Armstrong Theatre Welcomes Charles Phoenix, 3/12

Join pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix for a laugh-out-loud funny celebration of 1950s and '60s car culture, space age suburbia, fast food stands, shopping centers and drive-ins, Hollywood landmarks, Knott's Berry Farm, Marineland, Disneyland - and much, much more. Charles Phoenix's Retro Southern California Slide Show, a comedy performance about mid-century Americana, comes to the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance on Saturday, March 12 at 8 pm.

Charles Phoenix super-charges the classic living room slide show by reinventing it into a hip and high octane celebration of classic and kitschy mid-century Southern California life and style. Audiences from coast to coast are delighted by Charles' stylish suits, friendly personality and infectious enthusiasm.  His informed and often hilarious commentary together with the very best of his massive collection of flea market-found Kodachrome slides will inspire your imagination and make your spirit soar.

Showman, author and humorist, Charles Phoenix is the "Ambassador of Americana." Celebrating classic and kitsch pop culture, he is known for his retro slide show performances, school bus field trip tours, roller skating variety shows, test kitchen creations, coffee table books and Slide of the Week emails. Charles Phoenix is also the author of several colorful coffee table books celebrating mid-century Southern California, Las Vegas, Hawaii, road trips and his native Pomona Valley. At the 2003 New York Fringe Theatre Festival, his RETRO VACATION SLIDE SHOW TOUR OF THE USA was awarded "Most Unique Theatrical Performance. The LA Weekly chose Charles for the cover of its 2008 People Issue, calling him the "Kodachrome King." In 2009, Charles was the Grand Marshall of Pasadena's Doo Dah Parade.  Charles is a frequent guest on The Martha Stewart Show and a regular commentator on NPR.

"So hilarious we wish his show would last forever" - LA Weekly
"Call him the King of Retro, ruling over a bygone era" - Los Angeles Times

Charles Phoenix's Retro Southern California Slide Show takes place on Saturday, March 12 @ 8 pm. The James R. Armstrong Theatre is located in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center at 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90503. Tickets range from $25-$27.50. To purchase tickets and for more information, call 310-781-7150 or go to www.torrancearts.org/charles_phoenix.html