DISNEY'S EL CAPITAN THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD
CINEMA REVIEW BY GARAN GREY
EL CAPITAN BACKSTORY & PHOTO TOUR
Garan Grey: I've always thought that some movie venues were worth more than others, and the El Capitan is a very good example. It certainly succeeds as a memorable movie showcase, albeit to varying degrees. The first point in its favor: it is a real THEATRE, which beats a bland multiplex any day...
The show begins on the sidewalk: The El Capitan has a great marquee - essentially a large video screen in a showy frame. A marquee's main purpose is to herald the current feature. Often, however, it has been entirely possible to pass the theatre and be mislead about what is playing at the moment. Whoever programs the marquee (back at the studio) seems to forget that most people see it only briefly in passing. During the entire run of ENCHANTED, for about a third of the time, the marquee was entirely taken over to plug the upcoming HANNA MONTANA show. You could actually look at the marquee for several seconds before you saw that the current feature was actually ENCHANTED. It's fine to promote an upcoming feature, but not by taking up the entire sign. The front and side panels are big enough to have a coming attraction mentioned on PART of the screen, but one should never take over the entire marquee from the current feature.
There used to be very nice holiday decorations out front from November to January, but they were missing this year, and as a result the theatre felt less festive.
The Boxoffice: With a showy, faux classic look, it has the capacity to handle five patrons at a time, but it never does. I once stood in line for over 25 minutes, only to find that the current show was sold out. There are now programmable lighted signs in the windows for prices and showtimes. Hopefully, these are changeable easily enough to indicate sold-out shows as soon as the tickets are gone. If you look at the front of the theatre and the box office in relation to the ornamental pattern above, you'll see that the B.O. is just slightly off center.
The Prices: Yes, the El Capitan really IS worth more than any multiplex (certainly including the ArcLight). However... Added attractions, like stage shows and walkthroughs out back, can add a lot to the price. Recently, ENCHANTED, with its own youth-oriented walk-through, cost Adults $20 ($18 for matinees). That priced this family showplace right out of the budget for many families, and quite a few single folks. While the theatre is worth more than most others, I wish they would have an affordable alternative. As an adult with a tight budget, I'd like to be able to buy a ticket at a lower rate that doesn't include the walkthrough thing out back. It would be a win-win situation if unsold side seats were offered at reduced prices a few minutes before each show... maybe sell the side sections for less? Instead they sell the center section for more...
The VIP deal: A premium priced "VIP" ticket gets you a reserved seat, no waiting in line (well, it's the first line they let in), a small, covered bucket of cold popcorn (that's at least 2 hours old), and a bottle of soda. At the two VIP pick-up stations (one in the rear of the orchestra, and another in the balcony) there are coolers for the sodas, but not warmers for the popcorn. The latter is something management should consider. At least then the VIP popcorn would be as warm as it is at the regular concession stands.
Now to be fair, the concept of offering premium-priced options for those who could afford it* is nothing new. Radio City Music Hall charged extra for reserved seats in the classy First Mezzanine (the rest of the 5000 seats were general admission). Broadway musicals now sell the first few rows at astronomical rates, because they can, and some people will gladly pay that much, because they can.
When the El Capitan first introduced, its VIP deal, I found it rather objectionable. As they had done with their special Imax tent in West LA for FANTASIA 2000, the Disney Marketeers took over the entire center section at the El Capitan, right up to (one row from) the top of the balcony, for higher "VIP" prices. A lot of disgruntled patrons were stuck in the side sections, watched by staffers hired to keep them out of the better (and often empty) seats.
Here, however is an issue that has been at least partially addressed. As a result of patron complaints, or the sea of empty seats that often resulted from taking away all the decent locations for VIP sales, there has been a policy change. Lately, a limited section of center seats are initially held for VIP sales, possibly expanding as the sales come in. The staff then covers only the sold VIP seats, plus a few more around them for last minute sales, and the rest of the theatre is available for us regular folks... But if the movie is new and popular, forget it. It is still possible to be stuck way out on the sides, especially for a popular movie near a holiday, (Like ENCHANTED around Thanksgiving).
While it is nice to choose a desired location in advance, and not have to scramble for seats on arrival, reserved movie seating can be a big drawback. If you run into friends you'd like to sit with, or if there is someone tall in front of you, you're usually out of luck. One of my two favorite seat locations in the El Capitan (I'll never tell where) is always within the VIP section, the other is often not. I try to go to weekday late shows (to avoid big crowds and loud kids) and usually find one of my favorite places available. Again, if it's a new Christmas or Summer release, you're probably out of luck unless you spring for the higher rate.
The difference in price between the standard Adult and VIP ticket is $10-12. For about the same $10-12, you can buy a large souvenir bucket of popcorn that comes with a free refill (fresh & warm from the popper), maybe two bottles of soda (they're pretty small) or one soda and another snack item. So I can't see that you get all that much real value for the extra cost.
Value Added: With the VIP deal, you used to get a "program" (the ones studios print for press screenings, with nothing but credits) but that was discontinued a while back. Here is a real missed opportunity. It wouldn't cost too much to print up a simple program with pictures. Another option would be to print a larger program, with color pictures, cast bios, production stories, etc. - it would make a nice souvenir for the VIP folks, and and you could sell it to the regular audience as well. Radio City used to hand everyone a simple, one-piece folded B&W program with a couple pictures, a cast list, a little text, and a couple ads. Something along those lines, or more elaborate, like a Playbill, could pay for itself from the (carefully chosen) ads alone.
There is a sizeable hardcover book about Disney's restored New Amsterdam Theatre, but, amazingly, it has only a few actual pictures of the place. The El Capitan is worthy of at least a full-size, full-color souvenir book. (Radio City had one of those as well) The El Capitan book could contain pictures of the theatre, (past & present) details of its long and varied history, shots of past events and productions, and the story of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. If offered for sale in the theatre, the studio store and by mail, this book could be a good source of extra profit, and a fine way to show what an outstanding showplace Disney has here. For those in upper management looking for more "Added value at a premium price" options, they might consider higher priced "Ultra VIP Patron" packages, with a meal at the fountain, the CD soundtrack of the latest feature or the hard-to-find CD of Rob Richards on the Mighty Wurlitzer, plus the souvenir book.
The Concession Stand: It is attractive, with a somewhat classic movie theatre look. The popcorn, tasty without being over-seasoned, is popped right in front of you, and you can sometimes get yours hot from the kettle. The butter-flavored topping (no longer real butter) is available from the nearby condiment station. (calorie & fat counters, beware) And, in between event pictures, they even have the theatre's signature artwork on the big popcorn buckets. It used to be on drink cups, too, but...
Now, all the soda is in bottles, which contain about half as much as you would get in a similarly priced cup at any other cinema. Upper management chose to sell bottles as an expedient, to make sales move more quickly, but it is a major disservice to the patrons. While they save time, we get less soda, and they make the same money. I wonder if the extra money goes to pay Disney's award-winning recycleteers to sort through the all that extra trash. This is real drawback in an otherwise great theatre.
The Service: I have had plenty of good experiences with El Capitan staff, from thoughtful information regarding the most desirable showtimes, to someone kind enough to find a couple of left-behind souvenir popcorn buckets to round out a collection. Most of the staff don't know much about the theatre or the show, but how many patrons, besides me, will ask if they are using a second screen when alternating between a 3D feature and a regular one... or whether a favorite curtain has been removed or replaced? I have met one of the El Capitan managers, who has specific knowledge of such things, (he also oversees the stage productions) and it was a delight to find someone on the premises who is actually interested in theatrical showmanship.
The Look: From the ornate decorations and handsome custom-made displays out front, the El Capitan makes a great impression... this place can certainly take you away from real life. The auditorium is breathtaking. A true movie palace. When they put displays for the current attraction in the downstairs lounge, (which they don't do much anymore) it's yet another feature that makes this place special - and worth arriving early for.
The Presentation: The projection, either digital or a new print, comes from a booth that is close enough to throw a bright picture, at a level enough angle to avoid geometric picture distortion. The theatre opened with a THX approved sound system, and the original THX promo with the organ crescendo was, well... orgasmic. I once traded email with Tomlinson Holman (the TH of THX), and when I asked, he agreed that the El Capitan was his favorite THX showcase. However, the THX specs require a fixed sound wall behind the screen speakers. It was eventually decided to make the entire stage available for a variety of presentations, the screen now has to be able to fly out to open up the full stage. So the sound wall is gone, and the THX certification went with it. The sound is less impressive, but it's still a good show.
When Disney first reopened their newly restored/renovated El Capitan in 1991, every movie was presented with a very theatrical prologue: opening three different curtains, accompanied by timed music and light cues. This impressive element has been missing for quite some time, making the beginning of each show less of an event.
Back in 1991, a small live pre-show also preceded the feature - originally, just a simple song and dance by performers in vintage usher outfits. Beginning with ALADDIN in November of 1992, the stage show became an elegantly simple Disney program. A cute opening number with the original Disney princesses and their princes, was followed by Ariel singing "Part of Your World" from the left stage box. Sebastian then warbled "Under the Sea" from the right stage box, as bubbles filled the air and dancers bounced in the aisles. Next, a stained glass window appeared on the main curtain, which rose to reveal Belle, with an amazingly costumed Beast, doing a simple dance in a cloud of white fog. Later, Aladdin swung from the balcony onto the stage for the finale... Simple and impeccable, magical and enchanting.
The next stage show, with THE LION KING, got more ambitious. Ugly holes were poked into the beautiful ceiling to hang a plainly visible track that "flew" Aladdin and Jasmine across the front of the stage. There was some cheesy Debbie Allen Oscar-type choreography, and a romantic ballad from a pair of singers who clearly had no chemistry. In my opinion, the pre-shows went downhill from there. At some point the idea of a Disney theme was abandoned entirely, for generic amusement park fare...
One holiday pre-show, before the live-action remake of 101 DALMATIANS, looked like an old Perry Como Christmas special. Flat set pieces, guys in "holiday" sweaters, and the immeasurably tacky idea of substituting "puppies" for deity references in classic holiday songs: "Joy to the World, the Puppies Come!" The pinnacle of bad taste came when Beethoven's classic Ode to Joy was desecrated by the entire cast singing "Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puuuuh-up-peeees!" At that point I sank down in my seat, slid the program over my face, and instantly amused more of the audience than the show did.
The producers of Disney stage shows seem to have a huge affinity for confetti. Disney is generally good at spectacle, and a confetti blast is an inexpensive way to provoke a little rush at the end. Cheap spectacle can still be very effective, but confetti blasts have become the inevitable button at the end of every show. Sometimes replaced by soapy "snow," sparklers or Roman candle pyrotechnics, Confetti is a Disney show staple, and it's here to stay. There is often a pile of it onstage throughout the movie, sometimes during the movie, a few bits waft down in front of the screen from the rafters, and as you walk out, the place looks like Times Square the morning after New Year's Eve. Imagine cleaning up all that mess five times a day, just for one moment of spectacle.
After Disney began making feature films from their theme park attractions, (who can forget the Haunted Mansion movie? Oh, right. You have.) they unleashed THE COUNTRY BEARS, right after they closed the Bears' attraction at Disneyland. (Nice timing, huh? Whose idea was that?) It was a cute, forgettable movie, but the presentation at the El Cap was exceptional. The end credits bridged seamlessly into a "live concert" by The Country Bears. The stage was set like a real concert, with flashy lights and projections, the costumes had articulate animatronic heads that made the bears seem real... The idea may seem kinda lame, but it was very well done, and a lot of fun. I've an embarrassingly low resistance to well-orchestrated spectacle... I actually got goosebumps. I'll get razzed for that, but it's true. I still miss the Bears at Disneyland.
MEET THE ROBINSONS was preceded by a strange little intro: two rubber-head characters from the movie came down the aisles and up onto the stage. They just stood there, and kept repeating the same two little gestures to some kind of pop music, then they walked offstage and the movie began. What the heck was that about?
Like generic theme park acts, (though they may have some Disney characters) recent El Capitan pre-shows seem to be aimed straight at hip-hoppy tweeners. I thought I'd never live to see Mary Poppins boogie. Yikes! At least she didn't rap... As an adult, this kid-rock stuff leaves me cold. The simpler, early pre-shows (before they started charging extra for them) had more direct representations of classic Disney favorites that bridged all generations and appealed to everyone. I miss that.
I have no interest in the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN movies, but I was very impressed by the extra showmanship they were presented with. Displays atop the marquee and props in the theatre, a big set-piece over the proscenium, special Pirates curtain, etc.. Why can't we see that kind of stuff for non-violent movies? The NARNIA movies get a similar treatment as well, perhaps more elaborate.
The Presentation Drawbacks: The cardinal rule of classic movie showmanship has always been that you NEVER show the audience a blank screen! You mustn't remind the audience of the technology by exposing a part of it that's not being used. That kind of thing evokes watching home movies on a wall. It's tacky and unprofessional. This goes back to the golden age of movies, and especially the Roadshow era, where studios sent out presentation instructions that required timing of the curtains to avoid a blank screen. The vast majority of today's projectionists have no idea of such things. In the theatrical world, (one that certainly should be respected by those creating "Disney Magic") the screen doesn't exist. The curtains are there to reveal the window into another world...
The El Capitan has THREE, count 'em, THREE curtains, but every time I have seem them used in the past few years, they still opened onto a blank screen! The El Cap already has a cloud projection effect that used to come on at the end of a film. An easy fix would be to add that cloud projection to the end of the curtain prologue in front of every show, or just tell the projectionist to open the curtain after the picture comes on.
I'd much rather see something more creative onscreen as the last curtains open: like stars, or fireworks over a Disney castle. The way Disney slaps their brand onto everything (you literally can't watch a movie from their video division without sitting through an irritating vanity card spelling out "DISNEY DVD") I'm surprised they haven't come up with something to precede every presentation at the El Capitan. If done right, it can be a classy detail that adds a touch of "Disney Magic" to the presentation.
The curtain prologue, (music, light cues and all) is pre-programmed onto a black strip of film, so when one curtain is unusable, (like when the silver 3-D screen was hung in place of the second curtain) the whole prologue is gone. I'd like to see them devise a variety of theatrical openings that can be used in different circumstances. This theatre (as it is now) was literally designed with a classy curtain presentation, it deserves to keep using one.
ENCHANTED was preceded by the usual organ concert, in front of a rich burgundy curtain that was gathered up in the middle, to frame the organist. A cutout of movie title hung over the opening. When the movie began, we saw that it was not a working curtain, just a drop that flew up in one piece. Behind it was the silver curtain, that still parted to reveal a blank screen. No fanfare, no light cues, no magic. Very below par for this theatre. It was nice to see a rich, red curtain out front, but I'd have preferred it to be a functioning curtain, pulled back tableaux style, that could close as the organ sinks, then maybe fly up like a normal act curtain. Instead of just hanging letters on a curtain-like drop, they could have projected the movie title onto the main curtain during the walk-in - a more versatile, and "magical" effect.
The Ambiance: when the Disney renovated El Capitan first opened, there was recorded organ music - a real throwback to the golden days of the movie palace, where a live organist was part of the program. Not having been around in those days, it reminded me more of Radio City Music Hall in New York, which always played a grand organ between shows until it stopped showing movies in the 70s. I imagined that Disney's intention was to recreate the special "movie and a show" policy that made the Music Hall special.
A few years ago, a classic Wurlitzer organ was installed at the El Capitan. I would have preferred to see them extend the full width of the stage out only about 2-4 feet, with the organ lift in the center, cutting partway into the existing stage when raised, and filling in the space when it wasn't used. At least then it would still look like a normal stage. Instead, several rows of seats were removed to make way for a big platform/lift, extending only from the center of the stage. That wastes a lot of stage and/or seat space on either side. The good news, is from that lift, we get the talented Rob Richards, riding on one of the biggest organs in the world. Walking into a movie palace with a live organist playing is an exceptional experience, especially given Richards' talent and repertoire. You get the feeling the minute you enter the theatre that something special is happening.
The Programming: I miss the good old days, when Disney would routinely reissue its animated classics back into theatres every seven years. I know the Home Video market may have cut into their theatrical potential, but I don't believe that the entire Disney film library should be forever banished from theatres after the DVD comes out. Theatrical reissues of animated classics stopped when the Eisner administration began to act as if there was no animation before their regime oversaw THE LITTLE MERMAID. I do like that the El Cap often runs a classic animated film as advance publicity for an upcoming "Special Edition" DVD release. Of course it's easier for them to show a recent DVD release, because they can project it digitally, without having to strike any film prints. But why limit that to DVD promos? Such engagements are sometimes used to fill in gaps in the schedule, but I wish they would be more imaginative with the titles they choose. At this point, THE LITTLE MERMAID and 101 DALMATIANS have had more than their share of screen time here.
I (along with countless Disney fans) really wish they would run more of the Disney library product during the downtime between event pictures. I'd love to see my Disney favorites presented as they were intended to be seen, on the El Capitan's big screen. How about a Disney Girls movie series featuring Annette Funicello, Hayley Mills, Jodie Foster, Suzanne Pleshette (add Lindsay if you must)... A series with classic Disney leading men: Dean Jones, Fred MacMurray, Dick Van Dyke, Kurt Russell, Roddy MacDowall... an Animation/Live Action series: MARY POPPINS, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, PETE'S DRAGON, ROGER RABBIT, and the long sequestered SONG OF THE SOUTH... Disney Musicals: THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, BABES IN TOYLAND, FAMILY BAND, NEWSIES, etc. A Disney Adventure series: SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, CASTAWAYS, ISLAND AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD... A Science/Fantasy series: TRON, THE BLACK HOLE, 20,000 LEAGUES, WITCH MOUNTAIN, FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR... Classic Disney Animated Feature series is a no-brainer. The Disney vaults have so many fun features that could still pack a few houses. There are still some people related to those movies, who might agree to appear for panel discussions... the possibilities are considerable. I just hope someone will actually consider them.
The Special Appearances: There have been many onstage panel discussions on the opening night of those pre-DVD engagements. I haven't been able to get to many of them, but I'll always remember watching Jodi Benson sing "Part of Your World" as Alan Menkin played the piano, and hearing her talk about the production, while sitting right next to the girl who was the physical model for Ariel... and Karen Dotrice (wow, she grew up pretty!) reminiscing about MARY POPPINS with with Richard Sherman... any appearance by a Sherman Brother is an event, there is always something fun to hear from them. Animation producer Don Hahn has made a fine moderator, and we've seen top-notch animators like Andreas Deja, and director Roger Allers talk about their work. When a scheduled run of THE ARISTOCATS was cancelled to extend ENCHANTED, most of us missed out on the opening night event, which was held without any notice, and featured one of the voice actors. I would have liked to see that. And really, instead of cutting ARISTOCATS out entirely, why couldn't they have just split the remaining weeks with the DALMATIANS?
In a rare series of non-Disney films that opened at the El Capitan, (including the Paramount years) it was fun to see THE MUSIC MAN on the big screen (though a new stereo print would have been much better). In the panel discussion that followed, when the moderator mentioned Hermoine Gingold in the "Grecian Urn" sequence, Buddy Hackett snapped "Now she's IN one!" (Editor's note: Now HE is too!)
When to Go: (Editor: My first time at the glorious El Capitan was November 1991, for a 5pm showing of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Loved the movie, loved the theatre. A couple days later, I went back to a 10pm show, with a predominantly adult audience, and it was a revelation! They appreciated the movie on another level, got more of the humor, and reacted accordingly. Their reaction enhanced mine, and it was one of the best moviegoing experiences of my life.)
Though matinees may be cheaper, there is a strong probability of extra noise, seat-kicking, etc... One particularly miserable time for me was during HOME ON THE RANGE. No, it wasn't the movie. A hyperactive toddler kept repeatedly kicking the back of my seat. After enduring it for about 30 minutes, I mustered up enough restraint to simply turn and say "Please don't do that." The kicking continued. 20 minutes later: Would you PLEASE STOP THAT?" Instead of actually parenting, the kid's mother just expressed annoyance at me, as if I were the problem.
Late-night shows usually have more adults than kids. However, midnight shows on the night before a major film opens, are often aimed at the noisy 17 to 22 crowd. For CHICKEN LITTLE, I waited through about 30 minutes of unnecessarily loud music from a live band, before Zach Braff took the stage, and spewed half a dozen four-letter words to an amazingly kid-heavy audience. I'm no prude, but that was out of place.
An El Cap employee once told me that late shows on weekends may still have kids and rowdy young adults waiting for the nightclubs to open, so the best times to find a less crowded, adult audience would seem to be weekday late shows, but... I caught the last Friday midnight showing of RATATOUILLE and found just a nice handful of adults. In the pre-show, when the performers went into the house to bring kids up onstage, there weren't any. They ended up with a teenager and a very game adult. Now, that was entertaining! And the movie itself was a sheer undisturbed pleasure.
The Overall Experience: When it is operating at its full theatrical capability, this unique showplace can make any movie an event. You will remember the theatre at least as much as the movie. All the drawbacks I've mentioned are easily fixable. I Highly recommended the glorious El Capitan - its an exemplary moviegoing experience.
- Garan Grey (Ed: I quite agree)
Cinema Sightlines Rating: 4.85 of 5 stars.
DISNEY'S EL CAPITAN THEATRE - 6838 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 323-467-7674
EL CAPITAN THEATRE BACKSTORY & PHOTO TOUR
*Wouldn't it be nice if a few of the less affluent masses could occasionally get a surprise upgrade into these premium experiences, like you do on airplanes?