< The original name of this page was “Petition to Save the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre” – Click here to sign the petition. <

UPDATE NOVEMBER 12, 2023: The Hollywood Reporter helps Netflix whitewash the ethical violation of American Cinematheque board member “recusing himself” before the collapsing non-profit sold its only asset, the Egyptian Theatre, to the streamer. This claim is not factual: “According to American Cinematheque chairman Rick Nicita, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos reached out in 2019 about buying the theater. The collaboration worked out.” Image below shows how Sarandos appears on the American Cinematheque’s 990 Form submitted to the California state Charities Registry on August 19, 2019.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 7, 2023: As the Central Area Planning Commission publishes its letter of determination approving Netflix’ LED billboard on the roof of the Egyptian Theatre, we share the audio with closed captions and the city’s appalling response to furious citizens locked out of the public hearing by a conveniently dead Zoom stream, because the fix is in. Meanwhile, Netflix sits across the table from Hollywood’s creative community at day 116 of a brutal strike.

UPDATE OCTOBER 25, 2023: Audio from last night’s Central Area Planning Commission hearing has now been added as links to the agenda. Audio from the Egyptian Theatre presentation and vote (item 7. APCC-2023-1163-SPE-SPP), which took place after the Zoom hearing was ended for the public is here.  At 19:56, a female voice acknowledges as they go to public comment “I know we’re not on Zoom” and Cecilia Lamas, Commission Executive Assistant II, confirms “Zoom is definitely not an option right now.”  There are no public commenters, which is not surprising, since the Zoom webinar ended abruptly, before the vote on item 6. Due to this situation, we were deprived of our ability to speak as members of the preservation community that overwhelmingly opposed this digital billboard at the previous hearing, in the form of emails and in person comments. And we believe that other concerned citizens were also deprived of their right to be heard. In the absence of public comment, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the non-conforming digital billboard, in an invalid, non public vote. We have shared this information with city staff to memorialize the fact that the commissioners, city staff and the applicant were all aware before a vote was taken that the Zoom feed was not active and the public could no longer access the hearing. We do not know why they went ahead with the presentation and vote under these circumstances.

UPDATE OCTOBER 24, 2023: The virtual Central Area Planning Commission hearing about the inappropriate animated LED billboard on the roof was rescheduled for 4:30pm today. We live narrated the proceedings on Twitter and Facebook, including the moment when the Zoom video suddenly stopped, after more than three hours of unrelated discussion, and before the Egyptian Theatre item was called. That means the entire meeting is a Brown Act violation because it was not accessible to the public, and the agenda items will need to be heard at a future date. We informed the Commission secretary, Planning Department and Council District 13 about the technical problems with the hearing. There is likely not enough time to gain approval for the roof sign before the Egyptian reopens on November 9. Hearing details: Click here for meeting agenda. See Netflix’ slide presentation and the staff presentation, recommending approval for the LED sign despite overwhelming public opposition, and now showing a less garish design in response to the Cultural Heritage Commission’s criticism, here. If this non-confirming sign is approved, does anyone believe the city will do anything to enforce violations of the signage restrictions? Worth noting: in the preview to Netflix’ promotional short Temple of Film: 100 Years of the Egyptian Theatre posted to YouTube to announce the reoopening, there is no digital LED billboard above GRAUMAN’S!

UPDATE OCTOBER 18, 2023: It has been announced that the Egyptian Theatre will reopen on Thursday, November 9 with Netflix programming, followed by the American Cinematheque’s weekend 70mm festival.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 26, 2023: After the weird City Planning Commission hearing sans commissioners, today they will consider the inappropriate LED roof sign proposal. Citizens can again call in and urge that they reject the the illegal sign, which is unnecessary for a single screen venue, and will almost certainly host ads the city won’t crack down on. It’s a slippery slope best avoided entirely. [Update: nope, hearing cancelled around 2:30pm due to lack of quorum.]

UPDATED AUGUST 2, 2023: The inappropriate LED roof sign goes before the City Planning Commission on Friday, August 4 and we’re encouraging citizens to call or email telling the CPC to listen to the Cultural Heritage Commission and reject Neflix’s proposal. (Our live narration of the meeting, which was actually held in a void with no commissioners present, is on Twitter and on Facebook.)

UPDATED JUNE 2, 2023 – Although the Cultural Heritage Commission expressed concerns about Netflix’ proposed multi-colored LED roof sign on the Egyptian Theatre at their May 4, 2023 hearing, and the current status of the permit application is “Pre-Inspection only, not a permit for construction, last week a concerned citizen documented installation of an unpermitted armature on the red tile roof.

UPDATED MAY 4, 2023 – Read our live tweets of the informational Netflix presentation about their bait and switch multi-colored LED sign on the tile roof of the Egyptian Theatre, which is very different from the monochrome sign in its 2021 plan. The Cultural Heritage Commissioners and members of the public expressed concerns and objections to this out of scale, non-historical addition to the landmark. It will be moving through the city planning department as they seek an exemption to the Hollywood sign ordinance. Netflix can advertise their “now showing” programs with window signs and portable stand-ups, and does not need a digital roof sign. We call on the city to reject this brand new LED sign request and keep the Egyptian forecourt historic.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 16, 2023 – Netflix seeks an exception to Hollywood’s sign ordinance to install a jarring LED screen on the roof of what they call “Netflix Egyptian Theatre.” It’s Grauman’s, actually. (Los Angeles City Planning case file, 2/16/23 – https://planning.lacity.org/pdiscaseinfo/caseid/MjY1MDUw0)

You can watch video of Netflix’ April 2021 informational presentation to the CHC here. The signage portion begins at 12:15, with Genoveva Carmona, St. Manager, Global Design Lead. Of the proposed color change of the Egyptian blade sign background from blue to corporate red, Carmona says, “We do not want to disrupt the legacy, but we are looking for ways to bring in our brand in the least disruptive way possible.” (Note that she also justifies red as having significance for the ancient Egyptians, which it did, but not as she claims representing “life and protection.” Red or deshr was more commonly symbolic of chaos, death and the murderous serpent god Set.)

At 15:12, Carmona talks about the forecourt signs. Since the American Cinematheque arch over the sidewalk will be removed, that organization would get new signage above the existing Grauman’s Egyptian roof sign. “Our intent is to bring back the marquee that you see here that was placed in the early 1920s. To mimic the 1920s marquee, we plan on reintroducing a new LED marquee which we intend to place (replace?) American Cinematheque signage. This new marquee will also enable us to use the flexibility of LED and enable us to bring in a Now Showing title in the event of a new premier.”

UPDATED NOVEMBER 18, 2022 – Deadline reports that at the American Cinematheque Awards ceremony, opening remarks from board members included the claim that, after spending its actual centennial as a fenced construction site, the Egyptian Theatre “will reopen next year with a celebration of its first 100 years.”

UPDATED OCTOBER 2, 2022 – Showmanship. Original Egyptian Theatre owner Sid Grauman was a master. Sadly, new owners Netflix have failed to complete their lengthy renovations to the Egyptian in time for the only centennial Hollywood’s first motion picture palace will ever have. But you can trek up to the Hollywood Heritage barn on October 18, 2022 to mark the occasion if you’re a member of Hollywood Heritage, Art Deco Society of LA or the LA Historic Theatre Foundation (but not, oddly of the American Cinematheque). (Archive event link.)

UPDATED APRIL 27, 2022 – Charitable 990 tax filings on the California Attorney General website show the cost to the American Cinematheque of displacing the 22nd Arpa International Film Festival so that Netflix could shutter the Egyptian Theatre: $20,000 to the arts nonprofit AFFMA.

UPDATED NOVEMBER 21, 2021 – Shocking: Hollywood Heritage complained for months about unpermitted Pig ‘n Whistle work, but the city erroneously assumed it was part of the Netflix project next door, and did nothing to stop the destruction. Heads should roll. The implication is that City Planning looks the other way when the property owner is Netflix, or when staff just assume it is. Is that because of NFLX’ special relationship with Hollywood councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who helped them buy the Egyptian?

UPDATED OCTOBER 25, 2021 – With the Egyptian Theatre shuttered by Netflix, there have been fewer people on site to see and report illegal construction work in the designated cultural resource Pig ‘n Whistle restaurant, which shares a courtyard wall with the theater. In March, the Los Angeles Times reported on a sex scandal in the back room, and it appears the lease changed hands. In August, the interior was gutted without permits. Now, the chain Mr. Tempo is destroying the facade, again without permits. After much public complaint, a stop work order was posted.

UPDATED AUGUST 1, 2021 – Netflix has removed the palm trees from the forecourt, as discussed at a Cultural Heritage Commission hearing. Although the avenue of palms was not original to the landmark, it was much beloved.

UPDATED MAY 19, 2021 – American Cinematheque announces that at a future date not yet announced, they will be programming daily in the 144-seat Cinema 3 in the Los Feliz 3 multi-plex on Vermont Avenue. 35mm equipment is being installed, and the operator is Vintage Cinemas (The Vista). That’s nice, but it’s not Hollywood. The nonprofit was established to serve that community.

UPDATED APRIL 15, 2021 – Netflix presents to the Cultural Heritage Commission about their proposed renovations and alterations. Community members express concern about inappropriate LED signage, palm tree removal, acoustics and Netflix’ plan to remove the Spielberg screening room, which would effectively kill small festivals like Filmforum. Even though this isn’t a part of the historic space the CHC oversees, Commissioner Barry Molifsky asks Netflix if they would consider turning one of the vacant storefronts into a small film venue. Absolutely not—they need this space for their catering kitchen, and aren’t interested in changing the historic use from Mercantile (catering is retail now?). (Thanks to an interested viewer, video of this presentation, including the public comments in opposition, is available on the Internet Archive.)

UPDATED MARCH 26, 2021 – In its newsletter, the American Cinematheque states: “We are excited that California has lifted the theatre closures, however, as a non-profit we are unable to open at the 25% capacity limit being imposed due to budget restrictions.” After pocketing millions in the ethically questionable sale of the Egyptian Theatre to Netflix, serious questions are raised by A.C. playing the poor non-profit card and claiming it can’t afford to reopen to members at limited capacity.

UPDATED JANUARY 11, 2021 – Netflix’ January 7, 2021 Zoom presentation to the Cultural Heritage Commission is online thanks to a community member. There are a lot of concerns about the project, which the CHC has not approved at this time.

UPDATED JANUARY 4, 2021 – The public can finally have a voice as the Cultural Heritage Commission reviews Netflix’ plans for major renovations of the Egyptian Theatre. Our update to petitioners is here.

UPDATED NOVEMBER 16, 2020 – In a Hollywood Reporter exclusive, the American Cinematheque announces new board members, executive director, answers questions about Netflix deal and plan to renovate the Egyptian Theatre. Note: any structural changes to the landmark building must be presented for approval to the Cultural Heritage Commission before work begins. Our update to petitioners is here.

UPDATED JUNE 11, 2020 – Attorney General documents obtained through public records request reveal terms of the American Cinematheque’s deal with Netflix.

UPDATED MAY 29, 2020 –  In a pandemic, as rioters fill the streets, Netflix quietly purchases the Egyptian Theatre. We continue to call for a public meeting to provide much needed transparency for the dues paying members and wider community.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 –  The Los Angeles Times features our campaign in a front page story. Also, government transparency blogger Adrian Riskin (MichaelKohlhaas.org) publishes emails from Councilman Mitch O’Farrell’s staff regarding Netflix, the American Cinematheque, The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood Heritage and our campaign.

UPDATED AUGUST 13, 2019 – Public Comment is made at City Hall, and stories we’ve heard about what’s actually happening behind the scenes.

UPDATED JULY 4, 2019 – Petition launched to Save the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre. Please sign and share. Read on for more details, or skip ahead to see our questions and concerns.

PRESS CLIPS:

• Will LA Stall Netflix Plan? Deal for Egyptian may face hurdles (Los Angeles Business Journal, 7/19/2019)

• Netflix Planning to Purchase Historic Egyptian Theater (Spectrum News 1, 8/7/19)

• Will Netflix’s Ownership of L.A.’s Egyptian Theatre Spark Backlash? (Hollywood Reporter, 8/9/19)

• Arpa International is First Confirmed Film Festival Cancellation, after 14 years at the Egyptian Theatre (8/14/19)

• Behind the Netflix Bid for Hollywood’s Egyptian Theater (Commercial Observer, 9/3/19)

• What happens when Netflix buys Hollywood’s iconic Egyptian Theatre? It’s complicated (L.A. Times, online 9/6/2019, front page in print 9/9/2019)

• Want a Big Theatrical Release, Mr. Scorsese? How About Broadway? (New York Times quotes and links to our petition, 10/23/2019)

• Ted Sarandos, American Cinematheque board member and Netflix executive, describes “recent purchase” of the Egyptian Theatre by Netflix, plan to make it “a real hub for film culture” and haven for movie aficionados. No such sale has been reported to the non-profit’s membership (Variety, 1/30/2020)

• Our Richard Schave is quoted in this piece that doesn’t just reprint the corporate press release, but digs deeper into a troubling Hollywood land grab. “Netflix Finally Sealed the Deal on Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre, but Not Everyone Is Happy.” (IndieWire, 5/29/20)

• Chris Lindahl, the only reporter actually asking questions about the American Cinematheque sale of the Egyptian Theatre to Netflix, got the shocking details from the Attorney General. Smells like self dealing.  “Although the deal between the Cinematheque and Netflix lasts for 99 years, Netflix is allowed to sell the building after 12 years — and a new owner would be able to kick out the Cinematheque a year after that.” (IndieWire, 6/10/20)

Click here to sign the petition.

Petition reads: As members of the American Cinematheque and patrons and fans of its programming, we demand transparency about the proposed sale to Netflix of the Egyptian Theatre and of the financial status of the non-profit.

The American Cinematheque is a membership-based non-profit organization that owns and operates the landmark Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, a building that was gifted to the Cinematheque by the City of Los Angeles for the symbolic price of $1. We understand that the theater is held in the public trust.

Currently operating without an Executive Director and with its charitable status listed as “Delinquent” due to incomplete tax filings dating back to 2015, the Cinematheque’s board of directors has apparently offered the Egyptian Theatre for sale to Netflix, the employer of board member Ted Sarandos.

The California Attorney General is currently investigating the American Cinematheque for its failure to file required financial information, its claim to have lost this information due to staff incompetence, illness and computer problems, and two unexplained outstanding loans to board members. (PDF link.)

In light of the ongoing financial mismanagement by the American Cinematheque board resulting in potential loss of its non-profit status, the board’s failure to hire a new Executive Director, the potential conflict of interest should board member Ted Sarandos’ employer Netflix purchase the theater, and the failure to inform the members that a financial crisis might require sale of the theater and threaten the very existence of the non-profit, we the undersigned call for a halt to any sale, and a public meeting at the Egyptian Theatre where representatives of the non-profit will explain the situation, take and respond to questions, and engage in a free, open and transparent dialogue moving forward about the future of this treasured membership-based non-profit and its sole asset, the Egyptian Theatre.

The future of the American Cinematheque and the Egyptian Theatre should be determined in an open conversation that includes the members and a qualified Executive Director, and not in secret by the board of directors and Netflix.

*   *   *

ORIGINAL BLOG POST – April 29, 2019: “Netflix In Talks To Acquire Hollywood’s Historic Egyptian Theatre From American Cinematheque”: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The press release, sent out by a firm not associated with the American Cinematheque, must have gone out first thing on April 9. Deadline broke the story at 9:06am, followed by The Hollywood Reporter (10:31am) and Variety (10:50am).

The articles painted a narrative of a win/win solution for a cash-strapped non-profit rescued by a deep-pocketed corporation. The only person named was Ted Sarandos, the American Cinematheque board member who had recused himself from voting on the sale, since he is also an executive at Netflix.

Because the only information about the proposed theatre sale has come from internal sources, with no independent reporting, the news raises many more questions than it answers.

We love the Egyptian Theatre and care deeply about its long history on Hollywood Boulevard, which since the 1990s has been entwined with the American Cinematheque. We’re are troubled that such a major change would be announced as all but a done deal, at a time when the American Cinematheque lacks an executive director (Barbara Smith retired late last year) to advocate for the non-profit’s mission.

And we’re hearing privately from many people in the film revival and historic preservation communities who are also concerned, and confused that, weeks after the proposed theatre sale was widely reported in the industry press, American Cinematheque members have yet to receive any explanation at all.

Perhaps Netflix really is uniquely positioned to help a treasured non-profit that is in dire straits. But before a landmark theatre that was gifted to the non-profit and the city by L.A.’s redevelopment agency is sold, the board owes American Cinematheque’s members and the community an open and honest conversation about how and why it’s come to this.

Questions for the American Cinematheque board:

1. What are the board’s reasons for considering a sale of the Egyptian Theatre?

2. When did the board begin to discuss selling the theatre, and what motions were put forward?

3. Have any alternatives to a property sale been explored?

4. Have any potential theatre buyers other than Netflix been approached?

5. Are costly improvements that were funded by donations, like the 2016 state-of-the-art enclosed nitrate-stock projection booth, being included in the proposed sale? If so, what are the potential tax ramifications to donors including The Film Foundation, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, TCM, and the Academy Film Archive? Have donors been notified?

6. What are the conditions of the Community Redevelopment Agency’s $1 sale of the Egyptian Theatre to the American Cinematheque, and is it actually legal to sell the theatre to anything other than a non-profit organization that shares its mission?*

7. Why has the non-profit failed to file its required tax forms dating back to 2015, resulting in a “Notice of Intent to Suspend or Revoke Registration” being issued in April 2018, and why is it currently listed on the State of California Attorney General’s website as “Delinquent”? What actions are being taken to resolve these issues?

8. Is the board conducting an active search for a new Executive Director, and if so what is the status of this effort?

So, what could possibly go wrong? Here are some things to consider:

• A new owner of the Egyptian Theatre could seek permits to do major interior improvements. While historic elements of the structure are protected under the city’s landmark ordinance, public access and use as a movie theatre are not protected. It could become a corporate media VIP lounge, restaurant, private club, nightclub, co-working space or even a private residence.

• The news stories based on the press release suggest there would be an agreement from Netflix to allow the American Cinemetheque to continue using the theatre on weekends. Even if entered into in good will, such an agreement could break down for many reasons. Netflix might sell the theatre to another entity. Rental costs might become too high. The owner might decide that other weekend uses are too profitable to miss.

• Assuming the weekend schedule did work out, the American Cinematheque would have to focus on more commercial programming during its limited screening times. Membership would certainly decline among patrons who frequent the Egyptian Theatre and enjoy less commercial programs. Without the caché of the flagship Hollywood Boulevard theatre and high profile Cinematheque-associated festivals, fundraising for the non-profit could become more difficult.

• The American Cinematheque has business relationships with independent festival programmers like TCM, Cinecon and Noir City and industry unions like the Art Directors Guild. Could these entities continue to book the theatre, for the necessary dates and at a reasonable cost, if it was sold to a corporation?

• There are a number of historic businesses in Hollywood that benefit from a symbiotic relationship with the American Cinematheque, and would see reduced revenues if the Egyptian Theatre ceased to be a repertory house. These include The Larry Edmunds Book Shop, Miceli’s and Musso & Frank.

• The American Cinematheque through its non-profit mission provides some of the most affordable and eclectic cultural programming in Hollywood, not just on Friday and Saturday nights, but all week long. This is highly valued by residents, visitors and the local businesses that they patronize.

• How many jobs would be lost if the theatre was sold and the American Cinematheque scaled back its programming?

• And finally, there’s the matter of the Egyptian Theatre’s loading dock. Access to the historic loading dock is currently threatened by potential redevelopment of the parking lots behind the theatre. Commercial developers interested in the space have expressed a willingness to design any project so that the loading dock remains functional, as a courtesy to a non-profit providing a treasured service to the community. Just down Hollywood Boulevard at the Fonda Theatre, that commercial entity is not getting such courteous treatment from the developer next door, and there’s no reason to think that Netflix would. Without access to its loading dock, the Egyptian Theatre would no longer be a viable performance space able to accommodate the type of productions that it has hosted since Sid Grauman opened the theatre in 1922. It would be effectively neutered.

We believe that the American Cinematheque board owes the community a transparent conversation about why such a drastic change in operation is being proposed for the non-profit. We call on them to halt discussions of selling the Egyptian Theatre until such a time that the community is better informed, and the concerns of membership and preservationists are heard. We’ve asked for a meeting with board member Ted Sarandos, who recused himself due to his Netflix ties, but have not heard back.

[Update July 4: please ignore the following instructions and just sign the petition to express your concerns directly to the American Cinematheque, Mitch O’Farrell’s Office and the state Charities Registry] If you believe that the American Cinematheque board owes Los Angeles an explanation, please share this link with your friends and let the board know with an email to info@americancinematheque.com, and copy your message to tours@esotouric.com (that’s us) and daniel.halden@lacity.org (in Councilman Mitch O’Farrell’s office).

We almost lost the Egyptian after the Northridge Earthquake; millions in public funds and countless volunteer hours saved it. Lets not lose her now.

*Mission of the American Cinematheque: The American Cinematheque is a viewer-supported cultural organization dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the moving picture in all its forms. The Cinematheque presents the best of film and video – ranging from the classics to the outer frontiers of the art form. The American Cinematheque was created in 1981 to honor and promote America’s indigenous art form — the moving picture; to present the full range of film and video, not otherwise available, to the widest possible audience; to establish a forum for an on-going dialogue between filmmakers and filmgoers; to provide a high profile exhibition facility for other independent film and video organizations; and to encourage and support new talent by creating a showcase for their work.