It's been a favorite spot to watch films in the Coachella Valley since 1967, but in 2007 the historic Camelot Theatres became a nonprofit, transitioning into the Palm Springs Cultural Center (PSCC).
Since that time, the organization has created countless incredible valley events, festivals, presentations and special performances, which have added so much value to our local entertainment scene.
It was the dream of Palm Springs philanthropists Ric and Rozene Supple to add this diverse venue to our community.
Their mission was to incubate, produce and encourage arts and cultural programs in order to leverage the unique power of creativity in our valley. Their wish was to open minds, bridge what divides us and discover what connects us.
PSCC's vast programming includes film festivals, farmers markets, live performances, art installations and lecture series — all of which act as creative inspiration points, expanding our learning opportunities.
This month it will bring a very special event to the valley.
On May 25, the Palm Springs Cultural Center will host a very special 50th anniversary screening of director John Schlesinger's acclaimed cult classic "The Day of the Locust." After the exclusive screening there will be a special filmmaker Q&A session with acclaimed photographer and valley resident Michael Childers (the late Schlesinger's long-time partner), film producer Peter Bart and "Locust" actors William Atherton and Pepe Serna, moderated by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host and proud desert dweller Dave Karger, with all proceeds benefiting the cultural center.
"This is such an important nonprofit to support," Childers says. "They continually offer incredible events for our community, and this very special screening is one that cannot be missed. The film resonates so strongly with what is going on in the world today. It's going to be a great night. I am excited and honored to be a part of it and will love sharing stories of being involved onset during the filmmaking."
"I don't recall we have ever shown 'The Day of the Locust' on TCM," Karger says, "so I am absolutely thrilled to see it on the big screen in its newly digitized format and to talk to Michael and Pepe and Peter afterwards."
There will be a VIP reception beforehand where attendees can purchase prints of Childers' award-winning photography from his onset experience of "Locust," with proceeds going to PSCC.
"I am so happy to support the cultural center," Childers says. "I love that they care so much for the arts in our community. It's imperative that we all support them."
It's for this wonderful outreach that we award the Palm Springs Cultural Center this week's $1,000 Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Power of Community grant so they can keep presenting these amazing and unique opportunities to our community.
Congratulations to all the passionate volunteers and staff who keep this desert jewel going. Let's keep that curtain up on many more excellent programs to come.
See all that the Palm Springs Cultural Center has to offer at psculturalcenter.org.
Sandie Newton is an award-winning broadcast journalist who began her career in Los Angeles as cohost of the nationally syndicated show "PM Magazine." She went on to host many local and national shows like "Hollywood Insider" before becoming one of the original anchors for E! and a regular on Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family." In 2017, she moved to the desert, creating and hosting NBCares for six years. She is currently the host of "Desert Chat," a half-hour lifestyle show spotlighting all the good people, events and news in the Coachella Valley. Watch it Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on KESQ, at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 11 and noon Mondays on CW5.
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