Larry Edmunds Bookshop
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Books) |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Founder | Larry Edmunds |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Books, posters, photographs, screenplays, magazines, film collectibles |
Larry Edmunds Bookshop is a independent bookstore located at 6644 W. Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, with a focus on literature related to film, television, and theater. The establishment boasts a collection exceeding 20,000 volumes, alongside 6,000 original posters and half a million photographs. It stands as the sole surviving bookstore from the numerous shops that once populated Hollywood Boulevard. Renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin has described it as "the finest movie bookstore worldwide."
History
The store was established in 1938 by Larry Edmunds following his purchase of a bookshop on Cahuenga Boulevard. Initially, its inventory centered on literature and rare editions sought after by Hollywood professionals such as executives, screenwriters, and directors. Early customers featured prominent authors including William Faulkner and Henry Miller, the latter commissioned to pen the softcore novella Opus Pistorium.
During the 1950s, the shop broadened its offerings to include books about the entertainment industry. By the 1960s, its inventory expanded further to encompass screenplays, magazines, posters, film stills, and various other cinema-related collectibles. The store's inaugural catalog appeared in 1952 and had grown to more than 200 pages by the mid-1960s, cementing its reputation as a leading resource for motion picture materials.
In 1955, the bookshop relocated to 6658 W. Hollywood Boulevard before settling at its present address of 6644 W. Hollywood Boulevard in 1990. Throughout its history, it has drawn numerous figures from the entertainment sector such as Ursula Andress, Debbie Reynolds, Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Ru Paul, among others. Regular visitors included authors like Ray Bradbury and John Waters, whose stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are positioned just outside the shop.
Facing financial challenges caused by the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, Larry Edmunds Bookshop initiated a GoFundMe campaign that successfully raised upwards of $50,000 to help maintain operations during the pandemic period.
In popular culture
Larry Edmunds Bookshop has been featured in multiple films and television series including Alex in Wonderland, Fade to Black, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, The District, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.