Lights, Camera, Celebration: Sag Harbor Cinema’s Inaugural Open House & Member Appreciation Day

Sag Harbor Cinema’s First Annual Holiday Open House & Member Appreciation Day is rolling out the red carpet for the Hamptons community with an all-day community celebration on Saturday, December 16th. Bring a date, bring your parents, bring your kids, or none/all of the above: it’s the holidays! Perfect for casual moviegoers and cinephiles, the Holiday Open House showcases how much the Sag Harbor Cinema brings to our community all year.

The whole day is packed with activities and events for all ages, including a virtual visit from Santa, holiday movie trivia, a whisky seminar, and live music as a nightcap. Headlining the cinema celebration is a special screening of Laurel & Hardy with a live pianist, Steve Sterner; when else will you get to experience that?

Going to the movies transcends generations, especially when you’re watching the timeless physical comedy from Hollywood’s early heyday—Laurel & Hardy Shorts with live piano accompaniment. Like the Sag Harbor Cinema, Laurel & Hardy recalls the Art Deco aesthetic and early Hollywood hallmarks that blend the cinematic and the theatrical. 

If you don’t know Laurel & Hardy – it’s the perfect old-time comedy classic, timelessly hilarious. Growing up before streaming services in a home without cable, my family’s copies of Laurel & Hardy were the most played VHS tapes by far. To me, Abbot and Costello were too cerebral and the Three Stooges too chaotic—Laurel & Hardy were just right. The gags are elaborate but not over-the-top. While the duo eventually succeeded in Talkies (movies with audio), the brilliant physical humor shines with and without dialogue. I am curious: will we see the original black and white or the Ted Turner Colorized versions??

The comedic dynamic between the two is easy to understand: Laurel is the follower, simple, skinny, the butt of the joke, while Hardy is, well, hardier, arrogant, bossy. While the duo had a famously acrimonious off-screen relationship, the actors’ underlying personal frustrations could have added to their silver-screen chemistry.  

As a member, tickets are FREE. Of course, all are invited, but consider this a great chance to sign up to become a member. There are lots and lots of perks, but supporting a genuine community cultural institution like Sag Harbor Cinema is in itself a pleasure. 

Also, if you’re not a member yet, the Green Room Lounge will be open early to anyone with tickets. A sneaky pick for my favorite bar in Sag Harbor Village, The Green Room Lounge is normally only open for Members or with tickets when you see a movie. You’ll love it. Especially during the holidays, it’s cozy and intimate, and the bartenders will always talk about movies with you.

SCHEDULE

Sag Harbor Cinema’s First Annual Holiday Open House & Member Appreciation Day

Saturday, December 16

1–3 pm                 Virtual Santa with complimentary cocoa and cookies from South Fork Bakery

4–5:30 pm          Holiday Movie Trivia at The Green Room Lounge (Opens Early)

5–7 pm                Complimentary bar snacks + Holiday cocktail with member card

5:00 pm               Complimentary Whiskey Seminar and Tasting with The Macallan

                                RSVP Required, 12 guest limit

6:00 pm               Laurel & Hardy Shorts with Live Accompaniment by Steve Sterner

                                Complimentary Admission for Members

8:00 pm               Live Holiday Music in the Green Room Lounge

Free popcorn is available all day when you donate a new children’s toy, gloves, or hat to the Children’s Holiday Drive benefitting Hamptons Community Outreach.