FILM
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – 7:30 PM, August 31: The movie musical starring the late, great, and legendary Doly Parton follows a town sheriff and a regular patron of a historical whorehouse that fights to keep it running when a television reporter targets it as the devil’s playground. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena.
Yojimbo – 7:30 PM, September 3: Eternal icon Toshirō Mifune stars in this darkly comic and visually arresting masterpiece from the inimitable Akira Kurosawa. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Airplane! – 6:30, 9 PM, September 3: The classic that blazed the trail of cinematic spoofs. When an airplane crew takes ill, an ex-pilot afraid to fly is surely the only person capable of landing the plane… but don’t call him Shirley. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena.
Romeo + Juliet in 35mm – 7:30 PM, September 4: Baz Luhrmann’s take on Shakespeare’s tragedy is perhaps one of the best-loved adaptations and is the second installment in his Red Curtain Trilogy, which closed with Moulin Rouge!. Featuring Luhrmann’s distinctive, stylized palate coupled with frenetic, MTV-style editing and an all-star soundtrack, Romeo + Juliet… became a classic for its casting, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes playing the star-crossed lovers. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles.
Wet Hot American Summer – 7 PM, September 4: Vidiots is kvelling to welcome back writer/director David Wain and camp counselor Marguerite Moreau for a special 25th Anniversary screening of their cult comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – September 4-13: Visionary director Jane Schoenbrun presents a new kind of horror remake! Bursting with imagination and surreal wit, their latest genre-bending wonder affirms there’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure. More Showtimes added! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
CatVideoFest 2026 – September 4-6: Our fuzzy overlords return to the big screen! Vidiots is purrfectly enthralled to bring back the cutest kitty compilation ever! Encore Screenings added in the microcinema! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Tremors – 7 PM, September 5: With some of the best monster effects of the entire 1990s on full display in the desert sun, this cult-classic delivers the scares, thrills, and laughs of a creature feature that is truly Perfection. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
K-Town International Film Festival – September 5-12: The Gardena Cinema will enter a new era as a central venue for the K-Town International Film Festival. The inaugural festival will feature a high-profile red carpet event and welcome renowned filmmakers and Hollywood industry leaders, marking a significant step forward as Gardena Cinema expands from a historic community theater into a global platform for international cinema. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena.
Amadeus in 4K – 6 PM, September 6: Miloš Forman directed Peter Shaffer’s screenplay, based on his Tony Award–winning play, about the 18th century rivalry between journeyman court composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham in an Academy Award–winning tour de force) and young upstart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (fellow Best Actor nominee Tom Hulce). Saul Zaentz’s lavish production features… opulent period details, while Shaffer’s witty script speaks eloquently about the challenge of art while leaving room for Mozart’s gorgeous music. The film earned 11 nominations, and its eight Oscar wins include Best Picture, Art Direction, Costume Design, Directing, Makeup, Sound, and for Shaffer’s adapted screenplay. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles.
Cult Classics Cinema presents – B’Day + Carmen Double Feature – 6 PM, September 6: Classic Cinema, curated by DJ Rosegawd in Los Angeles, is a cinematic and musical journey celebrating classic Black movies and the soundtracks that brought them to life. On September 6 they celebrate the B’Day of Beyonce, with a Double Feature showing of Carmen and the B’Day Album Visual Anthology. The Miracle Theater, 226 S Market St., Inglewood.
COMEDY
The Benson Movie Interruption: Your Choice – 7 PM, September 1: The Benson Movie Interruption: Your Choice is a show where comedian Doug Benson invites some of his comedy friends to sit in the front row of the theater with mics, cracking wise during a screening of a movie that YOU choose. That’s right, audience members are encouraged to bring a dvd/blu ray of a film they would like to see ripped apart (lovingly) and a vote will be held to determine which one we watch. With Special Guests Mary Lynn Rajskub, Noël Wells and Jon Ross Bowie! Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
A Dolly Movie Party – 7 PM, September 2: Come celebrate an absolute angel with Dynasty Typewriter where they’ll be watching a certain beloved Dolly film on 9/2 for $5. Dress up Dolly-style, come exactly as you are, sing along in your heart, cry into your popcorn, whatever feels right. A night to laugh, sing, gather together, and celebrate one of the brightest lights that’s ever shined. A portion of the proceeds will go towards to The Imagination Library. Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
AF Comedy Fest – September 3-6: The AF Comedy Festival is hosted by Asian AF, in partnership with the Outside In Theatre, celebrating 10-years of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) comedy across the nation. We have performers from LA, New York City, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Hawai’i. The fest features Margaret Cho, Asif Ali, Joel Kim Booster, Aparna Nancherrla, Raymond Lee, Saagar Shaikh, and more. Outside In, 5317 York Blvd., Los Angeles.
Oops! All DMs: A D&D Comedy Show – 7 PM, September 3: Join the StoryQuest crew, Mayanna Berrin (Dispatch, Dungeon Masters), Reed Sights (Webtoon), David Tilstra (From Afar Podcast), Jordy Martin (Pack Theater) and friends for a chaotic Dungeons and Dragons show. In 75 minutes the StoryQuest crew will take audience suggestions to create a Dungeons and Dragons adventure on the fly, all the while frantically changing which character they’re playing, what podium they’re standing at, and who’s running the show as the Dungeon Master (and everything else) changes each time their hilarious guests rings a bell. Upright Citizens Brigade, 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles.
Dynasty Tonight! A night of Comedy, Music, Variety, and Ritual! – 7 PM, September 5: Dynasty Typewriter’s long running one-of-a-kind variety show extravaganza with Atsuko Okatsuka, Natalie Rotter-Laitman, Jared Goldstein, Felicia Folkes and more! The show is hosted by Dynasty proprietors Jamie Flam and Vanessa Ragland. who welcome their favorite comedy, music, and variety acts! They also lead celestial manifestation ceremonies and host impromptu audience driven game and fashion shows, lost and found auctions, and occasional conga lines, puppet shows, fish funerals, human weddings, and whatever else the night calls for. All with the soundtrack of their backing jazz/soul band THE DYNASTIES! And if that wasn’t enough, sometimes super famous comedians pop in for surprise sets! Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
Pilot Season – 7 PM, September 6: In UCB’s Pilot Season, veteran comedy TV writers take the audience’s suggestion of a show title, and, on the spot, develop a pilot for a brand new show. It could be a sitcom, a prestige drama, or any number of different genres. Talented improvisers then take that pitch and bring it to life on stage. In solidarity with ongoing efforts to improve diversity and representation in the industry, all proceeds from the show will go to the Entertainment Community Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance and supports underrepresented writers and actors. Produced by Saleh Karaman & Chris De La Cruz. Upright Citizens Brigade, 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles.
Free Donut Tuesdays w/ Maria Bamford – 9 AM, Tuesdays: Wake up early and have a laugh and a donut with Maria Bamford. All new material! No one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds go to support Outside In Theatre. Outside In, 5317 York Blvd., Los Angeles.
MUSIC
Nappy Roots – 7 and 9:30 PM, September 6: Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Nappyness: In a climate projected as one of divisiveness, Nappy Roots has joined the rest of the nation in trying to understand and work through these struggles. No stranger to challenges, this four-man collective from Kentucky tackled their obstacles and, in the process, their self-honest work emerged in form of 7 studio albums and 14 mix-tapes. As usual, Nappy Roots examine our alienable rights, reason, and truth through lyrical originality and voyage. Since Nappy Roots entered the music scene in 1998, they have remained real, humble, talented guys with inherent, undeniable southern swagger. Blue Note Los Angeles, 6372 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.
BOOKS
Reality TV For Snobs: Ali Barthwell with Kristin Chirico – 7 PM, September 2: Turn skeptics into fans and fans into scholars with this smart, entertaining guide to 20 influential reality shows, from The Real World to The Traitors. Find out everything you need to know to pass as a reality TV superfan—from fun factoids to insightful analysis—without watching a single show! Stop scrolling past references to rose ceremonies and confessionals, and take a guilt-free tour through the wacky and wonderful world of reality television. Reality TV for Snobs will turn even the most skeptical viewer into a confident critic, maybe even a fan. Emmy Award–winning writer and author Ali Barthwell goes beyond recapping and breaks down twenty groundbreaking shows from the past twenty-five years, and in the process reveals why they matter. Skylight Books, 1818 N Vermont Ave., Los Angeles.
THEATRE
TRANSFUTURISM – 7:30 PM, September 4: Join a celebration of Trans imagination and an invitation to envision a future where Trans lives don’t just endure—they shape what’s next. TRANSFUTURISM is a drag show that imagines bold, joyful, terrifying, and transformative Trans futures. Featuring an all-trans cast of drag artists, the show invites audiences to dream beyond survival and into possibility, asking what the world could become when trans people are free to create their own futures. Through drag, music, dance, comedy, and experimental performance, each act offers a unique vision of tomorrow. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza (Renberg Theatre), 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles.
2026 LA Writers’ Workshop Reading Series – through September 27: Since 2005, CTG has invited a cohort of local playwrights to spend a year researching and writing new works with feedback from the artistic staff and their fellow writers. The program is designed to foster important voices, inspire playwrights to create their best work, encourage bold writing, and build relationships among local playwrights, CTG, and the Los Angeles theatre community. CTG’s growing list of LA Writers’ Workshop alumni is currently comprised of more than 100 playwrights. Various locations.
COMMUNITY
All My Dads Were Gay: A Workshop Presentation, September 4 and 11: It’s the dawn of the 2000s digital era. An ambitious young Black man leaves the South in pursuit of the American Dream. Facing one institution after another on the East and West Coast, he soon realizes the rules of the game are not designed for him. In a battle of public perception versus private desire, he straddles the truth in an attempt to maintain the mask of masculinity. As the facade grows, will he lose himself in a web of deceit or come face-to-face with the freak inside? All My Dads Were Gay is the sequel to Jon Gentry’s award-winning hit, Black Bastard. It is a baptism by blood and fire, a millennial retelling of The Prodigal Son (1927) meets The Wizard of Oz (1939) in a genre-bending descent into the collective void. The Village at Ed Gould Plaza (Renberg Theatre), 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles.
American Craft Sake Fest 2026: The largest gathering of the North American sake industry in the U.S.! 100+ Premium Sake to taste, makers to meet, bites to savor, and music Unlimited tastings across 100+ premium sake selections poured by the people who actually make it. Sit in on an industry seminar covering koji, fermentation, yeast development, and more from some of the sharpest minds in the sake world. Amazing Sake, Delicious Food, live tuna cutting, live DJ, and a good time! Lumen West LA, 11355 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles.
Skate Hunnies Party on Wheels at the Academy Museum – through September 3: The Academy Museum is rolling with Skate Hunnies to host a party on wheels, taking you around the Wilshire-Fairfax neighborhood. We’ll finish with a music-filled night of dance-skating on the Academy Museum Walt Disney Family Piazza. Bring your own skates for this free, guaranteed fun event. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles.
Gay Ass Trivia at Precinct – 7 PM, Thursdays: Queen Sheeba hosts this weekly trivia night with prizes including bar tabs, shots, and bar apparel. Maximum team sizes of six people. No cover! Precinct, 357 S Broadway, Los Angeles.
May the Balls be with You: Drag Queen Bingo 7 PM, Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Legendary Bingo is LA’s most popular Drag Queen Bingo & charity event! Come play at Hamburger Mary’s every Tuesday and Wednesday! Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.
MUSEUMS AND ART
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures ASL Interpreted Tours: American Sign Language (ASL) tours of select galleries are always offered at noon on the same day as the museum’s monthly Calm Morning program and accommodative Family Matinee film screening. Join a museum educator and ASL interpreter to experience cinema’s wide-ranging contributions to the world. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles.
Community: Selections from the Texas African American Photography Archive – through September 5: Throughout the twentieth century, nearly every small town in the United States boasted a local studio photographer. These skilled image makers were dedicated to recording the people and events of their communities. Much of this vernacular visual culture has been dispersed or destroyed. Kinship & Community takes a look at a rare slice of that history, focusing on the work of Black photographers working in urban neighborhoods and rural villages across eastern Texas from 1944 to 1984. Presented at Art + Practice, 3401 W. 43rd Place, Los Angeles.
A New Song: Langston Hughes in the West – through September 13: One of the world’s most famous Black poets, Langston Hughes (1902–1967) is often associated with the writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance in New York. But starting in the 1930s, though the upheavals of the Great Depression, World War II, and McCarthyism in America, Hughes spent significant time in the West where he maintained deep connections and produced important work, including lectures, film scripts, plays, and his first book of short stories. Through recorded interviews, lyrical texts, archival photographs, and historic posters and prints, A New Song: Langston Hughes in the West reveals little-known aspects of Hughes’s work as a champion for justice and the special relationships he cultivated during his many sojourns in California, Nevada, and Mexico. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Los Angeles.
Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind – through October 11: Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind traces more than seven decades of Yoko Ono’s groundbreaking career, from her early text-based works in the 1950s and ’60s to recent large-scale installations informed by her ongoing campaigns for world peace. Organized in collaboration with Tate Modern, London, the exhibition—Ono’s first solo museum exhibition in Southern California—explores her radical approach to art, language, and participation, challenging conventional ideas about the roles of artist and audience. The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
Willie Birch: Stories to Tell – through October 21: The first-ever career retrospective of renowned artist Willie Birch, this exhibition brings together groundbreaking works from 1968 to the present that chronicle his unique vision of Black American life and the interconnected nature of global art forms. Born and raised in New Orleans and trained in Europe, Baltimore, and New York, Birch often speaks about “retentions,” a term he uses to describe evidence of one culture’s narratives and traditions within another. Throughout his career, Birch has explored particularly how African traditions have been retained in music, art, and culture in America as part of the Black experience and beyond. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Los Angeles.
Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation – through February 28, 2027: Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation presents California as a pioneering site of sustained, Black-led struggles for LGBTQ equality, civil rights, and recognition. The exhibition recovers histories largely excluded from existing narratives and exposes powerful ways that print culture, artistic practice, and performance styles shaped, advanced, and interpreted Black queer social movements alongside political and legal activism. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Los Angeles.
Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon – through February 28, 2027: Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon celebrates Marilyn Monroe—born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926—as a visionary actor and image-maker, examining how she created and shaped her public image in the context of the classical Hollywood studio system. Presenting hundreds of original objects, including posters, portraits, photographs, production documents, letters,… and rarely seen personal materials—many on display for the first time—the exhibition offers unique insight into her agency in becoming a Hollywood icon. The exhibition also features an extensive array of Monroe’s screen-worn costumes, ranging from a dress featured in Love Happy (1949) to items from her final and unfinished film, Something’s Got to Give (1962). Major highlights include two costumes by Orry-Kelly from Some Like it Hot (1959), as well as the rarely exhibited famous pink dress by William Travilla from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles.
