Dinosaurs! "B-Movies and Bad Science" Return to the La Brea Tar Pits

The outdoor movie trend has exploded in recent years, and here's a unique one: For its annual "B-Movies and Bad Science" outdoor movie festival, the Natural History Museum is celebrating the opening of its new Dinosaur Hall by focusing on "dinosaurs and their sci-fi counterparts." (The event itself is actually held at the La Brea Tar Pits, next to the Page Museum.)

This Saturday, that means the campy 1960 feature "Dinosaurs!" More details:

Spend a lighthearted Saturday evening outside, as members of the Natural History Museum Family’s science and history staff explore the “science” behind Hollywood’s weirdest and most implausible B-movies. Prior to each screening, curatorial staff from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits will introduce the movie, explore a few scientific facts (if any), and show off related Hollywood artifacts and specimens from our collections.

Bring your blanket and picnic, and cozy up to watch a movie under the stars. This is the third season for the series, and the first year all films will be held outdoors at the Page Museum (on the great lawn, adjacent to the Museum in Hancock Park). Each screening begins with a discussion at 8:30 pm, followed by the film at 9:00 pm. Cost is free.

Here's the schedule:

Saturday, July 30
Dinosaurus! (1960)
Before the film, Page Museum Assistant Lab Supervisor Trevor Valle will lead the discussion.

Saturday, August 6
The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
Before the film, head of NHM’s Dinosaur Institute and curator of the Dinosaur Hall, Dr. Luis Chiappe, will lead the discussion.

Saturday, August 20
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Before the film Dr. John Long, NHM’s VP of Research and Collections, will lead the discussion.

Saturday, August 27
One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Before the film Chief Curator of the Page Museum Dr. John Harris will lead the discussion.

Go to www.tarpits.org or call (323) 934-PAGE for more info.

Charlie Cox, the La Brea Tar Pits' Unofficial Street Entertainer

We've written before about Charlie Cox, the street musician who participated in Franklin Avenue's 2003 Birthday Race around Los Angeles.

Charlie's still a regular presence outside the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, where he entertains via banjo and other folk instruments. It's a comforting presence -- the first thing I do whenever I pass by the Tar Pits is strain my eyes to see if Charlie's there. (Believe it or not, he's been there since 1975!)

Recently while walking through the Tar Pits, we watched as a group embarked on an impromptu round of square dancing as Charlie played:









It was quite a sight. Check out Charlie's Myspace page here. And read Blogging.la's 2007 profile of Charlie here.

"B-Movies and Bad Movies" at the La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits are bringing back their popular "B-Movies and Bad Science" movie series for a third season.

The movie series, which runs from June 26 through August 29, takes place outdoors -- and the museums recommend picnic baskets and blankets.

At the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, the movie takes place on the South Lawn. At the La Brea Tar Pits, the screening takes place on the grounds surrounding the Page Museum.

The movie screenings include a "lighthearted discussion" led by the museums' science experts, as well as B-movie memorabilia from the Natural History Museum's collection.

Movies start at 8 p.m. It's free -- and yes, "alcoholic beverages are permitted for those over 21." Done.

Here's the schedule:

Saturday, June 26: "Encino Man" (1992)
Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits (which is featured in the movie) — Hancock Park Lawn

Saturday, July 17: "It Came from Beneath the Sea" (1955)
Natural History Museum — South Lawn

Saturday, July 24: "The Killer Shrews" (1959)
Natural History Museum — South Lawn

Sunday, August 1: "Gorilla at Large" (1954)
Natural History Museum — South Lawn

Sunday, August 15: "Gammera the Invincible" (1966)
Natural History Museum — South Lawn

Sunday, August 29: "Caveman" (1981)
Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits — Hancock Park Lawn

Too Bad There's No Way to Tap The Tar Pits

My office is one block over from the La Brea Tar Pits, famed for the oozing black stuff that occasionally pops up beyond the confines of the actual pit. With so much tar oozing through the walls of our parking garage, the building management even put up wall coverings to hide the black drippings.

It's all lying there on the cement, sticky black tar. Quite a shame it can't be scooped up to fuel my car.