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Palm Theatre to screen 1984 as part of international Trump protest

April 3, 2017

The Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo will screen the film version of George Orwell’s 1984 on Tuesday as part of an international protest against President Donald Trump.

More than 190 art house theaters in 44 states, including about 28 in California, will show 1984 on Tuesday, according to the organization United States of Cinema, which is helping plan the event. Theaters in Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Croatia will also take part in the 1984 National Screening Day.

Event organizers selected April 4 as the day for the screening because it was the date in 1984 in which Orwell’s protagonist Winston Smith began rebelling against his government by keeping a forbidden diary.

“Orwell’s portrait of a government that manufactures their own facts, demands total obedience and demonizes foreign enemies has never been timelier,” the United States of Cinema website states. “The endeavor encourages theaters to take a stand for our most basic values: freedom of speech, respect for our fellow human beings and the simple truth that there are no such things as ‘alternative facts.’”

The theaters participating in the screening also support the National Endowment for the Arts and see any attempt to scuttle the program as an attack on free speech and creative expression, according to the cinema organization. Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which is a federal agency with an approximately $150 million annual budget.

Participating theaters will donate a portion of the ticket proceeds to local charities and organizations or will use the money for the purposes of underwriting future educational and community-related programming, according to the United States of Cinema.

The Palm Theatre will show 1984 at 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday.


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How silly.


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Hahahahha!

“The endeavor encourages theaters to take a stand for our most basic values: freedom of speech..’”… as long as you agree with them.


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Along with Big Sky Cafe, I will never spend a cent there again.


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Focusing the spotlight on lies and deception is not infringement of freedom of speech.


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That is exactly what they are doing — focusing a spotlight on lies and deceptions. Just because their target is a political group you support doesn’t make it less so. Hint: Both sides are bad when it comes to national political propaganda.


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I always find it odd when those who believe government should become more powerful, be allowed to confiscate more money from its citizens and provide cradle to grave everything, are surprised and shocked when the power is “abused” by those for whom they didn’t vote.


If you want smaller, less intrusive government stop voting for bigger government.


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I see more of 1984 in the liberal/progressive society. This past decade we found out that NSA was recording our phone calls (Why is Snowden still hiding). Everywhere we go, videos are watching. Liberals have decided what may and may not be said, so as not to offend anyone. Schools are Totalitarian. Ask any local teacher.


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I agree that some in the liberal/progressive movement lean totalitarian too. However, if you think the Trump administration is less so, read his quotes about what he would like to do to Snowden.

Both sides want power and will say whatever they think will work to get people to vote them into power. This past election only proved that Trump knew how to con people better than Clinton.


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I frankly am ashamed I was ever a Democrat. Their immaturity and unwillingness to compromise is stunning—and it was very predominant during this election. It demonstrated a “our way or the highway” attitude that screamed 4-year-old emotional development. The election is over now. Time to unify and get on board for what is most beneficial for our country as a whole. Kind of like you have to do at your job; compromising and negotiation is always an adult non-whiny alternative to not getting your way.


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1984 is the pot calling the Democratic Party black.


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Thanks for the heads-up. The next time I’m considering spending my $$$ to see a flick at the Palm, I’ll spend it elsewhere instead.


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