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Tonight's main showing of "Julie and Julia" ended with applause from the crowd at the Westwood Crest Theatre, but the first ovation of the night was for owner Robert Bucksbaum. That's pretty much the rule at the Crest, which he saved in 2003 and which runs its movies without commercials or previews. Bucksbaum introduced tonight's movie and observed that even though it was playing on four other screens within a mile or so, the house was more than half full at his little independent gem on Westwood Boulevard. It was a raffle night — when the crowd is large he pulls ticket numbers from a box and gives away prizes — and LA Observed walked away with a basketball. Sadly, the Crest is reportedly for sale.
Photo of interior with cyclorama by James Gordon Everett