'White Christmas' screenings to be held in Hollywood; Danny Kaye will be honored

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The film "White Christmas" has been entertaining audiences now for 58 years.

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye. Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney sang and danced their way through what's become a holiday classic. Now, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hosting two Hollywood outdoor screenings of the film.

Daughters of Crosby, Kaye and Clooney will be there for the first screening Thursday night.

"The academy is much more than just the Oscars and I think that's part of their mission now is to have people know that," said Dena Kaye, daughter of Danny Kaye. "It's a feel-good movie and I'm hoping people will bring kids."

The special effects wizards working the event are predicting a 100 chance of snow at the screening.

"Fake snow, hot chocolate - a real L.A. Christmas," Kaye said with a laugh.

The event is also being held to honor the late Danny Kaye's centennial. His daughter said a year's worth of events, activities and tributes are planned in her father's memory. He was an actor, singer, dancer and comedian who devoted years to UNICEF.

"I feel great about it and I'm just going to the mat for everything I can for people to know him, see him and appreciate who he was," Kaye said about her father.

A Danny Kaye tribute will be held at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

The Thursday and Friday screenings of "White Christmas" at the Academy Hollywood campus at 1341 Vine Street are sold out, but there will be stand-by lines. The academy said that in the past, everyone has been lucky enough to still get in. The most expensive tickets are $5. Children under 10 are free.

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celebrity, movie news, holiday, hollywood wrap, george pennacchio

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