Two or three years ago I ended up sitting next to Quentin Tarantino at the Yarrow Hotel Bar in Park City, during the Sundance Film Festival. It just sort of turned out that way – Tarantino and critic Elvis Mitchell simply ponied up to the next table from where my friends and I were sharing some excellent local microbrews (when in Utah try Wasatch Brewery’s Polygamy Porter and Evolution Amber Ale).
So you’re a film critic and sort-of-journalist and you’re sitting next to Quentin Tarantino. You have to say something. You have to ask him something. I asked him the one question that had been on my mind for some time: “Are you buying the New Beverly Cinema?”
The New Beverly is a rep house here in LA that runs double features every night of the week for 7 bucks. Everything they show is on 35mm film. They were family owned for decades, and when Sherman Torgan, the long-time owner and evangelist for film, died suddenly in 2007, things looked bad for the New Bev. Things had been bad for the theater, which was faced with diminishing audiences in the world of home video, and Tarantino – who had been coming to the theater since he was a kid – happily ponied up 5 grand a month to keep the place open. But when Sherman died things really, really got dark.
It looked like even Tarantino’s 5k a month wouldn’t be able to save the theater from the landlord, who supposedly wanted to turn the place into a SuperCuts. So Tarantino moved in to buy the building.
That was about when I ran into him at Sundance. He confirmed to me that he was paying the theater’s rent and that he was looking in to buying it. Who would have imagined it would have taken years for it to go through? But it has, and now Quentin Tarantino is officially the owner of the New Beverly.
But don’t expect the theater to suddenly turn into Tarantinoland (although they have been playing midnights of Reservoir Dogs for years, and recently started doing midnights of Inglorious Basterds). Tarantino has always let Sherman’s son, Michael, run the business as he wanted to, with the input of the beautiful Julia Marchese and the slightly less beautiful but very brilliant Phil Blankenship. They, along with Michael, make the New Bev work day in and day out, and Tarantino occasionally steps in to program something special.
And so the New Beverly is safe. And it will be safe for some time to come – “As long as I’m alive, and as long as I’m rich, the New Beverly will be there, showing double features in 35mm,” Tarantino said.
Thank you so much, Quentin. These days I don’t get to the New Bev as often as I would like, but it’s still my favorite place in LA. And it’s really uplifting to know that here’s a film lover literally putting his money where his mouth is. At the prices of the New Bev – 7 bucks for a double feature, pennies for concessions – that theater will never turn much by way of a profit. But it’s going to be there to help influence and educate young film nerds in the years ahead.
When you’re in LA go to the New Beverly Cinema. Check out their film listings at their site.
via the Hollywood Reporter
30 comments
Yep, even QT's giant ego can't get the best of him. What a swell kid!
well, hey, I don´t like anything Quentin has done since Fiction, but this shows the man has his balls where they belong.
That's really cool. My local independent movie theater has been going through a rough patch lately, and I'm shitting bricks about the possibility of there only being a megaplex in town. There's just something special about the audiences who show up to these kind of places.
God bless that fella. The New Bev is nerd church out here.
When I lived n LA that was my favorite place to go. When I first moved out there I didn't know anybody and I consider it the first friend I made . Cheers to Quentin for keeping it alive.
God Bless you Quinton, and you to Devin… any and all publicity for this treasure is welcome and needed. The New Bev is one of my favorite places in LA and I go as frequently as I am able… in fact Ferris Bueller and Election as doubling this weekend… might see myself there again tomorrow!
I remember Devin constantly badmouthing LA when he lived in New York, dreading the thought of moving here. He subscribed that oh-so-East-Coast mentality that LA is a cultural wasteland filled with narcissistic airheads. Sure, there are plenty of jerks living in Beverly Hills and Brentwood, but a city this size has so many hidden treasures that far outweigh its negative aspects. I've been going to the New Beverly for over a decade and have run into Devin there on occasion. It's great to hear Tarantino purchased the property. I had a feeling he was more than just an enthusiastic patron, as he often has loaned his private prints of obscure films. I'm glad Devin's found out LA is not such a bad place, after all.
Speaking of movie theaters, WTF is going on with the Regency Fairfax? It has been closed for a 'private event' for months now.
Lol @ those of you who say things like "I haven't liked any of his stuff since Fiction." Is it still hip, or anti-hip, or whatever you're going for to be against Tarantino? He's a film lover who does cool shit like securing an independent movie house AND he makes movies like Inglourious Basterds, which is one of the best pieces of cinema of, yes, all fucking time.
Great news. Love Cinematheque and Cinefamily but New Bev is still my favorite. They've done a great job updating and refurbishing (used to be the typical New Beverly crowd was you and four homeless schizophrenics).
Throwing it out there, what's people's first NewBev double feature and what is there favorite? My first was 70s "Inavsion of the Body Snatchers" & "The Thing" in '99, favorite has to be Roth festival first night showing "Torso" & "Pieces" – it brought the house down.
My first was a showing of Raiders and Temple of Doom back in 2000. My favorite was Edgar Wright's programming of Flash Gordon (with Timothy Dalton in person!) and Danger Diabolik (with expert commentary from Joe Dante). Dalton was a real treat. The audience was on its feet with applause. He said it was actually the first time he'd seen the whole film, as it hadn't had a premiere – and quite enjoyed enjoyed it.
Awesome. New Bev is a great place. Movie Geek Mecca.
@#9 So anyone who doesn't like his movies since Pulp Fiction (or at all even) is just striking a pose? We're not allowed to have opinions now? I've never aspired to be hip or anti-hip and I've never been much of a fan of Tarantino, so what?
My very first week in LA, I went to the New Bev for the Back to the Future marathon and ended up standing behind Devin in line.
Moving across the country is scary, but that night made me feel like I'd done the right thing. I've been back countless times since. It's so great.
I actually stood in line behind Quentin there once to see Evil Dead 2 and Bubba Ho-Tep. Later in the popcorn line he accidentally cut somebody and it got a little awkward so he left the line.
Kudos to QT for this. I've always wondered why more filmmakers don't put their money where their mouth is, as in why didn't someone like Lucas or Spielberg step in to help poor Forry Ackerman save his collection and keep his home?
But to "destiny…" above: Maybe people who say they don't like Tarantino's films (myself included) simply, oh, I don't know… DON'T LIKE THEM. Period. No other agenda. I have to wonder, what are YOU "going for" that you feel it necessary to be snarky to anyone who dares criticize the guy's films? They're called opinions; you're entitled to yours; everyone else is entitled to theirs.
Really? Posts criticizing the guy for your own personal reasons even when he does something really cool like this. I don't live in LA, but I do appreciate what this does for the local "filmies" that regular the spot. I wish I had a theater in town that played midnight showings of Tarantino films, and Evil Dead 2! Lucky.
My local independent theater got shut down by a Century Rio 24 (Cinemark) a few years back. The company did everything they could to run them out of business too, including showing obscure independent releases until they closed the indie theater. Then Century went right back into showing Transformers 2 on 12 screens. So i'm glad quentin, in his film geek greatness, is really attempting to preserve these types of films for all those invloved, including us movie patrons! Keep at it Quentin. Oh, and make a spagetti western already damnit!
Now if only someone like Tarantino stepped in and saved Endless Mountains Theatre before it closed down and got bought by a church group. Along with archaic seating, a kick-ass patriotic eagle mural painted on the building, and low ticket and concession prices, it was host to 35mm midnight screenings of films like "Evil Dead 2," "Zombie," and the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Sigh… I'm really gonna miss that place.
Pretty awesome.
Well this earns him major points in my book. I love the New Bev and being a part of the next gen. film nerds I've seen many great classics there. They seem to embrace the fact that a teenager can appreciate classic film, rather than being shocked. Saw The Rules of the Game here and many others, and glad to hear I can continue to go here. Also to the person who asked about the Regency Fairfax, I was wondering the same and I called their # and those rains that came last month damaged the theatre somehow so they are fixing it up to reopen March 4. Thank you very very much Mr. Tarantino
I don't see how there is anything resembling a profit being made at that place, which make's QT even more awesome for buying it. I've only been in LA a couple of years, but the New Bev quickly became one of my favorite places to go. I went there last maybe 2 months ago to finally see A NEW LEAF. Place just rocks.
How cool. Wd love something similar to be going on here in the UK. I used to go to loads of midnight showings, but they happen less and less.
I honestly thought QT had been the owner for a while but was keeping it all on the down low. The place has had a strong QT connection for some time now (New Beverly hosted the Grindhouse Festival back in 2007), which seems to indicate that he has been more than just an occasional patron in recent years. In any event, I'm glad it's official.
The New Beverly is awesome. QT is a hero for keeping it alive.
QUINTON ROCKS…ALWAYS HAS , ALWAYS WILL!!!!!
Quinton is a saint to support this effort and keep alive the non-multiplex opportunity to see past, present and current films. The series that bring directors, actors, producers and technical artists live to the New Bev to share their works and their favorite films are spectacular. Julie Marchese, Michael and Phil are to be congratulated on such creative and fanscinating programming. I bet a lot of people don't know that the New Bev has also occasionally provided a showcase for viewing new films featuring new actors. Most recently Golden Earrings, directed by Marian Kerr and starring the Bev's own Julia Marchese was premiered to a full house. Quinton's mission for the New Bev to enjoy, teach, educate, support and create the art of film is indeed "paying it forward." Thank you kind sir.
Quinton is a saint to support this effort and keep alive the non-multiplex opportunity to see past, present and current films. The series that bring directors, actors, producers and technical artists live to the New Bev to share their works and their favorite films are spectacular. Julie Marchese, Michael and Phil are to be congratulated on such creative and fanscinating programming. I bet a lot of people don't know that the New Bev has also occasionally provided a showcase for viewing new films featuring new actors. Most recently Golden Earrings, directed by Marian Kerr and starring the Bev's own Julia Marchese was premiered to a full house. Quinton's mission for the New Bev to enjoy, teach, educate, support and create the art of film is indeed "paying it forward." Thank you kind sir.
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