Beast Blog

Bum's Paradise showing May 13th

As demonstrated in previous posts, The Beast Blog is a big fan of the documentary Bum's Paradise, about the indigent/artist community residing on the Albany Bulb.

If you haven't yet seen it, here's another chance:

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Thursday, May 13th @ 7pm
Albany High School Library
603 Key Route Blvd, Albany, CA, USA

Sponsored by Embracing Diversity Films
free - DONATIONS ENCOURAGED - site is wheelchair accessible
Robert “Rabbit” Barringer and filmmaker Tomas McCabe will be present for Q&A.
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Grand Lake Theater Marquee Archive

Anyone who lives or drives in central Oakland near the lake has seen the indominable Grand Lake Theater Marquee. This terrific traditional grand old theater uses some of its prime advertising space for unabashedly political messages, some verging on the witty.

Musician and Grateful Dead historian David Gans has been keeping a Grand Lake Theater Marquee photo archive. Hurrah! I had been keeping my own, but he seems more disciplined about it. I've been living in Oakland on-and-off for almost six years; I don't remember these politics from my early days; I think the 2000 Bush v. Gore upset really ticked off someone at the good old Grand Lake. Outspoken business owners - makes me proud to live in Oakland.

Let's Go Retro

A couple nights ago, we saw Top Hat at the Paramount, and were handed a four-color flyer announcing the new film program at Alameda's Auctions by the Bay. If you're a fan of the Paramount's classic American fare, you'll doubtless appreciate the flicks being brought to Alameda, shown in a restored Art Deco palace, such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Citizen Kane, Rear Window, It Happened One Night, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Today, the Chronicle offers up a lengthy feature on theater owner and auction maven Allen Michaan, a man who definitely instills Beast pride.

Always the Best Show In Town

I love going to see movies at the Paramount- and not only for the chance to see a Hollywood classic on the big screen, but because the whole place is a living museum of Art Deco. So, I don't know what took me so long to take the $1, Saturday morning theatre tour that they give the first and third weekend of every month.

My tour group of 35 people (mostly age 50 and over) was led by the encyclopaedic Ken Walters, with the occasional assistance of the also knowledgeable Art Hazelton. Starting at the 21st St. box office, we followed our guides to the main entryway, up to the second and third floor lobbies, into the theatre for a recorded demonstration of Jim Riggs on the Mighty Wurlitzer, and back down to the grand lounge in the basement. We were introduced to the "seat enunciator" (how ushers used to know which of the 3000 seats were available) and amazed with dozens of facts about the building. Did you know that architect Timothy L. Pflueger intended the main entryway to be reminiscent of a redwood forest? That 80% of the interior surfaces are from the original 1930-31 era? That in 1972-73 the Oakland Symphony bought and refurbished the building as their new venue? That there is a sofa in the basement lounge which hasn't been re-upholstered since the theatre opened more than seventy years ago?

Although I enjoyed the tour - it's definitely worth the $1 - I was disappointed that we were only taken through the public areas. A "behind the scenes" tour would be my preference for next time, if such a thing is ever offered. Also, while the guides' knowledge is impressive, a full 2 hour tour is a little long.

For what it's worth, I think I still prefer to soak up the Deco glow on movie nights at the Paramount - when I can sip a cocktail in the lounge, powder my nose in the muraled and mirrored ladies restroom, and gaze up at the golden gods and goddesses of the theatre with three thousand other happy customers. Now that's historic.

Their next show is "Top Hat," playing on November 28th.

Hip Hop Film Fest - Nov 12 - 14

Yo yo yo! For three days, the Hip Hop Film Fest is throwing it down at UC Berkeley, 22 Warren Hall. A mix of shorts and features, only $2 per screening ($1 if you're a student). Sponsored by Cal Hip Hop.

Free Movies!

The Pacific Film Archive theatre is doing more to lure us in! They've instituted a new program called First Free Thursdays. Starting this week you could see the quirky looking documentary The Good Wife of Tokyo and risk nothing but your time!

(but be prepared to deal with the fact that this program is sponsored by The Gap - don't wear any bright colors or they may ask you to leave)

Halloween Film Fun in Downtown Oakland

You can begin your evening at the Paramount Theater, with a Halloween Double Feature.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 @ 7:30 PM
PARAMOUNT MOVIE CLASSICS
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
and
Bride of Frankenstein
Doors open: 6:30 pm | Tickets: $6.00

If you've still got your motion pictures on, you can take a stroll to Harrison Street, between 15th and 17th, for Return of the Liberation Drive-In. Though that site doesn't say, another pointer suggests it starts at 9pm.

EVEN MORE BEAST MOVIE DELIGHTS!

A post to Craigslist draws our attention to Free Movies at the Ramp!

I'm just going to re-post it here:
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hat's right, THE RAMP in Berkeley is starting it's bi-weekly FREE
MOVIE series. consisting of all rare and obscure films, all preceeded by a
short 10-15 minute film, shown on a projected screen, and with plenty
of couches. the first movie is going to be shown this SATURDAY, OCTOBER
4. it's at 8pm.

THE RAMP IS LOCATED AT 2236 PARKER STREET IN BERKELEY(BETWEEN SHATTUCK
AND TELEGRAPH) UNDERNEATH THE SDSA CHURCH. here's the schedule:

10/4 - basket case (w/ RARE disney short "der feuhrer's face")
a deformity is separated from his "normal" brother and goes on a vengeful killing spree in new york city. "der feuhrer's face" features bugs bunny like you've never seen him before.

10/18 - home movie (from the director of american movie) w/ jim jarmusch's "coffee & cigarettes (3 shorts starring tom waits, iggy pop, steve buscemi, roberto benigni and stephen wright)

11/1 - for y'ur height only (w/ happy tree friends)
a midget james bond movie. nuff said. happy tree friends are super violent kiddie cartoons

11/15 - frat house (w/ police & the mentally ill)
banned documentary on what really goes on in fraternities. shown with a 15-minute short instructional video showing the police how to deal with the mentally ill.

11/29 - crippled heroes (w/gimme gimme octopus)
amputee kung fu! preceeded by a few shorts from "gimme gimme octopus", a really weird live-action japanese kids show.

12/13 - superstar: the karen carpenter story (w/ "your studio and you")
the story of karen carpenter (of the carpenters), only told with BARBIE DOLLS! features short "your studio and you", created by trey parker (of south park fame)

12/27 - how's your news? (w/ GI Joe PSA's)
a group of outgoing, mentally and physically disabled people travel across the country in a van and conduct "man on the street" interviews. touching and hilarious. also features new twists on old GI JOE "public service announcements".

please, show up, bring a friend and some snacks and enjoy some free movies.

any questions, please email: bomarrcus@yahoo.com or ryanwithani@yahoo.com
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My comments:
Basket Case is an excellent weird low budget horror flick.

Home Movie is a delightfully quirky documentary.

I've been dying to see Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story for ages. That's the one show I'll definitely be seeing.

How's Your News? is truly inspiring and uplifting and all those smarmy cliches that are usually poorly used but are apt here.

Friendster Meets Your Free Weekly's Listings Page

Gwen writes in to tell us about Upcoming.org, an events-listing website generated all by it's users. And you can link yourself to friends and venues so that you always know what's going on.

The East Bay is currently represted by San Francisco Bay Area and Oakland, and I've just added Berkeley.

So start posting!

Films Noir At the Grand Lake!

Starting Friday, the Grand Lake theater will continue it's repertory experiment with a two-week film noir fest.

The Beast is for (Film) Lovers

A browse through the latest East Bay Express offers numerous reasons for East Bay cineastes to rejoice.

The death of the UC Theater and the hibernation of the Fine Arts Cinema has saddened local filmgoers. Good news comes in the form of an ex-Roxie Cinema programmer taking up residence at the Grand Lake, converting one of the screens into a repertory screen, starting this week with The Adventures of Robin Hood, and following soon with a Bay Area noir fest.

The PFA will be spending the next month showcasing the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder. I've only seen The Marriage of Maria Braun, which was excellent, and eagerly seek to see more.

And on September 2, the PFA is showing L'age D'or with Un chien andalou, must-see surrealist flicks from Bunuel.

And naturally, there are the continued delights of the Parkway (which continues to feature more and more locally-made independent film), the Paramount, and the Landmark Shattuck's rep screen.

Oh, and, of course Reel Video and Movie Image.

Film Fans Rejoice - Night of the Hunter Mania

This weekend and next week, the Pacific Film Archive has a special treat for film lovers.

On Saturday, July 26th, there's CHARLES LAUGHTON DIRECTS THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER: A PRESENTATION OF OUTTAKES FROM THE FILM. And on July 30th, they're showing the film in pristine condition.

I had the delight of seeing this presentation last year in Los Angeles, and wrote it about it (with lots of pictures). If that doesn't encourage you to go, nothing will.

Cinema al Fresco

Summer's here, and the East Bay has a number of outdoor cinema opportunities....

Jupiter in Berkeley opens tonight (July 2) with "The Great Train Robbery" and other silent classics. They haven't posted their schedule on the site, yet, but their ad in the paper lists:

• Eye Candy - Beatdown Thursdays, various shorts and visuals, presented on two screens
• Weekly independent films - Sunday, July 6, "Channel X: The Movie" A Hip-hop Animation Festival
• Animation Tuesdays - Tuesday, July 8, Hip-Hop Animation presented by Alfonso Amey Designs

Pyramid in Berkeley begins its films on July 19th, with "Swingers", and then on July 26th they'll show "Office Space".

And don't forget the Liberation Drive-In the last weekend every month in Oakland. According to the site:
"FUTURE THEME-NIGHTS INCLUDE:
July 25 & 25: Socio-Political Night for the Headz, w/ GNN and other video activists!
August 29 & 30: Hip-hop Night w/ Style Wars, the Freshest Kids, Sydewayz, and more."

Bum's Paradise Rescheduled for 5/31

Saturday, May 31 at 9:00pm at the Liberation Drive-In
Lot #69 on Harrison Street btwn 15th & 17th Streets in downtown Oakland

Movie on the wall, BYO RADIO to receive ((( stereo ))) transmission. Bums' Paradise at 9pm followed by Music Night 10pm to 2am w/ guest VJ's from
Cat-Five and OAKSLANDER Vol II Release Party.

MUSIC NIGHT: obscure long and short form videos from Gil-Scott Heron, Fela
Kuti, Fila Brazilla, Tom Tom Club, The Clash, Minor Threat, old Sabbath, the
Ramones, Daft Punk, Air, James Brown, Suger Hill Gang, Afrika Bambatta and
others.

Let's all carpool, bike, walk, or BART to this dynamite & truly free event.
Don't forget your radio, bring a chair, blanket, refreshments if you like.

For more event info and map:
http://www.nonchalance.org

Bums'Paradise will also be at the Parkway Theater(picture, pub and pizza)
in Oakland for their Sunday Salon June 22nd, 3pm
For more info:
http://www.speakeasytheaters.com

For more screenings and info on Bums' Paradise:
http://www.bumsparadise.com

Cinematotrash

Short notice I know, but this weekend (May 9-11) we've got "Born to Be Bad 2: Conference and Film Festival", a celebration of trash cinema, taking place at the Pacific Film Archive. How can you turn down a talk titled, "Why I Hate Gwyneth Paltrow: The Failure of Contemporary Cinema, from Hollywood to the Avant Garde"?

Signage Silliness

Whomever dandies up the marquee for the The Albany Twin Theater on Solano Avenue clearly has too much fun. Always interspersed with the film titles are delightful bits of goofiness. A past favorite of mine was, "Just Like The PBS, Only Bigger!"

With that, we present what we hope is the first in a series, What's Up At Albany Twin:

Poor taste, maybe. Funny, yes!

Hey, I just listen to the music.

It's about time for a radical reinterpretation of pornographic film scores. Forget the opera, Israeli world music, or any other imports. PornOrchestra is the East Bay's Own art form, performing live composed and improvised scores.

The equivalent of a circus band with its collective eye on the trapeze artist: the PornOrchestra teases out the thrill, amplifying the collective gasp at pornographic triumph —and tragedy— using the most eclectic and creative musical minds working in the Bay Area today.

Show your disdain for the Academy Awards. Swing by 21Grand Saturday or Sunday night. Where's my trenchcoat?

Bebopaloobop Cowboy Bebop Berkeley Breakthrough

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie makes a limited U.S. debut at Berkeley's Landmark Shattuck April 4th. I'm excited! This is the first movie to come from the animated TV series. The one I bought a TiVo to catch from Adult Swim's 1:30am showings. The one with the incredible jazz score, complex characters, hard boiled plots, film noir meets Kubrick cinematography. It's the 2070s, the bounty hunters of spaceship Bebop are the good guys, and the rating is R. Sergio Leone, Charlie "Bird" Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie would be proud.

I can't understate Cowboy Bebop's music scores. Great blues and jazz musicians from Japan, New York, and Paris making original music as The Seatbelts. The soundtrack albums are eminently listenable. Should the film version keep the faith, think music Oscar next year. See also: The Real Folk Blues, Emily's Future Blues, a marvelous fan site in Italian, The Jazz Messengers, Faye Valentine.net, IMDb.