Free Screening: ‘Purple Rain' at the Wiltern

The first-come-first-served event will screen where the icon once played.

Where were you on May 30, 1986?

If you were at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, inside the historic Wiltern Theatre, you were listening to "Alexa de Paris" and "Raspberry Beret" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Under the Cherry Moon."

Indeed, Prince rocked the Art Deco landmark that night, as a pre-tour show for his Parade Tour, and many an Angeleno can recall favorite songs played, if not the whole gem-filled playlist.

Now the Wiltern will honor the artist, who passed away last month at the age of 57, with a free May 19 screening of his opulent opus "Purple Rain."

That's right, there's no admission to see the famous film in the venue where Prince once played, but here are two things to know: You'll want to RSVP, and you'll want to arrive early on Thursday the 19th, as "first come first served" is the theme of the night.

It's an all ages show, and food and beverages will be for sale.

Doors open at 7 for the 8 o'clock show, and we can only imagine that those fans who were at the 1986 concert will reminisce, and remark how it has been 30 years since the show, almost to the date.

The Scene

Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.

Griffith Observatory will greet spring's start with a pair of cosmic talks

This free Santa Monica Pier party is “for locals, by locals”

Surely almost everyone will don a touch of purple for the tribute party. And surely such a sea of purple will look rather striking with the golds and greens and deep reds of the Wiltern lobby, and theater, as a backdrop.

Remember, this is an arrive-early deal, after you RSVP, and entry is "subject to capacity."

Remember also the good songs of May 1986, when Prince rocked the Wiltern with more than two powerhouse dozen gems, ending, of course, on a "Kiss."

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us