vidiots – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Vidiots (in LA) [Now Open]

June 16, 2023

This weekend, two big studio releases, The Flash and Elemental, are taking over several screens at your local multiplex. In LA, COVID-19 decimated so many theaters (and theater chains in some cases) that it can feel like, now, that we’re just all going to have to get A-List (which is admittedly very convenient) and watch whatever big thing is playing at an AMC closest to you.

Thank goodness that Vidiots is finally open. Nestled up in a corner of North East LA in Eagle Rock, the long-awaited repertory cinema (once a beloved Santa Monica video rental institution) had us waited on bated breath for its unveiling (no thanks to the permitting process of Los Angeles) and the deluge of cinematic delights that it would screen on a nightly basis. Now, that they just opened up their doors, you can check their calendar for any number of indie and nostalgic jewels to watch on the big screen.

Right now, they’ve got Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Birdcage, The Watermelon Woman, It’s a Party, Best in Show, His Girl Friday, and Desperately Seeking Susan on the docket, just to name a few. You can check their entire calendar and get tickets here and look into becoming a Vidiots member (which has some pretty damn sweet perks) here.

Hey Highland Park and Eagle Rock, Vidiots Is Opening Just in Time for Summer

April 17, 2023

News

vidiots

Rumblings of a brand new repertory/indie movie theater in Northeast LA have been felt and heard for several years (much in part to COVID-19, but also LA County/City building codes). Fortunately, those rumblings are going to be replaces by the excited din of moviegoers to LA’s newest movie theater, the reimagined Vidiots.

We were so excited about this opening that we had Vidiots Foundation Executive Director Maggie MacKay on our podcast last year after we got to tour through the space, which was already pretty alluring though they there was plenty of sprucing up to be done at the point. The love being put into the theater by Maggie and company was evident and we were thrilled at what they were going to have up their sleeve even though we had little idea what exactly that might be back then.

Thankfully, the wait to see the final vision of a Vidiots movie theater will be over come Jun. 1st where they’ll be planning to program screenings 7 nights a week. Given their mission, it will join the likes of New Beverly Cinema, Braindead Studios, Secret Movie Club, and a bit of Alamo Drafthouse in not playing your typical multiplex fare (which will undoubtedly include must-see comedies from any and every decade).

For those of you in love with Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Mt. Washington/Cypress Park that never want to leave your neighborhood, you’ll be thrilled that you won’t have to venture West or to DTLA to see a cool movie.

Perhaps, if this is the best news you’ve heard all month, you might want to become a founding member of Vidiots?

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A post shared by Vidiots Foundation (@vidiots)

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 143: Maggie Mackay & The Rebirth of Vidiots

December 21, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

cultural spaces, local theater, maggie mackay, movie theater, nela, north east los angeles, vidiots

Vidiots is one of those local institutions in LA that help weave the fabric that makes the city into a beautiful tapestry of cultures and passions and dreams. Originally born as a video rental store in the 80s, Vidiots was a landmark not only to its old neighborhood of Santa Monica to movie and art lovers all across LA. Having to close its doors as a video store, Vidiots has now been reborn as a non-profit movie theater that will open in Eagle Rock early next year.

This week’s TCB Field Report has a chat with Vidiots Executive Director Maggie Mackay about the importance of cultural spaces such as Vidiots, comedy to come at Vidiots, the never ending journey of running brick-and-mortar, and probably why we should both take vacations.

Follow @vidiots across socials and visit vidiotsfoundation.org for more info and get/gift memberships here.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Pick of the Day: Secret Movie Club Theater Presents A “Holiday Special” Fundraiser for Vidiots (in LA) 12/8

November 30, 2022

News

dtla, fundraiser, los angeles comedy, secret movie club, vidiots

It has been a long time coming, but the reimagining of Vidiots as a full fledged rep movie theater in Eagle Rock will be coming soon. That said, they still need some help leading up to giving the Eagle Theater a facelift and opening and the good folks at The Secret Movie Club in DTLA are doing a very special screening of a certain infamous holiday special to raise some money for them.

For those that pine for the days of Cinefamily (before we all knew what was going on behind closed doors), Vidiots is poised to fill the roll of ultra exclusive screenings and events to Eastsiders in LA that feel like making the trek to the New Bev or Brain Dead Studios will take all of their energy for a whole day.

So, make a trek to the Arts District next Thurs. Dec. 8th at 7:30PM PT to enjoy a truly awful holiday special with a group of like minded folks. Oh, how about that? Their little flyer is using a similar font to Star Wars. What a festive coincidence…

Pick of the Day: Vidiots Comedy Show Benefit 6/26

June 10, 2021

News

atsuko okatsuka, benefit show, dana gould, georgia hardstark, ify nwadiwe, mary elizabeth ellis, niccole thurman, vidiots

It was so exciting to hear that there was not only going to be a revival of the video rental institution that was Vidiots in Santa Monica all the way on the other side of LA county, but they were also going to open up a live theater in conjunction with it.

The pandemic hitting, of course, made us wonder what exactly was going to happen and if this dream new venue, ostensibly a Cinefamily for Eastiders was going to still be a reality.

Well, luckily, it’s still going to happen (the plan aims for a 2022 opening) and you can help that reality coming to fruition by attending a grand comedy show benefit hosted by two wondrous parts of two different generations of comedy in Atsuko Okatsuka and Dana Gould. Also, on the bill will be the great comedy stylings of Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Georgia Hardstark, Ify Nwadiwe, and Niccole Thurman.

Tickets are only $10 for a live-stream for this Vidiots Comedy Show Benefit set to go live on Sat. Jun. 26th at 7:30PM PT/10:30PM ET. Go get your tickets here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 37: Andrew Max Levy & Seeing What’s Out There

December 9, 2020

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

andrew max levy, comedy photography, iheartradio, natalie palamides, nate, outdoor comedy shows, outdoor shows, podcast awards, vidiots

Andrew Max Levy is one of the LA comedy scene’s favorite comedy photographers. He has been covering the beat for local LA shows for some time now and has even shot outdoor shows during the pandemic (when it was safe to do so and if shows were taking enough precaution/enacting enough protocol). TCB’s Jake Kroeger zooms with Andrew and gets into what he’s seen on the front lines of live, in-person comedy during COVID-19 (and why he’s stopped for now). They also get into Levy’s fervent devotion to Twitch as an angle for comedians and comedy folks to build a following and make a little money. Lastly, there’s “hot” takes on IHeartRadio’s Podcast Awards nominees, the still impending comeback of Vidiots (via Variety), and Natalie Palamides’ NATE.

Follow Andrew Max Levy on Twitch at twitch.tv/justoffthesix & IG @justoffthesix. Andrew recommends you follow these folks on Twitch:

twitch.tv/morganjay
twitch.tv/dasakeetie
twitch.tv/neelnanda
twitch.tv/andreworolfo
twitch.tv/jimmccambridge
twitch.tv/thenearlymen
twitch.tv/maxxeddy
twitch.tv/comedyhub
twitch.tv/razorlou

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).
Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

November 4, 2019

Uncategorized

bootleg theater, patton oswalt, premiere, rob zabrecky, screening, sex madness revealed, tim kirk, vidiots

So, an actual Reefer-Madness-esque 1938 flick called Sex Madness gets a wonderful dollop of meta humor in Sex Madness Revealed! via Patton Oswalt and magician Rob Zabrecky playing a snarky film podcast host and grandson of the Sex Madness director respectively. Throughout this “tell-all” version of the film, the two have suspenseful conversation about Sex Madness.

Dreamt up, written, and directed by Tim Kirk, this film Sex Madness Revealed! will its LA premiere at the Bootleg Theater and have Kirk as well as Oswalt and Zabrecky on hand for a Q&A. Also, this evening will serve as a benefit for the brand new Vidiots coming to Eagle Rock in 2020.

There are so many great reasons to go to this and tickets are only $15. Go get them here now.

Vidiots Set to Return, This Time in Eagle Rock with an Indie Theater

October 1, 2019

Uncategorized

eagle rock, vidiots

Vidiots Set to Return, This Time in Eagle Rock with an Indie Theater

The jaunty local favorite Santa Monica based video store, Vidiots, sadly closed its doors a few years ago, only to become a non-profit organization.

Now, they’re planning a comeback to be bigger and better than ever (and relocating to the entire other side of LA county) later in 2020. They’ll be in Eagle Rock taking other Eagle Theatre, which will house an indie movie theater and their classic video store.

It’ll be a great place to watch some indie comedies and, perhaps, some exclusive screenings/previews (and maybe even some live shows?).

Might this be the new incarnation of Cinefamily we’ve all been waiting for? Sure looks like it with this post from @vidiots on IG:

August 28, 2018

Uncategorized

labor day, labor day weekend, los angeles, vidiots, what to do

The once long standing westside video rental store Vidiots lives on as they’ll be doing a special Labor Day Weekend event at Dynasty Typewriter, The Five Minutes Game.

If you’re not familiar with the game (mostly because you probably weren’t on a tour bus with a VCR or DVD player and a bunch of free time), The Five Minutes Game involves watching five minutes of a movie and then, after that five minutes, deciding whether or not continue to watch that movie.

This edition on Monday, September 3rd at 5PM will allow you, the audience, to go through 5 minutes of a surprise line-up of movies, curated by none other than the Vidiots, and then pick your favorite one to watch. Also, it’ll be a holiday potluck!

Tickets will be $10 in advance and $15 at door. Snag your tickets in advance here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.