The film that spawned one of the most overused Vegas quotes of our time isn’t about Las Vegas at all. Swingers is so L.A.
Location. Location. Location. For me, the thrill of watching Swingers is noticing all of the familiar locations around town. The characters in this film never stay in one spot for long, always on the move from one bar to another bar, to a Hollywood Hills party, then to a coffee shop for a late night breakfast. All in their own separate cars of course. It’s laughable, but even today I notice that most of my friends in L.A. drive separately, despite that we all live in close proximity of each other and are meeting at the same place.
From the Herald-Examiner collection, LAPL, June 17, 1939
Those of you who live in the Valley or who have ventured out to the Sherman Oaks Arclight on a summer night probably already know that the Sherman Oaks Galleria features live music Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Maybe you passed by last Saturday on your way to go see Up or Away We Go and you suffered through the 80s cover band belting out Pat Benetar and you’re wondering why on earth I would be posting about the musical travesties that are perpetrated at the mall. Swing dancing, that’s why. Monday is swing night at the Galleria, and yesterday Gary Allegretto rocked the house. Don’t know how to swing? Fear not–I don’t either and I had fun. They teach a few basic steps during the band’s break, around 7:20 or 7:30, and if they didn’t laugh at me, chances are they won’t laugh at you. If that just whets your appetite, know that the same woman who gives mini-lessons at the Galleria Monday nights will be teaching a class at the Encino Community Center on Thursdays. According to the LA Lindy Hop page you can pretty much swing any day of the week, so get out there and cut a rug.
“Vegas, baby. Vegas.”