hlywdkjk Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 The Theater fomerly known as The Kodak *Kodak Wants Name Off LA Home Of Oscars Broadcast* http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0111215343254961b6cc46548b33af40.html American business icon Eastman Kodak is in bankruptcy. The digital photography revolution has brought it to this point. As part of the "Chapter 11" process, Kodak has asked to be allowed to walk away from its contract for the naming rights for "The Kodak Theater" in Hollywood. So the home of the Academy Awards is looking for a new name for its theater. (The Academy is also looking at a potential new home for the ceremony - but that is a different discussion.) Kodak was a perfect name for the home of the Academy Awards. It was industry-related and had a relationship with the general public. Kodak was as much a part of "Hollywood" as it was a part of everyone's home. A company with such an equally unique position in the marketplace is not going to be replaced easily. "The Panavision Theater" means little to the viewer at home. And "The Netflix Theater" may not please the Academy membership either. Netflix and the studios have a contentious relationship. But I have a suggestion. I hereby suggest the suits at Turner Entertainment pony up the cash to name the home of the Oscars - h2. "The Robert Osborne Theater". Now, at first I thought it could be named "The TCM Theater". But I'm sure ABC would veto that. While not a tenant, I bet ABC will have some input on the naming rights of the home of the Oscars. ABC is the Academy's biggest "funder" and they would be "unhappy" if another television network had its name above the entrance. But "Robert Osborne" as a theater name is a different story. It references TCM without being blatant. And because Robert Osborne is the official historian of the Academy Awards, it also reflects the Academy's past and present in a manner to which the general public can relate. And it is (mostly) "film-studio" neutral. The Academy won't let "Sony" or "Disney" slap their name on the theater. And "Comcast" would likely be ruled out too. OK, OK. I am being somewhat tongue in cheek. The naming rights for the Theater are not going to come cheap. But they may be cheaper than a Conan O'Brien contract extension or College Basketball broadcast rights. But what better way to "brand" TCM in the minds of movie fans than to put the moniker of the "Face of TCM" on the home of the Oscars. But I am perfectly resigned to the idea that the theater will likely become "The Coca-Cola Theater". I wouldn't be surprised if that Atlanta company has already made inquiries. Kyle In Hollywood Edited by: hlywdkjk on Feb 4, 2012 11:53 AM to fix a silly typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VP19 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Nice idea. Or we could honor two historians by naming it "The Osborne-Brownlow Theater." (Of course, since AMPAS is mulling a new site for the awards, this might all be moot.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 They could just change one letter, and call it the Kojak Theater in honor of Telly Savalas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casablancalover Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Call it The Shrine and let the lawyers slug it out. Edited by: casablancalover on Feb 4, 2012 2:34 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clore Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 But I am perfectly resigned to the idea that the theater will likely become "The Coca-Cola Theater". I wouldn't be surprised if that Atlanta company has already made inquiries. After the debacle of their ownership of Columbia, I doubt that they want to be associated with Hollywood except for product placements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket_Man Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 ...WHO GOES TO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR IN A PLACE IN THE SUN. >I hereby suggest the suits at Turner Entertainment pony up the cash to name the home of the Oscars "The Robert Osborne Theater". What a ghastly idea (Bob could warm up the Oscar-night crowd by reciting old TCM scripts full of misinformation). It may be moot, anyway, since the Academy is considering moving the ceremonies to the much bigger Nokia Theater in downtown L.A. (and, as a resident of Hollywood, who's inconvenienced by street closures for the week preceding the Oscars, the sooner they leave, the better). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SansFin Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Perhaps one of the billionaires in Alaska will step forward with funds and rename it the Kodiak Theater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 > {quote:title=SansFin wrote:}{quote}Perhaps one of the billionaires in Alaska will step forward with funds and rename it the Kodiak Theater. Well Sans, I supposed that would be better than, say, "The Bridge To Nowhere" and/or "The Sarah Palin, I Can See Russia From My House" Theater for The Performing Arts", huh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markfp2 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 It would be ironic if Fuji came up with the money to buy the naming rights. After all, it was Fuji that practically stole the home consumer film market away from Kodak. That really would be like pouring salt on a wound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmlover Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 At the moment, I think it would more than likely default to "The Cirque Du Soleil Hollywood Theatre," what with Cirque's Iris being there indefinitely, and who know what else may come from them in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlywdkjk Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just heard on the radio that the theater's owners have reached an agreement with the film audio company to name the home of the Oscars - The Dolby Theater Not a bad choice. I don't think I could come up with a better one. Kyle In Hollywood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I dont like it. But who am I? (LOL)....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Another suggestion could be to name the theatre after Louis B. Mayer, who had the idea of forming the Academy. Without the Academy, there would be no Oscars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Yeah, but could he be counted on for the pricey financial support? LOL...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 There must be wealthy descendants or an estate floating around somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I'm sure there are. Like the Selznicks......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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