Here’s Looking at You, Kid

Austin's Paramount Theatre lifts the curtain on 50th anniversary classic film lineup

Casablanca is among the films scheduled for this 50th anniversary film series.

Film still courtesy of Paramount Theatre

Besides endless margaritas and frequent trips to Barton Springs, there’s one summer tradition Austinites can look forward to every year when triple digits hit: Paramount Theatre’s (air conditioned) Summer Classic Film Series, returning this year for its 50th Anniversary. The beloved historic theater is celebrating the milestone with a better-than-ever lineup ranging from old favorites to themed events and special screenings.

Festivities kick off on opening weekend with the film that launched the series in 1975: Casablanca. The 1942 staple featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman will screen in 35mm at 7 pm on Friday, May 24, followed by a 9:15 pm showing of Top Hat featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Ticket holders are encouraged to come to the double feature dressed as their favorite silver screen icon from any classic film.

The next day, on Saturday, May 25, the Paramount will cement a bit of Austin film history by unveiling director Robert Rodriguez’s star on the Avenue of Paramount Stars beneath the theater’s marquee. Starting at 5pm, the ceremony is free and open to the public, and precedes a special screening of Sin Cityat 7:30 pm. Tickets to the screening are $25, which includes a live intro and Q&A with Rodriguez and actress Alexis Bledel.

"If you live here, it’s easy to take this place for granted," said Rodriguez at Panic at the Paramount in 2022. The theater shares this quote with the official lineup. "But whenever artists, filmmakers, movie stars come here, they’re blown away by this place…come as often as you can to support the Paramount. I love this theatre. I’ve shown all my movies here.”

A more family-friendly film will help wrap up opening weekend with a matinee showing ofStar Wars: A New Hope at 3 pm on Sunday, May 26, before Hyperreal Film Club presents Brian De Palma’s cult classic Phantom of the Paradise at 7 pm.

The fun continues after opening weekend with a double feature on Saturday, June 8, from legendary filmmaker John Waters: Pink Flamingos and a 50th anniversary screening of Female Trouble. The event includes a Q&A moderated by musician, actor and writer John Doe, and tickets are available here.

Extra-eager cinephiles can make the most of the series with special discounts by purchasing a Flix-Tix digital discount booklet of 10 tickets for $90 or by joining the Paramount’s Film Fan Membership. The latter starts at $75 and grants discounted admission, free popcorn, special merchandise, and more – all while supporting the theater’s mission to preserve film history. Find more information and stay up to date with the latest film lineup at austintheater.org.

movies film

Get Mesmerized

Buzzy art collective Mesmerize opens new immersive space in Austin

A woman walks up the exhibit's rainbow stairway to the clouds.

Photo courtesy of Mesmerize.

Living Dream features over 14 interactive, psychedelic art installations, like this dreamlike stairway to the clouds.

On November 13, a new immersive art experience in South Austin officially opened its trippy, dream-like doors. It's by Mesmerize, the team that operated a similar and hugely popular exhibit from 2020-2021 at the now-closed Native Hostel on 5th Street.

Living Dream is a series of mazes and more than 14 installations created by local artists. Guests can move through, interact with, and of course, take psychedelic photos with the space. It's sort of like Meow Wolf, but smaller and with a different storyline and theme.

In Living Dream, the story is that this regular, rather plain-looking warehouse facility in South Austin has been fractured by a strange force of nature: the eight-foot-tall Colossal Crystal. Now lines between ordinary Austin life and fantasy are blurred, and Austinites are welcome to explore it.

See on Instagram

Aside from this crystal centerpiece, other art installations include a dreamy, rainbow mural that you can step inside by artist Inne Aguilar; a projection-mapped room featuring Bill Tavis's signature psychedelic painting style; a tufted hidden crawlspace by Hannah Buserkus; the nightmarish but whimsical "Mulligrub Meadow" by artist Liza Fishbone; and a rainbow stairway to the clouds.

Of course it wouldn't feel right to walk through such a dreamy space in utter silence, so the creators brought in musicians like Alex Scott, A.M. Architect, Austin Ray, Andrea Magee, and many more to create an original score for the experience.

Mesmerize Living Dream Mesmerize shared this photo thanking Inne Aguilar for her work.Mesmerize/Instagram

This multi-sensory and family-friendly adventure may be one of Mesmerize's most in-depth. It operated its Native Hostel exhibit, This Is Mesmerize, for nine months, and racked up countless Instagram posts. The exhibit closed in 2021, about two years before Native Hostel closed. Mesmerize has also collaborated with various artists and and collectives over the years to throw some of the trippiest art parties in town.

Living Dream by Mesmerize is located at 820 Shelby Ln., and is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 3 pm to 11 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 11 pm.

interactive exhibits immersive

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Austin's Paramount Theatre lifts the curtain on 50th anniversary classic film lineup

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Get Mesmerized

Buzzy art collective Mesmerize opens new immersive space in Austin