Gone with the Wind Comes Back to Hollywood!

If you’re a big fan of films from 1939, you know that this year is the 70th anniversary of such classics as The Wizard of Oz, Wuthering Heights, and of course, Gone with the Wind.  Every year the American Cinematheque screens classic films at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, CA, and Grauman’s Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd.

This year, in honor of 70 years of 1939, The Egyptian will be screening Gone with the Wind on Saturday, November 28 at 7:30pm.  What makes the Egyptian special is that it was THE original “picture palace” and is now a Los Angeles historic-cultural landmark.  It may look rather small on the outside, but don’t let that fool you.  The inside looks like an opera house with gilt ceilings and a real organ!

Interior: Grauman's Egyptian Theater circa 1922

The Egyptian is steeped in Hollywood history–having been built by the famous Sid Grauman (who also built the Chinese Theater  and the El Capitan Theater a few blocks down)–and was the location for the first ever Hollywood premier:  Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks in 1922.  In later years the theater fell into disrepair and was sold to the American Cinematheque in 1996, whereupon the funds were raised to restore it to its former glory.  Though the Chinese Theater has surpassed it in fame due to its location and all of those celebrity hand prints out front, The Egyptian is still a wonder to behold and a pleasure in which to see films of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Street Entrance on Hollywood Blvd.

This will be the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Gone with the Wind at the Egyptian and I can say first hand that is it such a wonderful experience.  The print that they’ve shown previously is pretty old and very saturated with Technicolor, so it’s always interesting to see this film  as it was shown over the decades to different audiences, and how technology has come so far in digitally restoring films.  Moreover, it’s always fun to see it with a whole crowd of people who love it as much as you do.

Gone with the Wind

If you’re in the LA area, you can purchase tickets to the screening on Fandango.  Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity!

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~ by Kendra on November 1, 2009.