Much has happened since we posted notice of our closure on March 16.  To get you up to speed, check out the links below.  They include several messages from Greg Laemmle during the last couple of weeks.

The big headline is that we’ve launched a new video-on-demand service  –  “Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema” – in conjunction with our distributors.  Since we can’t go out to the movies, this will allow us to watch Laemmle films while we stay in!

This is a particularly challenging time as we fight to preserve our 82-year legacy. You can help keep Laemmle strong.  Here’s how:
1. Watch movies online. To see what’s playing, join our mailing list and bookmark the Laemmle Virtual Cinema page.
2. Purchase a Premiere Card or Gift Card.
3. Keep following this blog and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

If you need a refund for a cancelled show, please fill out this form.

As always, we are beyond grateful for your commitment and support.

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Recent Messages from Greg Laemmle
(with film listings you can “Watch Now!”)

March 20 – Dear Laemmle Fans (Greg’s response to the crisis)

March 25 – Introducing “Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema”

March 27 – Virtual Cinema 2: Electric Boogaloo

March 30 – Laemmle Virtual Cinema – More Releases

[JUMP TO FILMS]

Dear Laemmle Fans,

As we enter the third week of CoronaClosure, I again want to thank you for your show of support. You are amazing! If you can, please continue buying Premiere Cards and Gift Cards.

In this email, we are adding four new titles to the LVC program. And Then We Danced is a terrific film from Georgia, perhaps my favorite film that opened in the first part of this year. We are also adding Balloon and The Wild Goose Lake, two well reviewed films that had the misfortune of opening on Friday, March 13, and were not able to play for even a full week in theatres. Finally, we are adding Perfect Nanny, a film that has not opened theatrically in the US, but who’s star, Karin Viard, was nominated for a Cesar Award as Best Actress following the film’s French release in 2019.

These join the films that are already available, which include the Sonia Braga starrer Bacurau, the Oscar-nominated Corpus Cristi, the cult hit Fantastic Fungi, the essential documentary for fans of The Band Once Were Brothers, the critically acclaimed Pause (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), the American Indie comedy Phoenix, Oregon, and the Romanian crime-thriller The Whistlers. Remember, if you watch any of these films via the LVC program, a portion of your payment will support us as we fight to reopen.

We’ll be adding more films on Friday, so stay tuned for another message at the end of this week.

All the best,
Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema
New Releases for MARCH 30 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

[JUMP TO FILMS]

Dear Laemmle Fans,

I know I just contacted you a couple days ago about the launch of the Laemmle Virtual Cinema program, but we’ve got a number of excited distributors who wanted to share some additional films. And since many of you are looking for stuff to do while sheltering in place, I figured another message wouldn’t hurt.

We’ve also created a page to answer any questions you may have about Laemmle Virtual Cinema. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out via our company email, or to submit a comment via our website. I can’t promise we will be able to answer all your questions directly, but your feedback helps make sure our FAQ is useful.

Click here to learn more about Laemmle Virtual Cinema.

Lastly, thank you again for your support, and know that every purchase you make on Laemmle Virtual Cinema helps us get through this mandatory closure, so that we can continue to serve you again when we reopen. And please, continue to stay safe and follow best practices.

All the best,
Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema
New Releases for MARCH 27 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

Dear Laemmle Fans,

As an exhibitor, I’m supposed to hate VOD (video on demand), seeing it as an enemy out to destroy my family’s 80+ year old business. However, I believe that people will always love going to the movie theatre, and that they recognize movie-going as the best way to appreciate what the filmmaker has created.

But right now, going to the movie theatre isn’t an option. We all know why this is the case, and we’re just going to have to accept it until we can get through this crisis.

These unprecedented times call for new alliances. So in partnership with a number of our indie distributors, we are launching the “Laemmle Virtual Cinema” program.

[VIEW LAUNCH TITLES]

While the theatres are closed, we’ll be emailing to let you know about new films which you can watch on VOD. The distributors will be sharing revenue directly with us, so that we have the resources to get through this mandatory closure, and can reopen our actual doors as soon as the coast is clear.

So please go ahead and pay to watch a movie online. You’re not cheating on us. You’ll actually be helping us. And together, we can keep the fires of arthouse cinema burning until this storm has passed.

All the best,
Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema
New Releases for MARCH 25 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

A letter from Greg Laemmle about the closing of the theaters sent on March 20.

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

My family has been in this business in Los Angeles since 1938. I’ve been doing my job for over 30 years. During that time, we’ve had fires, earthquakes, a couple very serious instances of civic unrest, a major terrorist attack on our country, and countless other threats and instances of adversity. But even when curfews curtailed our hours of operation, we managed to be open and showing movies. Even if most people didn’t want to get out, there were always those who found solace and escape in getting out to the movies. And we wanted to be there for them.

The word “unprecedented” gets thrown around a lot. But what we are all living through today definitely fits the bill. And adjusting to this new reality, and accepting that it is going to be with us for at least a month if not more, is a challenge.

As much as movies and the business of showing movies is important to me and all the employees at Laemmle Theatres, we recognize that there is a more important societal issue at stake here. We understand that we need to shut down so that we can do our part to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. We hope that you will do your part as well by staying safe at home, washing your hands, maintaining recommended social isolation distancing, and generally following best practices. Together, we can flatten the curve so that the contagion spreads as slowly as possible, and we don’t overburden our medical infrastructure. That’s #1.

Second, even though we won’t be opening new movies for a while, we hope that you’ll still stay engaged with us via email, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. We don’t have much to tell you today, but we should have some announcements in coming weeks that we think you’ll find interesting, including how to bring some of the best of Laemmle into your home.

And finally, if you have the means, it does help if you buy a Gift Card or a Premiere Card. These funds will help us get by in the immediate period. There’s a lot of discussion about doing something for impacted businesses, but nothing (as yet) actually happening. So until then, every bit helps. And is MUCH appreciated!

It’s hard to stay positive right now. But if we all look ahead to the day when we can return to our favorite theatre and enjoy a great arthouse film coupled with popcorn (would you like butter on that?) and a beverage, it will make this period a little easier to endure.

Stay safe, and hope to see you all soon.

Sincerely,
Greg Laemmle