Independent Cinema In Los Angeles

With this list of alternative, independent cinema in Los Angeles, we've pretty much planned out all your dates for the rest of the year. But seriously, if you're a film buff or want to be one, get schooled on uber-local independent filmmakers by attending screenings at the Echo Park Film Center, brush up on Old Hollywood masterpieces at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, and take your grandma out to the Old Town Music Hall for silent films accompanied by a master organist. You won't regret getting an education around the margins of Hollywood, especially when your friends regale you with horrors of this summer's blockbuster bombs.

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Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

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Hollywood Forever Cemetery 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 Catch a classic movie under a blanket with your sweetheart. Don't forget the wine and chocolates. - JonnyO at Citysearch. Photo via Flickr: AnnieGreenSprings.

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Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Catch a classic movie under a blanket with your sweetheart. Don't forget the wine and chocolates. - JonnyO at Citysearch.

Photo via Flickr: AnnieGreenSprings.

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Comments

[Eithan Firestone]

07:48 PM on 10/07/2010

Always been a fan of independen­t movies all over. I feel sometimes they're offer more for a film than a typical Hollywood machine made film. Since it's horror movie season I've been checking out some up and coming horror films and I found one that looks like its gonna be awesome. its called Scar. Came out earlier this month on VOD and I'm pretty sure it comes out sometime next week on DVD. I heard they're even having a screening for it tomorrow at the Culver Plaza Theatre. Check it out! http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=ZIV5VqI72­Uc

[cybolt]

01:43 PM on 09/01/2010

The Aero on Montana Avenue certainly conjures fond memories of youth in the 60s and early 70s... back in the day when Santa Monica was indeed a middle class beach city with a neighborho­od vibe.

As junior highers, we'd sneak in there all the time... either buy one ticket for someone who would let us all in the back door that opened onto the alley OR hang around the front door and as the crowd from the first film was leaving, walk in backwards.

Ahhhh, the ingenuity of youth.

I bet they'd frown on that practice now.

[Jacqueline R]

11:47 AM on 09/01/2010

It is such a shame that the independen­t chinema houses are going extinct. Not only did they offer some of the best movie house architectu­re but also they showed some of the less mainstream and foreign films that the chain-owne­d movie complexes won't.

[MSaxe]

01:31 PM on 08/28/2010

Whatever happened to the Wilshire in Beverly Hills? That was a beautiful art deco house...

[ididnotknowthat]

03:18 PM on 08/28/2010

I saw the road show version of "The Sand Pebbles" with Steve McQueen there when it was the featured theatre for 20th Century Fox releases.
It's now called the Saban Theatre (unfortuna­tely renamed for Haim and Cheryl Saban, whose generous 5 million dollar grant restored this great movie palace). The venue is now used for live events, Rosanne Cash will be there soon. Last year Jerry Seinfeld did a show there. Occasional­ly they still have screening. I love this theatre.

[MSaxe]

12:31 PM on 08/29/2010

Interestin­g. Thanks for the history. Surprising­ly, I had a chance to be one of the extras in the Sand Pebbles. It was filmed on the Houston Shop Channel while I was a student at the University of Houston. It was an open call, but I had a couple of tests that day.

I loved the Wilshire too. I appreciate the update.

[rcampbell]

01:05 PM on 08/28/2010

".... take your grandma out to the Old Town Music Hall for silent films....

I simply couldn't resist this line. Whose grandma are they talking about. My mother passed away this past May at age 87 (born in 1923). The Golden Age of Silent Film Era was long gone and pretty much so were all silent films well before she was old enough to go to a movie theater.

[Jenny Lens]

12:54 PM on 08/28/2010

Billy Wilder Theater at Hammer Museum has NEVER been free. It's $9 at door, $10 online. I miss the screenings at UCLA, when you could buy a pass and spend $30 for 6 films. Please get your facts straight!

[wishfulslinking]

10:38 AM on 08/28/2010

Isn't that the the building from Xanadu?

[ididnotknowthat]

05:41 AM on 08/28/2010

Can't believe you didn't list the Westwood Crest! Come on...Taran­tino said attending a film at this theater was a "privilege­". You have to check it out...The Westwood Crest Theatre at 1262 Westwood Blvd. is easily accessible­, near the 405 and 10 intersecti­on. The murals of old Hollywood and shooting stars on the ceiling are worth the price of admission. I would rate it at the top.

[RJ Eskow]

01:26 PM on 08/28/2010

I had the same reaction. That's a terrific theater - one of my favorites.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

12:54 AM on 08/28/2010

YEAH! The ART Theatre in Long Beach!

[HBHB]

11:52 PM on 08/27/2010

The Silent Movie Theatre is a huge love and hate for me. I love their programing and vibe however, it is extremely uncomforta­ble to watch a double feature sitting in a fold out chair. They have two front rows of comfy couches then nothing but standard hotel conference chairs. If you're lucky you can grab a pillow to sit on. They need to invest in something better, more couches would be great! Also, another complaint (ha!), the Downtown Independen­t has one the greatest screens in all of LA but they have zero regular programing­. Someone else, with a little ambition, needs to run things down there.

[3dtrix]

11:08 PM on 08/27/2010

I lead a double life - I live in the Santa Cruz area and work as a tradesman/­contractor­, but my best friend lives in Santa Monica and is a cult-figur­e writer/dir­ector. We get together as often as we can. The Aero is just down the street from his house - more a repertory house than independen­t I would say - and we recently saw The Big Sleep at the Billy Wilder - "She tried to sit in my lap when I was standing up."

Good times...

[janejoad]

08:01 PM on 08/27/2010

The Echo Park Film Center must be very fairly new in that area. I grew up as a teenager there and the only theatre around for a long time in Silverlake­/Echo Park, was the Studio One, that was in the 60's.
I spent many hours at the Nuart, and in So. Pas at the Rialto. No mention of Laemmle Theatres, I find that odd. Watching a movie at the cemetary is a new (well maybe not SO new), but in my day we went cemetaries to smoke pot and make out.
But, that's L>A>, constantly reinventin­g itself with each new wave of hipsters (our kids).

[LMPE]

05:23 PM on 08/27/2010

In any city, I deliberate­ly look for the indie cinemas so that I can avoid Hollywood movies.

[Mark Dalbis]

05:06 PM on 08/27/2010

No Vista???? WTF??? Isn't the Vista Independen­t? either way - one of THE best places in town to see a movie - hands down.

[zagyzebra]

06:37 PM on 08/27/2010

Agreed! Whoever put together this list can't possibly have lived in L.A. for very long to omit the landmark Vista, beloved by all who live anywhere east of Beverly Hills.

[Al91206]

07:31 PM on 08/27/2010

There you have why it's not on the list. I've noticed these Huffington Post lists of LA concentrat­e on the west side. Completely biased.

[galaxian]

12:41 AM on 08/28/2010

At least ten of these are east of Fairfax. The westside has more than its fair share of theatres..­.even though they are diminishin­g.

[Mona Holmes-Nisker]

07:52 PM on 08/27/2010

I am a HUGE fan of the Vista, but their marquee hasn't shown much independen­t films in awhile.

The article seems to note to movie houses that make an effort to show non-commer­cial flicks.

[Mark Dalbis]

08:47 PM on 08/27/2010

ah. i thought maybe it was something like that.

[RenegadeConformist]

03:54 PM on 08/27/2010

If the NuArt or the New Beverly ever go out of business or get wiped out by the Big One, then I'm leaving California­. Those places give you an education. The weekly Cinefamily screenings are also a big treat.

Now all we need in LA is for someone worthy to resuscitat­e the Z Channel.