The cemetery screening season at Hollywood Forever is coming to a close. Tomorrow and next Saturday will see the last movies of the summer season. If you haven't been to a cemetery screening, you are truly missing out on a growing LA summer night tradition. Cinespia sponsors the event, selecting the DVDs, DJs and pre-show movie poster slide show. Yes, they actually screen movies in a cemetery, but not just any cemetery. Hollywood Forever is right behind the Paramount lot and is the resting place of many stars as well as backdrop to many shoots. The biggest draw is you can bring in as much picnicking supplies as you can carry. No, you don't roll out a picnic blanket on someone's grave. The films are projected on the large mausoleum and everyone packs in to the large lawn in front of it. The sound from surrounding speakers has gotten better, the movie line-up is always in steady rotation, from the classic to classically obscure. The most popular movies from this year were Breakfast At Tiffany's (preditably) and a humungous turnout for Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
This Saturday hosts Preston Sturgess' first picture The Great McGinty. The finale show on Sep. 30 is the original Dawn of The Dead.
Gates promptly open at 6:30pm and the movie gets started around 8:00pm. Show up before 7:00pm to claim a good piece of grass. The $10 admission price includes parking, but eager fans park nearby and line up outside the gates before they open. Veterans bring plenty of food and wine as well as candles, pillows and low chairs - any high backed lawn chairs could get you booed if you block someone's view. Blankets for the crisp evening air are also a must. This is Hollywood's verison of a drive-in so don't get offended if a neighboring party keeps the party going through the movie. Like a drive-in this is also the top date night spot - small PDA warning.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd. & Gower

photo collage courtesy of hollowlift

Labels: events, film