Nimoy Theater
The Nimoy Theater is a historic Westwood venue in Los Angeles that evolved from a 1941 movie and performance theater into a UCLA-operated space for live performance and cultural programming.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Nimoy Theater is a historic theater and cultural venue in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. Although it is now named for actor and philanthropist Leonard Nimoy, the building has operated under several earlier identities, including UCLAN Theatre, Crest Theatre, Metro Theatre, Majestic Crest Theatre and Bigfoot Crest Theatre. The Majestic Crest name is therefore a former brand identity of the same physical venue rather than a separate entertainment company. The building opened in 1941 as the UCLAN, a 500-seat Art Deco or austere Moderne theater designed by architect Arthur W. Hawes for financier Frances Seymour Fonda. It was originally intended for live performances, but World War II led to a change in programming: the venue became a cinema devoted to newsreels. After the war, it returned to broader film programming, including foreign-language films and later feature films. Under the Crest Theatre name, the venue screened notable films such as Dr. Strangelove, Rosemary's Baby, Goodbye, Columbus, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Pacific Theatres acquired the property in 1985. During the late 1980s, Pacific and Disney's Buena Vista Theaters undertook a substantial renovation. The work included improvements to projection and sound equipment, followed by changes to the interior, lobby, auditorium, restrooms and seating. The theater was given a Hollywood fantasy-land treatment before being reworked with an Art Deco motif. The renovation phases were associated with the releases of Three Men and a Baby in 1987 and Big Business in 1988. After Disney ended its partnership in 2002, Pacific sold the theater in 2003 to independent operator Robert Bucksbaum. The venue was renamed Majestic Crest Theater, a name connected to the 2001 film The Majestic. Los Angeles designated the building Historic-Cultural Monument No. 919 in 2008, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. In 2010, Bigfoot Entertainment acquired the theater for approximately $4 million and renamed it Bigfoot Crest Theater. The venue was intended to screen films produced or acquired by Bigfoot. Carmike managed the theater for a period and expanded its scheduling with higher-profile releases, niche screenings, midnight horror programs, Asian Film Nights and the Singafest Asian Film Festival. The theater closed for remodeling in late 2011, was placed on the market, and closed again in October 2012 while still being offered for sale. The building reopened under new management in August 2013 as the Crest. Its initial programming emphasized filmed ballet and opera, with plans to add more movies and live or special events. The venue also promoted recurring thematic programs, including a surfing-film series scheduled for the last Friday of each month. A major institutional transition occurred in October 2018, when UCLA acquired the theater with support from Susan Nimoy and an anonymous donor. UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance and School of Arts and Architecture oversaw an extensive renovation intended to convert the historic cinema into a contemporary performance venue while retaining its architectural character. The building reopened in September 2023 as the Nimoy Theater, honoring Leonard Nimoy. In its current form, it functions as a UCLA-affiliated cultural and performance space rather than primarily as a commercial multiplex. Its historical significance, changing names, adaptive reuse and Westwood location are central to its identity.
History
The theater now known as the Nimoy Theater opened in Westwood in 1941 as the UCLAN Theatre. Architect Arthur W. Hawes designed the approximately 500-seat building in an austere Moderne or Art Deco style for financier Frances Seymour Fonda. Its initial purpose was live performance, but wartime conditions redirected the venue toward newsreel exhibition during World War II. Once the war ended, the theater resumed broader cinematic use, including foreign films. The venue later became the Crest Theatre and developed a reputation as a neighborhood cinema capable of presenting both mainstream and distinctive feature films. Its programming history includes Dr. Strangelove, Rosemary's Baby, Goodbye, Columbus, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Pacific Theatres purchased the theater in 1985. During the late 1980s, Pacific and Disney's Buena Vista Theaters invested in a renovation that improved the film and sound systems and subsequently refreshed the lobby, auditorium, restrooms, seats and decorative scheme. The interior first received a Hollywood fantasy-land treatment and was later brought toward an Art Deco presentation. The work was completed in stages around the 1987 opening of Three Men and a Baby and the 1988 premiere of Big Business. Disney's participation ended in 2002. Pacific then sold the building to independent operator Robert Bucksbaum in 2003, and the venue adopted the Majestic Crest Theater name. The name referenced The Majestic, the 2001 film, and distinguished the site from other Crest-branded theaters. In 2008, the City of Los Angeles designated the building Historic-Cultural Monument No. 919. Bigfoot Entertainment purchased the theater in September 2010 for about $4 million, according to the cited historical account, and renamed it Bigfoot Crest Theater. The intended business model emphasized films produced or acquired by Bigfoot. Carmike managed the venue and broadened its schedule with higher-profile films, niche programs, midnight horror screenings, Asian Film Nights and the Singafest Asian Film Festival. The theater entered a remodeling period in late 2011, was offered for sale, and closed again in October 2012. It reopened in August 2013 under new management as the Crest. The revised program began with screenings of ballet and opera performances and contemplated a mixture of movies and events. One announced recurring feature was a monthly surfing-film series. These changes illustrate the venue's repeated movement between commercial cinema, specialty exhibition and event presentation. In October 2018, UCLA acquired the theater through a transaction supported by Susan Nimoy and an anonymous donor. UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance and School of Arts and Architecture undertook an extensive renovation. The project repositioned the historic building as a performance venue and connected its future to UCLA's cultural programming infrastructure. The renovated site reopened in September 2023 under the name Nimoy Theater, honoring Leonard Nimoy. The current venue is therefore the latest institutional and brand chapter in a building whose earlier identities include UCLAN, Crest, Metro, Majestic Crest and Bigfoot Crest. Its present role is centered on live performance and cultural events, while its cinema history remains an important part of its public identity.
- 2023
Reopens as Nimoy Theater
[1]Following extensive renovation, the building reopens as the UCLA-affiliated Nimoy Theater and operates as a performance space.
- 2018
UCLA acquisition
[1]UCLA acquires the property with support from Susan Nimoy and an anonymous donor.
- 2013
Reopens as the Crest
[1]After periods of closure and remodeling, the venue reopens with filmed ballet, opera and planned specialty movie and event programming.
- 2010
Bigfoot Entertainment acquisition
[1]Bigfoot Entertainment acquires the theater and renames it Bigfoot Crest Theater.
- 2008
Los Angeles historic designation
[1]The City of Los Angeles designates the building Historic-Cultural Monument No. 919.
- 2003
Renamed Majestic Crest Theater
[1]After Pacific's sale to independent operator Robert Bucksbaum, the theater adopts the Majestic Crest name.
- 1988
Art Deco renovation completed
[1]The later phase of the renovation, including work on the lobby, auditorium, restrooms and seating, is completed around the premiere of Big Business.
- 1987
Renovation begins
[1]Pacific and Buena Vista begin a staged renovation, first upgrading projection and sound systems before broader interior work.
- 1985
Pacific Theatres acquisition
[1]Pacific Theatres purchases the Crest, beginning a period of corporate operation and later collaboration with Disney's Buena Vista Theaters.
- 1945
Postwar foreign-film programming
[1]After the war, the theater returns to cinema programming and presents foreign films.
Products and positioning
A historic, architecturally significant Westwood venue repositioned by UCLA as an intimate contemporary performance and cultural space, while retaining a legacy of cinema, repertory film and special-event programming.
Cinema · 1941
Movie theater exhibition
Across much of its history, the venue operated as a neighborhood cinema showing newsreels, foreign films, mainstream features, repertory titles and specialty screenings. Its earlier identities included UCLAN, Crest, Metro, Majestic Crest and Bigfoot Crest.
Performing arts · 2023
Live performance venue
The building was originally designed for live performance and, following UCLA's acquisition and renovation, returned to a performance-oriented role. The Nimoy Theater now provides an intimate setting for UCLA-affiliated and other cultural presentations.
Performing-arts cinema · 2013
Recorded opera and ballet screenings
During its 2013 reopening as the Crest, the venue used recorded ballet and opera as an important part of its programming, demonstrating its ability to combine cinema presentation with access to performing-arts content.
Cultural programming
Specialty film and event programs
The venue has hosted or promoted niche exhibition formats including midnight horror films, Asian Film Nights, film festivals, surfing-film programs and other special events. These programs supplemented conventional feature-film scheduling.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Crest specialty-programming relaunch
United States
The theater's 2013 reopening emphasized filmed ballet and opera, with plans for additional movies and events, including a recurring surfing-film series.
Outcome. The relaunch restored public use after approximately 19 months of closure and expanded the concept beyond conventional movie exhibition.
- 2010Bigfoot film-programming strategy
United States
After acquiring the theater, Bigfoot Entertainment positioned it as a venue for films produced or acquired by the company. The strategy was supported by specialty programming and management changes intended to improve the site's relevance in the local market.
Outcome. The venue later entered remodeling and sale processes and was closed for extended periods.
- 2010Asian Film Nights and Singafest programming
United States
Carmike's management period broadened the schedule with Asian Film Nights and the Singafest Asian Film Festival, alongside higher-profile releases, niche screenings and midnight horror movies.
Outcome. Singafest continued at the theater until late October 2011, after which the venue closed for remodeling.
Brand decisions
2023
Rebrand and reopen as the Nimoy TheaterStrategyBackground
UCLA's renovation sought to establish a new cultural and performance identity for the former cinema.
Action taken
The venue reopened in September 2023 under the Nimoy Theater name, honoring Leonard Nimoy.
Aftermath
The venue's primary positioning shifted toward live performance and cultural programming while preserving its historic theater function.
2018
UCLA acquires the historic theaterM&ABackground
The historic building required a new long-term operating model after years of changing commercial ownership and intermittent closures.
Action taken
UCLA acquired the theater with support from Susan Nimoy and an anonymous donor and assigned the project to its arts organizations.
Aftermath
The property underwent extensive renovation and was repositioned as a university-affiliated performance venue.
2010
Bigfoot Entertainment acquires and renames the venueM&ABackground
The theater was being operated after Disney's partnership had ended and Pacific had sold the property to an independent owner.
Action taken
Bigfoot Entertainment purchased the theater and relaunched it as Bigfoot Crest Theater, with programming intended to feature Bigfoot-related film content.
Aftermath
Carmike managed the theater for a period, while the venue added specialty programs before later closing and being placed for sale.
Reported acquisition price. approximately $4 million (September 2010)
1987
Undertake a staged corporate renovationStrategyBackground
Pacific Theatres and Disney's Buena Vista Theaters sought to modernize the theater and strengthen its presentation around commercial film releases.
Action taken
The operators upgraded film and sound systems and then renovated the lobby, auditorium, restrooms, seats and decorative treatment.
Aftermath
The venue reopened its upgraded presentation in stages and received an Art Deco-oriented interior treatment.
1941
Convert the new venue to wartime newsreel useStrategyBackground
The building had been designed for live performances, but World War II changed local entertainment and information needs.
Action taken
The theater was converted into a cinema focused exclusively on newsreels during the war.
Aftermath
After the war, the theater returned to broader film programming, including foreign films.
Sources2 sources
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