“The Summer of Love” at the Aero Theatre

Better than a dip in the “Hot Tub Time Machine,” revisit your days of future passed this week when the American Cinematheque kicks out the jams with “Wild Things,” celebrating a slew of classic rock docs chronicling some legendary music festivals.

Tonight, Thursday July 29, the Rolling Stones are showcased in a double-bill including “Gimme Shelter,” the Maysles’ brothers account of the infamous Altamont Speedway concert, where the Stones hired the Hell’s Angels for concert security with predictably tragic and shocking results.

Things lighten up on Friday, July 30, with “Monterey Pop” (1968) documenting the first-ever rock festival, staged the previous June on the cusp of what became known as “the summer of love.” The staggering array of stars included Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who and many more. It’s paired with “Wattstax,” the rarely screened 1973 film memorializing the 1972 concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tagged as the “black Woodstock,” which featured many great Stax Records artists like Rufus & Carla Thomas, the Staple Singers, Albert King, and of course Isaac Hayes. The film also offers poignant scenes of the Watts community barely seven years after it was ravaged by the 1965 riots.

Saturday, July 31, “Woodstock” returns in the full-length director’s cut, featuring dozens of acts in a three day festival of peace, love and music that drew an estimated 500,000 fans despite mud, rain and miles of hiking.

Some say that if you can remember the ‘60s, you couldn’t have been there. Whether you can remember or not, the best of these films will take you right back there. The Aero Theatre is located at 1328 Montana Avenue (at 14th Street) in Santa Monica. Film calendar here, and buy your on-line tickets here.

Posted 7/28/10