[update 2:35pm No Netflix LED billboard on the Egyptian Theatre hearing tonight! City Planning email just received: "we have just been notified that APC Central has lost quorum for tonight's meeting. The meeting will be rescheduled for a later date to be determined."]
Dear Friend of the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre,
Thank you for joining 4272 concerned citizens who have signed the petition urging the board of the American Cinematheque to hold a public meeting, explain the problems facing the troubled non-profit, halt any potential sale of the Egyptian Theatre and be transparent about its plans moving forward. The petition is directed to the board, to the local city councilmember's office (Mitch O'Farrell, since defeated by Hugo Soto-Martinez), and to the California Attorney General, who was already investigating the American Cinematheque before it sought to sell the theater.
In our last update, we let you know about how Netflix is seeking to violating Hollywood’s historic sign ordinance and deface the Egyptian Theatre with a very large animated LED rooftop sign.
On August 4, 2023 there was a virtual City Planning Commission hearing about the proposed sign. Bizarrely, there were no Planning Commissioners present. The city has created a meeting format where the legal requirement to have public comment is met, even though there is no way of knowing if the commissioners actually go back and watch the video or read the written public comments.
We live narrated that hearing, with screenshots of the slideshow and documentation of the many citizens and preservation groups that object to this non-historic, animated, oversized roof sign. You can see that on Twitter or Facebook.
This afternoon after 4:30pm, the Central Los Angeles Area Planning Commissioners will actually vote on Netflix’ terrible roof sign request at a real public hearing. Members of the public can call in about agenda item 6. APCC-2023-1163-SPE-SPP / CEQA: ENV-2023-1165-CE.
You can see the agenda and call / Zoom info here.
We hope you will take the time to tune in, call in, and express your objections to this sign. You can use your own words, or borrow from those below. The message is simple:
“I object to Netflix’s attempt to violate the Hollywood Signage Supplemental Use District restrictions by installing a large, multicolored, animated, modern LED billboard on the roof of the landmark 1922 Egyptian Theatre. City Planning must follow the direction of the Cultural Heritage Commission to ensure that any roof sign is of an appropriate size, is static, has no more than two colors, with a single line of text. Anything else threatens the integrity of the National Register District and could set a dangerous precedent for many more inappropriate changes.”
Netflix seems to think that because it owns the Egyptian Theatre, it can do anything it likes with it. But as a landmark, in a National Register district, there are strong restrictions on alterations and additions to historic properties.
We hope that the Planning Commissioners will listen to the many voices raised in opposition and not allow installation of this unnecessary, obtrusive and illegal animated roof sign.
We are hopeful that with the oversight of the Cultural Heritage Commission and the public, the future of the Egyptian Theatre will be a positive one. We will continue to let you know when there are opportunities for the public to be heard.
Please continue to share the petition with friends who love the American Cinematheque and want to see it thrive in the historic Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. And stay tuned for additional news as we have it.
Yours for Los Angeles,
Kim Cooper & Richard Schave
Friends of the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre
https://esotouric.com/egyptiantheatre