Looking down Weyburn Ave.
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A visit out to the newly refreshed Westwood Village makes for a classic afternoon stroll through this storied pocket of town. A typical loop usually calls for a browse through the village storefronts, a pit stop for a hot cup of coffee, and a quick jaunt to dig through the CD racks at one of the neighborhood's go-to music shops. 06-98

Of course, no trip here is complete without paying respect to Westwood's vintage movie palaces, which have anchored the corner streetscapes for generations. From the soaring 170-foot Spanish revival tower and vibrant neon of the Fox Village Theatre to the mid-century glow and ornate interior of the Crest, Westwood still hangs on to some of the grandest, most spacious picture houses anywhere in Southern California. Best of all, once the credits roll or you wrap up your architectural sightseeing, you are never more than a short walk from a good local eatery right within sight of the marquee.

Mann Westwood Theatre (Gone)
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Mann Westwood Theatre offered several choices under one roof during Westwood’s busy moviegoing years. Along with the Avco, it provided a multiplex alternative to the Village’s famous single-screen houses. The entrance was less elaborate, but the changing bill gave customers plenty of reasons to return.

Opened in 1975, the theatre occupied a former Safeway building at 1050 Gayley Avenue. It began as a triplex and later expanded to four screens, putting a different kind of entertainment inside a familiar shopping address.

UPDATE: The Mann Westwood is gone and a Whole Foods is about to open in its place. The original structure is still there, it's just been renovated. Many thanks to Chad Jones for update. 01-03

UPDATE: The theatre closed in 2002, and the building was converted into Whole Foods Market rather than demolished. By January 2003, the grocery conversion was replacing another piece of Westwood’s moviegoing scene. The shopping carts returned, but the theatre entrance and movie advertising became memories. 10-26

AVCO Theatre (Closed)
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The AVCO Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard was a major stop during Westwood’s moviegoing heyday. Its modern appearance offered a contrast to the Village’s older showplaces, while the large main auditorium gave customers a reason to seek it out for a big release.

General Cinema opened the Avco in 1972 with three screens. It became especially well remembered for its presentations of Star Wars and other large-format attractions. Later alterations divided the main auditorium, bringing the complex to four screens.

UPDATE: AMC ended its run here in 2011. An extensive rebuilding brought the location back as iPic in 2014, with smaller auditoriums, reclining seats, and dining service. Another ownership change in 2026 introduced The Cinemas Westwood. Movies continue at 10840 Wilshire Boulevard, although the experience is quite different from the old Avco’s big-screen years. 10-26

Mann Plaza Theatre (Demolished)
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Mann Plaza Theatre offered a smaller moviegoing stop among Westwood’s grander houses. It lacked the towering entrance of the Village or the size of the National, but its comfortable auditorium earned a place in the neighborhood’s busy theatre scene.

Opened by Laemmle in June 1967 at 1067 Glendon Avenue, the roughly 650-seat Plaza later joined Mann Theatres. During Westwood’s busiest years, customers could walk between several cinemas, checking marquees before choosing an evening’s attraction.

UPDATE: The Plaza closed in October 2004 and was demolished in 2005 for redevelopment. Its entrance and signage disappeared with the building, taking another familiar movie address out of the Village. This photograph recalls the smaller house that held its own among Westwood’s better-known screens. 10-26

UA Theatre (Gone)
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The UA Theatre greeted Westwood moviegoers with a fairly plain entrance, leaving the feature inside to supply the spectacle. This was the United Artists Cinema Center south of Wilshire, another multi-screen stop in a neighborhood once filled with movie choices.

Later known as the Coronet and then UA Westwood, the complex offered large-format presentations and upgraded sound during its moviegoing years. Its understated frontage gave little hint of the crowds a popular release could bring.

UPDATE: The UA Westwood is also closed and Sav-on wants to put a store there. However, there is opposition to the zoning change required. Many thanks to Chad Jones for update. 01-03

UPDATE: The theatre closed in 2002 and was converted into a drugstore. The proposed Sav-on use discussed in early updates did move forward; the property later became CVS. This was a separate cinema from the Regent on Broxton Avenue. Here, the former movie space traded tickets and concessions for everyday shopping. 10-26

Crest Theatre (Closed)
Westwood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Crest Theatre gave Westwood Boulevard a neon attraction that could make a nighttime drive worth a detour. Its colorful entrance promised an old-fashioned movie-house experience, with plenty more to admire once customers stepped inside.

Opened on Christmas Day 1940 as the UCLAN Theatre, it became the Crest in 1955. Designer Joseph Musil transformed the interior in the late 1980s, adding Art Deco-inspired details, glowing murals of local landmarks, and a ceiling filled with tiny stars. The decoration made waiting for the feature part of the fun.

UPDATE: UCLA acquired the property in 2018 and reopened it in September 2023 as the UCLA Nimoy Theater. Named for Leonard Nimoy, the venue now presents live music, dance, theatre, and other performances. The restored marquee and preserved decorative character give the old Crest another entertainment chapter at 1262 Westwood Boulevard. 10-26