Aviation fans may like to embark on a very cool dinner theatre experience that recreates air travel from the 1970s. The brainchild of Talaat Captan and Anthony Toth, the Pan Am Experience is based at Air Hollywood in Los Angeles, a movie set that focuses on airport and aircraft standing sets and props.
The Pan Am Experience is based at Air Hollywood in Los Angeles. Image: Daniel Sliwa/Air Hollywood
The four-hour dinner experience takes place on board a Pan Am 747 every second Saturday night at 6pm. It holds 56 passengers and passengers can sit in First Class Upper Deck, First Class Main Deck and Clipper Business Class, all of which are priced differently. As it is a re-enactment and dinner experience, the plane never actually leaves the ground.
Passengers can sit in the First Class Upper Deck, First Class Main Deck and Clipper Business Class. Image: Mike Kelley/Air Hollywood
Upon arrival, guests enter a studio made to look like an airplane terminal, complete with a Pan Am desk from the era where they are checked-in. After relaxing in the lounge with complimentary drinks, once they are “on board” the plane and have been greeted by the captains and female air stewards and given a safety briefing, the dinner and entertainment service begins.
Passengers are greeted by the captains and stewardesses. Image: Daniel Sliwa/Air Hollywood
In honour of a time where smoking was allowed on planes, passengers get to take prop cigarettes that emit an odourless smoke. They drink cocktails from the ’70s like Harvey Wallbangers, and read vintage magazines, as well as getting to check out the memorabilia that includes old baggage tags and airplane seats.
The stewardesses carve the meat and serve it with potatoes and vegetables. Image: Daniel Sliwa/Air Hollywood
Dinner is served with authentic china, linen and glassware, and reflecting a time before pre-packaged airplane meals, guests get to enjoy the novel experience of the stewardesses carving the meat and serving it with potatoes and vegetables. This is followed by the arrival of the dessert cart and wine and cheese course. There’s also a duty free cart that sells perfume and cologne from the ’70s.
The stewardesses put on a fashion show throughout the night to model the original Pan Am uniforms. Image: Mike Kelley/Air Hollywood
There are trivia games and the stewardesses put on a fashion show throughout the night to model all of the original Pan Am uniforms from the late 1950s to 1991. When the experience finishes, guests can tour Air Hollywood’s other filming sets and examine props used in movies, television shows and commercials.
The Upper Deck dining room is set with original glassware and china. Image: Mike Kelley/Air Hollywood
Tickets for the experience are sold in pairs and prices range in price from $475 to $875 (€420 to €774). Check out more on the Pan Am Experience here.
The post This dinner theatre experience in LA recreates air travel from the 1970s appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.