It’s nearly time for Last Remaining Seats, the always-compelling series of film classics presented by the L.A. CONSERVANCY in our city’s grand, vintage movie palaces. The program opens this year on June 11, 2014, 8pm with the iconic comedy THE LADY EVE (1941, Preston Sturges) at the downtown LOS ANGELES THEATRE. What’s more, the evening will be hosted by our own GREG LAEMMLE who will be in conversation with PRESTON STURGES JR. and TOM STURGES, sons of the legendary director. It promises to be a captivating evening and we invite you to join in our support of the L.A. Conservancy by attending. If you haven’t been to the lavish LOS ANGELES THEATRE on Broadway, you are sure to be astonished.
Tickets for this event and other screenings are available through the L.A. CONSERVANCY who produces the series as a way to highlight the treasure trove of beautiful and historically significant theaters that remain in our city. In addition to the Los Angeles Theatre, this year’s line up includes the PALACE THEATRE (The Great Madcap), ORPHEUM THEATRE (Citizen Kane, Footlight Parade), the THEATRE AT ACE HOTEL (Back to the Future), and the DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION (West Side Story).
Tickets are pre-sold to Conservancy members, but are now also available to the general public. Seating is limited, however, so you must act quickly. We’ve already learned that one of the screenings has been sold out. GO HERE for more program and ticketing info.
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Program notes from the Conservancy:
The Los Angeles Conservancy has assembled an esteemed slate of special guests for its twenty-eighth season of Last Remaining Seats. This annual series presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful historic theatre, surrounded by fellow fans. Each event in the series is full of extras, including live entertainment, special guests, cartoons, and more. What began in 1987 as a way to draw attention to Los Angeles’ historic theatres is now a summer tradition, drawing thousands of people from the region, the nation, and outside the U.S.
While subject to change, the special guests and live entertainment for 2014 are outlined below.
The season kicks off June 11 with a screening of The Lady Eve at the Los Angeles Theatre. Evening host for opening night is Greg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres. Laemmle will interview Preston Sturges, Jr. and Tom Sturges, sons of Preston Sturges, who wrote and directed the acclaimed 1941 comedy.
On June 14, West Side Story at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will feature one of the film’s stars, George Chakiris, in conversation with dance critic Debra Levine. Chakiris won an Academy Award® for his performance as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in this classic 1961 musical.
Guests at 1933’s Footlight Parade at the Orpheum Theatre on June 18 will enjoy two live performances. Robert Salisbury will perform on the theatre’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer organ, followed by Maxwell DeMille Presents “The Lullaby of Broadway:” A Tribute to the 1930s Movie Music of Harry Warren and Al Dubin, with Dean Mora and his Orchestra.
Renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin will host the sold-old evening screening of Back to the Future at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on June 21. Maltin will interview cast members Lea Thompson, Claudia Wells, and Don Fullilove. A DeLorean Time Machine will make a special appearance at both the matinee and evening screenings.
Co-presented with the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles, the screening of Luis Buñuel’s El gran calavera (The Great Madcap) on June 25 will be hosted by Oscar Arce, director of the Luis Buñuel Film Institute. Arce will appear on stage before the film with special guest Pablo Ferro, award-winning film title designer.
The season ends June 28 with two screenings of Citizen Kane at the Orpheum Theatre. Both screenings will be preceded by a live performance by Tony Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The matinee will be hosted by author and film historian Alan K. Rode, with the evening screening hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, weekend daytime host of Turner Classic Movies and the grandson of the film’s co-writer with Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz.
Details and tickets are available at laconservancy.org.
Tickets cost $16 for L.A. Conservancy members and $20 for the general public.