Joy in Hollywood as historic Cinerama dome to reopen: ‘People still want to go to the movies’
Sony Pictures in July announced that the celebrated theater, built in 1963 and shuttered during Covid, will reopen in 2028 Drive down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and you’ll see a movie theater straight out of The Jetsons. Built in 1963, the Cinerama dome is instantly memorable: a white, geodesic construction that looks like a giant golf ball cut in half and…
Hollywood residents are celebrating the historic Cinerama dome's reopening, a sign that people yearn to return to the cinema. The 1963-built white geodesic structure, located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was shut down during the pandemic but has now reopened in 2028 thanks to a new deal with its owners. Adrian Scott Fine, president and CEO of the LA Conservancy, says the reopening is a hopeful sign for Los Angeles, indicating the city is "getting back to where it once was."
The Cinerama dome, purpose-built for the Cinerama widescreen experience, offered an immersive viewing experience and is considered one of the most important movie theaters in the world. Benjamin Steinberg, a film-maker and activist, spearheaded the push for reopening, collecting tens of thousands of signatures in a petition to save the dome.
Sony Pictures, which bought Alamo Drafthouse in 2024, will operate the venue, maintaining its historic feel and name. The dome will show traditional films on a curved screen and offer traditional concessions, whereas next-door theaters will be dine-in theaters. The reopening comes amid a strong year for the movie industry, with box office revenues hitting $4 billion this summer for the second time since 2020, and analysts attribute this resurgence to high-quality films and renewed interest from audiences.
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