Opening: February 18, 1970 as a twin theatre, the Monica I and II. The opening films were "Oliver!" and "Topaz." It's on the west side of the street between Santa Monica Blvd. and Arizona Ave. For years the complex has been Santa Monica's premiere showcase for foreign and specialized releases. The photo is courtesy of Laemmle Theatres and appeared with a February 2016 L.A. Weekly article "Laemmle Returns..."
Phone: 310-478-3836 Website: www.laemmle.com
The larger theatre in front, with 737 seats, got split in 1981 into 3 small theatres resulting in Laemmle's Monica 4. The seating as a 4 plex was 1,076 (152, 217, 235, 472).
The complex closed in May 2014 for renovations. "The cinema environment is about to get more competitive in Santa Monica" said Laemmle CEO Greg Laemmle at the time the new plans were publicized. He was referring to the new ArcLight complex then underway at the nearby Santa Monica Place mall. Santa Monica Daily Press had a story about the Laemmle construction project in October 2014. L.A.Magazine also had a story about the theatre's reconstruction.
It reopened as the Monica Film Center in January 2016. There are now six screens on two floors. The street end of the original front theatre that had been triplexed in 1981 was turned into a restaurant, leaving the back two-thirds as the new screen #1. The original back theatre became new screens #2, #3, and #4. The main floor's four screens range in size from 46 to 138 seats. The two new second floor theatres, #5 and #6, each seat 25. Total seating is now 376.
Food
service was upgraded to include salads,
alcoholic drinks, sandwiches and pizza. A restaurant spreading over the
first and second floors (and with outside seating) seats 181. A second
restaurant is a 3,000 square foot open air space on the roof with
seating for 165 and an ocean view. The restaurant spaces are leased to other operators.
In August 2019 it was announced that the Laemmle circuit was for sale. See the page on the Royal Theatre for links to a number of news stories. It was later decided to keep the circuit in the family. All the houses were shut down in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions. The theatres eventually reopened but several complxes (Claremont, Pasadena Playhouse 7, Noho 7) were sold to keep the circuit solvent.
The second floor lobby at night. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018
The back of the second floor lobby with entrances to screens #5 and 6. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018
A view of one of the completed auditoria from Laemmle Theatres that appeared with a February 2016 L.A. Weekly article "Laemmle Returns..."
The view toward the entrance. Photo: Scott Neff - Cinema Tour - 2004
A rendering of the new facade of the Monica Film Centre that had appeared with a 2014 Santa Monica Daily Press article by David Mark Simpson.
A 2016 look from across the street from Doug Simmons on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles. Thanks, Doug!
A closer facade view. Thanks to Doug Simmons for the 2016 photo on Photos of Los Angeles.
The Monica in the Movies:
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Monica for lots of links to additional exterior photos.
The Cinema Tour page has a number of 2004 photos from the Scott Neff collection, including lobby views.
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