Landmark Theatres

History

1970s

Landmark Theatre Corporation began as Parallax Theatres and was founded in 1974 by Kim Jorgensen with the opening of the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles, the Sherman in Sherman Oaks, the Rialto in South Pasadena, and the Ken in San Diego. Steve Gilula and Gary Meyer became partners in 1976, as the chain expanded as Landmark.{{cite web|author1=Cinema Treasures|title=Nuart Theatre

In 1976, the River Oaks Theatre{{cite web|author1=Cultivate Houston|title=River Oaks Theatre

1980s

In the early 1980s, Landmark reoriented most of their theatres to exhibit first-run specialized, foreign, and re-released classics on longer, open-ended runs. Larger single screens were converted into two or three-screen theatres while preserving the external architecture.

In 1981, Landmark acquired the Neptune Theatre in Seattle. The following year, Landmark merged with Movie, Inc. of Santa Fe, NM, which also focused on showcasing foreign, alternative, and classic films. In 1988, The Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee underwent a conversion into a triplex by adding two theaters underneath the balcony, while preserving the original artwork of the main auditorium. Additionally, Landmark opened Canal Place Cinema (4 screens) on the edge of New Orleans' French Quarter, marking its first new build. In 1989, Landmark merged with the Seven Gables theater circuit from Seattle and Portland. Subsequently, Heritage Entertainment acquired Landmark.

1990s

In the early 1990s, Landmark began renovations of its historic buildings and began developing new multiplex theaters of its own. The new locations included the Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles, the Embarcadero in San Francisco's Financial District, the Embassy in Waltham near Boston, the Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis, the Century Center in Chicago, and the Renaissance in Highland Park near Chicago. In 1991, the Clay Theatre of San Francisco was purchased. In 1998, Landmark was acquired by Silver Cinemas and began operating a small group of discount theaters including the Bell Road, the Superstition, The Yukon, the Golden Triangle, the Macomb, the Joliet, the Budget South, the East Town Green Bay, the Market Square and the Poughkeepsie theaters. Landmark was acquired by the Samuel Goldwyn Company in 1990.

2000s

Landmark was brought out of Silver Cinemas' bankruptcy by Oaktree Capital,{{cite web|author1=Variety|title=Oaktree Nabs Silver Cinemas

In 2005, Landmark was the first exhibition circuit to deploy Sony 4K cinema;{{cite web|author1=Projector Central|title=SONY UNVEILS MARKET-READY SXRD 4K RESOLUTION PROJECTOR FOR NEW ERA OF DIGITAL CINEMA

2006 brought the introduction of vertical integration with the release of Bubble by Steven Soderbergh. The film played day-and-date, as it was simultaneously released in Landmark Theatres, broadcast on HDNet Movies and sold on DVD.

In 2007, Landmark Theatres acquired the Ritz Theatre Group{{cite web|author1=The New York Times|title=Landmark Theatres Raise Curtain on Philadelphia Market

In 2008, Landmark held its first live 3D/HD NBA game televised live via satellite to the Magnolia Theatre in Dallas. On March 1, Landmark assumed operation of the 7-screen Gateway Theatre, located in Columbus, Ohio. The theater featured a café, bar, and event space.

The Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley received a comprehensive remodel in 2009 including new theater seating, lighting and carpets. Lot 68, a bar and café adjacent to the lobby, also opened its doors inside the Shattuck. Landmark entered the 3D arena with 3 locations operating 3D Projection: the Harbor East in Baltimore, the Tivoli in St. Louis, and The Landmark in Los Angeles.

2010s

Landmark assumed operation of the Glendale 12 in Indianapolis in 2010 as well as the Olde Town Stadium theater in Arvada, Colorado. In addition, the Piedmont Theatre in Oakland, California was restored, receiving new screens and new auditorium seating in addition to carpets and lighting. In Spring 2011, Landmark Theatres was put up for sale,{{cite web|author1=Los Angeles Times|title=Mark Cuban puts Landmark Theatres and Magnolia Pictures up for sale

Beginning in 2012, Landmark continued renovating its theaters. The Uptown,{{cite web|author1=MPR News|title=Uptown Theatre to reopen after facelift

Renovations and upgrades continued at many of Landmark's theaters in 2013. The E Street Cinema in Washington, D.C., opened a bar. The Bethesda Row Cinema in Maryland, located outside of Washington, D.C., was completely renovated in May 2013 with new, reserved seating in all eight auditoriums and a full-service bar featuring local brews and film-themed cocktails. Located in downtown Highland Park, Chicago, Landmark¹s Renaissance Place Cinema was renovated in July 2013 with the addition of a full-service bar and lounge, an expanded concession menu and leather seating as well as two screening lounges. The Embarcadero Center Cinema, located in San Francisco¹s financial district, reopened in October 2013 after an extensive remodel which included reconfiguring the theater space to allow for two more theaters, bringing the total screen count to seven; a lounge featuring a wide variety of wine and beer was added as well as stadium seating and four Screening Lounges with electric recliners.{{cite web|author1=SF GATE|title=Embarcadero Center Cinema gets makeover

• On November 7, 2013, Landmark Theatres announced they would open an eight-screen complex in Capitol Point, an emerging mixed-use development along New York Avenue in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|title=Landmark Theatres to open 10-screen NoMa movie theater
• On January 8, 2014, Landmark announced a six-screen cinema at Atlantic Plumbing, a new mixed-use community at 8th and V Streets, also in Washington, D.C. Atlantic Plumbing Cinema, a bar and movie theater, opened October 15, 2015.
• On November 20, 2015, Landmark Theatres acquired Albany, New York independent movie house Spectrum 8 Theatres. On December 15, 2015, Landmark acquired the Nickelodeon Theatres, including the Nickelodeon and Del Mar in Santa Cruz, California, and the Aptos Cinema in Aptos, California.
• In December 2016, Landmark opened their luxury theatre The Landmark at Merrick Park located in the Shops at Merrick Park shopping center in Coral Gables, Florida. This was the company's first location and currently only location in Florida.
• In June 2017, Landmark closed their Seven Gables and Guild 45 theaters in Seattle. The official reason was to prepare for renovation, although local media disputes this saying that the theaters are closed for good.
• In September 2017, Landmark opened a new east coast flagship theatre The Landmark at VIA 57 West in Midtown West Manhattan. At the start of 2018, their prior NYC flagship, the Sunshine Cinema, closed.
• In April 2018, it was made public that Wagner/Cuban had put Landmark up for sale. After initial attempts failed in 2011 and 2013, the sale was finalized on December 4, 2018, and the theatre chain was purchased by Charles S. Cohen who also owns Cohen Media Group. After the acquisition, Landmark took over booking for another Cohen-owned theater, the Quad Cinema in New York City.
• In September 2019, the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, CA closed.
• On October 24, 2019, it was announced that long-time CEO Ted Mundorff had resigned, effectively immediately. Paul Serwitz was announced as the company's new COO and President on October 30, 2019.

2020s

• In late January 2020, it was announced that Landmark Theatres would be closing two locations, the Clay Theatre in San Francisco and the Ritz at the Bourse in Philadelphia. The last day of business for both locations was January 26, 2020.
• In March 2020, Landmark ceased operations at their last single-screen theater in Kensington, San Diego called the Ken Cinema, having acquired it in the 1970s.
• In August 2020, Landmark proceeded to close its VIA 57 West location in New York's Upper West Side after three years of operation. This was due in part to its distance from public transit.
• In June 2021, Landmark Theatres was evicted from Uptown Theatre in Minneapolis, due to unpaid back rent. Also that month, Landmark Theaters ended their lease of the Main Art Theater in Royal Oak, Michigan.
• In August 2021, it was announced that Landmark had acquired the Scottsdale Quarter luxury multiplex in Scottsdale, Arizona which was previously occupied by dine-in-cinema iPic Theatre.
• In November 2021, it was announced that Landmark had acquired the lease to the former Arclight Cinemas at The Glen Town Center in Glenview, Illinois and that the theater would reopen as part of the company's chain. The location began business the following year.
• In April 2022, Landmark assumed operation of the Annapolis Harbour Center.
• In May 2022, Landmark ceased operation of their cineplex The Landmark on Pico and The Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley, and acquired the Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. In September 2022, Landmark opened the Landmark Closter Plaza.
• In June 2023, Landmark ceased operation of the Albany Twin Cinema in Albany, California.
• In July 2024, Landmark closed the Esquire Theatre in Denver, Colorado.
• In August 2024, Landmark closed the Chez Artiste in Denver, Colorado.
• In November 2024, Charles Cohen put Landmark Theatres up for auction as part of his assets in an attempt to settle a lawsuit against him for unpaid loans.
• In January 2025, Landmark ceased operation of Hillcrest Cinemas, its last theater in Hillcrest, San Diego, California.

Locations

• Albany, New York
• Annapolis, Maryland
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Bethesda, Maryland
• Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Closter, New Jersey
• Coral Gables, Florida
• Dallas, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Denton, Texas
• Frontenac, Missouri
• Glenview, Illinois
• Greenwood Village, Colorado
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Los Angeles, California
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• New York, New York
• Oakland, California
• Palo Alto, California
• Pasadena, California
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• San Francisco, California
• Santa Cruz, California
• Scottsdale, Arizona
• Shoreline, Washington
• Washington, District of Columbia

Silver Cinemas

Landmark Theatres also owned the theater chain Silver Cinemas, which primarily showed second-run movies. Down to just three cinemas entering the COVID-19 pandemic, the final of three Silver Cinemas remaining was transferred to its Landmark nameplate with the other locations closed in 2020 and 2022.

References

References

1. "Find your Nearest Movie Theatre Location | Landmark Theatres".
2. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (January 27, 2022). "Kevin Holloway Named New President Of Landmark Theatres".
3. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (December 4, 2018). "Cohen Media Group Acquires Landmark Theatres From Wagner/Cuban Companies".
4. "History".
5. "Harvard Exit Theatre in Seattle, WA - Cinema Treasures".
6. Cline, John & Weiner, Robert G. & Gore, Chris (2010). From the Arthouse to the Grindhouse: Highbrow and Lowbrow Transgression in Cinema's First Century. Scarecrow Press Chapter 12 Art and Grind in Seattle by [[Dennis Nyback]] pp. 158-161 {{ISBN. 9780810876545.
7. Whiting, Sam. (January 21, 2020). "Clay Theatre to close, last Bay Area single screen in Landmark art house chain".
8. "Landmark Theatre Corporation {{!}} Encyclopedia.com".
9. (January 24, 2006). "Soderbergh's 'Bubble' Changes the Rules".
10. "Dallas Mavericks Game Shown in 3-D".
11. (April 26, 2013). "Comfort is Key at Newly Renovated Bethesda Row Cinema". washingtoncitypaper.com.
12. (January 8, 2014). "Landmark Theatres Coming to Atlantic Plumbing off U Street NW". washingtoncitypaper.com.
13. (October 15, 2015). "Tonight's the Night – Landmark's Atlantic Plumbing Cinema Opens Next Door to 9:30 Club – Have a Look at the Seats".
14. (October 19, 2015). "A Cinematic Toast: Inside Landmark's New Atlantic Plumbing Cinema".
15. (October 23, 2015). "Albany's Spectrum Theatre gets new owner".
16. (November 20, 2015). "New owners for The Nick, Del Mar, Aptos Cinemas include NBA team owner". santacruzsentinel.com.
17. Morgenstern, Hans. (December 12, 2016). "The Landmark at Merrick Park Opens Friday, Mixing Mainstream and Indie Films".
18. (June 6, 2017). "Seven Gables and Guild 45th Theaters Closed.". The Stranger.
19. Chung, Jen. "Landmark Theatres' 8-Screen Location Will Open In NYC's 'Pyramid' Building".
20. Ferré-Sadurní, Luis. (January 21, 2018). "Sunshine Cinema, a Beloved Manhattan Theater, Goes Dark". The New York Times.
21. (2011-04-19). "Mark Cuban puts Landmark Theatres and Magnolia Pictures up for sale".
22. (2018-12-04). "Landmark Theatres Sells to Billionaire Charles S Cohen's Indie Film Company". THR.
23. (December 4, 2018). "Landmark Theatres is sold to the production company of a billionaire real estate developer".
24. (9 April 2019). "New York's Quad Cinema Is Now a Landmark Theater".
25. "Guild Theatre to close Thursday, will transform into a live music venue".
26. (October 25, 2019). "Landmark Theatres CEO Ted Mundorff steps down".
27. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (October 30, 2019). "Longtime Regal Exec Paul Serwitz Named Landmark Theatres President/COO".
28. Whiting, Sam. (January 23, 2020). "Datebook: Clay Theatre to close, last Bay Area single screen in Landmark art house chain". San Francisco Chronicle.
29. Reyes, Montse. (January 28, 2020). "'The last, last, last screening': Scenes from the final night of San Francisco's Clay Theatre". San Francisco Chronicle.
30. (January 19, 2020). "Ritz At The Bourse Movie Theater To Close At End Of January". KYW-TV.
31. Marks, Scott. (2020-02-24). "Landmark's Ken Cinema to close its doors March 22 {{!}} San Diego Reader".
32. Bravo, Christina. (2020-02-24). "Landmark's Ken Cinema to Shutter Next Month".
33. (17 August 2020). "New York's Landmark At 57 West Theater Closes Three Years After Opening; Chain Will Seek Out Another West Side Location – Update".
34. John Croman. (June 7, 2021). "Final curtain for iconic Uptown Theater".
35. McLean, Jessica. (June 12, 2021). "Main Art Theatre closes in Royal Oak, marquee says 'landlord kicked us out'". DailyTribune.
36. (30 December 2021). "Landmark Takes Over Former Arclight Cinemas Glen Town Center Location In Illinois". Deadline Hollywood.
37. (18 November 2022). "Landmark Theaters At The Glen Opens Today (Friday)". Journal & Topics.
38. (1 June 2022). "Landmark Theatres to Celebrate Harbour Center Re-Opening With Back To The Future on June 5th". Eye On Annapolis.
39. (15 June 2023). "88-year-old Bay Area movie theater, the Albany Twin, to permanently close". sfgate.com.
40. (2024-08-05). "Landmark Chez Artiste to close this week in the latest blow to Denver's film buffs".
41. Albright • •, Adonis. (2024-12-21). "Hillcrest's only cinema, a longtime community anchor, to shutter in January".
42. (July 2025). "Silver Cinemas Webpage".
43. Hotts, Mitch. (April 19, 2015). "Silver Cinemas is out, new pizzeria is in at Macomb Mall". Macomb Daily.
44. "Company Overview of Silver Cinemas Acquisition Co.". Bloomberg Business.