After its grand opening last month, I strolled into the brand spanking new Edwards Renaissance Stadium 14 at Main and Garfield in Alhambra. I poked my nose around in half of the 14 auditoriums and enjoyed a film as well. I also spoke with Scott Austin, the new theaters proud manager. Here are some juicy spec's he pointed out about the new center.

Fourteen comfy stadium seating auditoriums: 13 & 14 are the biggest (400 seaters), with 1-4 (300 seaters) coming in second. Wall to wall screens and DTS digital sound. Brand new touch screen registers, eleven of which are in the box office and twelve in concession. Four video games (that's the maximum allowed for a city business). A customer service area to answer all your questions and comment cards to send to corporate. There's a five story parking structure recently built by the city just adjacent to the theater as well. Scott also mentioned that advertisements roll out of digital projectors fed by HDtv satellite and that in the future they may be used to bring major events (sporting, music etc.) to Alhambra viewers. I'm looking forward to this technology and have heard from insiders that such events could be viewed live. That's a pretty exciting new twist to the cinema-going experience.

Austin says that the November opening went smoothly without a hitch. I asked him about the Edwards name and bankruptcy situation. He had this to say, "The three chains that currently form Regal Entertainment Group: Regal Cinema, Edwards Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, all three at one time had filed a chapter 11 which is a reorganization chapter under bankruptcy. Which means that basically they were doing things to cut the fat, cut their expenditures, to get back on track to making profits." According to Austin, Philip Anschutz out of Denver, CO, who owns the LA Kings and part of the Lakers, bought controlling interests in UA, Edwards, and the Regal Theatres to form Regal Entertainment Group.

I hope that clears up your questions, but if it doesn't, that's okay, just enjoy the wonderful new seats with lifting armrests. My screening was projected in sharp focus and grand sound equalization and distribution. I also enjoyed the chow mane at the Panda Express in the same center. Looks like an AppleBee's will open there soon as well. And if you haven't been to Alhambra, well you're missing the best Asian food in the area.

Since, Alhambra is my stomping grounds, admittedly, I did not look fondly on the appearance of the new theater, purely for selfish reasons -- I dreaded the traffic it could bring. But, I've got to say, one visit made me my worries disappear. I look forward to viewing more films there.