Laemmle Theatres Announce Opening of New Seven-Screen Complex in North Hollywood Closure of Sunset 5 After Almost 20 Years of Operation

November 3, 2011

Press Release

Laemmle Theatres Announce Opening of New Seven-Screen Complex in North Hollywood Closure of Sunset 5 After Almost 20 Years of Operation

The old adage, “when a door closes, a window opens,” is taking on a literal meaning for Laemmle Theatres these days. For while we are gearing up with great anticipation for the year-end opening of our new seven-screen theatre in North Hollywood, we must also sadly announce the closure of one of our long-treasured locations.

Act I – A Door Closes

It is with deep regret that we announce that Laemmle will be ending its operation of the Sunset 5 Theatre at the end of November. A mainstay of the Los Angeles exhibition scene since its opening in 1992, the Sunset 5, was vitally important in launching a wave of new directors. Filmmakers such as Todd Haynes (SAFE), Lisa Cholodenko (HIGH ART), Doug Liman (SWINGERS), Catherine Hardwicke (THIRTEEN), Bryan Singer (THE USUAL SUSPECTS), Todd Solondz (WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE), and Bill Condon (GODS & MONSTERS) saw their films premiere to sell-out crowds at the Sunset. The theatre even became a character of sorts in Willard Carroll’s 1998 film, PLAYING BY HEART, with stars Angelina Jolie and Ryan Phillipe going to see a first-date movie at the theatre. Roger Christensen, the original manager of the Sunset 5, had this this to say about the theatre in its heyday: “It was a heated mix of eager young talents, amusing indie hucksters and hangers-on, and a passionate, razor sharp cinephile audience.”

But beyond the crossover hits, the programming at the Sunset 5 also demonstrated a commitment to smaller, niche-targeted films. Most significant among these was a string of films that formed the backbone of what film scholar B. Ruby Rich has called The New Queer Cinema. Marcus Hu, co- President of Strand Releasing had this to say: “The one theatre in Los Angeles that seemed to define LGBT cinema during the Queer New Wave was the Sunset 5. The Laemmles understood the needs of the local audience and always programmed the theatre to serve the community. The Laemmles created a rich history in that site, one that will leave an indelible mark in Strand’s history as well as in the memories of cinephiles and filmmakers who had their careers launched at the Sunset 5.”

However, competition from new complexes took films and audiences away from the Sunset. Robert Laemmle, majority owner of Laemmle Theatres, commented, “It is hard to be dispassionate about this development, but from a certain standpoint, this can be seen as ultimately being in the best interests of Laemmle Theatres. When it came time to renew our lease on the Sunset 5, it became apparent that the time had come to focus Laemmle’s resources elsewhere.” Which leads to..

Act II – A Window Opens

After several years of development, construction is nearly complete on the Laemmle NoHo 7 Theaters in North Hollywood. Jay Reisbaum, Laemmle’s Senior Vice President says, “If the construction gods don’t throw us any last minute curves (and we all know what tricksters they can be), our target date for the beginning of public screenings is Wednesday, December 21, 2011.”

Located at 5240 Lankershim Boulevard, The Laemmle NoHo 7 will feature digital projection in all auditoriums with full stadium seating in the two largest auditoriums and modified stadium seating in the smaller halls. All auditoriums will have high-backed leatherette rocker seats with extra-wide row spacing. Although the initial slate of films still has to be determined, it is anticipated that the theatre will program a blend of adult-appeal Hollywood films combined with Laemmle’s signature foreign- language and American independent fare.

As was the case with the Claremont 5, which Laemmle opened in 2007, Laemmle is operator, developer and property owner at the NoHo 7. “This is the new paradigm for us,” said company President Gregory Laemmle. “By being in control of the project literally from the ground up, we gain the benefit of being able to control our long-term occupancy cost. By protecting ourselves from the uncertainty of rent escalation, we can better make the commitment to providing the unique programming that Los Angeles filmgoers have come to expect from Laemmle.”

As evidence of this new model, Laemmle mentioned future projects, including a five-screen complex in Glendale which is moving through that city’s design and review process in anticipation of a 2012 construction start, and planned renovations for the chain’s theatres in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.

The NoHo 7 project has benefited from the support of a number of parties. Said Jay Reisbaum, “The NoHo 7 project would not have come together without the combined efforts of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, the offices of City Council Member Tom LaBonge, and the J.H. Snyder Company.”

Epilogue – About that Door Closing…

Happily for L.A., our departure does not mean the end of movies at the Sunset 5. The property’s landlord is committed to keeping the theatre space open, and has signed a Lease with a new operator. Dirk Degenaars and Kevin Green, principals with Pearlmark Real Estate Partners and Palisades Associates, the owners of 8000 Sunset center, stated, “We are pleased that such an important component of 8000 Sunset will smoothly transition from Laemmle Theaters to our new tenant, Sundance Cinemas. We are very excited to welcome Sundance Cinemas to the Los Angeles market.” As for the timing of the transition, Paul Richardson, President of Sundance Cinemas added, “The theatre will close on December 1st for renovations with an anticipated late spring 2012 opening, we will be announcing our plans closer to opening.”

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•