I know this kind of sounds like I’m working PR for the Music Box Theatre, but it just happens to be one of the best theaters around… and it’s somewhat local. BUT… it really comes down to helping to get the word out about an experience that fans of sci-fi and horror films all should take advantage of when they can.
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It has been one hell of a month, one filled with movie screenings, conventions, lectures, and so much more. I know I am sheer exhausted by the time the month is over, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Wait… actually, I’d like to have even more time to see more movies, go to more different spooky and Halloween themed events, as well as spending more time with my other horror friends and family. With all the crap going on in the world, these are the things where you can sit back and still see the beauty in the world, even when it’s covered in spiderwebs and has fog encircling it! There are times when I start to lose hope for humanity, but then I have a passionate conversation about an old black and white movie that they have just seen. Or even just two complete strangers talking about movies together as they wait in line for a film. It not only still shows me the power of film, but it seems that more and more people are “getting it”.
Continue readingWe’ve only got 2 more events coming up before we call the 2026 World Tour complete. The first one is the last actual convention, which is the Monster Bash Conference in Cranberry Township, PA, which is next weekend, Oct. 16th-18th. We always have a blast there and looking forward to once again get to hang out there. Plus, the fact their Mexican Movie Night on Friday is Ladrón de cadáveres aka The Body Snatcher from 1957, has got me really excited. Might have to get a nap in there somewhere so I can make sure I stay awake for it! You can find out all the details about the show by clicking HERE.
This year’s Music Box of Horrors, their annual 24-hour horror movie marathon, as we know sold-out in record time this year. Literally within minutes. Just crazy. But honestly, it shouldn’t be a surprise with what the Music Box has been programming, with plenty of stuff to keep us horror fiends excited all year long. They have announced a few more titles for this year’s marathon, which we have everything they have listed on their website below, or you can just click HERE to right to their page.
But it is the rest of October that is just jar-droppingly stunning with the number of amazing features, Q&As, and everything else they have listed. This isn’t the full list, but just a few titles that I think are pretty special or have a special guest attending! For the entire lineup, just click HERE.
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This month, the fine folks at Super-Horror-Rama have put together a very devilish double feature, one of them being a personal favorite because we had this at the theater when I worked there, way back in 1981!!!
On Friday, September 25th, at 11:30pm, they will be screening Evilspeak (1981), starring the amazing Clint Howard in one of my favorite roles of his. Over the top gore, nudity, and contacting evil through your home computer! Who would have thought that possible? Of course, let’s not forget a co-starring R.G. Armstrong in one of the most terrifying characters you’ll see onscreen!
Then on Saturday, September 26th, at 11:30pm, they will be screening 976-EVIL (1988), the very first movie directed by Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, and starring Stephen Geoffreys!
As always, there will be limited-edition pinback buttons with every ticket, and each night there is trivia prizes (this time out, the category is Techno-Horror), hosted by John McDevitt, and prizes donated by The Shadowboxery, Cryptid Craft, Migzie Flores, Drive-In Asylum, Night Natalie, and FULL BLEED!
Both films will be screening at the Music Box Theatre in the wonderful new theater 3! The past Super-Horror-Rama screenings have been selling out, so if you’re interested, get your tickets now! Just click HERE for all the information.
Most film critics would look at William Castle and see a cheap, low-budget schlockmeister, though Castle probably wouldn’t mind that title! But what some fail to see is that Castle did exactly what he set out to do, and that to make the movie-going experience to be fun. While Hitchcock set up things to build the hype of his movies, like not being allowed to go into see Psycho (1960) once the film had started, Castle went beyond that. If you want your audience to scream during your movie… then just tell them to! And nobody did this better than William Castle.
Thankfully for me, and a lot of other Chicago area movie fans, not only do we have the Music Box Theatre, but we have it run by a bunch of similar minded fans. Recently, they paid tribute to Castle by not only screening 5 of his films but going above and beyond the ballyhoo to give audiences a true “Castle experience”. There were punishment polls, ghost viewers, tinglers running amok, flying skeletons, and even an axe-wielding Joan Crawford! While heading into the city, especially in the evening rush hour can be a wee bit nerve-wracking, taking me on average about a 2-hour commute, I did it three nights in a row. I mean, how could I pass up the opportunity? The funny thing was that no matter how stressful or frustrating the drive was, once I walked into the Music Box, all of that was forgotten. Like I had moved into some sort of sanctuary, with a wave of content and peacefulness surrounding me, telling me that everything was once again, right in the world. Even if it was only for 90-minutes.
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For fans of ’80s SOV movies, these two titles were staples at many video stores, and would grab your attention from their box art and / or titles alone. Now you can have the chance to see them in the theater next weekend at the Music Box Theatre, with a prerecorded intro from the writer/director/star Jon McBride for each of the films.
On Friday, August 28th, at 11:59pm, they will be screening Woodchipper Massacre (1988). That title kind of says it all, doesn’t it?
Then on Saturday, August 30th, they will be screening the one and only Cannibal Campout (1986). This one was definitely one you’d see at most video stores. At least the cool stores!
As usual at these events, your host John McDevitt will have trivia contests with some great prizes donated by The Shadowboxery, Cryptid Craft Studio, Night Natalie, Migzie Flores, Full Bleed, and Drive-In Asylum. These are always fun events to see some hidden little gems. For all the info, just click HERE.
“For the first time in motion picture history…” was a line that director William Castle used quite often to promote his new movie, that usually came with a gimmick. Whether it was Percepto, Emergo, or Illusion-O, Castle made not only pretty entertaining pictures but made going to see one of his film an event. While he didn’t create ballyhoo, he damn near perfected it when it came to his films. This August, as Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, you’ll be able to experience 5 of his features, most of which from 35mm. See below for the schedule and start making your plans.
They are back!!! Now that Chicago’s Music Box Theatre is finished installing their 3rd theater, John McDevitt and his Super-Horror-Rama screenings are back with another amazing pair of fun fright flicks, both based on the works of Stephen King and both dealing with some psychotic vehicular madness!
On July 24th at 11:30pm, you can see John Carpenter’s Christine (1983), starring Keith Gordon and that beautiful cherry red, but deadly, 1958 Plymouth Fury.
Then the next night, on July 25th, you can see King’s one and only time in the director’s chair, for better or worse, in Maximum Overdrive (1985)! Sure, some might say it is a trainwreck, but damn if it isn’t a fun ride! With an all-star cast including Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Lisa Simpson herself, Yeardley Smith, this really is just a lot of fun, with metal carnage, some slight overacting, and a soundtrack by AC/DC!!! What more could you want?
Just click HERE to buy tickets. And if you like what Super-Horror-Rama is doing and want to help them continue to do so, join their Patreon! There are 3 different levels with plenty of cool benefits for you, but it also helps John continue to program these great little features each month. Just click HERE if you’re interested in joining.
Okay Music Box fans… pay attention to this! The Music Box has announced the date for this year’s Music Box of Horrors, which will be on Saturday, October 24th, from noon to noon on Sunday. Tickets for this event will go on sale at noon on Thursday, June 11th. Now last year, the whole marathon sold out in a little over 24 hours! So, if you have any inkling to make it to this year’s marathon, I would set your clocks, alarms, computers, or whatever else you need to remind you to order your tickets once they do go on sale. Otherwise, when you see all the amazing titles they are going to be screening this year, you might be a little bummed.
Speaking of titles, they have announced 3 of them so far. They are Amityville II: The Possession (1982), Black Magic with Buddha (1983), and The German Chainsaw Massacre!
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