Laemmle's Empire

Author: Lynette
Published on: Aug 26, 2001

Whenever I set out to see an independent or foreign film I never think twice before showing up at my local Laemmle Theatre. Because of their reputation for showing independents over popular Hollywood types I often look forward to the cinema experience in the friendly atmosphere of its local stores. Even the Laemmle name is, in part, the founder of the Hollywood “blockbuster”, the “movie star” and a great deal of what we know about the filmmaking industry and the modern Hollywood films it produces. All of this is due to a German immigrant by the name of Carl Laemmle.

Born in Laupheim, Germany a few years after the end of the American Civil War, the reportedly good-natured Carl Laemmle had become a bookkeeper and office manager when he set out for America in 1884. The 17-year-old worked in a variety of jobs in New York, Chicago, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin where he settled long enough to marry the boss's daughter. Moving back to Chicago because of a salary dispute in Oshkosh, Laemmle took a road common to many film moguls by buying nickelodeons. Soon after, the entrepreneur had his own film distribution company (Laemmle Film Service) in addition to his chain of nickelodeons.

Because of attempts by Edison's Motion Picture Patents Company to put him out of business, Laemmle soon founded IMP, the Independent Motion Picture Co. in 1909. The famous Universal Pictures was founded in 1912. By 1915, the new company had established Universal City, a 240-acre film complex and community in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.

"Uncle Carl," as Laemmle was affectionately known, gave a start to many people in the film industry, but he suffered the same circumstance that befell most of the studio owners during the Depression. Partly due to his financial condition (there were about 70 relatives on the Universal payroll at one time), Laemmle was forced to sell Universal in 1935. Laemmle's son, Carl Laemmle, Jr., had some success as a producer for Universal, most notably with the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). The younger Laemmle also produced Universal successes such as Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Show Boat (1936). But it was in part due to his son's budget overindulgence that Carl Laemmle, Sr. had to settle for a mere $5 million, a fragment of his studio's onetime value, when he was forced to give up the film empire he had founded.

After its sale, Universal Pictures continued, rescued by the singing teen-age star Deanna Durbin, only to return to financial ruin in the 1960s. As of 1946, Universal was known as Universal-International, and later Universal became a subsidiary of Decca Records. The Music Corporation of America (MCA) bought both firms, with MCA eventually becoming a conglomerate with divisions for film, television, music, and theaters. MCA in turn was taken over by the Japanese company Matsushita in 1990.

The studio mogul and early pioneer in the industry of film-making is credited with creating the concept of the "movie star". Laemmle reigned supreme until 1936, when he sold Universal Studios. He died not long after in 1939, in Beverly Hills. Some of the most famous producers, directors and performers to cross the Universal lot were Irving Thalberg, Erich von Stroheim, Lon Chaney, Pearl White, Mae Murray, Sarah Bernhardt, Marie Prevost, Rudolph Valentino, Betty Compson, Art Acord, Harry Carey, Lew Cody and Laura LaPlante.

Southern California has its own string of 11 cinemas bearing the famous name, located in cities like Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Pasadena. Laemmle Theatres often take part in hosting and screening several festivals and events at certain times of the year, such as the famous AFI Fest, the Method Fest and the Los Angeles Film Festival.