Cinematheque revisits the Strip

Hollywood gets its groove on as the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre travels back several decades in the history of Los Angeles with its “Riot on the Sunset Strip, Vol. II: Slight Return (to 1966)” retrospective.

The festivities kick off Friday with 1940’s “A Night at Earl Carroll’s,” a musical starring Ken Murray and Rose Hobart that was set at the glamorous Hollywood nightspot Earl Carroll’s Vanities. That theater has changed hands and names several times -- it’s currently operated by Nickelodeon -- and in 1965 it was known as the Moulin Rouge. Director Larry Peerce was there to capture the concert show “The Big T.N.T Show.” Released in 1966, this time capsule features the Ronettes, the Lovin’ Spoonful and Ike and Tina Turner.

The rock show continues Saturday in a new 35-millimeter print of 1967’s “It’s a Bikini World,” which features the Animals, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley, and the ultra-rare 1969 drama “Angel, Angel, Down We Go,” starring Jennifer Jones and Jordan Christopher. Domenic Priore, author of “Riot on the Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood,” will introduce the screenings.

Frank Zappa’s surreal 1987 film “Uncle Meat” is on tap for Sunday, along with the documentary “Cafe L.A.: The Beat Generation in Los Angeles,” produced by Priore and Brian Chidester.

The Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre goes French on Wednesday with its “French Bouquet: A Few Masterpieces From French Cinema.” The retrospective, which continues through Sunday, opens with Henri-Georges Clouzot’s bathtub-centric 1955 thriller “Diabolique” and Jacques Becker’s 1952 romance, “Casque d’Or.” www.americancinematheque.com

In vogue

Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler is being feted by the Paley Center for Media on Wednesday through Aug. 9. The retrospective launches with his new “The September Issue,” about Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, and a Q&A; with Cutler. Other programming includes his TV documentaries such as “Shay’s Rebellion” and his theatrical documentaries “The War Room” and “A Perfect Candidate.” www.paleycenter.org

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susan.king@latimes.com