Aero Theatre
Full nameMax Palevsky Aero Theatre
Address1328 Montana Avenue
LocationSanta Monica, California, United States
OwnerJ.S. Rosenfield & Co.
OperatorAmerican Cinematheque
TypeMovie theater
Genre(s)Film
Capacity425[1]
Construction
BuiltJune 19, 1939
OpenedMay 15, 1940
Website
americancinematheque.com/about/theatres/aero-theatre

The Aero Theatre is a single-screen movie theater in Santa Monica, California, built in 1939 and opened in 1940.[2][3][4]

History

Named in tribute to the aerospace industry,[3] the Aero Theatre was built by aviation pioneer Donald W. Douglas of the Douglas Aircraft Company, serving as a 24-hour movie house for his employees that worked at a nearby plant.[5] The French Normandy-style theater, designed by P.M. Woolpert, cost $45,000 to build, and originally seated 678 people.[6]

By the late 1980s, the Aero was one of Los Angeles' last repertory theaters, regularly programming double features.[7][8] However, by the end of the 1990s, the theater, then owned by Chris Allen, had fallen on hard times and decreased attendance.[9] Robert Redford, who spent time at the Aero growing up, had attempted to buy the theater for Sundance Cinemas in 2001, but the deal never came to fruition[10] and the theater closed in April 2003.[9]

In January 2005, the theater reopened (now technically named the Max Palevsky Aero Theatre), after renovations were made by the nonprofit organization American Cinematheque.[9] The $1 million renovation of the Aero included the installation of a new screen (44 feet wide by 17 feet high), larger and more comfortable seats (reducing the theater's capacity to 427) and a new concession stand.[5] The Cinematheque had previously overseen a $12.8 million renovation of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood in 1998, and the organization schedules programming for both theaters.[11]

The Aero underwent renovation again in 2019 and 2021, including improvements for projection, sound and general facility upgrades.[1]

The Aero Theatre has made appearances in a variety of feature films throughout the years, including 10 to Midnight (1983),[12][13] Masquerade (1988),[14] Sleepwalkers (1992),[15] Get Shorty (1995)[16] and Donnie Darko (2001).[17]

Alternative rock band Weezer referenced the Aero in their song "Aloo Gobi", the second track on their 2021 album OK Human. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo resides in Santa Monica and wrote the song in 2017 about a typical date he would go on with his wife Kyoko.[18]

Horrorthon

Since 2006, the Aero Theatre has been home to the annual "Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorthon", a popular event held every October, featuring an all-night marathon of six to seven horror films (usually projected in 35 mm), as well as free food, candy and giveaways for patrons.[2] Grant Moninger, the festival's organizer, describes the Horrorthon as "going into some kind of absurd church of horror films."[19] The event has spawned a number of original characters, including Corn Gorn (a variation of the Gorn creature from Star Trek), the unofficial mascot of the festival, as well as his family, friends and nemeses. Some patrons have gone so far as to vote for Corn Gorn in national elections.[20]

In 2020, in light of the temporary closure of movie theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a "home edition" of Horrorthon was offered, where patrons chose their own six-film lineups and were provided with a personalized video introduction, as well as interstitial intro videos for each film and an official Horrorthon t-shirt.[21]

In 2023, for the first time ever, the lineup of films was not announced ahead of time and was revealed throughout the course of the event.[22]

Films screened

2006[23]
Title Director Release Year
Night of the Living Dead George Romero 1968
Re-Animator Stuart Gordon 1985
House by the Cemetery Lucio Fulci 1981
Castle of Blood Antonio Margheriti 1964
Pumpkinhead Stan Winston 1988
Burial Ground Andrea Bianchi 1981
2007[24]
Title Director Release Year
Return of the Living Dead Dan O'Bannon 1985
Freaks Tod Browning 1932
From Beyond Stuart Gordon 1986
The Beyond Lucio Fulci 1981
The Last House on the Left Wes Craven 1972
The Children Carlton J. Albright 1980
City of the Living Dead Lucio Fulci 1980
2008[25]
Title Director Release Year
Night of the Creeps Fred Dekker 1986
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Tobe Hooper 1986
Braindead Peter Jackson 1992
Let's Scare Jessica to Death John D. Hancock 1971
Demons Lamberto Bava 1985
Deathdream Bob Clark 1974
2009[26]
Title Director Release Year
The People Under the Stairs Wes Craven 1991
Day of the Dead George A. Romero 1985
Society Brian Yuzna 1989/1992
The Brood David Cronenberg 1979
Maniac William Lustig 1980
Terror Norman J. Warren 1978
2010[27]
Title Director Release Year
Fright Night Tom Holland 1985
Don't Look in the Basement S.F. Brownrigg 1973
Candyman Bernard Rose 1992
Bloody Birthday Ed Hunt 1981
Phantasm Don Coscarelli 1979
Cemetery Man Michele Soavi 1994
2011[28]
Title Director Release Year
Pet Sematary Mary Lambert 1989
Tourist Trap David Schmoeller 1979
The Pit Lew Lehman 1981
Videodrome David Cronenberg 1983
Alice Sweet Alice Alfred Sole 1976
Just Before Dawn Jeff Lieberman 1981
2012[29]
Title Director Release Year
Hellraiser Clive Barker 1987
Motel Hell Kevin Connor 1980
The Devil's Rain Robert Fuest 1975
Christine John Carpenter 1983
The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue Jorge Grau 1974
The Manitou William Girdler 1978
2013[30]
Title Director Release Year
Amityville II: The Possession Damiano Damiani 1982
Kingdom of the Spiders John Cardos 1977
The Fly David Cronenberg 1986
Hell High Douglas Grossman 1989
The Car Elliot Silverstein 1977
The Sentinel Michael Winner 1977
2014[31]
Title Director Release Year
Creepshow George A. Romero 1982
Gargoyles Bill L. Norton 1972
The Thing John Carpenter 1982
Night of 1,000 Cats René Cardona Jr. 1972
The Deadly Spawn Douglas McKeown 1983
Basket Case Frank Henenlotter 1982
Zombie Holocaust Marino Girolami 1980
2015[32]
Title Director Release Year
Halloween III Tommy Lee Wallace 1982
Death Spa Michael Fischa 1989
Anguish Bigas Luna 1987
Spookies Brendan Faulkner / Thomas Doran / Eugenie Joseph 1986
Dead & Buried Gary Sherman 1981
Pieces Juan Piquer Simón 1982
The Nest Terence H. Winkless 1988
2016[33]
Title Director Release Year
The Blob Chuck Russell 1988
Devil Fetus Lau Hung-chuen 1983
The Entity Sidney J. Furie 1982
Phantasm II Don Coscarelli 1988
Hell Night Tom DeSimone 1981
Brain Damage Frank Henenlotter 1988
Humanoids From the Deep Barbara Peeters 1980
2017[34]
Title Director Release Year
An American Werewolf in London John Landis 1981
Popcorn Mark Herrier 1991
The Tingler William Castle 1959
Hack-o-Lantern Jag Mundhra 1988
Shocker Wes Craven 1989
Brainscan John Flynn 1994
Death Bed: The Bed That Eats George Barry 1977/2003
2018[35]
Title Director Release Year
Jason X Jim Isaac 2001
Body Melt Philip Brophy 1993
Link Richard Franklin 1986
Maximum Overdrive Stephen King 1986
Zombie 3 Lucio Fulci / Bruno Mattei 1988
Curtains Richard Ciupka 1983
Antropophagus Joe D'Amato 1980
2019[36]
Title Director Release Year
Critters Stephen Herek 1986
Halloween II Rick Rosenthal 1981
Ruby Curtis Harrington 1977
Lisa and the Devil Mario Bava 1972
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker William Asher 1981
Demonoid Alfredo Zacarías 1980
The Crazies George A. Romero 1973
2021[37]
Title Director Release Year
In the Mouth of Madness John Carpenter 1994
It's Alive Larry Cohen 1974
Nightbeast Don Dohler 1982
House of Wax Jaume Collet-Serra 2005
Horror Express Eugenio Martín 1972
The Brain Ed Hunt 1988
2022[38]
Title Director Release Year
Lord of Illusions Clive Barker 1995
Horror of Dracula Terence Fisher 1958
The Hidden Jack Sholder 1987
Mortuary Howard Avedis 1983
Zombie Lucio Fulci 1979
Slaughterhouse Rock Dimitri Logothetis 1987
2023[39]
Title Director Release Year
Dolls Stuart Gordon 1987
Frankenhooker Frank Henenlotter 1990
Psycho II Richard Franklin 1983
Faceless Jesús Franco 1988
Prince of Darkness John Carpenter 1987
Primal Rage Vittorio Rambaldi 1988

References

  1. 1 2 "Aero Theatre - American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  2. 1 2 King, Susan (January 17, 2015). "Classic Hollywood: Santa Monica's Aero Theatre regulars believe in the joy of movies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Aero Theater (sic) 75th Anniversary Exhibit 2015". Santa Monica History Museum. 8 September 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ Axe, Jason; Martinez, Ray. "Aero Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  5. 1 2 LaPorte, Nicole (January 5, 2015). "After waiting game, Aero takes flight". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ "26 Mar 2003, Page 37". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "23 Feb 1987, 22". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "6 May 1990, Page 613". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 "Aero Theatre". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "26 Mar 2003, Page 37". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-10-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ McNary, Dave (April 9, 2019). "Netflix in Talks to Buy Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre From American Cinematheque". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  12. ↑ Blankenship, Phil (August 6, 2016). "10 to Midnight". New Beverly Cinema. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. ↑ Patterson, Robert (March 11, 2019). "10 to Midnight (1983)". Set-Jetter. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  14. ↑ @PeterAPeel (September 3, 2020). "Just to point out that MASQUERADE is mostly set in the Hamptons, looks to have been shot there but at one point a few characters go see a movie at the Aero in Santa Monica" (Tweet). Retrieved September 28, 2021 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "Sleepwalkers (1992) Film Locations". Global Film Locations. July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Get Shorty 1995". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ "DONNIE DARKO / THE EVIL DEAD | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ Perry, Kevin EG (26 January 2021). "Weezer: 'This album is about feeling isolated, alienated and secluded – it's perfect for now'". NME. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ Beebe, Lisa (26 October 2017). "The Aero's All Night Horrorthon Is as Weird as It Is Scary". LA Mag. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  20. ↑ Bowman, Parker. "Don't Blame Me I Voted For Corn Gorn". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  21. ↑ "AERO HORRORTHON 2020 HOME EDITION!". Eventbrite. 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  22. ↑ "18th Annual Horrorthon". American Cinematheque. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ↑ "The Blood Is The Life - Vampires On Film And Dusk-To-Dawn Horrorthon!". American Cinematheque. 2006. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Halloween Horror & the Annual Halloween Horror-thon". American Cinematheque. 2007. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Halloween Horrorthon & Horror-Comedy". Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. 2008. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Halloween Week Events". American Cinematheque. 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Halloween Horror". American Cinematheque. 2010. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  28. ↑ "6th Annual Dusk-To-Dawn Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  29. ↑ "7th Annual Dusk-To-Dawn Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  30. ↑ "8th Annual Dusk-To-Dawn Horrothon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  31. ↑ "9th Annual Dusk-To-Dawn Horrorthon! | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  32. ↑ "10th Annual Dusk-To-Dawn Horrothon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  33. ↑ "All Night Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  34. ↑ "All Night Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  35. ↑ "All Night Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  36. ↑ "All Night Horrorthon | American Cinematheque". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ "16TH ANNUAL AERO HORRORTHON". American Cinematheque. 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  38. ↑ "17TH ANNUAL HORRORTHON". American Cinematheque. 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  39. ↑ American Cinematheque (October 30, 2023). "18th Annual Horrorthon (2023)". Letterboxd. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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