Los Angeles ruins us with peculiar film screening locations of all sorts, on the grass of the cemetery and on the grounds of Victorian villages. Now there’s another unexpected place to add to that list: mountain peaks over a mile in LA
Mount Wilson Observatory has announced that it will host a new film series, Matinas on the Mountain this summer. On some Saturday afternoons, the historic institution will screen a decades-long lineup of sci-fi and astronomy-inspired shorts and feature films.
Unlike the concert series and stargazing sessions on the San Gabriel Mountains site, matinees do not take place within the dome of the 100-inch telescope (pictured below), the world’s largest telescope in the first half of the 20th century. Instead, the screening will be held in the 256-seat auditorium within the Astromic Museum. This is the same venue used for lectures on the site and for telescopes.
Photo: Timeout/Michael Giuliano
As for films, the lineup so far includes the 2001 lineup. ApaceOdyssey (May 17), Sci-Fi Silent Shorts (June 21), Contact (July 26), Astronomical Short Film (August 23), Third Type Close Encounter (September 27), and Forecast Title (October 25). Some events are combined with a history story, or, in the case of close encounters, performances by Bob Baker Marionette.
Considering that screenings will take place during the day, you can’t stargaze, but you can stop by a space cafe for a bite, picnics on the premises and explore the historic observation deck campus (which, in the end, proved that Edwin Hubble existed outside our own titty). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for children under the age of 12, and will support the preservation of the Mount Wilson Institute observation deck.
Photo: Michael Giuliano
If you’ve never ventured at the top of Mount Wilson, it’s worth noting that you’ll need to drive along relatively narrow, winding mountain paths. Angeles Crest Highway feels like a typical canyon road, but the last few miles of the drive along Red Box Road are extremely sharp curves that embrace the mountains. Also, don’t forget that you are 5,700 feet above sea level, and the main car park ($5) is a short walk from the theatre. So, as far as outdoor adventures go, let’s assume that the temperatures are a little cooler and the sun can be stronger than any part of LA where you’re starting.
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