French
DeutschLaemmle Theatres
 Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, California | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Founder | Max and Kurt Laemmle |
Area served | Los Angeles, California |
| Services | Movie theater, Academy Award qualification |
| Owner | Robert and Greg Laemmle |
| Website | www |
Laemmle Theatres (/ˈlɛmli/ LEM-lee) is a Los Angeles-based arthouse movie theater chain owned and operated by Robert Laemmle and his son Greg. The company's first theater, bought in 1938[1] by Robert's father Max and uncle Kurt, both cousins of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle, was located in Highland Park.
Locations
[edit]Laemmle Theatres currently has seven locations:
- Claremont 5 in Claremont
- Glendale 5 in Glendale
- Monica Film Center in Santa Monica
- Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles
- Town Center 5 in Encino
- NoHo 7 in North Hollywood
- Newhall 7 in Newhall.
The Laemmle Grande 4-Plex on South Figueroa Street closed October 25, 2009 as L.A. Live's Regal Cinema complex was set to open.[1]
In December 2011, the Glendale City Council and Redevelopment Agency approved a $12.8 million[2] development that included 42 residential units, a 5-screen Laemmle theater, and a Panda Inn. Construction began in mid-2015[3] and the complex opened in August 2018.[4]
Construction of Newhall 7 was completed in 2020, but its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It opened on April 9, 2021[6] and with Glendale 5 reopening on May 21, 2021, Laemmle Theatres resumed operating all its locations that had been open prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
Playhouse 7 in Pasadena ceased operations as a Laemmle location in June 2022.[8]
Oscar qualifying
[edit]During the 21st century, the Laemmle venues have come to be known as the "Secret Path to Oscar Qualifying" since they have been repeatedly used by independent films, short films, and documentaries for that purpose.[9] Laemmle provides services designed to enable a film to qualify for Academy Awards,[10] charging a flat rate for exhibition while giving the film's producers 100 percent of the box office receipts; they have someone meet every year with the Academy committees in all the categories to ensure their "qualifying run" bookings actually qualify. They even help film-makers book their films outside of their own theaters if a committee requires that.[9]
In media
[edit]Laemmle Theatres are the subject of the 2022 documentary Only in Theaters, directed by Raphael Sbarge.[11][12]
In 2024, Greg Laemmle and Raphael Sbarge started the podcast Inside the Arthouse, recorded inside[13] the Laemmle Royal. The podcast is an insider's perspective on filmmakers and those responsible for screening arthouse films across the United States.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Richard Verrier A Hollywood opening for downton cinema October 24, 2009 Los Angeles Times
- ^ "Glendale's Laemmle Lofts Theater and Housing Finally Moving - Curbed LA". Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ "Redevelopment's Dissolution Leads City of Glendale To Create Its Own Economic Development Corporation | The Planning Report". Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ "The Grand Opening of the Laemmle Glendale is Set for Friday, August 3rd!". blog.laemmle.com. 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ "A Sneak Preview Of The New Laemmle Theatre In Old Town Newhall". Hometown Station. 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Laemmle Theaters Newhall Open for Business". San Fernando Valley Business Journal. 2021-04-09. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ "Back to the Movies: Laemmle Glendale Reopens May 21". blog.laemmle.com. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ "Laemmle's Playhouse 7 Finishes Its Pasadena Run, Will Stay Open For Conclusion of Pasadena Film Festival Thursday – Pasadena Now". www.pasadenanow.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ a b "The Secret Path to Oscar Qualifying". The Wrap. November 5, 2009. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ^ Qualification from the Laemmle Theatres website
- ^ "New film tells the story of LA institution Laemmle Theaters". Onlyintheaters.com. 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ "Only In Theaters". Amazon.com. 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ "About - Inside the Arthouse". insidethearthouse.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.