Last Remaining Seats hits the big 25

This year's 25th run of Last Remaining Seats in the Broadway Historic Theatre District will open at the Orpheum with "Rear Window," the Alfred Hitchcock gem starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. The series continues with "The Music Man," the 1933 version of "King Kong," "Zoot Suit" and two screenings of "Sunset Blvd." Then it's back to the Orpheum for the Harold Lloyd silent classic "Safety Last," about as fun a Downtown L.A. movie as I can imagine. It was filmed along Broadway, shows lots of footage of the circa-1923 skyline and the inside of the Viile de Paris department store, and the last time I saw it with an audience and a live organ the climax brought the house cheering to its feet. The Orpheum's original Mighty Wurlitzer organ will accompany "Safety Last" and a Buster Keaton short from 1922, "Cops."

Last Remaining Seats is a production of, and fundraiser for, the Los Angeles Conservancy. The film series has also become for many "date night with the city, offering a chance to dress up in 1930's and 40's fashion as a nod to the days when Broadway was the place to be seen," Ed Fuentes writes at Blogdowntown. He offers suggestions for a night out in Downtown.

Noted: The Conservancy is currently trying to save the original features of The Villa Basque restaurant in Vernon, which appeared in an episode of "Mad Men."

Top photo: LA Observed