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Landmark Theaters, a national independent-theater chain that includes the Guild in downtown Menlo Park and the Aquarius Theatre in downtown Palo Alto, has been bought by the Cohen Media Group, the company announced this week.
Cohen Media Group (CMG), owned by real estate billionaire and cinephile Charles S. Cohen, is an Academy Award-winning distribution and production company that releases both contemporary and restored classic films.
The Guild, built in 1926, became part of Landmark Theatres in 1989. In May, the Menlo Park City Council unanimously approved a proposal to rebuild the vintage movie theater, which will be turned into a live music and community events venue.
The Aquarius Theatre was built in 1969; it has been operated by Landmark Theatres since 1985. The Emerson Street building was remodeled in 2015.
Landmark was previously owned by investors Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. CMG will retain Landmark’s senior management team, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
Kate Bradshaw, staff writer for The Almanac, contributed to this report.
Kate Bradshaw, staff writer for The Almanac, contributed to this report.
Kate Bradshaw, staff writer for The Almanac, contributed to this report.
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Aquarius Theatre, which underwent a remodel in 2015, in downtown Palo Alto is now under the Cohen Media Group, the company announced this week. It was previously owned by Landmark Theatres for over 30 years. Photo by Erin Braswell. -
A rendering of the proposed new Guild Theatre, which a nonprofit plans to remake as a live music and community events venue. Image courtesy CAW Architects/Peninsula Arts Guild/city of Menlo Park.
and????
Cohen’s intentions//plans for our local movie houses?
Impact on city plans for “new” Guild?
For Guild supporters, I’ve asked Drew Dunlevie, Pres. of the Peninsula Arts Guild, for a statement on how this will affect their timetable for razing the theater to rebuild as the New Guild, for live entertainment, community benefit proposals in the arts, and, of course, film and film festivals once the new construction is completed. In the interim, I hope that the new owners will keep this one beloved “legacy” movie house in Menlo Park as a tenant so that we can continue to see movies at the Guild, and have the propopsed “good-by old Guild” event before the current building is demolished and the new Guild under construction.
Anyone local Guild supporter who was among the 4000+ individuals who signed my petition (either at the theater or online on Change.org, is encouraged to write me at saveguildtheater@yahoo.com for updates and comments from the new owners.