Aero Theatre

The pleasure of the Aero is seeing cinema treated as a physical thing. This restored 1940 Streamline Moderne single-screen theatre still shows films in 35mm and 70mm, so a restoration here can feel closer to an encounter with the original print than a routine night at the movies.

At 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403, its main auditorium is the Max Palevsky Theatre, a historic room designed by R.M. Woolpert and originally built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. The building’s period lines matter: they give the analogue screenings a setting that feels connected to the films, not dressed up for them.

The programme is run by the nonprofit American Cinematheque, which regularly screens restorations and retrospectives in 35mm, 70mm and DCP. In-person filmmaker Q&As are part of the draw, as is the long-running All-Night Horrorthon. With projection and sound upgrades made over recent years, the Aero has the rare combination of old cinema character and serious presentation standards.