A Celebration of Laguna's Hippy History

Q & A with Film's Director William Kirkley and original members of 

The Brotherhood of Eternal Love.

Exclusive Screening

(Not in theaters or online)

Limited Seating.

TICKETS

About the film Orange Sunshine

This sweeping narrative details the sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll that flowed from Laguna Beach to Maui to Afghanistan, exploring how the United States shifted from the era of peace and free love to a darker period of hard drugs, delusion, and paranoia.

The film depicts the astonishing rise and fall of Timothy Leary’s legendary cult, which started as a group of Laguna Beach surfers and quickly became the world’s largest acid, hashish, and marijuana distribution network. The Brotherhood even obtained legal status as a church and enticed Leary to serve as its high priest. A 1972 Rolling Stone Magazine article called The Brotherhood “the hippie Mafia” and exposed it as the world’s largest hash-smuggling cartel.

“I couldn’t believe that Orange County had this kind of hidden past, this secret history you would never expect in such a conservative place,” Kirkley said.

Kirkley got the idea for the film from his father-in-law, who had spent time in Laguna Canyon in the 1960s. He had regaled Kirkley with tales of the Brotherhood and urged him to consider making a documentary about the group. Kirkley began researching the Brotherhood, tracking down archival footage and interviewing several veterans of the group, many of whom were initially reluctant to appear on camera. 

View Trailer

The Gathering at Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center Sept. 8-17

    • Thursday, September 8 at 6:30 pm – Film “Orange Sunshine” directed by

     William Kirkley. Click here for details & tickets

    • Saturday, September 10 – 5 pm Gathering for conversation with members of

     the Brotherhood of Eternal Love; Ryan Heflin concert at 8pm details & tickets

    • Tuesday, September 13 at 7:30 pm – Bare Bones Theatre playreading, “All

     You Need Is LSD” by Leo Butler. Click here for details & tickets 

    • Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 pm – Concert by Matt Costa, who wrote and performed

     the soundtrack for Orange Click here for event details & tickets

LBCAC has installed a Patriot Air Purification System to ensure a virus free environment. www.patriotairsystems.com

Grant funding was made possible by the lodging

establishments and the City of Laguna Beach.