Lawrence P. Thomas

Lawrence P. Thomas (Larry) graced us with his clever humor, sharp wit, love of movies and hearty laugh. He was loved by all who knew him because he made us feel joy and laugh along with him— he made us feel special in his presence. Larry’s passion for movies began as a child when his family owned several drive-ins and theaters in West Virginia. Larry liked to say that his first babysitter was the theater where his parents would perch him in a seat so he could watch movies for hours. Larry quickly became a child prodigy with his in-depth knowledge of all aspects of film. His parents recognized this, and when he was eight years old, they allowed him to assist with creating film playlists for their movie bookings. As Larry grew older, he joined his father on weekly trips to Cincinnati where they traveled to pick up movie reels from the film depot. Larry realized there was a vibrant film community here and moved to Cincinnati when he was in his early twenties. During those early years, Larry worked as a film booker at the former Cincinnati location of 20th Century Fox. His passion and love of movies led him to a life-long career in film booking and distribution for drive-ins and independent theaters. Larry worked for various film companies and eventually opened his own theater in 1980 called The Movies Repertory Cinema in downtown Cincinnati.  Along with his film booking career, Larry worked for decades with Cincinnati Public Radio in marketing and publications. He also gave movie reviews for the popular show, Around Cincinnati, and assisted with other on-air shows. Larry loved the arts— film, music and literature. His work at Cincinnati Public Radio and his independent film booking company allowed him to pursue his passions through his work. Larry retired from Cincinnati Public Radio in 2014 and kept his independent film booking company through 2019.  Classic movie posters and King Kong memorabilia fill his home with Charlotte, his beloved wife and partner in all things fun. Larry’s favorite film is the original 1933 version of King Kong. He loved it because of the vulnerability of this monster and for the film’s innovative artistry. It was the first Hollywood film to have a thematic score recorded with a 46-piece orchestra, rather than with background music. King Kong was a stop-motion marvel that relied on tiny, articulating models to bring the monster and an island full of dinosaurs to life. This production created an overall impact that had never been felt by audiences before and was a prelude to the computer generated films we enjoy today.  Larry’s passion for classic movies, particularly science fiction, film noir and westerns, was felt by us all. His delight and knowledge of film influenced us and changed the way we view the world of film. Larry’s humor and joy will forever be with all who knew and loved him.  Larry is survived by his wife Charlotte Reed Thomas, his brother John Thomas, his brother-in-law Doug Reed (Frances Dickson) and his nieces Grace and Vivianne Reed. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Cincinnati Public Radio or the National Film Preservation Foundation.