Cinerama Dome Reopening Push: Advocates Seize Rare Chance to Pressure Owners

Since its closure in 2020, the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood has remained a silent witness to the pandemic’s ravages on the entertainment industry. But on a hopeful Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles City held a public hearing to discuss a conditional use permit for alcohol sales at the venue, signaling a potential revival.

The hearing, orchestrated by the city’s Associate Zoning Administrator, centered around whether Decurion, the Dome’s owning entity, should be granted the permit. While the discussion was technically limited to this issue, it opened a floodgate of pent-up frustrations and hopes from the community.

Decurion and its real estate arm, Robertson Properties Group, have been notably reticent over the years. This public forum, therefore, became a rare opportunity for direct dialogue. Decurion’s CEO, Chris Forman, represents a legacy, his father having established the Pacific Theaters which includes the Cinerama Dome, constructed in 1963.

Elizabeth Gower, representing the ownership, advocated for a perpetual liquor license, citing the recent opening of the Blue Note Jazz Club within the same complex as a sign of economic revival. She noted the pandemic as the primary reason for the venue’s prolonged closure, yet failed to provide a clear reopening schedule, which sparked concern among the attendees.

The public comments, delivered via Zoom, ranged from poignant expressions of loss over Hollywood’s declining dynamism to outright frustration at the perceived neglect by Decurion. Michael Wayne Osborn, a filmmaker, articulated a sentiment shared by many: the closure of the Dome felt akin to the death of Hollywood itself.

Speakers included local business owners, filmmakers, and concerned citizens like Kat Kramer, daughter of Stanley Kramer, who directed the first movie shown at the Dome. Many expressed dismay that while other Pacific Theaters venues have been taken over and reopened by different chains, the Dome remains shuttered.

Journalists and locals speculated about potential motives for the delay, fearing that it might lead to the eventual demolition of the iconic structure for new developments. Some suggested that the granting of a liquor license without a firm commitment to reopen could allow Decurion to avoid further scrutiny.

Tim Fargo, the Zoning Administrator, explained that the city typically grants licenses in perpetuity but with a stipulation for reevaluation if not utilized within three years. This did little to assuage concerns about a lack of commitment to reopening.

The meeting also highlighted grassroots efforts led by activist Ben Steinberg, who has mobilized significant public support for reopening the Dome, including a petition with 30,000 signatures. Steinberg’s initiatives, including a protest that projected demands directly onto the Dome’s exterior, underscore the community’s attachment to the venue.

Gower concluded the meeting by promising to relay the community’s strong feelings and requests for a more definitive plan to the owners. She reaffirmed the intention to maintain the Dome’s historic status and its iconic signage, yet many left the meeting with lingering questions about the future of a beloved Hollywood landmark.