"Auntie Mame" The Big Screen LA Event

Outfest & American Cinemateque are co-presenting a series of screenings of “Auntie Mame” December 14th to December 17th at the Los Feliz Theatre 1822 N Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. This is without a doubt my favorite holiday movie & probably was one the most influential during my formative years. “Auntie Mame” set the standard of diversity with the opening party scene filled with characters including classic gay & lesbian couples. The fabulous free-spirited Mame played by Rosalind Russell introduced the audience to a lifestyle that was far removed from the confines of the Eisenhower administration when it was released on December 27th 1958. The theme of the story is “Life’s a banquet & most poor sons suckers are starving to death. You have to Live, Live, Live!” The story is about Mame Dennis who’s a progressive & independent woman of the 1920s. She is then left to care for her nephew Patrick after his wealthy father dies. The story is based on the biography Patrick Dennis’ book of the same name that was one of the bestselling American books of the 20th century. This is a rare opportunity to see this film on the big screen. “Mame” was then adapted into a musical with music & lyrics by gay icon Jerry Herman which opened on Broadway in 1966 starring Angela Lansbury & Bea Arthur. The production became a hit & then in 1974 it was spawned into a disastrous film with Lucille Ball in the title role with Arthur reprising her supporting role. The original must-see movie cast also includes Peggy Cass as Agnes Gooch, Forrest Tucker as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside, Roger Smith as the older Patrick Dennis & Joanna Barnes as the classic Gloria Upson among others. Tickets for the LA screening are $8 for members & general public $13. For More Info…