Greg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres, spoke to Santa Clarita residents Thursday to discuss the upcoming multiplex in Old Town Newhall and the future of film.

The New Heights Panel Discussion is a series of free workshops, panel discussions and lectures designed specifically to engage creative individuals, no matter what level of experience, said city officials.

“We want to be part of the ‘anchor’ for the new arts district in Old Town Newhall,” said Laemmle. “The community has been great in supporting the project.”

Laemmle Theatres is a family owned and operated business that has been exhibiting movies in Los Angeles since the 1930s.

Greg is the third generation, following his father Bob who retired in 2004, to head Laemmle Theatres. Greg’s grandfather Max Laemmle and great uncle Kurt started the company in 1938 when they took over the operation of two theatres in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, city officials said.

Known primarily for their support of foreign-language, independent and documentary films, Laemmle Theatres program 37 screens at eight locations.

This year, they plan to break ground on a tenth location in Old Town Newhall.

The seven-screen Laemmle Theatre development is set to have approximately 500 seats, and will be a Mixed Use Project, developed by Serrano Development Group, which is estimated to include approximately 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 46 residential units with subterranean parking.

The city also embarked on a design-build process for the development of a 400-stall parking structure on the remaining portion of the property.

Laemmle said he wants to develop a sense of community, where Santa Clarita residents can enjoy movie going the way people and families used to enjoy movie going, that is, where it becomes a regular part of everyday life.

The independent theatre encourages regular movie going by keeping ticket prices low, and providing activities that allow individuals to be immersed into foreign culture beyond cinema, he said.

He said he hopes the unique project will become a place for the Santa Clarita Valley community to come together to enjoy art, culture, and entertainment and to contribute to the conversion of mainstreet into two-three story buildings all the way down the street.

“It’s gonna take some time before we can start showing some movies,” said Laemmle. “But it will get there.”

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