Looking for anything to take your mind off the horrors of the Manson murders that took place 40 years ago this month? The this list may be for you – sure, chock full of horror, but 95% Manson free! Along with the usual cadre of fright film fests (including one devoted to vampires), see below for details of Santa Monica’s mini-paranormal convention, a build a monster workshop for budding Dr. Frankensteins, and a few murder mysteries thrown in for good measure…
Click here for our constantly updated listings for August and beyond. If there’s an event you believe should be added, please submit it here.
Who is this and what did they do in San Gabriel Valley? Find out on Esotouric's "Blood & Dumplings Tour," August 15th.
Friday, July 31 11:59 PM
Midnight Movie: “Repo: The Genetic Opera”
Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Saturday, August 01 12:00 PM
Hollywood Forever Cemetery walking tour
“Join historical tour guide Karie Bible as she evokes the storied past and navigates the labyrinth of the present on this walking tour of the highlights, history, scandals and mysteries of Hollywood Forever. “
Admission: $12, meet in the flower shop.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Saturday, August 01 07:30 PM
Hollywood Outdoor Cinema presents “Ghostbusters”
A screening of the 1984 comedy blockbuster with all sort of fun pre-show entertainment, including a Proton Pack Silly String War, X Box giveaways, Keymasters and Gatekeepers Lock and Key Party with Prizes, Slime Time photo booth, and more.
$10 suggested donation
4400 Sunset Blvd. (old Circuit City parking lot), Los Angeles, CA 90027
Saturday, August 01 11:59 PM
Midnight screening: “The Dungeonmaster” (1985)
“An evil wizard wanders the galaxy with a female hostage.”
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Sunday, August 02 07:30 PM
Screening: “The Monster Squad”
With live commentary by special guest, director Fred Dekker!
American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica
Tuesday, August 04 07:00 PM
Machine Project’s Monster Prop and Costume Workshop
Sold Out! Email machine at machineproject.com to be on the wait list.
This four night workshop (7pm-10pm, August 4, 6, 11, & 13) will provide tools, materials, and guidance to make your own early Halloween prop or costume piece (its up to you!) using foam rubber, liquid latex, and other supplies. Taught by Hunter Jackson, one of the creators of Gwar’s original costumes.
Machine Project, 1200 D North Alvarado, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Thursday, August 06 08:00 PM
Carnival of Darkness horror short film festival
For one blood curdling night, Westwood’s Majestic Crest becomes the Carnival of Darkness, a horror short film festival screening a dozen projects, followed by a panel discussion with some of the genre’s scariest experts. $10 General Admission
The Majestic Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024
Friday, August 07
Murder Mystery Dinner at El Cid
Held ever Friday through the end of July. “It’s murder served with soup and salad. This night of edgy, interactive dinner theater at Silverlake’s historic and hip El Cid restaurant begins with characters from the play mingling with guests at the bar, and continues with a production on stage that requires audience members to help solve a mystery. Guests have a choice of entrees, plus dessert.” –Goldstar events
El Cid, 4212 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
Saturday, August 08 07:30 PM
Double feature: “Patrick” (1978) and “Harlequin” (1980)
Grindhouse Film Festival presents an “Ozsploitation” horror double bill.
Tickets: $8
More info at www.myspace.com/grindhouse
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Saturday, August 08 08:00 PM
Outdoor screening: “Harold and Maude”
“TreePeople will be popping the popcorn as you come down the stairs and settle in for an outdoor screening of this classic cult comedy directed by Hal Ashby from a screenplay by Colin Higgins. Young, rich and obsessed with death, Harold (Bud Cort) finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude (Ruth Gordon) at a funeral.”
Discounted tickets through Goldstar Events
$15 General Admission
S. Mark Taper Amphitheatre at Coldwater Canyon Park, Beverly Hills, CA
Saturday, August 08 11:59 PM
Midnight screening: “Gremlins” (1984)
Don’t get them wet, and never, ever, feed them after midnight.
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Saturday, August 08 11:59 PM
Midnight Screening: “The Goonies” presented by Johnny Cupcakes
T-shirt mogul Johnny Cupcakes will be on hand with a custom Goonies designed t-shirts, prizes, and more… don’t be surprised if there’s a truffle shuffle constest. Be sure to demand a Baby Ruth from the snack bar.
Tickets: $10
Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tuesday, August 11 07:00 PM
Adam Gorightly signs “The Shadow Over Santa Susana: Black Magic, Mind Control & The Manson Family Mythos”
“In this revised and updated edition of THE SHADOW OVER SANTA SUSANA, investigative journalist Adam Gorightly takes his readers on a black magic carpet ride from the Hollywood “Beautiful People” scene of the late 60’s through to the vast desert landscapes of a Death Valley gone mad – with all the love-ins and murderous creepy-crawls that happened along the way. He also investigates a number of conspiracy theories, both old and original, about the Manson case. The result is the most complete document published to date on Manson and his “Love and Terror Cult”, an illustrated kill-bible for the coffee-tables of all self-respecting true crime buffs, counter-culture freaks and aspiring teenage satanists.”
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069
Friday, August 14 07:30 PM
Vampire-Con triple feature: “Count Yourga, Vampire” (1970), “The Lost Boys” (1987), & “Midnight Son” (2009)
Two nights of films as part of Vampire-Con begins at 7:30pm with“Count Yourga, Vampire” (1970), 9:30pm with “The Lost Boys” (1987), a midnight sneak peek of “Midnight Son” (2009)
Tickets sold only at box office: $7
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Saturday, August 15 12:00 PM
Esotouric’s “Blood & Dumplings”
A criminal and gastronomical excursion into the San Gabriel Valley’s weird, forgotten crimes and oddities from the its past… plus a selection of dumplings from one of the San Gabriel Valley’s best Chinese restaurants.
Tickets: $63
Special Gruesome Twosome discount for CreepyLA readers: Email Kim Cooper (amscray at gmail dot com) and tell her “The Creepy Creep sent me” and receive a pair of tickets, plus dumplings, for only $80 (while supplies last – these tickets are going faster than the Slap Chop).
Departure location: Lincoln Heights/Cypress Gold Line Metro station
Saturday, August 15 07:30 PM
Hollywood Outdoor Cinema presents “Shaun of the Dead”
Fans of this film will note the irony that it will be screening in the parking lot of a former Circuit City. Preshow entertainment includes a zombie walk, zombie sketch comedy, zombie face painting, a zombie fashion show, a zombie photo booth, and more…
$10 suggested donation
4400 Sunset Blvd. (old Circuit City parking lot), Los Angeles, CA 90027
Saturday, August 15 07:30 PM
Vampire-Con double feature: “The Velvet Vampire” (1971) & “The Hunger” (1983)
Two nights of films as part of Vampire-Con concludes an with “The Velvet Vampire” (a 70s lesbian vampire flick) at 7:30pm, and at 9:30pm “The Hunger” (1983).
Tickets sold only at box office: $7
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Saturday, August 15 11:59 PM
Midnight screening of “Halloween II” (1981) with new print!
This sequel literally picks up immediately after the first Halloween ended, on October 31st, 1978, as a resurrected Michael Myers continues to stalk Lorie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) who has been taken to Haddonfield Hospital where she’s being treated for wounds received mere hours before.
New Beverly Cinema – 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Sunday, August 16 08:30 PM
Vampire-Con: Vampirella’s Ball
“Vampirella’s Ball is a HOT 18 & Over Danse Macabre Evening with Vampirerotic Go-Go Girls & Boys to the Grooves of DJ Gary Calamar, Grammy-nominated Producer, Music Supervisor of HBO’s True Blood and Host of KCRW’s Sunday night slot from 9pm – Midnight.”
Tickets $30.00 in Advance, $35.00 at the Door, 18 and over with ID
The Music Box Theatre at the Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028
Saturday, August 22 07:00 PM
E. Van Lowe signs “Never Slow Dance With A Zombie”
“Romy and Michelle’s Hight School Reunion meets Night of the Living Dead in this laugh-out-loud debut YA novel by Emmy Award-nominated TV writer E. Van Lowe.”
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069
Sunday, August 23 02:00 PM
Gris Grimley’s “Death & Dementia” Launch Party
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe! Featuring the premiere of Gris Grimly’s new book “Tales of Death and Dementia”; Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s new line of scents inspired by Gris Grimly’s illustrations; Original artwork from the book on display and for sale; Limited edition silkscreened event posters; Limited edition event t-shirts.
Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank, Burbank, CA 91505
Sunday, August 23 10:00 PM
Paranormal L.A., August 21-23
Magicoplis in Santa Monica will host “Paranormal L.A.”, a three night event. Each night will feature a pair of lectures on topics ranging from bigfoot, to demons, to hauntings.
Magicopolis, 1418 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Friday, August 28 07:30 PM
Fright Night double feature at the Warner Grand: “Robot Monster” & “The Mask”
Via Steve at Hollywood Gothtique: “Both originally released in 3D. There will be live musical performances by Order of the Fly and Miss Bonnie Delight.”
Tickets: $13.
Warner Grand Theatre, 478 West 6th Street, San Pedro, CA
Friday, August 28 07:30 PM
GHOULA meetup at Greystone Mansion’s Friday Night Fright Night
“Join the Greystone Park Rangers around an old-fashioned campfire and indulge in gooey smores and spooky stories at the historic Greystone Estate. A tour of the deserted old mansion will follow the campfires.”
$15 per person. Not recommended for children under 10 years old. Ten to 16-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult.
Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Friday, August 28 07:30 PM
“Evil Dead” triple feature at the New Beverly
“The Evil Dead” (1981), “Evil Dead 2” (1987) & “Army of Darkness” (1992).
Tickets: $10
August 28th and 29th
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles
Saturday, August 29 12:00 PM
Hollywood Forever Cemetery walking tour
“Join historical tour guide Karie Bible as she evokes the storied past and navigates the labyrinth of the present on this walking tour of the highlights, history, scandals and mysteries of Hollywood Forever. “
Admission: $12, meet in the flower shop.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
