"Silver Screen Reflections" Is Finally Here!

"Silver Screen  Reflections" is finally here (for my online journalism class at Hood College).

Check out the first two posts, including "Top 10 Ways to enjoy Classic Film," and an article on the recent Turner Classic Movies airing of the once-lost 1929 Colleen Moore Vitaphone (non-talking) film, "Why Be Good?"

The address is silverscreenreflex.wordpress.com.  Enjoy!

An "Update" from Chris Hamby

Well, everyone- I'm creating a new blog.  No, this does not mean the "end" of At The Matinee.  

This new blog will be part of the Online Journalism class that I am currently taking at Hood College.

My upcoming blog site will have some of the same features as the blog that you are currently reading right now, mostly focusing on classic, contemporary and cult motion picture and television programs, along with new interactive features as well.

My goal in this class is to become a better blog writer.  I hope you will join me and fellow like-minded film enthusiasts in this new endeavor, which will be coming shortly.

Oh, and one more thing.  Remember when I stated earlier that classic, contemporary and cult cinema features were being virtually ignored in the Frederick area?

Finally, one Frederick theater will be bringing back "classic" and "cult" feature films soon.  More information will follow in this and my "new" blog, which will be coming shortly.

Coming Soon to a competing blog platform near you!

Mr. Hamby meets Ken Burns at Gettysburg (November 2008)

In commemoration of the upcoming premiere of the new high-definition transfer of Ken Burns' landmark 1990 documentary film, The Civil War on PBS, let's take a walk down "memory lane."

November 19th, 2008: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns addresses the
crowd at the Dedication Day ceremony at Gettysburg National Cemetery
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

"November 19th... This day is one of my most favorite of days, a day of possibilities."
-Documentary Filmmaker Ken Burns, giving the introductory keynote address at The 145th Gettysburg Address Dedication Day Ceremony, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19th, 2008

November 19th, 2008: It was a chilly day up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I learned about the Dedication Day commemoration event several days earlier, after reading in The News-Post that documentary filmmaker Ken Burns would make a special appearance at the event.  I was studying at Frederick Community College at the time, and by luck- I didn't have any classes on that day.  So I trekked up to Gettysburg to watch the Dedication Day ceremonial event on the morning of November 19th, which marked the 145th anniversary of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

On that cold day at Gettysburg National Cemetery, the guest speakers for the event (in addition to Ken Burns) were renowned Abraham Lincoln impersonator Jim Getty, Andy Brunhart, then-deputy director of the United States Mint (Brunhart unveiled a commemorative Lincoln coin design at the Dedication Day ceremony), Gettysburg National Military Park superintendent John Latschar, Sons of Union Veterans' Chief Commander of the National Order David Acheson and Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania President Ron Hankey.

Ken Burns with a Civil War re-enactment troupe
at the 2008 Dedication Day ceremony in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Throughout the ceremony, Burns gave the keynote address, after Jim Getty's re-enactment of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  With my palm-sized Aiptek Digital Camera that I had at the time (I still have it in my camera collection, as I have upgraded to better cameras since then), I filmed the entire event from start to finish in freezing temperatures, along with some still photographs of the ceremony (including a group photograph of Burns with an area Civil War re-enactment troupe).

At the end of the ceremony, Burns was on hand to sign programs from interested patrons.  I was one of the lucky ones to have my program booklet signed by the master documentary filmmaker.  After the event, I had lunch at The Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg, sitting near several Civil War re-enactors who attended the event, munching on a delicious hot Reuben sandwich with warm cider.

Ken Burns (center), singing autographs on patrons'
programs at the 2008 Dedication Day ceremony
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I was one of the
lucky ones to have my program booklet signed
by Burns.

The day after, I had my one of my evening Video Editing classes at FCC.   I thought that it would be an unique idea to share with the class about getting Ken Burns' autograph on my program guide for the ceremony in Gettysburg.  To my surprise, neither the instructor, nor any of my fellow friends in class knew who Ken Burns was.  I was in shock that no one knew about the acclaimed historical documentary filmmaker.

Some six years later, when I entered Hood College as a transfer student (using my FCC credits), I was glad to hear that several of my friends in my classes have heard of Ken Burns and his critically-acclaimed documentary films on Public Television.  I was glad to hear that I wasn't the only one who had heard of Ken Burns.

Aside from all that, I felt that was one of the most exciting moments of my life, not only as an aspiring filmmaker/videographer, but as a person who enjoys watching Ken Burns' iconic historical documentaries, including The Statue of Liberty, The Civil War, Empire of the Air, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks and The Roosevelts (which premiered last fall on PBS)- just to name several.

Here's your chance to see documentary filmmaking at its finest: The 25th Anniversary edition of Ken Burns' The Civil War (restored in high-definition), will be shown on PBS, starting on September 7th at 9:00 PM EST (in areas close to the home base of At The Matinee, it will be shown on Maryland Public Television and WETA-TV 26).

More on Ken Burns' 1991 documentary on the pioneers of radio and television broadcasting, Empire Of The Air can be found here.

One Last Look: Walkersville's T.R. Saylor & Company Hardware Store (1903-2015)

T.R. Saylor & Co. (True Value) Hardware, January 2015
(featured in Hood College's "Home" photograph
exhibition in February 2015).

END OF AN ERA: T.R. Saylor & Co.,
"Going Out of Business" (May 29, 2015).

"It ain't just paint."  -Tagline for Martin Paint, a New York-based hardware and paint retailer, which was in business from 1942 to 1996.  Martin Paint was one of the longtime sponsors of The Joe Franklin Show.

END OF AN ERA: At The Matinee shifts gears from the field of classic, cult and contemporary cinema to the local hardware store.  In these times (especially in Frederick County, Maryland)- local hardware stores are virtually obsolete, thanks to the monstrosity of boring "big box" hardware retailers in the Frederick area.

Unfortunately, this year marks the end of an era for a local hardware retailer in the same hometown where my classic film blog originates from.

T.R. Saylor & Company, which has been part of the Walkersville community for over 112 years, is closing its doors for good.  The business was established by Thomas Ralph "T.R." Saylor in 1903.

Throughout the years, not only did it operate as a hardware and paint store- it also operated as a service station, with their noticeable vintage Shell gas pump(which was still on display outside long after the store discontinued selling gasoline, the store's owners removed the vintage gas pump several years ago).  The store was affiliated with American Hardware Supply, which later became ServiStar, which merged with the parent company of True Value Hardware in 1997, making T.R. Saylor & Company part of the True Value network of local and regional hardware retailers.

As one walked into T.R. Saylor & Company, it was much more than a local hardware store. Customers received friendly and knowledgeable service- which is a rarity these days.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Vintage General Electric (GE)
lighting display rack inside T.R. Saylor & Co.

Not only did Walkersville's local hardware store carry the latest in hardware and garden equipment, they also carried rare items that have been on the shelf for years- including a vintage GE "hot lather" shaving cream dispenser, a Black & Decker electric shoe polisher, along with bulk mint-condition Memorex blank VHS tapes (dating back to the late 1980s, still in its original shrink wrap).  Some items still had vintage "American Hardware" or "Servistar" price stickers.

I first heard about the closing when I received a letter in the mail from the store earlier this months (on the day of final exam for my "Screen Craft" class at Hood), announcing that the store would close for good.   One of several factors was that the current owners wanted to retire, another was the opening of Lowe's at the "Clemson Corner" shopping center in 2011.  In this writer's view, Frederick did not need another grungy, boring and depressing "Lowe's" location (along with the sprawl on Route 26).

Earlier this year, I photographed the storefront of T.R. Saylor & Company, for my Hood College photojournalism class project, in relation to the theme of "home."  My picture was featured in the Hood "home" exhibition, and received positive praise from fellow friends, students, instructors, spectators and art lovers.  I was hoping that my picture in the  exhibition would help bring in more business for the store.

Even though T.R. Saylor & Co. will be no more, the name will be with the now-defunct local hardware stores of the region- including Ingalls Lumber of Middletown (which was associated with American Hardware/Servistar and True Value until its demise) , and May's Hardware in Frederick.

With the demise of T.R. Saylor & Co., Woodsboro's N.Z. Cramer & Son is one of the last locally-owned hardware and lumber retailers in the region.

Farewell to T.R. Saylor & Co.  It won't be the same without a "real" hardware store in the area.

Gettysburg's "Majestic" Theater to showcase Summer Classic Film Series

The Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, adjacent to the historic
Gettysburg Hotel (circa 2009).

The Majestic  in 1984 (then-owned by R/C Theatres),
being converted from a single-screen theater
into a "triplex cinema."

The Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has had a lot significant moments since the cinema opened next to the historic Gettysburg Hotel in 1925.

It was one of many theaters that decided to showcase sound films using both sound-on-disc (Warner Bros.' "Vitaphone") and sound-on-film (Fox's "Movietone") formats in 1929.    Ironically, Warner Bros. would own the Majestic, spanning from the late 1930's until the 1948 "Paramount" anti-trust decree, forbidding studios to participate in the exhibition business (Warners' theater holdings- including the Majestic, along with its sister cinemas in the Frederick area- the Tivoli, the City Opera House and the Frederick Theater would be spun off to Fabian Interests, under the banner of Stanley Warner Theaters).  

The Majestic was remodeled for the exhibition of Twentieth Century Fox's Cinemascope widescreen features in 1954 (according to an advertisement in The Gettysburg Times, showcasing How To Marry A Millionaire as the theater's first Cinemascope film).  

Shortly thereafter, the theater was used for The White House Press Corps, when President Dwight Eisenhower was at his Gettysburg farm.  Both President and Mrs. Eisenhower were frequent visitors to the Majestic when they were hosting international leaders in Gettysburg.    The Majestic hosted the American premiere of Federico Fellini's 1969 film, Fellini Satyricon.  In 1993, Ronald F. Maxwell's Gettysburg (originally conceived as a made-for-TV film in conjunction with Ted Turner) premiered at the theater.

In 2005. renovations were made to the Majestic, which was now under the ownership of Gettysburg College, to accommodate live stage and music performances in addition to showing first-run, independent and classic feature films.  In 2012, the theater installed digital projection systems to showcase digital prints of feature films, along with screening live broadcasts of opera, musical and orchestral performances from the Metropolitan Opera (via satellite).

1942 advertisement (in The Gettysburg Times) for the Majestic, showcasing
the comedy George Washington Slept Here, starring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan.

"CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHT" SERIES AT THE MAJESTIC: One great aspect about the Majestic is that the cinema's management is doing a wonderful service for movie buffs, classic film aficionados and area students who might be interested in classic film- by showcasing classic films the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen! 

Beginning on June 3rd, the theater will kick off their summer classic film series, showcasing a classic film every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM.  Admission is $6.00 per person.   Tickets can be purchased at the Majestic box office, or can be purchased by phone by calling 717-337-8200.

Here's the listing of classic (and modern) films that will be shown at the Majestic for the summer:

June 3rd- Wings (1927), directed by William A. Wellman, featuring Gary Cooper, Clara Bow and Charles "Buddy" Rogers.  The first motion picture to receive the Academy Award for "Best Picture."

June 10th- It Happened One Night (1934), directed by Frank Capra, featuring Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert and Walter Connolly.  The first film to be honored with all five major Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Director (Frank Capra), and Best Screenplay.   Capra's landmark film helped put minor studio Columbia Pictures on the map. 

June 17th- Rose Marie (1936), directed by W.S. Van Dyke, featuring Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald, and James Stewart.

June 24th- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), directed by Michael Curtiz, featuring James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, George Tobias, Frances Langford and S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall.  Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Actor (James Cagney), Best Sound Recording (Nathan Levinson and the Warner Bros. sound department), and Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture (Ray Heindorf and and Heinz Romfeld).  Includes free raffle prizes and an introduction by Jeffrey W. Gabel, founding executive director of the Majestic.

July 1st- The Best Years of our Lives (1946), directed by William Wyler, featuring Myrna Loy, Frederic March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O'Donnell, Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Russell and Gladys George.  Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture (Samuel Goldwyn), Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Frederic March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell), Best Screenplay (Robert E. Sherwood), Best Film Editing (Daniel Mandell), and Best Score (Hugo Friedhofer).

July 8th- Rio Grande (1950), directed by John Ford, featuring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen, Harry Carey, Jr., J. Carroll Naish, Chill Wills, Ben Johnson, Grant Withers, and "The Sons of the Pioneers."

July 15th- Carousel (1956), directed by Henry King, featuring Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Cameron Mitchell and Gene Lockhart.

July 22nd- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), directed by Stanley Kubrick, featuring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, James Earl Jones, Keenan Wynn, Peter Bull and Tracy Reed.

July 29th- Bye Bye Birdie (1963), directed by George Sydney, featuring Ann-Margaret, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, Bobby Rydell, Maureen Stapleton, Ed Sullivan, Dick Van Dyke and Jesse Pearson.

August 5th- Close Encounters of The Third Kind (1977), directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring Richard Dreyfus, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, François Truffaut and Bob Balaban.  Winner of an Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Vilmos Zsigmond).  NOTE: At The Matinee is unsure if the original 1977 release version, the 1980 "Special Edition" version, or the 1998 "Collector's Edition" version will be screened at the Majestic.

MODERN FAVORITES:

August 12th- Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984), Directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw and Ke Huy Quan.  Winner of an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Dennis Muren, Michael J. McAlister, Lorne Peterson and George Gibbs).

August 19th- The Big Lebowski (1998), Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, featuring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi.  Winner of the Awards Circuit Community Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Goodman).

August 26th (Final film in the series)- Gladiator (2000), Directed by Ridley Scott, featuring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielson, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, David Hemmings and Derek Jacobi.  Winner of 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture (Douglas Wick, David Franzoni,
and Branko Lustig), Best Actor in a leading role (Russell Crowe), Best Costume Design (Janty Yates), Best Sound (Scott Millan, Bob Beemer and Ken Weston) and Best Effects, Visual Effects (John Nelson, Neil Corbould, Tim Burke and Rob Harvey).

This is a perfect opportunity to see classic and contemporary cinema at the "grandest small-town theater in America."  To fellow readers of At The Matinee: if you're interested in seeing one of the many Majestic classics on the schedule (on Wednesday evenings during the summer), it would be an enlightening experience.

At The Matinee salutes Gettysburg College, Jeffrey W. Gabel (founding executive director of the Majestic) and the staff and management of the Majestic for keeping the spirit of classic (and contemporary) cinema alive and well on the big screen! 

Revival Screening Showcase: Hood College "Phones Home" with E.T. (1983)

1982 ad for the Frederick area screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,
at the now-defunct Frederick Towne Mall cinemas (operated by
Interstate Theaters before being acquired by Hoyts),
as featured in the November 5, 1982 edition of The News.

In commemoration of Hood College's "Home" colloquium series conclusion, the college will present a FREE revival screening of Steven Spielberg's 1982 science-fiction masterpiece, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on April 28th at 7:00 p.m., inside Hodson Auditorium.

And if you guessed Reese's Pieces would be available during the screening, you're correct!  So take a break from the intensity of final projects (and exams), and relax by watching E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial the way it was meant to be seen, on the big screen. Starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, and Dee Wallace.

The special revival screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial is presented by The Center for Humanities at Hood College, with a special grant made possible by the National Endowment For The Humanities.

The event is free and open to the general public.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Special revival screening at Hood College's Hodson Auditorium (inside Rosenstock Hall)
April 28th at 7:00 p.m.
401 Rosemont Ave.
Frederick, Maryland 21701

For more information, contact fulfer@hood.edu

At The Matinee's head author and chief proprietor may show up for this special screening of E.T., depending on the workload of final projects.

Update (5/1): I enjoyed seeing E.T. on the big screen inside Hodson Auditorium.  Yet there was one element missing from the revival screening- some hot, fresh, tasty popcorn.  Plus, I thought that there would be more people in attendance that evening.  There were about 15-20 people in the audience (possibly due to final projects/exams, etc.).

Aside from all that, it was an amazing experience, as I have never seen Steven Spielberg's E.T. on the big screen before.

"Speak Softly and Carry A Big Stick:" Theodore Roosevelt appears in forerunner to Paramount's Newsreels

This is in relation to a recent Hood College class trip to the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Some eleven years before the studio presented its newsreels with "The Eyes of the World" (later "The Eyes and Ears of the World" after the dawn of sound), Paramount Pictures released a news magazine series to theaters- titled Paramount Pictographs.

The weekly newsreel series was produced in conjunction with Bray Studios, a company that was better known for its pioneering work in cartoon animation (though Bray produced a live-action film for General Electric, A Day with Thomas A. Edison in 1921).  Bray's animated output was included with newsreel product featured in Paramount releases.

According to the 1916 issue of The Motion Picture News, this was the second installment of Paramount's newsreel gazette.  For this edition, former President Theodore Roosevelt, who was no stranger to the newsreel camera, presented his thoughts on the topic of preparedness (with inter-titles).  The newsreel also showcased Roosevelt, collaborating on the subject of preparedness with the editor of the Metropolitan Magazine.  The footage was filmed at President Roosevelt's house, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, New York.

It was an interesting and fascinating newsreel of Theodore Roosevelt in 1916, featured in an early newsreel for a major motion picture studio.

The early Paramount newsreel of Theodore Roosevelt can be viewed here at the Library of Congress' YouTube channel.

More in store for April

Be on the lookout for more exciting posts* throughout April on At The Matinee!

*NOTE: There hasn't been a steady stream of posts for March, due to overwhelming assignments at Hood College.

Vintage Academy Gold- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

At The Matinee offers a new category for the month of February, titled Vintage Academy Gold, in honor of tonight's Academy Awards ceremony.

Poster art for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968),
from an MGM promotional ad (featured in
Boxoffice Magazine).

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)- Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's science-fiction work  is one of my favorite films, and was light years ahead of its time (in regards to the incredible special effects in the film).

Filmed in Super Panavision 70mm and Metrocolor (MGM's trademark color process for films that were shot on Eastman Kodak's Eastmancolor stock), Kubrick's masterpiece was panned by critics and average moviegoers, but was popular with younger movie audiences at the time.  At first, MGM executives were reluctant to release the film, but then followed Kubrick's advice.

The film premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. on April 2nd (which was remodeled to show films in the Cinerama format), and played at the theater for 51 weeks.   This was during the time when traditional three-strip "Cinerama" prints were phased out for single-strip 70mm Cinerama projection prints.   On an interesting note, my father saw 2001: A Space Odyssey at a Cinerama venue in Atlanta, Georgia during its original release in 1968.

Kubrick's masterpiece was nominated for four Academy Awards, and won one Oscar for best special effects. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the all-time greats in science-fiction film.  To quote one of my Hood instructors- "If you want to see 2001: A Space Odyssey, see it on the biggest screen possible."  Now if Frederick had a respectable cinema venue...

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Turner Classic Movies will show 2001: A Space Odyssey during its "31 Days of Oscar" schedule of Academy Award-winning films, this Sunday at 12:45 PM EST.

Technology Corner: Radio Shack (1921-2015)

 Radio Shack advertisement from
May 1976, as featured in
The News-Post.

The place that was once known for the "do-it-yourself" electronics hobbyist has bit the dust.  Radio Shack Corporation recently filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as a result of sagging sales, poor customer service, and declining stock values.  This was also due in part to the New York Stock Exchange delisting the company's shares.  About half of the company's 4,000+ stores are expected to close, with speculation that Sprint and Amazon are interested in acquiring former Radio Shack locations in the near future.

Founded in 1921 as a store for ham radio enthusiasts in Massachusetts, the company would later expand to selling other electronics components, including high-fidelity sound systems.  Radio Shack would be later acquired by Texas businessman Charles Tandy in 1963 and would soon rise to prominence.   Radio Shack's parent company would expand into the field of personal computers, introducing the Tandy TRS-80, the first fully-manufactured personal computer.  The stores would later expand their offerings to visual communication products, along with cordless and early cellular phones.

In recent times, Radio Shack would move away from hobbyist electronics, and moved from that field, as the Radio Shack considered that smartphones would be the answer to the company's future.  Because of that decision, products that Radio Shack was known for would be discontinued (audio components, electronic kits, etc.), along with their iconic catalog that satisfied the electronics enthusiast.  That was one of many signs of the company's downfall.

Here's what could have saved Radio Shack:

-Not doing away with hi-fi components: Realistic and Optimus were Radio Shack's popular house brand for stereo and speaker components.  It was a bleak time for audio/hi-fi enthusiasts when Radio Shack did away with their audio components lineup, and partially lead to the downfall (or mergers) of high-fidelity speaker manufacturers.   Unfortunately, in this day and age, low-end, dinky iPod/MP3 speaker docks and overpriced (yet poorly-made) headphones rule the audio world.  

-Not doing away with the catalog: The Radio Shack catalog was the "heart and soul" for the electronics enthusiast.

-Cater to those that aren't interested in smartphones: Not everyone has a smartphone, and not everyone is interested in one.  Stick with the basics that made Radio Shack great in its glory days, by catering to those who are interested in the "do-it-yourself" electronics field.

Farewell, Radio Shack.  It will have its place with all of the short-lived niche electronic stores that the former Tandy Corporation had- Video Concepts, Computer City, and Incredible Universe.   The store will also have its place with former stores such as Woolworth, Gee Bee, Hills, Montgomery Ward, Sam Goody (which was absorbed by FYE), just to name a few.  I guess I was lucky enough to experience these stores long ago.

More on Radio Shack and stereo components are featured in an earlier post..

"At The Matinee" Looks back at 2014

1977 advertisement in Boxoffice Magazine
for Washington-area cinema chains, film
laboratories, and distribution branches.

I can't believe that 2014 has been a quick and successful year for my blog, At The Matinee.  It's been a joyful and interesting year, writing about classic/contemporary/cult film, television, music, and technology.

Here are some of the most notable events that happened throughout the year (not only on this blog, but in the area as well):

-My article in the January 2014 edition of The Woodsboro-Walkersville Times (formerly The Woodsboro Times, on the bottom-half of page 15) on the town's movie theater in the Woodsboro Bank building* that operated for nearly forty years.

-Praised by Turner Classic Movies for my article on the network's twentieth anniversary.

-A conversation with Mr. Ron Hutchinson of The Vitaphone Project, and how those weren't Warner Bros. Vitaphone discs on the wall of the Shepherdstown Opera House (it must have been the labels that threw me off, from this News-Post photograph of the theater's office).

-Mentioned in The Digital Bits (in Mr. Bill Hunt's My Two Cents column) on MGM's negligence to restore and preserve the "roadshow" print of The Alamo (1960).  This was published shortly after veteran film preservation expert Robert A. Harris' account of the condition of the film.

-Finally got to see several classics on the big screen in one of the classes that I enjoyed at Hood College, History of American Film. They included the classic Laurel and Hardy short- The Music Box, The Marx Brothers' 1932 comedy classic- Horse Feathers, and Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece- Citizen Kane.

-Spreading the word about At The Matinee to fellow students and friends at Hood, along with flyers about the blog on the library bulletin board.  Will make new fliers in 2015 (not only on bulletin boards on the Hood campus, but in other area locations with community bulletin boards).

-Helped stop WJLA-TV's constant preemptions of Me-TV's Saturday lineup (including iconic horror host Svengoolie, portrayed by Rich Koz).  This was done with the help of fellow Me-TV viewers in the area.

HOPEFUL WISHES FOR FELLOW FILM BUFFS IN THE NEW YEAR:

-Revival screenings of classic films shouldn't be ignored by Frederick's cinema venues.  Sadly, classic cinema is still under-appreciated in the Frederick area.  As I've said before- classic films should be shown the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen.  This is why Frederick needs a repertory cinema house (besides The Weinberg Center For The Arts).

-Hood College shouldn't be ignorant of showing classic films on the big screen in their Hodson Auditorium film series (which would be a great way to compliment their "blockbuster film series").  Yet unfortunately, their "Film club" hasn't responded to my message, nor have they set up any club meetings.  Even worse, my application to the college's "Campus Activities Board" (the organization programs the "blockbuster film series") was rejected.  I wonder if I should start a classic film club of my own at Hood...

-MGM should finally come to their senses, and restore the "roadshow" version of The Alamo before it's too late (or at least have someone else restore the film).  There won't be enough time to save it (due to the deteriorating Eastmancolor stock) if MGM is ignorant of the film.

Thanks to all for reading!  Happy New Year to everyone from the author of At The Matinee!

*There will be an update on the movie theater that was in the Woodsboro Bank building in 2015.

Frederick's cinemas bid "Humbug" to two classics for the holiday season

Trade ads for A Christmas Carol (1938) and Christmas In Connecticut (1945).
Yet once again, Frederick's cinema venues are missing out on
special double feature revival screenings of these holiday classics.

Turner Classic Movies, Warner Bros., and NCM Fathom Events will present two holiday classics on the big screen for one day only- the 1938 MGM adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (with Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Kathleen Lockhart), and the 1945 holiday comedy Christmas in Connecticut (with Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, and S.Z. Sakall).  The double feature screening will have a filmed introduction by TCM weekend host Ben Mankiewicz, and will be shown in theaters on December 7th at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM EST.  This is being done not only for the holiday season, but to promote Warners' new Blu-Ray releases of A Christmas Carol and Christmas In Connecticut (from new High-Definition transfers).

According to the theater roster for the special one-day cinematic event (via Fathom Events' website), cinemas in the Frederick area are not participating in this special revival screening.  Neither the area's sixteen-plex eyesore (Regal Cinemas), nor Frederick's iconic twinplex (MDL Holiday Cinemas)*, nor Frederick's "crown jewel" (The Weinberg Center For The Arts)* are participating in this classic Holiday film event.

In my view, I think that the Frederick area shouldn't miss out on this special "double feature" revival screening event of two holiday classics.  Both films (A Christmas Carol and Christmas In Connecticut) should be shown the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen (in the Frederick area).

*NOTE: MDL Holiday Cinemas and The Weinberg Center For The Arts may not be able to show the one-day double feature revival screening of A Christmas Carol and Christmas In Connecticut due to licensing costs and/or availability of the NCM Fathom system.  It would be nice if the Frederick area had a "revival house" (or repertory) cinema venue.

If anyone from Hood College's Campus Activities Board (CAB) is reading At The Matinee, you could obtain the nontheatrical rights to one of the two classic films for possible screenings during the holiday season.  You could add some life to your "blockbuster movie showcase" series by offering revival screenings of classic films!  Just a suggestion.