Cool News
A Fond Farewell To Sherman Torgan, Founder Of The New Beverly Cinema
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I just wrote a piece the other day about why I think it’s important to pay to see films with regular crowds, especially for people who work in this business. And as much as I think that’s true for new movies, I think it’s doubly important for older films. And if you’re in LA, the place that has been the best bet for reparatory bookings over the last few years has been The New Beverly Cinema.
I didn’t make it to the New Beverly as often as I would have liked, but every time I did go, it was because they managed to put together a double-bill that I had to see theatrically. Films like ELEKTRA GLIDE IN BLUE, films I never figured I’d get a chance to see on the bigscreen... that’s what would draw me to the New Beverly. Right now, you can see two recently struck prints of THE GOONIES and BACK TO THE FUTURE showing if you drop by.
And even though I never knew his name, it turns out that was all because of one guy... Sherman Torgan, the founder and owner of the New Beverly. It was a shock when I read that he had died of a heart attack while bicycling in Santa Monica. He was 63. Used to be a time I thought that was old, but now... I don’t. I think that’s actually fairly young, especially for a guy who is still doing something he loves, still busy and active. And now the fate of the New Beverly is sort of in limbo. His son Michael and the family are going to try to sort out what the future of the theater is, and I hope they’re able to keep it alive. But so often, a venue like this is the result of one person’s passion. One of the reasons I am constantly awed by the Alamo Drafthouse is because of Tim League and his amazing enthusiasm not just for film, but for the exhibition of film. And Sherman Torgan was that same kind of guy... the kind of person who loved putting two films together, who loved seeing them with a crowd. And that love is something you can’t summon on command... it has to be a part of you. Anyone who ever got a chance to visit the New Beverly understands how much Sherman Torgan loved showing films, and although I was slow in saying goodbye to him, it is sincere, and I wish his family well in this terribly sad time.
We need more guys like Sherman Torgan, not less.
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
-
+ Expand All
-
my first first post
-
Never got that before, oh well, there's a FIRST time for everything!
-
DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT!!! Just thought it was my first, apparently "blindreepr" beat me to the punch by 5 seconds... The stry of my life really, which is actually quite sad.
-
I was able to see the "BTTF" and "Goonies" double feature when he had it years ago. Other double features I've seen there are "Caddyshack" & "Groundhog Day", "Blue Velvet" & "Wild At Heart", (before "WAH" was released on DVD, which was fairly recently) and the first two "Alien" films. I've always loved the idea of someone owning a theater and choosing to show older movies so that people could share the theatrical experience. It's the closest thing to a time machine that exists, because once the crowd is settled and the lights go down, they're seeing and hearing exactly what those audience saw and heard all those years ago. My heartfelt thanks to Mr. Torgan for providing those windows into the past for all these years. I hope someone is able to continue the tradition. My sympathies and best wishes to his family and friends. - Jon
-
Great tribute, Perfesser.
-
first off, cuthbert, bttf/goonies was the first time i ever drove anywhere in LA. i braved the 10 freeway to go to that double feature. just one of the countless memories i have of this wonderful theater.
the new bev is (i don't say was because i believe that the theater will keep going) the place i imagine myself in when i think of los angeles. i started going there during college and started going more often when my girlfriend moved within walking distance. annie hall/manhattan, dr. strangelove/lolita, raiders/last crusade, such amazing times at the movies. after i heard that sherman passed, i went down to the theater and cried, big sobs. i cried for a really great guy with a truly important calling. but i didn't cry for the new bev. because the new bev will live on. -
This is horrible news.
-
I hope the Bev stays open, but even Sherman even said he kept it going on a shoestring budget. It would be great to see it remain with the same venue and not get absorbed into some megaplex. Gone are the great revival houses like the Tiffany, Vagabond, the Gordon(One guy took his willie out and pissed on the floor while watching a double bill of Dr. No and From Russia With Love.)Sherman Theater, the Fox Venice(That was a tough theater back in the day.A guaranteed fist fight broken up by an armed security guard everytime.) the Loyola, the Encore(Leaked when it rained, but what a great theater.) and even the Nuart before they revamped it. Sherman enjoyed his work and I hope someone with his passion carries on for him.
-
I was there just a few weeks ago for the "Lost Ark"/"Last Crusade" double feature. Sherman was really a provider of bringing back childhood memories for me. Also had the pleasure of catching the "Casablanca"/"Good German" double feature, complete with a Q&A with the title character...two or three weeks before "GG" was scheduled for release. Not to mention, this is the only theatre left that sells king sized Kit Kats - a must for me for any film. Thanks for all the memories, Sherman. RIP, dear friend.
-
Thousands of miles away here in Georgia, I've always admired The New Beverly, wishing we had something that cool in our vicinity. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and customers
-
I lived in Los Angeles for three years, a broke movie nerd, and this was my absolute favorite place in the city. I got my education there, and all for like $4 for a double feature. The reason there aren't more places like this is because there aren't more people like Sherman Torgan. You'd have to be awful passionate about showing films to keep this going for as long as he did. I really hope someone with similar passion steps in.
-
I work for a cable tv netwrok and we used the New beverly as a location once. Sherman was a really cool dude. He was very helpful and friendly, but also clearly was not impressed by camera crews and lights and actors.
-
This is my absolute favorite theater in L.A. Sherman will be hugely missed and his contribution to this city's true film culture can't be overstated. Now that his son is trying to figure out if he can keep the doors open, this is a great time to get down to the New Bev and show your support. I was there for a midnight screening of THEY LIVE! on Saturday and it was awesome. I'll be back this Wed or Thurs for an amazingly well-timed Ingmar Bergman double-feature of WILD STRAWBERRIES and THE VIRGIN SPRING. If you're in the area, get down to La Brea and Beverly and toss some $$ at the last true 7-day-a-week rep house. www.newbevcinema .com
-
This is a true loss. The New Beverly is my favorite theater on the planet. And I live in Austin with the Alamo Drafthouse. When I lived in LA, I got to see films there I never dreamed of seeing in the theater like Point Blank or The Sacrifice. How many people can say they made dreams come true? Thank you, Sherman for bringing joy to others. You will be missed. I hope that someone can carry on your great and passionate work.
-
to that theater recently. Saw a great Godard double bill.
-
And I'm truly sad to hear that Sherman has passed. I live mere blocks from there, and every so often, I make sure to go up there to catch a double bill... specifically those films I've never seen before. The New Bev has introduced me to so many great movies... Annie Hall, Manhattan, Roman Holiday, The Party, Knife in the Water, Winged Migration and a lot of truly awful but fun grindhouse movies from the most recent Tarantino programming... the list goes on. And every night, Sherman was there to take my money and give me my half-ticket. If I had the funds to take over the theatre and continue to run it... I would. In fact, maybe a bunch of us film geeks should get together as a consortium to save the place if his son can't do it. This place is a local ICON... we cannot lose it!!!!
-
My favorite double feature there: Rumblefish and The Outsiders.
Great place; hopefully Sherman's passion will find a way to continue, there are too few theaters like this and far too scary a premise of everything turning into multiplexes.
RIP -
...given my screen name here, to send out my hopes that the New Bev will continue on. I remember seeing The Warriors and Streets of Fire (Walter Hill's retellings of The Odyssey and The Iliad, natch), as well as John Carpenter's The Thing and Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Great stuff. Great concession stand, too! Not enough places serve Cherry Coke from the fountain!
-
I completely forgot about the double bill of Thing/Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It was the first time I ever saw Invasion.... I tried to watch it on TV when I was a little kid but when the guy opened his eyes in the bathtub I was so scared I had to turn it off. Damn, what a great theater.
-
Maybe not as nice as the Aero or the Nuart (although the employees are certainly more personable than the Nuart's manager/projectionist Mark Edward Heuck), but the quality of its schedule is always commendable. I hope hey're still screening the Peter Greenaway double feature at the end of this month, although by butt is already aching at the prospect.
-
awesome. nerd crowd, but that was to be expected. everyone had big hair and tight colorful shirts and chains to their wallets. seriously, everyone in there looked the same. that whole "band" crowd. still, the movies were great, the crowd was into it, and everyone cheers laughed at the right spots. everyone was respectful as well. good place to watch a movie, RIP MR Torgan, u made a wonderful place.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 439 total posts 159 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 144 total posts 142 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 155 total posts 140 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 55 total posts 45 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 196 total posts 45 posts
- I am The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day! No, I’m the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day! -- 35 total posts 35 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 60 total posts 34 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 127 total posts 32 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 513 total posts 29 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 118 total posts 27 posts