Every year on Christmas Eve, Stanford Theatre on University Ave. in Palo Alto shows Frank Capra's classic film It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. For the last 21 years, this special showing has been a Christmas tradition, and every year it sells out. It is THE place to be on Christmas Eve in this wonderful little city.
The theater is gorgeous, built in the 40's and renovated in the mid 80's by Dave Packard, or Little Dave as he is known around here. His father, Big Dave, was one of the founders of Hewlett Packard, who famously started Silicon Valley in a garage on Addison St. Before the show begins, a huge Wurlitzer organ rises from under the stage and plays Christmas music. Then Dave comes onstage to talk about the theatre and the film. Last night he talked about how the film was originally released in May or June (I can't remember!), instead of Christmas. Little Dave passionately believes movies need to be seen in a theatre, with other people, and on the right day. He is certainly correct about It's a Wonderful Life. I think it is this belief that keeps Dave from showing any movie made after 1960 at Stanford Theater.
During the movie the audience claps, boos at the bad guys, and is totally transported to Bedford Falls. My favorite part is when the names of two of the characters, best friends Bert and Ernie, are finally said together. The newbies in the audience get a huge laugh out of this, when they realize for the first time where Jim Henson came up with his Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street.
So if you are anywhere near Palo Alto next Christmas Eve, be sure to catch this heartwarming film in the ideal setting. Tickets usually sell out three or four days ahead of time, and can't be bought online. However, the line forms to get a seat a few hours before the show, and there are always people there giving away extra tickets. They rarely sell the extras, and no one scalps. It really is a wonderful life in Palo Alto.
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