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LAEMMLE LIVE New Performing Arts Series at the Monica Film Center Launching January 22, 2017

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The Laemmle Foundation presents LAEMMLE LIVE, a new performing arts series at the Monica Film Center. Emerging artists and professional performers from local schools and organizations will celebrate our diverse community with live performance.

In our inaugural year, LAEMMLE LIVE’s free monthly Sunday morning performances will turn the Monica Film Center’s mezzanine lounge into a salon style venue and serve as a potential pilot for live performance programs at other Laemmle locations throughout Los Angeles — delivering an alternative community arts experience — inviting our Los Angeles neighbors into our Laemmle living room.

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Illustration by Nancy Nimoy

LAEMMLE LIVE’S first concert will feature musicians from Santa Monica High School’s Chamber Orchestra on January 22, 2017.

Future program partners include Lincoln Middle School, SO-LA Music Academy, Street Symphony, McCabe’s Guitar Shop and Elemental Music.

LAEMMLE LIVE will be a place for cultural intersection and engagement with social issues that matter to the community. Mindful that Santa Monica can be a place where privilege lives next door to a growing homeless population — LAEMMLE LIVE invites high school performers to inspire underserved neighbors and welcomes Street Symphony musicians who state “…we bring music to lift up the brave stories and voices of people who, although living in an impoverished situation, are in no way impoverished in spirit.”

“Live performance is a natural sequel to ART IN THE ARTHOUSE, a program that delivers a unique art-viewing experience by reclaiming wall space throughout our theaters for the display of fine art.” says Greg Laemmle, Laemmle Theatres President.

Winter-Spring
2017 Calendar

Sun Jan 22, 2017 11 AM — Samohi Chamber Orchestra
Joni Swenson, Jason Aiello, Directors

Sun Feb 5, 2017 11 AM — Sol-La Music Academy Chamber EnsembleMargaret Lysy, Founder and Artistic Director

Sun Mar 5, 2017 11 AM — Lincoln Middle School Madrigal Singers
Vanessa Counte, Director

Sun Apr 30, 2017 11 AM — Street Symphony
Vijay Gupta, Founder and Artistic Director

Nancy Nimoy: Solo Exhibit at the Royal

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19 Art in the Arthouse is pleased to present the vibrant works of accomplished painter, illustrator and designer, NANCY NIMOY, at the Royal Theater. Curated by our own Tish Laemmle, this exhibit showcases Nimoy’s versatile talent in over 30 stunning pieces.  Expansive in both theme and approach, Nimoy tackles issues of politics, social media, and celebrity.

Nimoy has a way of finding beauty and meaning in the seemingly mundane. Her unique take on the everyday commands attention, while playful use of light and color make her work visually “pop.” The end result being whimsical and engaging paintings of undeniable craftsmanship.

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When Nimoy began her career in New York, a well-known design team famously admonished her for presenting a portfolio that was “all over the map.”  Today, as a sought after painter and illustrator with a long list of private commissions, corporate, publishing, theatre, and film clients, her work is quite literally, all over the map.

In the end, Nimoy’s  flexibility is, in fact, her strength.  Whether exploring icons such as The Rolling Stones, depicting a woman’s dress, or documenting the last anxious days of a diabolical political campaign, her gift for observation and storytelling shines through.  Nimoy’s influences are also many, reflecting her love of Diebenkorn, Picasso, Hockney and the German Expressionist movement, with a deep bow to Maira Kalman.

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Nimoy’s work, including portrait commissions, can be found in collections from Dublin to Brooklyn and scattered throughout her messy studio where she does her best work in her bathrobe.

The Nancy Nimoy Solo Exhibit runs through January.  Make sure to visit the gallery outside of the Royal’s main auditorium (House #1) next time you come for a movie.  Or just stop by – movie tickets are not required to view the art.

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Humphrey Bogart Double Feature on Wednesday, November 30th in Pasadena, North Hollywood, and West LA!

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Humphrey BogartLaemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a tribute to screen legend Humphrey Bogart with a double feature of The Big Sleep (1946, 70th anniversary) and High Sierra (1941, 75th anniversary).

College students launched a passionate Bogart cult in the 1960s, and it is still going strong today. His tough screen persona gave dimension to a number of memorable characters, and we present two of those seminal roles in this Bogie double bill.

The Humphrey Bogart double feature will play on Wednesday, November 30 at three locations: the Royal in West LA, the NoHo 7 in North Hollywood, and the Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the 5:10PM High Sierra (includes admission to the 7:30PM The Big Sleep).

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the 7:30PM The Big Sleep (includes admission to the 10PM High Sierra).

HIGH SIERRA is a 1941 heist film with impeccable crime story credits; it was written by W.R. Burnett (Little Caesar, Scarface) and John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo) adapting Burnett’s novel, and directed by Raoul Walsh (The Roaring Twenties, White Heat). Bogart plays “Mad Dog” Roy Earle, a weary, aging gangster who attempts to reject his life of crime. Co-star Ida Lupino (as his adoring moll) was actually top billed, but Bogart’s acclaimed performance vaulted him to leading man status for the rest of his career. The film also cemented the strong partnership Bogart formed with Huston, and they would collaborate on several screen classics in the next decade.

THE BIG SLEEP is a masterpiece of film noir, released in 1946, directed by Howard Hawks and written by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman adapting the Raymond Chandler novel. It marked the second teaming of Bogart with his wife Lauren Bacall, after the two created a screen sensation in Hawks’ To Have and Have Not in 1944. The film is noted for its convoluted plot (just try to follow it) and rich atmosphere. Bogart’s take on private detective Philip Marlowe pleased Chandler, who praised him as “so much better than any other tough-guy actor.” The hero’s sexy interplay with Bacall playfully flirted with contemporary censorship restrictions, as the duo wove the mystique of “Bogie and Bacall.”

Wild(er) November: A Throwback Thursday Tribute to Gene Wilder at the Laemmle NoHo 7.

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Join Laemmle and Eat|See|Hear for WILD(ER) NOVEMBER, a special Throwback Thursday (#TBT) tribute to one of our favorite actors, Gene Wilder.

It kicks off Thursday, November 3rd with WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.  Doors open at 7PM, trivia starts at 7:30PM, and films begin at 7:40PM. Check out the full schedule below or visit http://www.laemmle.com/tbt.

#TBT runs (almost) every Thursday night at the Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. Tickets are $11 and may be purchased online or at the Laemmle NoHo 7 box office. As with regular screenings, discounts are available for children, seniors, and Laemmle Premiere Card holders.

Wild(er) November: A Throwback Thursday Tribute to Gene Wilder at the Laemmle NoHo 7.

November 3: WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Promoted as a family musical by Paramount Pictures, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is more of a black comedy, perversely faithful to the spirit of Roald Dahl’s original book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in five of his scrumptious chocolate bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likable young lad named Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather (Jack Albertson).
Buy tickets.

Wild(er) November: A Throwback Thursday Tribute to Gene Wilder at the Laemmle NoHo 7.

November 10: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

In this spoof of Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, a neurosurgeon, has spent his life living down the legend of his grandfather, even changing the pronunciation of his name. When he discovers his grandfather’s diary, he begins to feel differently, and returns to the family castle to satisfy his curiosity by replicating his ancestor’s experiments. In the process, he creates one very unique monster.
Buy tickets.

Wild(er) November: A Throwback Thursday Tribute to Gene Wilder at the Laemmle NoHo 7.

November 17: STIR CRAZY

After teaming up in Silver Streak, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor reunited for this zany comedy in which they play a couple of out-of-work numbskulls who take a promotional job that has them dressed up like woodpeckers. Unfortunately, a pair of thieves, also in woodpecker suits, pulls off a bank heist and the boys are wrongly arrested and sentenced to 120 years each. After a concerted and hilarious effort to make the best of things “in stir,” Wilder and Pryor break out of jail, hoping to track down the actual thieves.
Buy tickets.

November 24: Thanksgiving Day

Sorry, no #TBT screening this week because of Thanksgiving. Enjoy some time with family, friends, and ?. Gobble gobble!

Scary Movies! See THE OMEN, CARRIE, THE WOLF MAN and More on the Big Screen.

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Some might feel this election season is scary enough, but horror movie fans know that the thrill of filmic frights is a special cinematic pleasure.

First up is THE OMEN with director Richard Donner in person for a Q&A at the Fine Arts on October 18. When his child is stillborn, an American diplomat (Academy Award® Winner Gregory Peck*) is convinced to exchange the dead baby for a living one, in order to spare his wife’s feelings. But as the child grows, a series of gruesome “accidental” murders begins to occur, and the horrifying identity of the child becomes clear in this timeless, bone-chilling thriller set to Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar®-Winning Original Score.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWnrwiMALAA&feature=youtu.be

Three days later on October 21, the Fine Arts stays scary with the Japanese thriller CREEPY. After a traumatic incident, criminal psychologist and former police detective Takakura (Hidetoshi NISHIJIMA) moves to a new neighborhood with his wife Yasuko (Yuko TAKEUCHI) to make a fresh start. Upon meeting their new neighbors, the Nishinos, Takakura senses something odd about them. Then he is approached by the Nishinos’ daughter, whose shocking whispered confession shatters the serenity of his new life.

https://vimeo.com/174541460

On Halloween at the Monica Film Center, NoHo and Playhouse we’ve got a werewolf double feature for you: THE WOLF MAN and THE WOLF MAN MEETS FRANKENSTEIN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEnHOng8TZo&feature=youtu.be

Finally, the day after the election on November 8 (remember to vote!), spend November 9 with Brian De Palma, Stephen King and Sissy Spacek and watch the classic, cathartic CARRIE at the Fine Arts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYB1STbEM2Y&feature=youtu.be

Celebrate Art House Theater Day Saturday, September 24th with Discounted Tickets to Select Art House Films!

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Art House Theater Day PosterSaturday, September 24th is Art House Theater Day! It’s a day to recognize the contributions of film and filmmakers, staff and projectionists, and fellow brick and mortar theaters dedicated to providing access to the best cinematic experience.

Most importantly, it’s a day to thank our patrons for their year-round support. As a thank you, we’re offering a ticket discount to select art house films! If you have a friend that’s never been to an art house, this is the perfect day to bring them along for a unique movie-going adventure.

Enter the promo code ARTHOUSEDAY when you buy tickets to Saturday screenings of the films listed below! Discounts are available on laemmle.com only.

Tickets for showtimes before 6PM are $6 for Adults and Seniors and $4 for Laemmle Premiere Card Holders. General admission is normally $9.

Shows after 6PM are $10 for Adults, $6 for Seniors, and $8 for Premiere Card Holders. General admission is normally $12.

Eligible Films:

THE LOVERS AND THE DESPOT is a stranger-than-fiction documentary about South Korean filmmaker Shin Sang-ok and actress Choi Eun-hee, who were kidnapped by Kim Jong-il and forced to produce 17 films. Playing at the Playhouse 7, NoHo 7, and Royal Theatre. Click here for tickets.

A rivalry between two brothers reaches a fever pitch during a charity swim competition in the romantic comedy, MY BLIND BROTHER. Jenny Slate, Zoe Kazan, Adam Scott, and Nick Kroll star. Playing at the Monica Film Center, Playhouse 7, Town Center. Click here for tickets.

TANNA is set in the South Pacific where a young girl from one of the last traditional tribes falls in love with her chief’s grandson. When an intertribal war escalates, she is unknowingly betrothed as part of a peace deal. Playing at the Playhouse 7 and Royal Theatre. Click here for tickets.

Australian revenge comedy-drama THE DRESSMAKER stars Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving, and Liam Hemsworth. Playing at the Playhouse 7 and Town Center. Click here for tickets.

View the trailers for all four films:

For more about Art House Theater Day, visit: http://www.arthousetheaterday.org

Rosamond Purcell: An Art That Nature Makes – Photo Exhibit + Doc

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It’s the majesty of the weird … the contemplation of the ordinary.
– Director Erroll Morris

An Art in the Arthouse exclusive! We are currently exhibiting the acclaimed work of master photographer ROSAMOND PURCELL.  Recently called “our greatest living 17th Century photographer” by the New York Times, Purcell’s  photos are on display upstairs at the Monica Film Center’s mezzanine lounge.  They can be viewed in conjunction with the documentary film about the artist: AN ART THAT NATURE MAKES.  Don’t miss out on this rare chance to view the film and the art at the same time.  All works are for sale. Proceeds benefit the Laemmle Foundation.

MM7385_060330_00048 - IbisAbout the Exhibit:

As a fledgling photographer, Rosamond Purcell wasn’t quite satisfied with capturing people; she shifted her lens early on to uncover the secret lives of the objects that surround us.

Many of the photographs featured in the recently released documentary by Molly Bernstein,  An Art That Nature Makes, are currently included in an exhibit at the Monica Film Center. Her stunning images draw from Purcell’s interest in natural history collections. Works like “Peter’s Teeth” from the book Finders, Keepers and “Snowy Egret” from Egg & Nest explore the essence of organic material, telling its story through its decay.

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The often morbid nature of Purcell’s subject matter is pair by the striking beauty of her images. This duality with in her work is encapsulating to view in person.

As a pioneer of the lost and forgotten, she breathes new life into objects, immortalizing their history and transcending their place in time.

Purcell has a way of elevating the mundane into the extraordinary. Her unique compositions and tone – echo master still life painters of 1600’s Northern Europe such as Jan Fyt and Pieter Claesz, taking photography to a level of fine art that is rarely experienced.
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The New York Times recently stated that Purcell is “our greatest living 17th century photographer.” After examining her ever-growing oeuvre, one might be tempted to make the case for the 21st century as well.

Take this wonderful opportunity to see the film at the Monica Film Center and view her art in person. They’re not to be missed!

   – Lili Abdel-Ghany, Curator