Laemmle Theatres records, ca. 1960s-2000
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Graney and Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Finding aid last modified on 8 March 2016.
Title: Laemmle Theatres records
Collection number: PASC 345
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
13.0 linear ft.
(24 boxes )
Date (inclusive): ca. 1960s-2000
Abstract: The Laemmle Theatres theater chain was started in 1938 by brothers Max and Kurt Laemmle. The collection consists of hand written
booking sheets, box office grosses, and payroll receipts; office files, and promotional material for Laemmle Theatre showings
and event.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Creator:
Laemmle Theatres.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Robert Laemmle, 2009.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Laemmle Theatres Records (Collection PASC 345). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography/History
The Laemmle Theatres theater chain was started in 1938 by brothers Max and Kurt Laemmle. The business originally consisted
of two theaters in the Highland Park area, eventually growing to include five neighborhood movie theaters. The popularity
of television had a major impact on the business and caused the chain to shrink to a single house, the Los Feliz Theatre;
ultimately leading to the departure of Kurt Laemmle. In the 1960s, Max Laemmle's son, Robert Laemmle joined the business.
Through unique programming the Laemmle Theatres worked to create a greater art-film awareness in the Los Angeles area, specializing
in art films, foreign films, and other independent fare. Over the years they expanded their chain to include additional Los
Angeles area locations including Pasadena, Westwood, Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, and the downtown Los Angeles central
business district. The cultural contributions of Laemmle Theatres have been acknowledged by awards from the Los Angeles Film
Critics Association and the Independent Film Project. In 1988, Gregory Laemmle joined the company, bringing a third generation
of Laemmles to the operation.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of records related to the Southern California based Laemmle Theatres theater chain. Included in the
collection are hand written booking sheets, box office grosses, and payroll receipts; office files, and promotional material
for Laemmle Theatre showings. Booking sheets are handwritten records documenting films projected at various Laemmle theatre
locations and also track weekly grosses by film at individual locations as well as some of their competitors from ca. 1969-2000.
The box office grosses reflect weekly earnings from 1964-2001. The Payroll records are handwritten receipt book carbons documenting
theatre employee pay (1966-1979). The office files include a mixture of business and topical/subject files. The promotional
material contains newspaper and magazine articles and Laemmle generated flyers advertising motion picture showings.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1. Booking Sheets (boxes 1-5, 1966-2000)
- Series 2. Box Office Grosses (boxes 5-9, 1964-2001)
- Series 3. Payroll Records (boxes 7 and 10, 1966-1979)
- Series 4. Office Files (boxes 13-17, 1932-1940; 1956-1998)
- Series 5. Publicity (boxes 12-13, 20-21, 1993-2002)
- Series 6. Photographs and Renderings (boxes 1 and 23, no date)
- Series 7. Awards (boxes 20 and 22-23, 1979, 1985, 1999, 2005)
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Laemmle Theatres--Archives.
Motion picture theaters--California--Archives.
Box 1, Folder 2
Booking sheets for Colorado.
1986 April-Jan 2001.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 3
Booking sheets for Continental.
1980 July-1985 Jan.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 4
Booking sheets for Esquire.
1986 July -1999 Mar.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 5
Booking sheets for Esquire.
1964 Apr-1985 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 6
Booking sheets for Fine Arts.
1985 Nov-1992 Nov.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 7
Booking sheets for Grande.
1984 Mar-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 2, Folder 1
Booking sheets for Los Feliz.
1951 Nov-1973 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 2, Folder 2
Booking Sheets for Los Feliz.
1974 Jan-1987 Sept.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 2, Folder 5
Booking Sheets for Monica.
1997 Jan-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 2, Folder 4
Booking Sheets for Monica.
1979 Jan-1985 Dec.
Additional Note
Monica I, II, III, IV. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 2, Folder 3
Booking Sheets for Monica.
1970 Feb-1978 Dec.
Additional Note
Monica I and II. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 1
Booking Sheets for Monica (folder 1 of 2).
1986 Jan-1996 Dec.
Additional Note
Monica I and II. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 2
Booking Sheets for Monica (folder 2 of 2).
1986 Jan-1992 July.
Additional Note
Monica III and IV. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 3
Booking Sheets for Music Hall.
1974 Oct-1994 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 4
Booking Sheets for Music Hall.
1995 Jan-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 1, Folder 8
Booking sheets for Playhouse.
1999 Feb-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 5
Booking Sheets for Plaza.
1967 July-1981 Sept.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 3, Folder 6
Booking Sheets for Regent.
1966 Sept-1981 Jan.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4, Folder 1
Booking sheets for Royal.
1972 Jan-1992 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4, Folder 2
Booking Sheets for Royal.
1993 Jan-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4, Folder 4
Booking Sheets for Special Screenings at Sunset and Monica.
1995 Jan-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4, Folder 3
Booking Sheets for Sunset.
1992 Aug-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 5, Folder 1
Booking sheets for Town and Country.
1988 Jan-2000 Dec.
Additional Note
Town and Country I, II and III. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4, Folder 5
Booking Sheets for Town and Country.
1979 Sept-1987 Dec.
Additional Note
Town and Country I, II and III. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 5, Folder 2
Booking Sheets for Westland.
1976 Oct-1984 Jan.
Additional Note
Westland I and II. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 21
Booking Cards.
1966-2000.
Additional Note
Fragile oversize cards that contain Laemmle Theatre (and in some cases competitor) grosses by week, film title, and theatre
house.
Box 7, Folder 2
Comparative Grosses.
1966.
Box 9, Folder 4
Comparative Grosses.
1971 Jan-1972 July.
Box 9, Folder 3
Comparative Grosses.
1969 Sep-1971 Jan.
Box 9, Folder 2
Comparative Grosses.
1968 May-1969 Sep.
Box 8, Folder 6
Comparative Grosses.
1974 Apr-1975 Feb.
Box 8, Folder 4
Comparative Grosses.
1973 Mar-1974 May.
Box 8, Folder 3
Comparative Grosses.
1974 Mar-1975 Sep.
Box 7, Folder 3
Comparative Grosses.
1967.
Box 9, Folder 5
Comparative Grosses.
1972 Aug-1974 Mar.
Box 9, Folder 1
Comparative Grosses.
1967 Dec-1968 May.
Box 8, Folder 7
Comparative Grosses.
1971 Jan-1972 Dec.
Box 8, Folder 1
Comparative Grosses.
1964 June-1967 Feb.
Box 8, Folder 2
Comparative Grosses.
1975 Sep-1976 Oct.
Box 8, Folder 5
Comparative Grosses.
1976 Mar-1976 Nov.
Box 6, Folder 4
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1988 Sept-1989 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 6, Folder 8
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1993 Dec-1998 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 6, Folder 7
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1992 May-1993 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 6, Folder 5
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1987 June-1988 Sept.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 6, Folder 3
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1986 Jan-1987 June.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 6, Folder 2
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1984 Feb-1985 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 5, Folder 7
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1981 Dec-1983 Jan.
Box 6, Folder 1
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1983 Jan-1984 Feb.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 5, Folder 5
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1979 Jan-1979 Aug.
Box 5, Folder 4
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1977 Nov-1979 Jan.
Box 5, Folder 3
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1976 Oct-1977 Nov.
Box 6, Folder 6
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1989 Dec-1992 Apr.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 7, Folder 1
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1999 Jan-2001 Dec.
Additional Note
Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 5, Folder 6
Laemmle Theatres Box Office Grosses.
1979 Aug-1981 Dec.
Box 7, Folder 4
Comparative Payroll Figures.
1972 May-1979 Aug.
Box 7, Folder 8
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1970 Feb-1970 Aug.
Box 7, Folder 9
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1970 Aug-1971 Feb.
Box 10, Folder 1
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1972 Aug-1973 March.
Box 10, Folder 4
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1973 Sept-1974 Mar.
Box 7, Folder 7
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1969 Aug-1970 Feb.
Box 7, Folder 10
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1971 Feb-1971 July.
Box 7, Folder 11
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1971 July-1972 Jan.
Box 7, Folder 12
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1972 Feb-1972 Aug.
Box 10, Folder 2
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1973 Mar-1973 Sept.
Box 10, Folder 3
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1974 Mar-1974 Aug.
Box 7, Folder 5
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1966 June - 1966 Sept.
Box 7, Folder 6
Payroll receipt book for Los Feliz.
1968 Nov-1969 July.
Box 10, Folder 6
Payroll receipt book for Music Hall.
1975 Feb-1975 June.
Box 10, Folder 5
Payroll receipt book for Music Hall.
1974 Oct-1975 Feb.
Box 10, Folder 10
Payroll receipt book for Regent.
1972 May-1972 Dec.
Box 10, Folder 9
Payroll receipt book for Regent.
1970 Aug-1971 Mar.
Box 10, Folder 8
Payroll receipt book for Regent.
1970 Feb-1970 Aug.
Box 10, Folder 7
Payroll receipt book for Regent.
1969 July-1970 Feb.
Box 10, Folder 11
Payroll receipt book for Regent.
1972 Dec-1973 July.
Box 13, Folder 1
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences files.
1990, no date.
Box 13, Folder 2
American Film Institute.
1991, 1993.
Box 13, Folder 3
American Film Market.
1986-1996.
Box 13, Folder 4
American Screen Service.
1991.
Box 15, Folder 2
Amusement Directory Service - invoices.
1972-1988.
Box 11
Assurances.
1932-1940.
Additional Note
Contains correspondence and paperwork concerning four life insurance policies for Max Laemmle, three of which are written
in French.
Box 15, Folder 5
Banking Business.
1966-1980s.
Additional Note
Crocker, City National Bank, Bank of America, etc. Correspondence.
Box 15, Folder 6
City National Bank pension plan - general transaction notifications.
1991-1993.
Box 16, Folder 5
Colorado Theatre general correspondence.
1986-1990.
Box 16, Folder 4
Colorado Theatre insurance.
1989 Nov 3.
Box 16, Folder 1
Concessions (Fun Foods) - correspondence.
1974-1987.
Box 13, Folder 7
Daily News advertising - agreements.
1987-1997.
Box 13, Folder 8
Downtown News Group advertising - agreements.
1990.
Box 16, Folder 7
Esquire General Correspondence.
1986-1991.
Box 16, Folder 6
Esquire Insurance.
1990 Feb 2.
Box 16, Folder 9
Fine Arts General Correspondence.
1986-1991.
Box 16, Folder 8
Fine Arts Insurance.
1984,1988.
Box 16, Folder 10
Grande Insurance.
1984-1985.
Box 17, Folder 3
Great Western Theatres - Town and Country Triplex.
1979-1989.
Box 13, Folder 9
GTE public telephone operation - agreement.
1992.
Box 13, Folder 11
KFI-AM - thank you note.
1992 Sep 8.
Box 13, Folder 15
L.E.A.R.N. - thank you note.
1993 Mar 10.
Box 16, Folder 2
Laemmle Theatres Insurance.
1987-1988.
Box 13, Folder 16
Legal -- Los Angles.
1973-1992.
Box 15, Folder 1
Local 150 union contracts.
1956-2000.
Additional Note
Generic working agreement for the Moving Picture Projectionists.
Box 14, Folder 1
Local 150 union files.
1991-1998.
Additional Note
Correspondence between Laemmle Theatres and the Moving Picture Projectionists union regarding contract breaches and alterations
as well as the employment of projectionists.
Box 14, Folder 2
Local 150 union outside rentals files for AFI, AFM and more.
1987-1992.
Box 13, Folder 14
Los Angeles Times - advertising contracts and correspondence.
1969-1992.
Box 15, Folder 7
ML Composer Correspondence.
1978-1985.
Additional Note
Appears related to composer film series.
Box 16, Folder 12
Monica I and II General Correspondence.
1990, 1991, 1992,1996.
Box 16, Folder 13
Monica I and II Insurance.
1988, 1990, 1991.
Box 16, Folder 11
Monica I and II Leases and Contracts.
1986-1992.
Box 13, Folder 21
MPAA article.
1984 May 1.
Box 17, Folder 1
Music Hall General Correspondence.
1986-1994.
Box 17, Folder 2
Music Hall Insurance.
1986, 1989.
Box 13, Folder 22
National Owner of Theatre Owners (NATO) and Department of Justice correspondence.
1977-1991.
Box 17, Folder 4
Phoenix Theatres.
1984-1988.
Box 14, Folder 3
Projectionists Union (I.A.S.T.E) files.
1966-1991.
Box 13, Folder 6
Public customer correspondence/inquiries.
1991-1995.
Box 16, Folder 3
RCA versus Altec Sound Service.
1972-1973.
Box 13, Folder 12
Robert Laemmle - personal notes.
1987, 1988.
Box 13, Folder 13
Robert Laemmle photos and bio.
no date.
Box 17, Folder 5
Royal - Insurance.
1986-1991.
Box 17, Folder 8
Royal Refurbish Machines.
1972-1976.
Box 17, Folder 7
Royal Supplies.
1989, 1990.
Box 17, Folder 6
Royal Theatre Correspondence and Contracts.
1986-1991.
Box 13, Folder 24
Santa Barbara Film Fest.
1992.
Box 17, Folder 10
Sunset 5 Building and Supplies.
1991.
Box 13, Folder 17
Sunset 5 Theatre public relations.
1991-1992.
Box 17, Folder 9
Sunset Rentals and Correspondence.
1992 Jan 13.
Box 17, Folder 11
Town and Country General Correspondence.
1976-1991.
Box 17, Folder 12
Town and Country Insurance.
1979-1987.
Box 15, Folder 3
Union Bank - documents.
1969-1981.
Box 13, Folder 25
University of Judaism letter from Ed Sanders to Max Laemmle.
1985 Apr 29.
Box 17, Folder 13
Variety Club Deposits.
1990.
Box 15, Folder 4
Westwood Chamber of Commerce / Santa Monica Chamber of.
1970-1987.
Additional Note
Correspondence and documents regarding community affairs in and around the West Los Angeles area.
Box 18, Folder 6
Cutter's Way - publicity.
1981.
Box 20, Folder 2
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1999.
Box 20, Folder 7
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1994.
Box 20, Folder 8
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1993.
Box 20, Folder 1
Laemmle flyers and promos.
no date.
Box 20, Folder 6
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1995.
Box 20, Folder 5
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1996.
Box 20, Folder 4
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1997.
Box 20, Folder 3
Laemmle flyers and promos.
1998.
Box 19, Folder 5
Laemmle flyers and promos.
no date.
Box 19, Folder 4
Laemmle flyers and promos.
no date.
Laemmle posters for series (14 black and white items).
undated.
Scope and Content
Series represented include: 70 Years in 7 Days; Around the World in Sixty Days; Bagels and Docs: New Jewish Documentaries;
Civic Cinema: A Mini-Festival of Politically-Minded Documentaries; Girl Crazy; Female Trouble; Fiesta Fellini; The Kino International
Collection-25 Years; La Nouvelle Vague; and Photographed by James Howe Wong.
Box 13, Folder 18
Laemmle press.
1990, 1994.
Box 18, Folder 2
Laemmle special morning show Psychology series - bills and confirmations.
1979.
Box 18, Folder 4
Matter of Heart - publicity.
1985-1988.
Box 12, Folder 5
Press clippings.
no date.
Box 12, Folder 4
Press clippings.
1990-2002.
Box 12, Folder 1
Press clippings.
1939, 1960.
Box 18, Folder 3
Psychology series - publicity.
1982.
Box 18, Folder 1
Psychology series - publicity.
1980.
Box 13, Folder 23
Quotable Quotes.
no date.
Box 11
Reader magazine featuring Robert Laemmle.
1992 Aug 28.
Additional Note
2 copies.
Box 19, Folder 1
Special Series 1970 to - binder (folder 1 of 3).
Additional Note
Advertisements, flyers, and promotional material for special series programs offered at Laemmle Theatres. Removed from binder
for preservation purposes.
Box 19, Folder 2
Special Series 1970 to - binder (folder 2 of 3).
Additional Note
Advertisements, flyers, and promotional material for special series programs offered at Laemmle Theatres . Removed from binder
for preservation purposes.
Box 19, Folder 3
Special Series 1970 to - binder (folder 3 of 3).
Additional Note
Advertisements, flyers, and promotional material for special series programs offered at Laemmle Theatres . Removed from binder
for preservation purposes.
Box 18, Folder 5
Spetters - publicity.
1981.
Photographs and Renderings.
Box 23, Folder 1
Laemmle Monica Theatre renderings (4 items).
1994, 1997, no date.
Box 1, Folder 1
Photographs (4 items).
no dates.
Additional Note
Group shot with Mr. Laemmle Sr. (2 duplicates). Image of the Regent marquee (2 items).
Box 20, Folder 1
Award certificates for Laemmle Theatres.
1970 and 1999.
Additional Note
Santa Monica City Beautiful Award to Monica Twin Theatres and City of Los Angeles acknowledging Laemmle 60th anniversary of
business in LA.
Box 23, Folder 2
City of Beverly Hills Citizen of Honor Proclamation to Max Laemmle (framed).
1985 Oct 15.
Box 22, Folder 3
City of Los Angeles Congratulations to Bob Laemmle (framed).
2005 Feb 2.
Additional Note
Related to Laemmle's inclusion to the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
Box 23, Folder 3
City of Los Angeles Resolution to Max Laemmle (framed).
1985 Oct 11.
Box 22, Folder 1
City of Santa Monica Mayor's Commendation to Max Laemmle.
1985 Oct 15.
Box 22, Folder 2
Tikun Olam Award to Max Laemmle (framed).
1985 Oct 15.