Los Angeles is not the only city that will roll out the red carpet in honor of the 95th Academy Awards this Sunday night.
The Art Theatre in Long Beach is inviting residents to a live viewing party of the Oscars as well as a chance to dress in their finest garb and sashay down the red carpet during the theater’s largest fundraiser of the year.
As the last independent, single-screen theater in the city, it’s the perfect backdrop to commemorate the film industry and its talents.
“The Art Theatre is an institution that’s been here for almost 100 years. It provides a sense of arts and culture to the community that’s unique,” said Marissa Pfeifer, special events coordinator for the Art Theater. “This is kind of a special place for the community to catch a movie and also kind of be part of history.”
The Art Theatre was established in 1924 as the Carter Theater, as silent films had a strong hold over popular culture in the United States. To accompany films shown at the theater, an orchestra pit and pipe organ were installed in the room, which still remain today.
Ten years later, the theater changed almost as quickly as the film industry did. As new technology made talking and conversations possible in movies, the theater became even more popular and added a ticket booth as well as art deco-style changes to the interior and exterior. It was also renamed The Lee Theatre.
“The Art Theatre” got its current official name in 1947 and has undergone multiple style changes and renovations since its opening in 1924. Most recently, The Art Theatre became a nonprofit and increased its engagement and outreach in the community.
While theaters by and large were forced to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Art Theatre remained alive and well by focusing on community engagement. They held virtual screenings of educational and foreign films and once people were back out in the world, they allowed classes and community groups to request the room for free screenings.
“I think it’s still difficult to get people back into the theater; some of it’s apprehension about lingering COVID and some of it’s that people have gotten comfortable watching films at home,” Pfeifer said.
The Red Carpet Gala is the theater’s largest fundraiser of the year, which helps them make up for the costs to donate or rent out the room, hosting parties and fundraisers for various community groups. Pfeifer said the theater does not have a number in mind for how much they need to raise.
“I think anything would be great,” Pfeifer said. “Some of it is just exposure itself, reminding people that we’re there.”
The seating capacity in the theater is 360, but they aim to cap tickets at 200-250 to make sure people have room to sit in their own groups. Over 100 seats have been reserved, and Pfeiefer said they expect to sell “many more” at the door Sunday.
Along with a red carpet photo shoot and separate photo booth, there will be ballots handed out to guests where they can vote on their predictions on 10 categories for Oscar winners. After each category is announced, ballots will be drawn from a bowl and the first one drawn with a correct prediction will receive a gift card to local Fourth Street businesses such as Art Du Vin, Alder & Safe, Little Coyote, The Socialist, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and more.
Two of those prizes will also be awarded to the best-dressed attendees.
“Doing something like the Oscars party, where people get to see all of these award-winning films win awards, and get presented, it’s really exciting because you get to see it on the big screen,” Pfeifer said. “And all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s right. This is really enjoyable, to watch in the theater with popcorn and candy and enjoying it in that way.’”
Larger prizes will be reserved for the silent auction, which is where most of the fundraising comes into play. Prizes auctioned off will include a weekend stay at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, massage and chiropractic gift cards, gym memberships, a family membership to MOLAA, aquarium tickets, a $500 gift card to Outer Limits Tattoo, a private patio rental on a Sunday at the Wine Crush and over 15 other prizes.
The money raised from the Red Carpet Awards Fundraiser Gala event also helps the Art Theatre host cultural events throughout the year such as the Cambodia Town Film Festival and the Long Beach QFilm Festival, which is the city’s longest-running film festival.
Doors will open at the Art Theatre at 2025 E. Fourth Street for the Red Carpet Carpet Awards Fundraiser Gala at 3:30 p.m., when the red carpet pre-show begins. The Academy Awards begin at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $50 per person, can be purchased online or at the door and come with a drink ticket for a soda, wine or beer. There will be sandwiches and cheese plates for sale and guests can bring in food from any restaurant on Fourth Street.
