Our deepest thanks. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you.”

It remains to be seen whether the chain is up for sale. But Rick Caruso, landlord of the Grove and Americana, pledged that the theaters in his locations would find a way to reopen.

“We believe in the future of this sector, the future of entertainment, and we will not submit to the pressures of this unrelenting year: We will rise up and reimagine the future of moviegoing,” Caruso said in a statement to the L.A. Times. “We firmly believe in the future of the moviegoing experience.”