Hollywood avoiding L.A. Live theaters

AEG honchos were confident that the studios would be racing to the Regal Theaters multiplex for lavish Hollywood premieres. But it hasn't happened. Grauman's Chinese, the Cinerama Dome, and the Village in Westwood remain the preferred venues, according to THR:

Premieres are a small but significant corner of the exhibition business. Excluding party costs, studios typically spend $50,000 to $100,000 per premiere -- on everything from theater rental to the red carpet. For a venue like the Chinese, which hosted more than 40 premieres in 2010, that's big business. But the major studios have held no more than a handful of premieres at L.A. Live's Premiere House, citing the far-flung location and traffic as deterrents. Although the adjacent Nokia Theatre has lured a few high-profile premieres, including those for Sony's Michael Jackson documentary This Is It and Summit's 2010 Twilight installment Eclipse, Lionsgate's Aug. 10 bow of Conan the Barbarian has been one of the few big-ticket events to take place at the Regal.

AEG's chief flak Michael Roth insists things are picking up. Yet more promises...