Iconic Hollywood cinema unveils historic makeover as the LA staple nears reopening

Hollywood’s beloved Cinerama Dome is giving fans a sneak peek at its highly anticipated comeback — and the theater’s storied past is taking center stage.

New renderings released by the Dome and Alamo Drafthouse, the theater chain purchased by Sony in 2024, show off a retro-inspired revamp featuring wood-paneled walls, gold-toned accents and rust-colored carpeting.

The makeover pays homage to the theater’s original 1963 interiors, preserving the vintage charm that made the landmark a Hollywood fixture. And one instantly recognizable feature isn’t going anywhere: the iconic red-and-blue Pacific’s Cinerama Theatre sign.

The legendary venue shuttered in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking the hearts of locals and tourists who flocked to the beloved movie house on Sunset Boulevard. The closure was followed by Pacific Theatres’ bankruptcy, leaving the landmark sitting empty as fans clamored for its revival.

The property was sold by the family of Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman, who built the Dome. According to Deadline, the Forman family had met with studios and theater operators in hopes of finding a buyer willing to bring the Hollywood institution back to life. AMC and Amazon MGM reportedly passed on the opportunity.

Before its closure, the Dome was a go-to destination for splashy movie premieres and a familiar backdrop on the big and small screens. The theater has appeared in a slew of productions, including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Frost/Nixon, Entourage and Melrose Place.

There’s still a caveat for eager moviegoers. According to Drafthouse and the Dome, “design renderings are illustrative and subject to change,” meaning the final look could differ from the tantalizing preview.

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