By Greg Stacy

While shooting this classic 1962 David Lean biopic about the life of T.E. Lawrence, Peter O’Toole found riding camels to be so uncomfortable that he bought a foam rubber pad at a market and added it to his saddle. The Bedouin extras copied the idea, nicknaming O’Toole “Abu al Spenga,” or “Father of the Sponge,” and the foam pads were soon commonplace among Bedouin riders. So, yeah, O’Toole may have just lost out on the Oscar for Venus, but he’ll always be the Bedouin Father of the Sponge, and that’s much cooler. Bay Theatre, 340 Main St, Seal Beach 90740. 562.431.9988. Sun 5pm; Mon 7:45pm. $5-$8.