Pacific Theatres
A California movie-theater chain that operated cinemas, historic theaters, and drive-ins before permanently closing in 2021.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Pacific Theatres was an American movie-exhibition company headquartered in the Los Angeles area and associated with the Forman family and its Decurion Corporation group. Founded in 1946, the chain developed from a regional theater operator into one of the most recognizable cinema businesses in Southern California. Its activities included operating multiplexes, acquiring and managing historic Hollywood venues, running drive-in theaters, and participating in the development of real-estate projects connected with former cinema sites. The company’s principal market was the Los Angeles metropolitan area, although its operations at different times extended elsewhere in California, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii. Pacific operated approximately 300 screens in California and at one point controlled a substantial collection of drive-ins. Its former drive-in portfolio included the Vineland Drive-In in the La Puente area, described as the last operating drive-in in Los Angeles County, and the Valley 6 drive-in in Auburn, Washington. Pacific also operated former United Theatre drive-ins in the Northwest; many of those properties were later redeveloped through the group’s Robertson Properties business. Pacific expanded through the acquisition and operation of established theaters. It took over theater operations associated with Cinerama Corporation, including former Stanley Warner venues, after Cinerama exited the theater business in 1978. In Hollywood, the company acquired or operated venues including the Pantages, the Warner Theatre, the New View Theatre, the Vine Theatre, and the Holly Cinema. These properties gave Pacific a presence not only in neighborhood multiplexing but also in prominent, historically significant locations. The chain was part of a broader Decurion portfolio that also included ArcLight Cinemas. Pacific invested in updated exhibition technology, becoming one of the early theater operators to install Samsung Onyx cinema screens in 2018. It also participated in retail and mixed-use development through Robertson Properties Group, whose origins were linked to redeveloping former drive-in locations. The group’s projects included cinema-related development at The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles. Pacific reduced and reorganized parts of its portfolio during the 2000s. Reading International acquired 15 Pacific theaters in California and Hawaii in 2007. The California locations became Reading Cinemas in February 2008, while the Hawaiian theaters continued under the Consolidated Theatres name. Pacific subsequently remained focused on its principal Southern California operations. The company closed all of its theaters on March 17, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public-health restrictions. When Los Angeles County permitted cinemas to reopen in 2021, Pacific’s locations, including its ArcLight-affiliated operations, did not resume business. On April 12, 2021, Pacific announced that it would permanently cease operations, citing the lack of a viable path forward after efforts to preserve the business. It filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 18, 2021. Several former locations later returned to operation under other exhibitors, notably AMC Theatres, which took leases at The Americana at Brand, The Grove, and later the Northridge Fashion Center location.
History
Pacific Theatres was founded in 1946 by the Forman family, which retained ownership and oversight through Decurion Corporation until the company’s closure. The business developed as a regional theater operator centered on Southern California and later became associated with both conventional multiplexes and prominent Hollywood properties. During its expansion, Pacific acquired or operated several well-known theaters in Hollywood. The company took over the Pantages in 1965, followed by the Warner Theatre and New View Theatre in 1968. It later added the Vine Theatre during the 1970s and Holly Cinema in 1985. These acquisitions broadened Pacific’s portfolio beyond ordinary suburban cinemas and connected the company with some of Los Angeles’s historically important movie venues. A major change came in 1978, when Cinerama Corporation closed its theater operations. Pacific assumed those operations, including former Stanley Warner theaters. This helped establish the company as a significant regional exhibitor. At its peak, Pacific operated roughly 300 screens in California. It also had a long history in the drive-in business, including theaters in the Pacific Northwest. The Vineland Drive-In in the La Puente area became the company’s final drive-in in Los Angeles County. Pacific also operated the Valley 6 drive-in in Auburn, Washington, which had previously been part of the United Theatre chain and closed after the 2012 season. Pacific’s relationship with property development was formalized through Robertson Properties Group. The property business was originally connected with the redevelopment of former Pacific drive-in sites. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Robertson Properties redeveloped approximately 20 former United Theatre drive-in properties in the Northwest. It later expanded into retail, office, and residential development. Cinema-related projects included theaters at The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, illustrating the group’s effort to combine exhibition with larger commercial developments. The company reorganized parts of its theater portfolio during the 2000s. Reading International purchased 15 theaters within the Pacific chain in California and Hawaii in 2007. On February 22, 2008, the California properties became Reading Cinemas, while the Hawaiian theaters remained under the Consolidated Theatres banner. Pacific continued operating its remaining Southern California sites, while Decurion also operated ArcLight Cinemas as a related cinema brand. Pacific continued to adopt new exhibition technology. In 2018, it became one of the early theater operators to install Samsung Onyx screens, a display technology intended to provide a premium digital presentation without conventional projection. This investment reflected the chain’s emphasis on differentiated cinema experiences alongside its regional footprint. The company’s final period was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pacific closed all locations, including ArcLight Cinemas sites, on March 17, 2020, in response to public-health mandates. Although Los Angeles County later relaxed restrictions sufficiently for movie theaters to reopen in March 2021, Pacific’s locations remained closed. On April 12, 2021, the company announced that it would not reopen and would permanently cease operations. The announcement stated that extensive efforts had not produced a viable way forward. Pacific filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 18, 2021. After the shutdown, other exhibitors began taking over selected former Pacific sites. AMC Theatres announced leases for locations at The Americana at Brand in downtown Glendale and The Grove on West Third Street in Los Angeles, with those venues expected to reopen under the AMC name. In December 2021, AMC also announced that it had acquired the lease for the former Northridge Fashion Center location, which reopened in July 2022. Pacific Theatres therefore ended as an operating chain, while parts of its physical network continued under successor cinema operators.
- 2021
Permanent closure and bankruptcy
[1]Pacific announces permanent closure in April and files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June.
- 2020
All theaters close during the pandemic
[1]Pacific closes its locations on March 17 in response to COVID-19 public-health measures.
- 2018
Samsung Onyx screens introduced
[1]Pacific becomes one of the early theater operators to deploy Samsung Onyx cinema screens.
- 2012
Valley 6 drive-in closes
[1]Pacific’s Valley 6 drive-in in Auburn, Washington, closes after the 2012 season.
- 2008
Selected theaters rebranded
[1]The California properties acquired by Reading become Reading Cinemas, while the Hawaiian properties remain under Consolidated Theatres.
- 2007
Reading International purchases 15 theaters
[1]Reading International acquires 15 Pacific theaters in California and Hawaii.
- 1985
Holly Cinema added
[1]Pacific adds Holly Cinema to its Hollywood-area theater holdings.
- 1978
Cinerama theater operations transferred
[1]Pacific takes over theater operations associated with Cinerama Corporation, including former Stanley Warner theaters.
- 1968
Warner and New View theaters added
[1]The company acquires or takes over operation of the Warner Theatre and New View Theatre.
- 1965
Pantages theater acquired
[1]Pacific adds the Pantages in Hollywood to its theater portfolio.
Products and positioning
A regional cinema operator combining mainstream movie exhibition with landmark Hollywood venues, drive-in theaters, premium presentation technology, and cinema-linked property development.
Movie theater chain · 1946
Pacific Theatres cinemas
Pacific’s core offering was theatrical exhibition through cinemas in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and elsewhere in California. The chain operated conventional multiplexes and larger urban or landmark venues, presenting first-run films to local audiences. Its California network reached approximately 300 screens at its peak, although the portfolio changed over time through acquisitions, divestitures, and rebranding.
Landmark theater operations · 1965
Historic Hollywood theaters
Pacific operated or acquired several historically notable Hollywood venues, including the Pantages, Warner Theatre, New View Theatre, Vine Theatre, and Holly Cinema. These properties gave the company a role in preserving and commercializing prominent cinema locations while extending its brand beyond standard suburban multiplex operations.
Outdoor cinema
Drive-in theaters
Drive-ins were an important part of Pacific’s historical portfolio. The company operated locations in California and the Pacific Northwest, including the Vineland Drive-In near La Puente and the Valley 6 drive-in in Auburn, Washington. Pacific also operated former United Theatre drive-ins in the Northwest, many of which were later redeveloped as real-estate properties.
Premium cinema technology · 2018
Samsung Onyx cinema screens
In 2018, Pacific was among the early cinema operators to introduce Samsung Onyx screens. The technology represented a move toward premium direct-view digital cinema presentation and differentiated the chain’s venues from theaters relying solely on conventional projection systems.
Real-estate development
Cinema-linked property developments
Through Robertson Properties Group, the broader Decurion organization developed retail, office, and residential properties, initially focusing on former drive-in sites. Some projects incorporated cinemas into larger mixed-use or retail environments, including development associated with The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles.
Brand decisions
2021
Permanent cessation of operationsStrategyBackground
After remaining closed for more than a year during the pandemic, Pacific concluded that it lacked a viable path to resume business.
Action taken
On April 12, Pacific announced that it would permanently cease operations rather than reopen its theaters.
Aftermath
The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June, and selected leases were later taken over by AMC Theatres.
- AMC Theatres — AMC announced plans to acquire leases at selected former Pacific locations and reopen them under the AMC brand.
2020
Pandemic closure of the theater networkStrategyBackground
COVID-19 public-health mandates required cinemas to suspend operations.
Action taken
Pacific closed all theater locations on March 17, 2020, together with the related ArcLight Cinemas operations.
Aftermath
The chain did not reopen even after Los Angeles County permitted theaters to resume operations in 2021, leading to permanent closure.
2018
Deployment of Samsung Onyx screensProduct launchBackground
Pacific pursued differentiated presentation technology as cinema operators sought premium viewing experiences.
Action taken
The company became one of the first theater operators to install Samsung Onyx cinema screens.
Aftermath
The installations positioned selected Pacific venues as early adopters of direct-view cinema display technology.
2007
Sale of 15 theaters to Reading InternationalM&ABackground
Pacific adjusted its theater portfolio by selling 15 locations in California and Hawaii to Reading International.
Action taken
Reading acquired the properties in 2007; the California sites were subsequently rebranded as Reading Cinemas, while the Hawaiian sites continued as Consolidated Theatres.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Pacific’s operating footprint and transferred the selected venues to other regional cinema brands.
Recent events
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