We have all gone to the many outdoor movie events across Los Angeles. Now, take your movie viewing to the sky directly above Hollywood this summer. The United Kingdom’s leading outdoor cinema company, the Rooftop Film Club is turning the iconic roof of The Montalbãn into a unique theatre where they will launch their first season of films in Los Angeles beginning Wednesday, August 26th.
Established in the summer of 2011, the Rooftop Film Club was established by Founder Gerry Cottle Jr. who envisioned a pop-up cinema experience, which combines movie-going moments with a night out on the town. The Rooftop Film Club did just that and began screening classic films, cult favorites and new releases atop the Queen Hoxton bar in East London. With a positive response, the club expanded and a year later in 2012 long-time childhood friend Nick Frow partnered up with Cottle Jr. to take this experience to multiple rooftops in London, including the Bussey Building in Peckham, Roof East in Stratford and the stunning Roof Gardens in Kensington from none other than Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Limited Edition.
Not limited to just rooftops, the dynamic duo took the movie-going experiences with the Drive In Film Club, as well as the Underground Film Club, before taking Rooftop Film Club to New York. Their first American outpost had a sold-out launch season at the YOTEL in midtown this past June where New Yorkers could relive Dirty Dancing and Breakfast At Tiffany’s in the Manhattan skyline.
As for the experience itself, you will be able to indulge in craft beers, wines and movie-themed food that will be from local L.A. vendors. So get ready to sip and snack on while lounging in lush Brighton Beach Deck Chairs equipped with high quality wireless headphones. The Montalbãn, built in 1927 and full of Hollywood history is the perfect spot for this event, as it was once a working space for the performing arts and entertainment industry and has since housed a movie cinema, radio and television programs, concerts, theatrical performances and film productions.
As a tribute to Los Angeles, the Rooftop Film Club will kick-off this first season with movies that dive into the pop culture of L.A., including the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski (My personal fav), the 1980’s dystopian thriller Bladerunner and the comical story of Beverly Hills teenagers in Clueless (also another fav). Others include Casablanca, the classic sing-along musical Grease, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club are just a few of the films to follow.
List of Scheduled Films:
- Wednesday, August 26: The Big Lebowski
- Thursday, August 27: Clueless
- Friday, August 28: Blade Runner
- Tuesday, September 1: Casablanca
- Wednesday, September 2: The Breakfast Club
- Thursday, September 3: Cinema Paradiso
- Saturday, September 5: Back To The Future
- Tuesday, September 8: Breakfast At Tiffany’s
- Wednesday, September 9: Ghostbusters
- Thursday, September 10: Jaws
- Friday, September 11: The Goonies
- Saturday, September 12: Top Gun
- Tuesday, September 15: Dirty Dancing
- Wednesday, September 16: Reservoir Dogs
- Thursday, September 17: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Saturday, September 19: Grease
$15 (plus service charge); doors: 6 pm, movie: 8 pm; 1615 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA 90028
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rooftop Film Club
