The Official Blog of Laemmle Theatres.

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The official blog of Laemmle Theatres

THE ONLY REAL GAME Q&A’s @ Music Hall w/Filmmaker, Writer Richard Schickel and Dodger Derrel Thomas!

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THE ONLY REAL GAME filmmaker Mirra Bank will participate in Q&A’s after the 5 and 7:20 PM screenings on Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21. Friday’s 7:20 Q&A will be moderated by renowned author and filmmaker Richard Schickel. Former Dodger utility player — he played every position except pitcher! — and current Dodger Community Relations liaison Derrel Thomas will be part of the Saturday 7:20 Q&A. Members of the film team will participate in Q&A’s after all afternoon and evening shows on Sunday, June 22nd – Film reps for these Q&As are Randye Ringler, MLB liaison for THE ONLY REAL GAME; and MLB Envoy coach and former Minnesota Twins pitcher, Jeff Brueggemann, who is a principal character in the film.

http://www.vimeo.com/76288850
Derrel Thomas
Mirra Bank

L.A. Conservancy Celebrates Dance with WEST SIDE STORY and Special Guest George Chakiris June 14

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A great dance film, a great house of dance, a great dancer—the Los Angeles Conservancy hosts a triple-threat screening of West Side Story on Saturday, June 14 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Co-star George Chakiris, who won both a Golden Globe® and an Academy Award® for his role in the film, will appear onstage before the screening in conversation with dance critic Debra Levine.

Courtesy of MGM in collaboration with Park Circus Inc.

“George is one of dance’s smoothest operators,” says Levine, a Los Angeles Times dance writer who blogs on dance and film on artsmeme.com. “He’s a suave and velvety mover whose smoldering good looks propelled him to stardom.”

The evening is part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats series, an annual series of classic film and live entertainment in historic theatres. Last Remaining Seats presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful historic venue, surrounded by up to two thousand fellow fans.

A Broadway musical immortalized in film, 1961’s West Side Story is a modern-day take on Shakespeare’s timeless tale, “Romeo and Juliet.” The story is set in New York City’s Upper West Side in the 1950s. In the place of Shakespeare’s warring families are rival street gangs—the Jets, second generation Polish-American teens, and the Sharks, Puerto Rican immigrants.

Co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, the film features songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the original stage production. The exceptional cast includes Chakiris as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks. Delivering other iconic performances were Russ Tamblyn as the leader of the Jets, Rita Moreno as Bernardo’s girlfriend, and Natalie Wood as Maria.

West Side Story won ten Academy Awards and five Golden Globes. It was thematically and stylistically groundbreaking for the movie musical genre. At the movie’s center is the original choreography of Robbins: beautiful, stylized, and balletic.

Courtesy of MGM in collaboration with Park Circus Inc.

Chakiris was a veteran film gypsy before Jerome Robbins cast him in “West Side Story.”  “In the ’50s, he worked with the crème de la crème of Hollywood dance makers, notably Hermes Pan, Robert Alton and Jack Cole,” says Levine. “He’s the only actor to win an Oscar® for a dancing role beside James Cagney, for 1942’s Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

“George is a dancer-eternal who looks decades younger than his age. He’s in tremendous condition. His personal fountain of youth? ‘Go to the gym,’ he advises.”

Making the screening even more special is its locale: The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Pavilion is widely renowned for hosting stellar dance performances, presenting the best dance companies in the world since 1969.

Tickets for the screening are available online until noon on Wednesday, June 11, then in person at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion box office on June 13 and 14. For details, visit laconservancy.org.

Courtesy Jerry Murbach/Doctor Macro

Bicycling Cinephiles! Bike L.A. with Greg Laemmle on the TOUR DE LAEMMLE

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L.A.’s premiere destination for independent film, LAEMMLE THEATRES, is excited to announce the first-ever TOUR DE LAEMMLE.  Theatre owner and cycling advocate GREG LAEMMLE will be riding his TERN commuter bicycle (AKA, “The Pirate Ninja”) to all seven Laemmle locations SATURDAY, JUNE 21.  And he’s inviting the public to pedal with him!

Laemmle Theatres President Greg Laemmle

The TOUR is FREE to all participants. Riders may join Greg for the entire route, which starts at the ROYAL THEATRE in West L.A. at 6 AM, or for one or more of the ensuing legs. The full circuit (which returns to the Royal in the early evening) will cover 124 miles throughout the L.A. region including Santa Monica, Claremont, Beverly Hills and Encino at its most outward points.  See below for more route details.

Greg will be GIVING AWAY his “Pirate Ninja” bicycle to the grand prize winner of the TOUR SWEEPSTAKES! (see details below).  In addition, the FIRST 50 people who register for the Tour at www.Laemmle.com/Tour will receive a FREE Laemmle  T-SHIRT.  Plus, ALL REGISTRANTS will receive a FREE Laemmle History Book, which commemorates three generations of family ownership and a 75-year legacy of contributing to cultural life of Los Angeles.

The TERN Pirate Ninja Grand Prize

At each theatre stop, cyclists can refuel with refreshments provided by the theatre and from the Tour’s sponsors including KIND BAR, O.N.E. COCONUT WATER, and others TBD.

The Tour celebrates the launch of Laemmle’s first BIKE CORRAL.  The corral is part of a pilot program by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) Bike Program, where the City partners with a local business to provide on-street bicycle parking.  The corral will be installed on LANKERSHIM BLVD. near the entrance of the NOHO 7, the chain’s acclaimed venue in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District. Joining us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be L.A. Councilman and Metro Board Member PAUL KREKORIAN.

This new bike parking in combination with close proximity to the North Hollywood Metro station (just up the street), puts NoHo 7 on the cutting edge of accessibility for Angeleno movie-goers.  Further, it underscores Laemmle’s commitment (via its business operations and charitable foundation) to give back to its patrons and make L.A. truly a more livable and sustainable place for all residents.

The first 200 cyclists who use the new corral will receive a $2 DISCOUNT for any regularly priced NoHo 7 movie ticket AND will receive a FREE HEALTHY TREAT courtesy of KIND BAR.

In addition, one lucky person who enters the Tour de Laemmle Sweepstakes will pedal away with the top prize – the very same, high-end, Eclipse X20 TERN folding bicycle Greg will be riding that day! Known as the “PIRATE NINJA” this is one of TERN’s top-end models. It lists new at $2200!  This particular bike was recently given to Greg to use for CLIMATE RIDE 2104 (www.ClimateRide.org), a four-day, 250-mile charity ride in Northern California which took place last month.  Other sweepstakes prizes include Laemmle 75TH ANNIVERSARY merchandise, MOVIE PASSES, and more!

TOUR SCHEDULE

NOTE: Departure times below are estimated.  Please refer to the web page at www.Laemmle.com/Tour for official schedule.

LEG 1 –  6:00am – Official start at ROYAL Theatre (West L.A.)

LEG 2 –  6:15am – Departure from MUSIC HALL (Beverly Hills)

LEG 3 –  10:00am – Departure from CLAREMONT 5 (Claremont)

LEG 4 –  12:00pm – Departure from PLAYHOUSE 7 (Pasadena)

CEREMONY –  2:00pm – Ribbon-cutting ceremony for NOHO 7 Bike Corral (North Hollywood) with PAUL KREKORIAN

LEG 5 –  3:00pm – Departure from NoHo 7

LEG 6 –  5:00pm – Departure from TOWN CENTER 5 (Encino)

LEG 7 –  7:00pm – Departure from MONICA FILM CENTRE (Santa Monica)

ARRIVAL –  7:25pm – Back at ROYAL Theatre

END –  7:45pm – Official close of Tour

FREE MOVIE SCREENINGS
For cyclists and non-cyclists wishing to participate in Tour de Laemmle, the company is offering two free, BICYCLE THEMED MOVIE SCREENINGS open to the general public.  These will include the cycling classic “BREAKING AWAY”, and the much loved “PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE.” Both films are family friendly.  Screenings will take place the morning of the Tour at both the Claremont 5 (“BREAKING AWAY”) and NoHo 7 (“PEE WEE”).  The latter will be timed so that those attending the screening can also be present for the Bike Corral Ribbon Cutting just after the movie lets out.  More details TBD.

PARTNERSHIP WITH L.A. RIVER RIDE
The Tour de Laemmle occurs one day prior to the LACBC’s (Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition) annual L.A. RIVER RIDE.  L.A. River Riders are encouraged to use one or more legs of Tour de Laemmle as a tune-up. Greg Laemmle, who is a board member of LACBC, will himself be riding the next day. Moreover, Greg just returned from captaining TEAM LACBC at the recent CLIMATE RIDE CALIFORNIA.

The team raised over $70,000 for sustainable transit. All who wish to support the GROWTH OF SAFE CYCLING in L.A. are encouraged to donate to Greg’s River Ride fundraising campaign.

LEG #5
Per “Advisory” below, Greg will be riding at a relatively fast pace.  However, he is inviting more moderately skilled cyclists and families to ride with him on LEG#5 –  North Hollywood to Encino (LEG #5). This portion will feature riding along the protected Metro Orange Line Bike path at a significantly reduced speed.  Joining him on LEG #5 will be his wife and Laemmle Foundation Board Member, TISH LAEMMLE, and his father BOB LAEMMLE, who is the second-generation owner of Laemmle Theatres.  LEG #5 departs from the NoHo 7 Theatre at 3:00pm.

ADVISORY
Tour de Laemmle is not a “supported ride.”  Riders ride at their own risk. With the exception of LEG #5 (North Hollywood to Encino), it is recommended for experienced riders only!  For those wanting to keep up with Greg, he will be riding at an approximately 15 MPH clip and will NOT be stopping between theaters.

WHAT IS PROVIDED

–  Route Slips & Departure Schedule

– Registration Perks (see above)

– Theatre Refreshments and Edible Treats provided by our sponsors
(at all stops EXCEPT Beverly Hills & Santa Monica).

– Free Movie Screenings (per above)

WHAT IS NOT PROVIDED

– Route Markers

– Official pit stops other than theatre venues.

– Repair or maintenance services.

– SAG or other transportation services.

A WORD FROM GREG LAEMMLE

‘The Tour de Laemmle is a great opportunity for L.A. cyclists and the general public to support sustainable transit in our city.  With measures like the new corral at NoHo 7 and situating new theaters adjacent to public transport, we’re hoping to make it easier for movie-goers to get out of their cars and make healthier, more cost-efficient transportation choices.  I personally look forward to riding and celebrating with you Sat. June 21!”

BAND OF SISTERS Q&A’s

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BAND OF SISTERS is a terrific documentary about activist nuns who worked for social justice in the aftermath of Vatican II. Filmmaker Mary Fishman will introduce and participate in Q&A’s after each screening: June 24 at the Royal at 7:30 PM; June 25 at the Playhouse and 7:30 PM; June 26 at the NoHo at 7:30 PM; and June 28 at the Royal at 11 AM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7U3hptDHtM
Filmmaker Mary Fishman. Photo by Alison Green.

 

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT Filmmaker at the Music Hall for a Q&A

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BEFORE YOU KNOW IT filmmaker PJ Raval will participate in a Q&A after the 7:30 PM screening at the Music Hall on Saturday, June 14.

http://www.vimeo.com/93219122
Filmmaker PJ Raval

TEST Actor Matthew Risch at the NoHo for a Q&A

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TEST actor Matthew Risch will participate in a Q&A after the 8 PM screening at the NoHo on Friday, June 13.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZIhrRcH4ho
Matthew Risch

Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex Shutting Down for Major Renovation

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Big news in Laemmle Land! On Monday we are shutting down our Santa Monica theater for major renovation.  While the renovated theatre will contain some elements of the old building, this weekend is the last chance for Monica 4-Plex fans to see the voluminous lobby in its full glory.

We hope to re-open the theater by the end of this year as the MONICA FILM CENTRE with a restaurant and lounge, a rooftop deck (ocean view!) and six auditoriums devoted to indie and foreign films rather than four.  That huge lobby space has to go somewhere!

After Great Reviews and Big Crowds in New York, ELENA Opens at the Royal on June 13.

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The autobiographical documentary ELENA opened to terrific reviews and big crowds of cinefiles last week in New York. In the Village Voice, Alan Scherstuhl described the film this way: “a pained and gorgeous summoning, Petra Costa’s haunted doc ELENA dances with death, memory, and family, seducing viewers and then breaking their hearts.” In the New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote the film “unfolds like a cinematic dream.” We are excited to open ELENA at the Royal next Friday, June 13.