A high-stakes projection protest aimed at reviving one of Los Angeles’ most iconic cinematic landmarks ended abruptly Friday night, leaving a years-long effort to reopen the Cinerama Dome in a state of indefinite suspension.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. When Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a call regarding a grassroots demonstration taking place across Sunset Boulevard. For roughly two and a half hours, activists had been using the theater’s distinctive white-tiled exterior as a canvas, projecting images of the Forman family—the owners of Decurion Corp.—alongside the urgent plea: “Mr. Forman REOPEN THE DOME!”
The shutdown marks a chilling moment for the Cinerama Dome grassroots campaign, a movement that has sought to transform the shuttered venue from a silent monolith into a functioning community hub once again. For the organizers, the police intervention was not just a legal directive, but the first tangible response they have received from the building’s ownership in years.
A projection of frustration
Ben Steinberg, a 26-year-aged film student at Cal State Northridge, led the Friday night action alongside a projectionist and a privately hired security guard. Steinberg has become the face of the effort to save the theater, leveraging social media and digital petitions to highlight the vacancy of a site that once defined the Hollywood moviegoing experience.
According to Steinberg, the LAPD informed the group that the property owner viewed the projection as an escalation and categorized the act as harassment. “So we just shut down immediately,” Steinberg said. “We didn’t contest anything.”
The reaction from Decurion Corp. Has been characterized by a profound silence. While the LAPD confirmed the details of the police response, Decurion did not provide a comment following requests for a statement on Monday. For Steinberg, this silence—broken only by a police call—is telling.
“I think it definitely tells what their intentions are,” Steinberg said. “Here’s the only sign that they’ve given us that they don’t desire us to continue and it’s definitely a threat.”
The decline of a Hollywood crown jewel
The Cinerama Dome first opened its doors in 1963, quickly becoming an architectural marvel and a destination for global premieres. Its cultural footprint is vast, ranging from the technical innovation of the Cinerama process to its appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
The theater’s current crisis began in March 2020, when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a shutdown. While many cinemas eventually returned, the Dome remained dark. In April 2021, Pacific Theatres announced that the venue would not be reopening, stating that despite exhausting all options, the company lacked a “viable way forward.”
Since that announcement, the building has existed in a state of corporate limbo. There have been fleeting signs of potential movement, including liquor licensing and permit requests. Most notably, a company identified as Dome Center LLC filed an application for a conditional-use permit last October, though these filings have not yet translated into a public reopening date.
The scale of the movement
What began as a personal quest for Steinberg in April 2021 has evolved into a broader conversation about the ownership of cultural capital in Los Angeles. The campaign has garnered significant digital momentum, reflecting a widespread desire to see the landmark restored.
- Public Support: A Change.org petition urging Decurion Corp. To reopen or lease the property has collected more than 31,000 signatures.
- Digital Reach: Steinberg has cultivated a following of nearly 12,000 people across various social media platforms.
- Community Impact: The movement argues that the theater represents the city’s identity and should not be left abandoned by a private corporation.
Corporate rights vs. Cultural heritage
The conflict surrounding the Cinerama Dome highlights a growing tension in American cities: the gap between legal property rights and the perceived public right to cultural landmarks. While Decurion Corp. Maintains legal ownership and the right to keep the building closed, the lack of transparency regarding the building’s future has fueled resentment among film enthusiasts.
Steinberg views the Dome as a symbol of a larger trend where large corporations hold historic assets in a state of decay, pushing away those who wish to breathe life back into them. “I think the whole city deserves the movie theater,” he said. “I don’t think it would be fair for them to keep it abandoned.”
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Cinerama Dome officially opens to the public. |
| March 2020 | Theater closes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| April 2021 | Pacific Theatres announces the venue will not reopen. |
| October (Recent) | Dome Center LLC files for a conditional-use permit. |
| Friday Night | Grassroots projection protest shut down by LAPD. |
For now, the Cinerama Dome grassroots campaign is on pause, but the spirit of the movement remains. Steinberg has expressed hope to resume his efforts as soon as possible, viewing the police intervention as a catalyst rather than a conclusion.
The future of the Dome remains tied to the decisions of the Forman family and Decurion Corp. Any further updates will likely emerge from upcoming city permit hearings or official filings regarding the property’s use. We will continue to track the status of the conditional-use permit and any formal statements issued by the owners.
Do you believe historic cultural landmarks should be subject to public oversight if they remain abandoned? Share your thoughts in the comments or share this story on social media.
