Screenland 5K guests may prefer to fox-trot, rumba, or waltz to the finish line and onto the red carpet to accept their finisher’s medals after tapping to movie and TV melodies played by local bands, musicians, and DJs along their journey through motion picture magic.
Families will enjoy movie and TV-themed experiences across 100 points of motion picture lore on Oscar Sunday, Mar. 10, 9:20 a.m., by local visual and performing artists with drawings, paintings, props, actors, and lively music honoring a century of Culver City moviemaking.
Algorithm & Blues will perform a rousing “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” and “What a Wonderful World,” performed in several Culver City movies.
“We have songs from other movies filmed along the racecourse, but everyone will be passing us before we get a chance,” said Windsor Fountains resident Leemon McHenry with a smile. He accompanies his condo neighbor, Cerves McNeill.
The Fallen Arches band will play “running and walking songs to make those miles…or kilometers…fly by,” said lead guitarist and baritone Frank Giffen.
Their repertoire will include “Running Down a Dream” by Tom Petty, “Run Through Jungle” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures, and other popular songs on the go. The band must make room when it performs “Walk Right in and Sit Right Down” by the Tree Tops.
“I’m always happy to represent the city where I’ve lived for 40 years,” said Giffen, whose band will perform near the location of one of their favorite Culver City films, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “The Matrix,” or “Viva Las Vegas.”
The senior ukulele players of Cali Rose and the CC Strummers will return to the western end of the course turnaround, guaranteed to stop walkers and runners in their tracks as they sing and strum their favorite movie tunes while dressed in screen star outfits.
They performed on a drizzly morning at the inaugural event in 2017.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the weather is ready-made for the movies!” said Rose.
The pulsating El Marino Rainbow Taiko drummers will awaken all drowsy guests on Oscar Sunday, the first day of daylight savings time. Team coordinators are Ritsuko Fong and Miki Fischer. The student performance of syncopated sounds will highlight several Asian-themed films shot in Culver City and commemorate the city’s sister city relationship with Kaizuka, Japan. Both communities exchange runners in February and March to participate in marathon events in each country.
Culver City musician Martin Bennett of “Sonny B and US 99” plays often at venues across the southland and looks forward to staying home for the Screenland 5K to perform popular movie and TV songs from Culver City shows.
“Many locals don’t have the opportunity to see us play other venues, so it’s great to connect and entertain at the Screenland 5K. We have a lot of fun performing for the city and our friends,” said Bennett, who plays paddle tennis at the local courts.
“The entertainment industry began here, not in Hollywood. It’s a nice opportunity for Culver City to showcase its talent,” said Bennett, who will perform songs from La Bamba, Wizard of Oz, Pulp Fiction, and Great Balls of Fire.
Singer, piano player, songwriter, playwright, and “lady in red” Ronnie Jayne will reimagine Jean Harlow, the “RED HEADED” woman, at spot 20 near the corner of Madison Ave. and Culver Bl. The former Fiesta La Ballona Chairperson has a large repertoire of movie tunes.
Tennis player Mike Monagan will team with Centaur alumnus Kenji Haroutunian and other Culver City all-stars to re-enact the Buddy Holly Story near where the movie was produced.
“We’ll get all slicked up and put on a show for our friends who pass by. We love the many movie themes depicted in this event,” said Monagan.
Culver City Centennial year sponsor, Turning Point School, led by administrator Will Segar, will showcase its award-winning band and cheerleaders performing to movie and TV show favorites.
International marathon runner Dylan Bourne, a Centaur cross country team alumnus, will sing during Olympic Saturday at Ivy Station, Mar. 9, 1:00-2:00 p.m., then run in the Olympic Torch Relay alongside local heroes.
DJ Mel will keep the party hopping with Barbie Macarena at the main stage on Mar. 10, race morning.
Citizen Kane’s beloved sled from childhood, Rosebud, will be showcased at the Culver City Historical Society booth at the Health and Fitness Expo at Ivy Station.
Race proceeds benefit Culver Council of PTAs, Backpacks For Kids, Jazz Hands For Autism, FeedCulver, BikeCulverCity, Culver City Firefighters Assoc. (Jesse Luna and Mike Nagy Memorial Mile), Culver City Police Officers Assoc. (Gold Medalist Baker-To-Vegas Marathon Team & Cal-Nev Police Olympics), Connecting To Cure, and Friends of the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center.
Register at www.Screenland5K.com.
Mike Cohen
The senior ukulele players of Cali Rose and the CC Strummers will return to the western end of the course turnaround, guaranteed to stop walkers and runners in their tracks as they sing and strum their favorite movie tunes while dressed in screen star outfits.
