All indoor movie theaters in Los Angeles were forced to close during the pandemic and while some did not survive the yearlong closures, the historic Vista Theater in Los Feliz will soon reopen its doors thanks to famed movie director Quentin Tarantino.

Tarantino announced that he bought the 97-year-old theater while on the July 5 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, hosted by actor Dax Shepard.

“We’ll show new movies that come out, where they give us a film print,” Tarantino said. “The Vista is like a crown jewel kind of thing. So it’ll be like the best prints. We’ll show older films, but they will be like older films that can hold a four-night engagement.”

The two-time Academy Award winner also owns the 101-year-old New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles and fans speculated that Tarantino may purchase the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard, as it was featured in his “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood,” film, and the theater often screened the 35 millimetre versions of his films. The Cinerama, as well as other theaters owned by Pacific Theaters announced permanent closure in early April, 2021.

The Vista was twice robbed during the pandemic, the most recent incident occurring this July 4 weekend, as the windows were shattered and cash register tossed to the floor, although LAPD confirmed there was no money to be taken.

 

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