Film enthusiasts and cinema lovers, mark your calendars! Vidiots, the renowned Los Angeles video store and non-profit film organization is gearing up for its highly-anticipated reopening on June 1, 2023. After completing extensive renovations on its new home, the historic Eagle Theatre in L.A.’s picturesque Eagle Rock neighborhood, Vidiots is ready to welcome back cinephiles and create a space where the magic of movies can thrive once again.

Founders Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber express their overwhelming joy, stating, “We’re overjoyed to finally see our dream of bringing Vidiots back to Los Angeles. The incredible feat of transforming the Eagle Theatre wouldn’t have been possible without the loyal support of a community truly devoted to cinema. We are excited to provide a place where new generations can be inspired, enlightened, and fall in love with film, just as we have.”

Reinvigorating the beloved community movie house and restoring public access to its cherished 50,000-title physical media library, Vidiots’ new home, located at 4884 Eagle Rock Boulevard, will feature a state-of-the-art 271-seat movie theater equipped with 35mm, 16mm, and digital projection capabilities. Visitors can also indulge in the nostalgia of browsing the legendary video store. Additionally, the venue boasts a beer and wine bar with concessions and a light menu, a flexible micro-cinema, and a community space. Spanning almost 11,000 square feet, this transformative space will cater to various screenings, special events, workshops, and community gatherings.

Operating seven days a week, Vidiots is committed to curating a diverse calendar of events. Moviegoers can expect affordable repertory titles, new independent films, hard-to-find gems, beloved classics, special events in collaboration with partners, all-ages programming, and year-round education and preservation initiatives. The organization is thrilled to announce upcoming community and programming partnerships with esteemed names such as A Bunch of Savages, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, IFC Films and Shudder, KCRW, Lionsgate, Monkeypaw Productions, MUBI, Outfest, rePROFilm, UCLA Film & Television Archive, and Women in Film, among many others. Stay tuned for the exciting line-up of opening months’ screenings and events, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Executive Director Maggie Mackay expresses her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “There are not enough words to describe our gratitude for the incredible community that’s rallied around us for so many years, making the dream of our reopening a reality. We’re eagerly anticipating the moment we can welcome everyone in Los Angeles and beyond back to the video store and the beautiful Eagle Theatre. In our corner of Northeast L.A., film will once again flourish as the social, communal, inspiring, and life-changing art form it has been for over 100 years.”

A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema, Vidiots is dedicated to inspiring human interaction around film through communal theatrical presentations and preserving, growing, and providing access to its diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, showcasing the work of emerging, master, and underrepresented artists, and producing unique and affordable film events, and vital education programs.