Hollywood Legion Theater Sets 35MM ‘Summer of Celluloid’ Screening Series (EXCLUSIVE)

The Hollywood Legion Theater drive-in has announced an important upgrade for its “Summer of Celluloid” drive-in series, adding 35mm projectors for this year’s screenings.

With the new addition, the Hollywood Legion is now the only drive-in on the west coast to present movies in 35mm.

“Analog 35mm film projection at an outdoor cinema is a rare and special experience,” said Taylor Umphenour, the Hollywood Legion Theater’s creative director and chief projectionist. “In this case, we’ve decided to go even further by giving our audiences the unique experience of being able to see our film projectionists running shows through our transparent glass-walled projection tower.”

The glass-walled tower was custom-built to house the two projectors, which weigh 800 lbs. each. They were forklifted into the 20-foot-long projection tower in April and commissioned as fully operational earlier this month.

The Hollywood Legion Theater’s dedication to analog film is also reflected through the organization’s indoor screening event, called Film Noir Weekend, which runs July 9-11. The special event, during which six of its seven film lineup will be presented in their original 35mm format, is presented by the Film Noir Foundation and the Hollywood Legion Theater.

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“We are pulling back the curtain,” theater director Bill Steele added. “We hope that audiences will develop an appreciation for just how much work goes into putting on film shows, and how important it is that we all help preserve this precious art form.”

The drive-in summer film series, which kicks off July 1 with a screening of “Jaws,” is sponsored by Kodak Motion Picture and Entertainment.

“Kodak applauds the Legion Theater’s ingenuity and tireless efforts to bring Angelenos a unique theatrical experience during the pandemic and beyond,“ said Vanessa Bendetti, Global Managing Director of Kodak Motion Picture and Entertainment. “Projection on analog film is a visceral experience that’s incomparable to what we see on small screen devices and in-home monitors. We appreciate the Legion’s commitment to and investment in 35mm and 70mm film projection, and the drive-in’s new transparent projection booth should not be missed!“

The current lineup of movies to be presented in 35mm, with additional screenings to be added, is:

“Jaws,” Thursday, July 1
“Twister,” Friday, July 2
“Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” Thursday, July 8
“The Mask,” Thursday, July 8
“Top Gun,” Thursday, July 15
“Lethal Weapon,” Sunday, July 18
“Purple Rain,” Wednesday, July 28
“Inception,” Friday, July 23
“Boogie Nights,” Saturday, July 24
“Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” Sunday, July 25
“The Dark Knight,” Thursday, July 29

Tickets for the event, which can be purchased at HollywoodLegionTheater.com, start at $25 and include unlimited popcorn.

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