California Theatre

The best kept cinema secret in San Jose (even among typically well-informed local cineastes) is the summer Friday and Saturday evening programs at the California Theatre.  I recently spoke with filmmaker Alejandro Adams and Cinebanter podcaster Michael Vox about their trip to the Cal Theatre to watch PLAYTIME with fellow filmmaker Jarrod Whaley and Cinequest screenwriting competition winner Mary Szmagaj and her husband Bill.  The beautiful, refurbished Cal Theatre has shown films on its large screen for several years as part of the Cinequest Film Festival, but most film fans aren’t aware that at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, a classic film is unspooled in front of a small, but devoted group of viewers.

The price: $5.  The balcony: available.  The ushers: incredibly polite.  Saturday night popcorn price: free.

For the first time anyone can remember, popcorn and drinks were not only allowed, but encouraged. Take it from someone who has personally been told to put their water bottle away by Mr. Packard himself, this last piece of news is a big deal. Up in Palo Alto, the Stanford Theatre has been showing classic films for years, and now we have our own version of that program right on First Street, a few steps from Original Joe’s. Where else can you listen to a live organist play famous movie scores before the show starts? Where else can you sit in an actual full-sized balcony where the image on the screen will complete with the beautiful design and colors of the theatre itself?

This summer, the programming runs from the much-seen: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, WEST SIDE STORY, SOUND OF MUSIC to the little-seen: PLAY TIME to the silents: KID BROTHER, BLACK PIRATE. This weekend, July 31-August 1, they are playing 1967’s CLEOPATRA.

The price can’t be beat and while watching, it is hard not to feel as if you’ve been transported back in time, when grand movie halls still existed. Do yourself a favor. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

The complete summer schedule can be found here.