Lectures

Saturday, June 13, 2026
5–6:30 PM

Please join us for an artist talk with the SDSU Art Council Scholarship Recipients. They will share a special presentation on their exhibition, 21st Annual SDSU Art Council Scholarship Exhibition, and discuss how the work connects to their practices and creative processes.

Thursday, August 6, 2026
8 PM

An unassuming greeting card poet from a small town in Vermont heads to New York City upon inheriting a massive fortune and is immediately hounded by those who wish to take advantage of him.

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!" 

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)

Thursdays, August 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2026
8 PM

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.

Thursday, August 13, 2026
8 PM

A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.

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!

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)

Thursday, August 20, 2026
8 PM

A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to impersonate a non-existent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a social movement begins.

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!

Academy Awards, USA: Best Writing, Original Story (Nominee)

Thursday, August 27, 2026
8 PM

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman see the value of his own life.

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!

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)