Laemmle Monica Film Center

1332 Second Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Related Websites

Laemmle Theatres (Official)

Additional Info

Operated by: Laemmle Theatres

Architects: Stanley Borbals

Firms: Abramson Teiger Architects

Functions: Movies (Foreign), Movies (Independent)

Previous Names: Laemmle's Monica 4, Monica Twin

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 310.394.9741

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News About This Theater

Laemmle Monica Film Center

The Monica Twin opened as a two-plex on February 18, 1970 with the opening of “Oliver!”. It was built and has always been operated by Laemmle who used to alternate between foreign films and Hollywood studio product.

On June 17, 1981 it became a quad by converting the largest of the the two big screens into three small auditoriums and they started to be strictly art house from then on. It remained very popular amongst the trendy Santa Monica crowd. The Laemmle Monica 4, in advance of Arclight’s new Santa Monica cinemas, was closed June 8, 2014 for remodeling.

The completely rebuilt complex is now a six-screen art house theatre named Laemmle Monica Film Center. It reopened on January 29, 2016.

Contributed by B Erickson

Recent comments (view all 24 comments)

monika
monika on June 4, 2010 at 6:04 am

May 2010 photo I took from the parking garage across the street:
View link

BRADE48
BRADE48 on June 7, 2011 at 12:53 am

Another screen that was ruined by chopping it into smaller not very good theatres. I grew up seeing films here when it was the Monica 1 & 2 theatres. Laemmle ran both Art and Hollywood films here with great success.

richjr37
richjr37 on June 8, 2014 at 5:46 pm

Closing temporarily for remodeling today.

MarkNYLA
MarkNYLA on January 9, 2015 at 1:00 am

This place has been advertised as reopening in “late 2014 or early 2015” but I walked past it today and it is totally gutted inside, with the roof opened in spots. I don’t see this opening much before late spring or summer. Wonder what the holdup is?

BRADE48
BRADE48 on December 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm

It appears that they will miss the Holiday Season and will open in early January. As of today that is.

BRADE48
BRADE48 on January 29, 2016 at 12:59 am

The theatre will re-open at last!

Per Facebook opening is tomorrow January 29.

The wait is nearly over! After almost two years of development and construction, the all new Laemmle Monica Film Center opens this Friday, January 29th!

Online ticketing and showtimes will be available Thursday afternoon. The films opening Friday are THE 2016 OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT DOCS, ANOMALISA, THE LADY IN THE VAN, MUSTANG, and THEEB!

Thank you for your patience! We think you’ll agree that it has been worth the wait! More details soon!

rivest266
rivest266 on August 6, 2016 at 1:25 am

February 18th, 1970 grand opening ad in photo section

Jonathan Wells
Jonathan Wells on September 1, 2017 at 1:28 am

The current auditorium seating capacities as of August 2017 are: Theater 1 – 125; Theater 2 – 63; Theater 3 – 42; Theater 4 – 41; Theater 5 (upstairs) – 29; Theater 6 (upstairs) – 27.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 24, 2019 at 12:36 am

Became a 4-plex on June 17th, 1981. No ad found.

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