Movie premieres moving Downtown?

The new Regal Cinemas' L.A. Live Stadium 14 debuts officially on Tuesday with the first showings of Michael Jackson's "This Is It." Variety sees the new Downtown cineplex — which will finally kill off the old Laemmle four-plex under the Marriott hotel on Figueroa — as part of an eastward trend. In Downtown, L.A. Live is promoting itself as a spot for Hollywood premieres.

While some are skeptical whether the notoriously Westside-centric movie bizzers will make the trek downtown for preems, Anschutz Entertainment Group booked the L.A. Live plex for the opening of "2012" on Nov. 3.

The multiplex, Regal's most expensive ever, features a larger auditorium designed for events, a separate entrance for stars and party facilities. A covered walkway connects the plex to a Ritz-Carlton hotel that will open in February.

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AEG is promoting catering by Wolfgang Puck and the fact that no street closures are required as further preem enticements. The company has been meeting with studios about additional premieres; a rep said they are eyeing it for junkets as well.

There's also a new Gold Class Cinemas opening Dec. 4 on Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena. Meanwhile, Santa Monica's theaters have lost business to the Landmark and the Arclights, and there's still no word on the future of Westwood's Fox Village and Bruin.

Also cooking Downtown: The Holiday Inn opposite Staples Center (almost) is closing to be re-invented in spring 2010 as the Luxe City Center Hotel.