Quentin Tarantino Saves the New Beverly Cinema

In 2007, I wrote an Associated Content article about the New Beverly Cinema, calling it "the last independent revival movie theater in Los Angeles, the film capital of the world." At that time, it was in danger of closing like so many other Southern California classic revival and art movie houses, such as the venerable Fox Venice.

Sherman Torgan

My friend Sherman Torgan had run the New Beverly since 1982. When he died suddenly of a coronary in July 2007, I knew that the theater didn't have long for this world, despite Sherman's son Michael vowing to keep it running.

The New Beverly Cinema in trouble

By 2009, the New Beverly was being crushed under growing debt and the theater's lease was about to lapse. The landlord had an eager buyer and the Torgan family hoped for a savior.

Quentin Tarantino

It was director Quentin Tarantino who came to the rescue. After all, he had been a New Beverly Cinema regular since he was a lowly video store clerk. And, as a leading director, he had even held the premier of his "Grindhouse" film there. He bought the theater from the original landlord despite a bidding war.

Michael Torgan

In 2010, Michael Torgan continues to run the theater's daily operations with Tarantino's occasional creative input. As a result, the New Beverly Cinema has become a Hollywood celebrity darling and the regulars, who have always been in the audience, continue to come.