Max Palevsky Theatre at the Aero Theatre

The historic Santa Monica theater built by aviation pioneer Donald Douglas as a perk for his workers has been renovated by the nonprofit American Cinematheque, which owns the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The Aero continues to operate as one of the few remaining single-screen venues in Southern California offering vintage films and special screenings.

Upgrades include improvements to the projection and sound systems and a new concession stand.

The theater's capacity was reduced by 33% to about 400 seats from 600 and the front of the English Tudor-style building with its sidewalk box office and neon marquee were preserved.

The theater, built in 1939 by the founder of Douglas Aircraft Co., screened movies around the clock so employees at his airplane production plant in Santa Monica could catch a movie after work, even if they had to work the graveyard shift.