Downtown Laemmle Fades to "The End"

I can't believe it. Well... i understand it. This has been my #1 theater of choice for years and I don't even live in downtown. Unfortunately is the 2nd theater I see close down along with the Rialto in So. Pasadena. I'll have to drop by and say bye to the cool staff and to my Sunday afternoon theater.

This breaks my heart.

Its a bit sad but its something everyone that is a regular to this place knew was going to happen sooner or later.

I went to this theater- not for the facilities but for the movies they programmed. The last movie i saw there was 500 Days of Summer. If im correctly i heard that this theater opened in 1984 in time for the LA Summer Olympics, if that so then it made it to 25 years, not bad. I definitely welcome the Regal Stadium 14 with open arms.

I will still go to my other favorites- The Mpark 4 in Koreatown, the Los Feliz 3 and Vista. Im hoping the Downtown Independent programs better films and i want and need matinees.

I've lived Downtown for 8 years, and patronized this Laemmle's Grand at least once a month during that time, often braving the 3rd St. tunnel on foot just to see a movie there. Sure, it's no Arclight, but the price is right, and even though the rooms are small, the projection is better than you'd find at an AMC or a Regal.

It is a good place to catch mindless Hollywood blockbusters for less cash, and I saw every kind of movie there, from the Miami Vice remake to Cloverfield to 500 Days of Summer to the most excellent Carlos Reygadas films Japon and Battle in Heaven - those last two being films that no other theatres in Los Angeles even screened. I was just there last week, in fact, for an Academy-qualifier screening of the Chinese action epic Red Cliff.

I am truly going to miss the Grand and its staff. Good luck and thanks to you all, and I'll try to make it out there one more time.

I will truly miss this theater... it was like a private screening room with a few added friends.

Sigh. So many memories at this theatre it makes me sad to go. If the Regal is like most other chains, you'll have loud, rude people, bad projection and just a bad experience overall. Will be sad to have to go down to arclight now to see a movie.

:-(
Seriously? I didn't think things were that bad. Had I known, we would have made a better effort to make it to this theater!

What a shame... but inevitable. This was always a reliable theatre to go to... always there, good movies, quiet...

Like stated above, should have gone there more often...

Wow, speechless. one of my favorite places in downtown.

I, too, really enjoyed this theater. And sadly, the first movie I saw there will end up being the last... 500 Days of Summer. Completely fitting.

wow that blows, this is my favorite place to see a movie, it was cheap, close by and no noise teenagers around. Well all good things must come to and end.

The landlord tried to close it down during the Democratic Convention in 2000, but it was part of the permitting requirements for the construction of the then-Sheraton next door. I've been going for 17 years. Very fond of this theatre, Surprised it could not figure out different offerings from the Regal. Wonder how much longer University Village, which is far inferior, will survive.

Qathryn Brehm is right, it was like our private screening room. The old days had valet parking for just a tip in the late '80s. The problem is "City Planners" created a "Dead Zone," Nothing but a hotel bar, next door, the parking walls of the Trade Center and Bonaventure Hotel. "Nuff said." 09 OK TK Nagano

Sucks when a little theatre goes down.

But how many of us supported this theatre when they really needed it? We act like we are so heartbroken and speechless but the average commenter probably only goes a couple times a year. And they needed us to go at least once a month.

Another example, and I super guilty too, of us all needing to really support and give back to the good places. They ain't many of them left. Make them last.

This is sad. I loved this place and I would love to see it reopen as an art house theater.

I grew up south of downtown and this would be the place my mom took us to see movies. We started going there around 1996, I was around ten. I saw Jerry Maguire there, Liar Liar, Ransom, The Fifth Element, Dante's Peak, even Howard Stern's Private Parts!

This sucks, not only do I feel old, but all those memories.

OMG, Noooooooooo! I'm going to go have a shot of Jack and wallow a bit in my sadness over this news.

My wife and I have been regulars for a few years and we'll both be sad to see it go. The Laemmle was there for all the folks who didn't like the crowds and rudeness that have become common to mall theaters.

If they re-open, I promise to come see whatever they show. Maybe Santa will just bring me a "gi-normous" flat screen and blue-ray DVD combo for Christmas.

(sigh) We're really going to miss Jimmy.

My husband and I love this theater. I had planned on continuing to see movies here after Regal opened. This stinks.

Bummer! I used to worked at the Laemmle in Pasadena and spent many hours viewing films at the Grand when I moved downtown. Sad to see it go. I think the location, being so close to the 110, made it hard for us Old Bank District folks to get to. I really wish Laemmle would open a mixed theater (arthouse and mainstream) somewhere on Gallery Row. It's hard to imagine the theater not packing out during Oscar season and the summer blockbusters.

Wouldn't this be a great headline for Blogdowntown: Laemmles and "Bringing Back Broadway" merge to bring indie movies to our great magestic downtown theatre houses: the Los Angeles Theatre, Tower Theatre, Million Dollar Theatre, the Globe, The Rialto, The Regent, etc, etc.

it's hard to get to this theater and not sure about the long walk from old bank distric.

Long walk? It's not even a mile.

There is a place in the Los Angeles exhibition scene for a theatre like the Grande. A place where small documentary films can screen next to offbeat American Independent films that are being self-released, all while the latest Bollywood musical or Korean horror film unspools in the remaining auditoriums. It would be the kind of theatre that showcases the diversity that is Los Angeles. But to truly succeed, that kind of theatre needs to be run by a not-for-profit organization, an entity that can take advantage of charitable gifts and community grants to supplement ticket sales. Laemmle Theatres is not that organization. We plan on leaving the theatre in good working condition, and hope that some existing or new arts organization will step up with a plan that would make use of the facility toward some good purpose. ~ Greg Laemmle, President, Laemmle Theatres

I've lived downtown in the old bank disctict for exactly a year now and I can't count how many movies I've seen alone here on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The five or six blocks was always a lovely walk. The tickets were cheap, the popcorn was cheaper. I'd reccomend though that everybody check out The Downtown Independent's website weekly, as they are having more and more daily matinees and some pretty amazing events. Sure, the films there might be a little more "arthouse" than what most of us still think of as "arthouse," (Which is quite dated, yeah?) but I've caught several true gems there. I also work there now...So, come by and say hi!

ChattyCathy: I'm with you. Let's put some movies back into these great movie theatres.

re:234

i know its not that "long" of a walk but it felt like forever at night! damn right scary

Totally will miss this theater! I did the "long" walk many a time and would be happy to continue doing it. I loved the variety of films and the people who worked there. :(

This makes me sad, so many of us have worked hard to change the face of Downtown, but this is one of the things that I hate the most..losing spots that made Downtown cool in the first place. I have enjoyed that theatre countless times and will miss it greatly. And I'm sorry but I'm not big on the whole Disneyland aspect of the new Regal Cinemas..it's a little hectic over there for me..I think I'll stay closer to the Clifton's side of Downtown. :)

stop saying is a long walk, is not a frigging long walk is a 5-10 minute walk, what's wrong with you people?

If you're over 65, you are excused, otherwise don't be so freakin lazy and WALK!

ps: I love you too...

This Theater was an old run down piece of crap. Good reddens. Can't wait for the Regal.

We went to see Zombieland there this weekend and it was crowded! There were three other people in the row next to us and a couple sitting directly behind us! Usually you have at least three or four seats (or sometimes rows) between you and other carbon life forms.

I'll be sad to see this theater go -it was so effortless to see first run movies on opening weekend. Never a crowd, buy your cheap tickets at the snack bar, weird David Lynch background sounds in the bathrooms. It was our secret private screening room with a few invited strangers scattered about the theater with us. Another Downtown treasure goes down with the homogenization.

Sad, sad, sad. Bummer. Knew it was going to happen for quite some time, but thought maybe it could hold on even with the ugly Regal 14 theaters opening soon. I won't be giving my money to the Regal - I hate these supermarket theater establishments and the cel phone people are rude as can be. Loved the Laemmle Grande. Was there when it opened in 1984 and saw "Carmen" and many, many other films during it's 25 years of operation. I'll hate to see it go. I'll be by one last time to say good-bye before they close their doors. God speed.

It's a shame. I grew up downtown and for years it was the only theater within walking distance for us - and definitely the closest theater showing arthouse fare. We loved it there, but when I moved and it wasn't a convenient walk anymore I realized parking was a drag, plus there were other places closer to home. I hope some non-profit will be able to take advantage of the facility and keep it going in some form.

We went to say goodbye and see Zombieland tonight. Two other couples were in the theater with us. Some young people who had come just to buy popcorn knew nothing about it (no signs up warning of impending closure, for instance, and apparently no reporting on it in the non-downtown-focused media). We told them and they were surprised and sad. They said they would come back tomorrow for the final shows.

Tellingly, one couple had just come there for the first time. "We kept driving by and looking for the theater," he told us. "We didn't see it down here. I never knew there was a theater around here till we looked it up online."

This is so sad. I went to this theatre at least once a month (if not more) for 8 years. Downtown is changing and NOT in a good way. I too will miss Jimmy.

Sad. I've lived in downtown for over 25 years and found this to be one of downtown's best secrets. Friendly staff, theaters were always clean and prices were cheap. But what made this place special was the quiet solitude of watching a film. No rude assholes, no crying kids, no teenagers, never over-crowded; just a quiet charm. There were times when I was alone or with my girl in the theater watching the latest blockbusters or something in limited release. It was a place to escape, to forget and enjoy a few hours. The location was great; a short walk from Central Market through the tunnel; a few steps from the Bonaventure Brewery; a few blocks from the library..... I will miss this theater. Thank you for the memories.