I was happy to read THIS STORY by Tanya Mannes in last Saturday's San Diego Union Tribune about Mary Pickford being honored this year by the Library of Congress for the 100th anniversary of her film debut in 2009. Better yet, the nationwide film festival will be making a stop in my backyard at the legendary La Paloma Theater in Encinitas, California.
My Mom was a big Mary Pickford fan, having spent way too much time during her formative years in movie theaters. Pickford, once known as "the most popular girl in the world", got her start in silent films and then made the transition to "talkies" when they started coming out in the late 20's. She was the first star, along with her then husband, Douglas Fairbanks, to officially place hand and footprints in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater on April 30, 1927. I look forward to seeing some of the Pickford films my Mom saw as a girl.
And the venue of The La Paloma Theater is fitting since Pickford was said to have attended the opening of the theater on February 11, 1928. She also had houses nearby in Ocenside and in Rancho Sante Fe, in what later became known as Fairbanks Ranch. The La Paloma is still in operation today as a movie theater and live-performance venue. If you've never been to it, it's definitely worth a visit for you theater historians out there. I actually think it would make an ideal theater pub ala the McMenamins pubs in Oregon.
The nationwide film-festival event honoring Pickford is tentatively scheduled to make its stop at the La Paloma November 6 - 8.
Image: Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education
Comments
Very cool
I also read this article in the Union Tribune. I've lived in Fairbanks Ranch since 1989 so it has even more personal significance. The La Paloma is an awesome theater - they still do midnight showings of Rocky Horror on occasion! I'll definitely be checking out the Mary Pickford flicks.
Sadly
I don't live in California.
Gotta do my part!
You know? I was just talking about this yesterday! I have GOT to commit to going to La Paloma at LEAST once a month. What an absolute gem of a theatre. It's the kind of place that you cherish every time you go. You can just feeeeeeel the America dripping out of the place. Plus, they play EXCELLENT movies!
And yes! Beer at the movies! Brilliant! This is just the kind of theatre that would make a lovely setting for a nice IPA and an indie film!
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