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Greg Laemmle to Host the Opening Night of LAST REMAINING SEATS featuring “The Lady Eve” (1941)

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It’s nearly time for Last Remaining Seats, the always-compelling series of film classics presented by the L.A. CONSERVANCY in our city’s grand, vintage movie palaces. The program opens this year on June 11, 2014, 8pm with the iconic comedy THE LADY EVE (1941, Preston Sturges) at the downtown LOS ANGELES THEATRE. What’s more, the evening will be hosted by our own GREG LAEMMLE who will be in conversation with PRESTON STURGES JR. and TOM STURGES, sons of the legendary director. It promises to be a captivating evening and we invite you to join in our support of the L.A. Conservancy by attending. If you haven’t been to the lavish LOS ANGELES THEATRE on Broadway, you are sure to be astonished.

Tickets for this event and other screenings are available through the L.A. CONSERVANCY who produces the series as a way to highlight the treasure trove of beautiful and historically significant theaters that remain in our city. In addition to the Los Angeles Theatre, this year’s line up includes the PALACE THEATRE (The Great Madcap), ORPHEUM THEATRE (Citizen Kane, Footlight Parade), the THEATRE AT ACE HOTEL (Back to the Future), and the DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION (West Side Story).

Tickets are pre-sold to Conservancy members, but are now also available to the general public. Seating is limited, however, so you must act quickly. We’ve already learned that one of the screenings has been sold out.  GO HERE for more program and ticketing info.

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Program notes from the Conservancy:

The Los Angeles Conservancy has assembled an esteemed slate of special guests for its twenty-eighth season of Last Remaining Seats. This annual series presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful historic theatre, surrounded by fellow fans. Each event in the series is full of extras, including live entertainment, special guests, cartoons, and more. What began in 1987 as a way to draw attention to Los Angeles’ historic theatres is now a summer tradition, drawing thousands of people from the region, the nation, and outside the U.S.

While subject to change, the special guests and live entertainment for 2014 are outlined below.

The season kicks off June 11 with a screening of The Lady Eve at the Los Angeles Theatre. Evening host for opening night is Greg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres. Laemmle will interview Preston Sturges, Jr. and Tom Sturges, sons of Preston Sturges, who wrote and directed the acclaimed 1941 comedy.

On June 14, West Side Story at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will feature one of the film’s stars, George Chakiris, in conversation with dance critic Debra Levine. Chakiris won an Academy Award® for his performance as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in this classic 1961 musical.

Guests at 1933’s Footlight Parade at the Orpheum Theatre on June 18 will enjoy two live performances. Robert Salisbury will perform on the theatre’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer organ, followed by Maxwell DeMille Presents “The Lullaby of Broadway:” A Tribute to the 1930s Movie Music of Harry Warren and Al Dubin, with Dean Mora and his Orchestra.

Renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin will host the sold-old evening screening of Back to the Future at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on June 21. Maltin will interview cast members Lea Thompson, Claudia Wells, and Don Fullilove. A DeLorean Time Machine will make a special appearance at both the matinee and evening screenings.

Co-presented with the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles, the screening of Luis Buñuel’s El gran calavera (The Great Madcap) on June 25 will be hosted by Oscar Arce, director of the Luis Buñuel Film Institute. Arce will appear on stage before the film with special guest Pablo Ferro, award-winning film title designer.

The season ends June 28 with two screenings of Citizen Kane at the Orpheum Theatre. Both screenings will be preceded by a live performance by Tony Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The matinee will be hosted by author and film historian Alan K. Rode, with the evening screening hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, weekend daytime host of Turner Classic Movies and the grandson of the film’s co-writer with Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz.

Details and tickets are available at laconservancy.org.

Tickets cost $16 for L.A. Conservancy members and $20 for the general public.

The 9th Annual REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival

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While we at Laemmle Theatres occasionally get the chance to show great movies appropriate for kids — 2009’s The Secret of Kells comes to mind — we mostly show independent and international films meant for adults. And we almost always screen feature-length films, not shorts. So it is with pleasure that we draw your attention to Downtown Los Angeles, specifically the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, where this weekend and the subsequent two weekends you and the children in your life can take in animated and live action shorts films from around the world to nurture future Laemmle moviegoers.

“The 9th annual REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival returns with three weekends of adventurous short-film programs to appeal to moviegoers of all ages. Magical, exhilarating works made by acclaimed filmmakers and up-and-coming auteurs showcase work from around the globe—including Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Russia, Taiwan, Mozambique, Korea, The Netherlands, and Ukraine—to inspire the whole family. Festival highlights include the latest in both live action and animated shorts.”

"I Spy with My Little Eye." Directed by Alexandra Nebel.

CARL LAEMMLE, Free NICKY’S FAMILY Screenings and the WALK TO END GENOCIDE

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On Sunday the New York Times published noted Hollywood historian Neal Gabler’s terrific piece about Universal Studios founder CARL LAEMMLE and his humanitarian work rescuing Jews from Hitler’s Germany. We encourage everyone to read the article.  Uncle Carl’s determination attests to the power of an individual to do good rather than stand idly by in times of grave challenges, injustice and outright evil.
That’s the idea behind this Sunday morning’s free screenings of NICKY’S FAMILY:
Music Hall: Screening Info | RSVP
Town Center: Screening Info | RSVP
The screening are intended to raise awareness about similarly grave events going on around the world today and foster participation in L.A.’s Walk to End Genocide on April 27 at Pan Pacific Park.
As an annual L.A. event, the Walk to End Genocide is a meaningful way for our community to respond to oppression and injustice throughout the world. SIGN UP, raise money for a great cause and walk with Greg & Tish Laemmle, both of whom will be there.
NICKY’S FAMILY is a gripping, award-winning documentary about the rescue operation of the “British Schindler” – Sir Nicholas Winton (today 104 years old), an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II.  Dramatic reenactments and never-before-seen archival footage vividly illustrate the accounts of rescued children, as well as Mr. Winton himself, to recount this fascinating story, which even after 70 years is inspiring people of all ages to make this world a better place. If you haven’t seen the film, please consider attending one of these screenings.
Carl Laemmle, or Uncle Carl, as he was affectionately known, was a mentor to Laemmle Theatres co-founders Max and Kurt Laemmle. He did not need to provide affidavits for Max and Kurt’s families because Kurt was an American citizen, having married one. They provided affidavits for their parents to immigrate. Nonetheless the Laemmles are very proud to be related to Carl Laemmle.
Huge thanks to Neil Friedman and Menemsha Films for making the NICKY’S FAMILY screenings possible.
 Please note that 60 Minutes will be airing a segment on Sir Nicholas Winton this April 27.

Last Remaining Seats: CITIZEN KANE and WEST SIDE STORY Ticket Giveaways

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Here’s you chance to travel back in time to see classic films in vintage movie palaces courtesy of our friends at Last Remaining Seats.

You can win tickets to a special screening of WEST SIDE STORY at the DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION with special guest GEORGE CHAKIRIS (dancer, singer, and Academy Award-wining actor) in conversation with dance critic DEBRA LEVINE. Enter to win tickets for Saturday, June 14 screening here.

You can also enter to win tickets to the Saturday, June 28 screening of CITIZEN KANE at the ORPHEUM THEATRE. The evening will be hosted by BEN MANKIEWICZ, weekend host of Turner Classic Movies and features pre-show organ music by TONY WILSON. Enter here.

Last Remaining Seats is the Los Angeles Conservancy’s annual program that combines classic film with L.A.’s historic theatres. Visit the L.A. Conservancy’s website for this year’s full schedule of screenings.

Greg Laemmle: “Do Not Miss THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON at the Falcon Theater.”

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Greg Laemmle has urged me to pass on to Laemmle moviegoers a theater recommendation: he recently saw the Falcon Theater’s production of THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON, a new comedic drama about a Holocaust survivor living in North Hollywood. Greg’s reaction is echoed in the rapturous L.A. Times review. (A sample line: “That rarefied place where craft, collaboration and content create theatrical poetry is everywhere in THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON.”) The play has been extended through April 27.

Join Greg and Tish Laemmle on the L.A. Walk to End Genocide April 27

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Did you know that 19 nations around the world are currently experiencing conflicts that could devolve into genocide? Please consider joining Greg and Tish Laemmle on the 2014 Los Angeles Walk to End Genocide April 27 at Pan Pacific Park. It’s being organized by Jewish World Watch as part of Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month. From the website where you can sign up:

“Join thousands of your fellow activists for JWW’s 8th Annual Walk to End Genocide on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visit the Global Village Festival, before and after the Walk, for information and advocacy booths on Darfur, Sudan, Congo and other human rights abuses, conflict minerals campaign and other advocacy opportunities, solar cooker demonstrations, crafts, merchandise, food, music and more.

“Take one step closer to a world without genocide by walking 3 miles on paved surfaces around Pan Pacific Park. Together with the 2014 Honorary Committee Co-chairs Mayor Eric Garcetti & Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, Vice Chair, former councilwoman Joy Picus, and committee members, including the entire City Council and Board of Supervisors, the City Attorney, City Controller, District Attorney and Sheriff, we will walk to let our local community and the world know that we will not stand idly by while human rights violations continue to impact the lives of innocent men, women and children.”

Peter Brook’s THE SUIT at UCLA’s Center for Performing Arts + Documentary About His Acting Lessons at the Music Hall

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We are thrilled to be opening PETER BROOK: THE TIGHTROPE this Friday at the Music Hall. It’s a documentary about an acting class helmed by Mr. Brook and filmed with hidden cameras by his son, Simon (who will be doing Q&A’s after each 7:20 PM screening at the Music Hall, Friday, April 11 through Tuesday, April 15 as well as the 2:40 and 5 PM screenings on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13). If you are an actor or just someone who has marveled at what great actors can accomplish, seek out this film and watch a master in action.

As it happens the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA opens a Peter Brook play, THE SUIT, this week at the Freud Playhouse. “Devastation by enchantment,” sang Ben Brantley in the New York Times. There are only nine performances. A plethora of information about the production and its origins is here. And if you bring your ticket stub from the play to the Music Hall for any screening of PETER BROOK, you may buy tickets at a good discount: $6 each. Also, check out this piece the L.A. Times published today about Brook and the UCLA production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIvfS4pC8gE

 

 

 

CicLAvia this Sunday: Wilshire Boulevard Temple Tours, Korean Cuisine, and Much More

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It’s time again for CicLAvia, returning to its justly popular Wilshire Boulevard route this Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Mosey down Gaylord Wilshire’s namesake on foot or bicycle, skateboard or roller-skates, anything that relies entirely on your muscles for locomotion. There is so much to enjoy — including the weather; the forecast is for sunny skies and temperatures in the high seventies — but we’ll focus on just two here: this Sunday the historic and beautiful Wilshire Boulevard Temple, which is right on the CicLAvia route on Wilshire between Hobart and Harvard, will be open to the public for tours! They will be open from 10 AM to 3 PM with information for self-guided tours and will provide two guided tours at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Even better, they will have a bike valet as well so you don’t have to sweat locking up your bike.

Second, the Temple is in Koreatown, and what else is in Koreatown? Just the best Korean cuisine outside of mainland Korea. There are a panoply of excellent choices, but we’ll point out two: Soot Bull Jeep is two blocks south of Wilshire at 3136 West 8th Street and Ham Ji Park is one block north at 3407 West 6th Street. Arrive hungry! For a stiff drink in an authentic bar, the HMS Bounty, just off the lobby of the Gaylord [Wilshire] Hotel, is right in the middle of everything at 3357 Wilshire.

The Wilshire Boulevard Temple

What’s more, the forecast is sunny and high seventies, so enjoy!