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Overview

The Avco Center Theatre, a triplex, operated on this stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood from 1972 until 2011. The building's interior was removed and replaced three years later by the six-screen, luxury iPic Westwood Theatre. In 2017, the iPic's ticket prices ranged from $17-32 per movie, not including food and beverage service, for non-members. Popcorn was free.

Building History

The General Cinema Corporation (GCC) erected this state-of-the-art, well-appointed triplex theatre on 05/24/1972. It contained 2,200 seats at its opening. Theatres within the Avco Westwood were known originally as "Cinema I," "Cinema II," and "Cinema III." The first three films shown were Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” (1972), the bull-fighting film, “Arruza” (1968, a biographical film about the Mexican bullfighter Carlos Arruza [1920-1966]), and the horror film “The Possession of Joel Delaney” (1972).

The original contracting team included Tishman Realty and Construction Company, Incorporated, General Contractors, of Los Angeles, Bergelectric Corporation, Los Angeles, electrical contractors, and Ralph E. Phillips, Incorporated, Los Angeles, mechanical engineers.

The American Multi-Cinema (AMC) Theatres (owned by AMC Entertainment Holdings, Incorporated, of Kansas City, MO), later managed the Avco theatre under the name "AMC Avco Theatre." It ended operations as the AMC Avco on 12/06/2011.

Building Notes

The Avco Center Theatre was one of three Los Angeles-area theatres to exhibit Star Wars on its first-week engagement, opening on 05/25/1977. The theatre was equipped to show a high-resolution print of the film in stereo utilizing Ray Dolby's (1933-2013) Type A noise reduction system.

Alteration

The AMC Avco Theatre was gutted in 2013-2014, and reopened as a six-screen luxury theatre, each exhibition room seating approximately 70 people in luxurious surroundings. The new iPic Theatre was appointed with reclining, La-Z-Boy-style seats, covered in leather, and featured additional amenities such as blankets and added pillows. Meals were served to patrons by wait staff. The iPic opened on 05/02/2014 and contained 480 seats.

PCAD id: 23763