Thursdays, August 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2026
Doors & wine open at 7:30 PM
Film begins at 8 PM
America 250: The American Dream through the Eyes of an Immigrant
The Athenaeum's outdoor movie series, Flicks on the Bricks, invites you to enjoy classic movies on our patio during beautiful summer nights. In August, KPBS film critic, arts reporter, and Cinema Junkie podcast host Beth Accomando returns to host the 20th annual Flicks on the Bricks series. This year, she has chosen four classic films by director Frank Capra, viewing the American Dream through the eyes of an immigrant.
Frank Capra was born in Italy and raised in Los Angeles. As an immigrant, he pursued the American Dream. He would go on to win Oscars for directing Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and other film comedies that championed the common man at the expense of the powers that be. Capra’s films reflect an immigrant's vision of what America and the American Dream were and how inspiring this country at its best could be. But he was never blind to its dark side, to corruption or to evil. His films are fueled by idealism and hope. So, as we celebrate America at 250, let's remember what immigrants like Capra contributed and bask in his vision of what we and America can be at our best.
Series tickets for the open-air theater include four memorable films: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).
Popcorn is included with your ticket. Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available for purchase. Plus, enjoy weekly trivia and prizes throughout the series. Join the Athenaeum for its 19th year of hot summer fun!
Thursday, August 6, 2026 » Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Cast: starring Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft; director, Frank Capra
Runtime: 1 hr. 55 min.
Tagline: Everybody's Goin' to Town with "Mr. Deeds!"
Longfellow Deeds lives in a small town and leads a small-town kind of life, including playing the tuba in the town band. When a relative dies and leaves Deeds a fortune, Longfellow picks up his tuba and moves to the big city, where he becomes an instant target for everyone from the greedy opera committee to the sensationalist daily newspaper. Deeds outwits them all until Babe Bennett comes along. Babe is a hot-shot reporter who figures that the best way to get close to Deeds is to pose as a damsel in distress. When small-town boy meets big-city girl, anything can, and does, happen.
Academy Awards, USA: Best Director, Frank Capra (Winner); Best Picture (Nominee); Best Actor in a Leading Role, Gary Cooper (Nominee); Best Writing, Screenplay (Nominee); Best Sound, Recording (Nominee)
Memorable Quote: Longfellow Deeds: People here are funny. They work so hard at living they forget how to live.
Fun Trivia: This movie marks the entry of the verb doodle (in the sense of absent-minded scribbling) into the English language. The word was coined for the movie by screenwriter Robert Riskin.
Genre: Comedy
Thursday, August 13, 2026 » Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Cast: starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains; director, Frank Capra
Runtime: 2 hr. 9 min.
Tagline: The Picture that Caused a Furore in Washington!
Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator, presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal.
Academy Awards, USA: Best Writing, Original Story (Winner); Best Picture (Nominee); Best Actor in a Leading Role, James Stewart (Nominee); Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Harry Carey (Nominee); Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Claude Rains (Nominee); Best Director, Frank Capra (Nominee); Best Writing, Screenplay (Nominee); Best Art Direction (Nominee); Best Sound, Recording (Nominee); Best Film Editing (Nominee); Best Music, Scoring (Nominee)
Memorable Quote: Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.
Fun Trivia: Jean Arthur's left side was considered her best side, so the sets had to be constructed in a way that whenever she entered, she would be photographed on that side.
Genre: Drama
Thursday, August 20, 2026 » Meet John Doe (1941)
Cast: starring Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold; director, Frank Capra
Runtime: 2 hr. 2 min.
Tagline: ALL AMERICA WANTS TO MEET THE "MR. DEEDS" OF 1941!
As a parting shot, fired reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from unemployed “John Doe,” who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The paper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby to impersonate “Doe.” Ann and her bosses cynically milk the story for all it's worth, until the made-up “John Doe” philosophy starts a whole social movement. At last everyone, even Ann, takes her creation seriously ... but publisher D.B. Norton has a secret plan.
Academy Awards, USA: Best Writing, Original Story (Nominee)
Memorable Quote: Ann Mitchell: If it was raining hundred dollar bills, you'd be out looking for a dime you lost someplace!
Fun Trivia: Director Frank Capra filmed four different endings but deemed them unsatisfactory during previews. A letter from an audience member, signed “John Doe,” suggested a fifth ending that Capra liked and used in the finished film.
Genre: Drama
Thursday, August 27, 2026 » It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Cast: starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore; director, Frank Capra
Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.
Tagline: Wonderful news...about wonderful people!...in a wonderful picture! It's a wonderful love! It's a wonderful laugh!
George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Mr. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Uncle Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Mr. Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, Mary, their four children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in his guardian angel named Clarence Odbody coming to Earth to help him, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows him what things would have been like if he had never been born.
Academy Awards, USA: Best Picture (Nominee); Best Actor in a Leading Role, James Stewart (Nominee); Best Director, Frank Capra (Nominee); Best Sound, Recording (Nominee); Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Memorable Quote: George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.
Fun Trivia: For the scene that required Donna Reed to throw a rock through the window of the Granville house, director Frank Capra hired a marksman to shoot it out on cue. To everyone's amazement, Reed broke the window by herself. She had played baseball in high school and had a strong throwing arm.
Genre: Drama
INDIVIDUAL FILMS:
$24 member / $29 nonmember
SERIES OF 4 FILMS:
$88 member / $108 nonmember
The films will be shown in person and outdoors on the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library patio. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
Ticket Confirmation Notice:
Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized.
Thank you!