ROOFTOP MOVIES AT THE MONTALBAN 2023 SEASON LAUNCH PARTY
A couple of days before I received the invitation to this fun (before the pandemic) annual event, I was thinking about the aborted 2020 version. I had been looking so forward to it then, but, as the stay-at-home orders came, and then kept getting extended, I was so disappointed. Little did we know back then that it would be three more years until we would all celebrate on the hip rooftop of the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood again.
But it was worth the wait because a lovely time was had by all this past week-end.
(L-R) Karen Salkin, Lynn Tejada, and Laura Saul celebrating in front of that beautiful mural of the incredible Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize on Fantasy Island. Photo by a kind stranger.
We were there to celebrate the launch of the new season of the Montalban’s Rooftop Movies, which opens to the public on April 14. (All the deets are on their website, whose link is at the bottom of this article. I think Hitchcock’s Rear Window will be a hoot and a half up there. I’m scared just thinking about it!)
On the night of the soiree, before we all sat down to watch The Greatest Showman, (my friend Noelle most likely would have come down from Montreal just to see it for the hundredth time,) we mingled and ate and drank. The bar was stocked with not just all kinds of sodas, waters, and juices, but specialty cocktails for the occasion, as well.
The condiment and side dish bar. Photo by Karen Salkin.
Omar’s Tacos provided the flavorful Mexican party food, cooking it up fresh for us right on site, which I believe will be available on some movie nights, as well. We could choose either little soft tacos or enchiladas with a choice of steak, chicken, pork, chorizo, and vegetables. Or a combo of any two. I can tell you that the pork tacos were delish. And the plentiful condiment buffet was off to the side. I love that it included pinto beans and very tasty rice.
On top of that, my friend Laura and I went nuts over the concession stand, which featured all-you-can-eat popcorn with several flavors of sprinkled seasonings. There were also bags of all kinds of chips, and big-size movie candy, with all of our faves! While we waited for the Mexican food to be ready, we gorged on those sweet treats. Our table looked like there had just been a bunch of sugared-out kids sitting at it. (But no worries—we took care of our own debris.)
The candy Laura and Karen scarfed at the party! Photo by Karen Salkin.
This all took place on April 1, which some of you may know is my favorite day of the year. Yes, even more than my birthday! That’s because it’s…April Fool’s Day! Because of little sleep the night before combined with major sports-watching all day, I just didn’t have enough time to “get” as many of my friends as I usually do, so by the time of the party, I was semi-desperate to pull a prank on someone who I thought would take it well. So, after a couple of trips to the concession stand for candy, I went back to the cute young girl who was manning the booth, and told her that the woman running the party said she should give me all the candy she had! The expression on her face was priceless!!! You could tell she didn’t know what to do. Laura and I were hysterical. The girl was so relieved when I said, “April Fool’s!”
You can choose single seats or the lovebird duos. Photo by Karen Salkin.
As to the film, I had seen The Greatest Showman only once before, after it had been out for a while. My aforementioned friend Noelle was out here visiting, and she could not believe I had never seen it. So we found it playing in a dirty, tiny, creepy multiplex in a shady ‘hood, which was an experience in itself. And not a great one. So I really appreciated getting the chance to see my celebrity crush, Hugh Jackman, on the big Montalban screen, and out in the fresh air, to boot.
A word about the wonderful ninety-year-old edifice itself, for those of you who may be a bit physically-challenged. The only way to get up to the fourth floor rooftop is by an outside staircase. They do very kindly have a bench about halfway up, in case you’d like to rest a bit before finishing the climb. But I have a back that’s broken in three places, and both knees got messed-up doing too much water aerobics during the pandemic, and it was not even close to a problem for me. So you have to gauge it for yourself. But do make sure to use the restroom in the lobby before you begin your ascent because that’s the only one there is! Or maybe strap on a Depends before you go!!! Especially if you’re there to see a scary movie! Just sayin’.
Photo by Karen Salkin.
By the way–the Montalban provides the headsets for the movies, but, due to life’s new rules for living with Covid, no blankets anymore. So, since it can get cold up there for another month or two, I suggest either bundling-up or BYOB–bring your own blanket. If you choose not to, and do get cold, you can buy an affordable souvenir “Montalban” one right in the lobby! And then use that one every time you see another movie up there. Win-win. As was this entire launch party! (So, win-win-win!)
For the line-up of, and more info on, the Rooftop Movies, just click here: www.themontalban.com
