FLARE

Event: “And Now a Word From Our Sponsor…” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare 16mm TV commercials and PSA’s from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, along with several vintage documentaries exploring/ exposing the television advertising industry. The documentaries include “Buy (Buy)” (Color, 1973), “Consumer Power: Advertising” (Color, 1971), “Analyzing Advertising” (Color, 1968) and “TV Ads: Our Mini Myths” (Color, 1977). Plus several hundred of the wildest, weirdest commercials both familiar and obscure from “the golden age of TV”!
Date: Friday, April 3, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

“And Now a Word From Our Sponsor…”
Advertising Documentaries and TV Ads From the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s

On Friday, April 3, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare Television commercials and Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) from the “golden age” culled from the massive collection in the Oddball Films archive. Spanning the 1950’s to about 1980, these weird, wild, wacky, funny, frightening and fabulous 30 second slices of vintage TV were designed to entice, dupe or otherwise coerce the American Consumer in a most entertaining way.
In addition, several short documentaries on the subject will be screened.
Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“Buy (Buy)” (Color, 1973)
Explores the directors who make TV commercials, the agencies behind them, and shows several ads being made. See the genius’ and cretins behind this great American art form. See the director who couldn’t be bothered to put his shoes on for an interview!

“Consumer Power: Advertising (Color, 1971)
With Ralph Nader, before he was a perpetual Presidential candidate and not long after his book Unsafe at Any Speed, which made him a household name as a Consumer Advocate. Here he gets his teeth into the Ad Biz.

“Analyzing Advertising” (Color, 1968)

Humorous look at TV commercials aimed at educating kids- what they sell and what they REALLY sell.

“TV Ads: Our Mini Myths” (Color, 1977)
Compilation of Clio Award (the Academy Awards of Advertising) winning ads from 1966-1977. Among many great ads is the mind-blowing Levi’s commercial, entitled “The Stranger”, made by local designer Chris Blum and featuring the voice of “Word Jazz” genius Ken Nordine.

PLUS: Hundreds of rare and amazing 16mm TV ads- beer, cars, hair products, underwear, junk food and much, much more!!

Event: “Secret Agents, Man!” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of film focusing on spies, secret agents and government agents. Films include: one of the top-rated feature films of all time (spy or other), Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps”, a tour de force thriller about espionage and a falsely accused man on the run; a full 1965 episode of the TV show “Secret Agent” (known as “Danger Man” in the UK) starring the brilliant, recently passed Patrick McGoohan; “T-Men of the Treasury Department”, a 1958 documentary on US Government agents; and a segment from “Lance Link: Secret Chimp”, the 1970 TV spy spoof featuring an all-chimpanzee cast. Chimp intrigue and action at it’s er… finest!
Date: Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

“Secret Agents, Man!”
Secret Agents, Special Agents, Simian Agents & Spies Screen at Oddball Films

On Friday, March 27, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of film devoted to the world of espionage, subterfuge and agents- secret, government… and primate!

The world of spies has long been fodder for pulp literature and movies, probably none more successful than the Ian Fleming- James Bond series. The films tend to be over the top, near parodies- and the legion of spin-offs (from the Flint series through Austin Powers) became true parodies.

One of the earliest and best spy films, however, plays it straight and is loaded with mystery and suspense. “The 39 Steps” has been called Hitchcock’s first masterpiece (it was his 18th film), and features the wonderful Robert Donat as the falsely accused man on the run. Similarly, the TV show “Secret Agent” played it straight. As Don Drake, Patrick McGoohan is an agent who uses his brain over brute force, rarely uses his gun, and sometimes must hurt innocent people in his work for Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Originally titled “Danger Man” in the UK, the show was exported to the US as “Secret Agent” with the Johnny Rivers monster hit theme added. McGoohan, who created the program and wrote many of the episodes, went on to fame in the cult series “The Prisoner” and many fine films. He passed away in January this year.

Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“The 39 Steps” (b+w, 1935) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Pre-Hollywood Hitchcock at his finest: an innocent, ordinary man is framed by circumstantial evidence and thrust into a world he does not understand- in this case the world of espionage and British secrets- a theme that Hitchcock would return to many times again, culminating with “North By Northwest” (which has been called “the American 39 Steps”). The main protagonist, played brilliantly by Robert Donat, is literally handcuffed to an icy, intelligent blond played by Madeleine Carroll for four days on the run while he tries to prove his innocence and bring the spies to justice. Look for the Hitch cameo about 7 minutes in!

“Secret Agent: Say It With Flowers” (b&w, 1965)

A complete episode of Secret Agent, aka Danger Man, “Say It With Flowers” originally aired 23 December, 1965. Plot summary: an enemy agent dies in Switzerland–or so it seems; to make certain, Drake poses as an insurance investigator. The clinic where he died isn’t exactly what it seems. Drake goes to very dramatic lengths to find out whose body was in the coffin, and what was done to get him there.

“T-Men of the Treasury Department” (b&w, 1958)
Light-hearted and serious profile of T-Men- the Treasury Department agents who investigate commerce crimes- smuggling, counterfeiting, moonshiners, etc. Not quite as exciting as G-Men, but they try to make the case!

PLUS: “Lance Link: Secret Chimp”- from the 1970 TV show. An all-chimp cast features Lance Link- the chimp from A.P.E. (Agency to Prevent Evil). It doesn’t get more dumber than this.

Curator Biography:
Pete Gowdy (aka DJ Chas Gaudi) is host of San Francisco’s Shellac Shack, a weekly 78 rpm listening party and a DJ specializing in vintage sounds: soul, jazz, country, punk and new wave. A graduate of the Vassar College Film Program, he is an associate producer of Marc Huestis Presents, the long-running movie legend tributes at the Castro and Victoria Theatre.

Event: “Bongo Beatin’ Beatniks!” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare 16mm films and video clips from the Beat Generation: both the real deal and the parade of Hollywood exploitation flicks. Genuine artifacts include the rare as hen’s teeth USA: Poetry – Allen Ginsberg & Lawrence Ferlinghetti (b+w, 1969), The Interview (color, 1960), Help, My Snowman’s Burning Down (color, 1964), plus clips from The Bloody Brood (b+w, 1959), Beat Girl (b+w, 1959), Bucket of Blood (b+w, 1959), The Rebel Set (b+w, 1959), The Beat Generation (color, 1959), High School Confidential (b+w, 1958), Take Her, She’s Mine (b+w, 1963) plus The Munsters, Beverly Hillbillies and more TBA at show time.
Date: Friday, March 20, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

“Bongo Beatin’ Beatniks!”
Beats and Beatniks on Film

On Friday, March 20, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare 16mm films and video clips illustrating both the sacred and profane portrayals of the Beat Generation. Few genuine historic articles were recorded for posterity, but Hollywood wasted little money and no time pumping out hilarious/ludicrous exploitation flicks soon after Herb Caen coined the term beatnik in 1958. True, the bearded, sandal and beret-wearing, poetry-spewing bongo beaters were ripe for ridicule, but the common thread of angel-headed murderers and sadists was strictly a Hollywood fantasy. Nonetheless, they are highly entertaining time capsules that coolly skewers the squares and riff on a real gone world that never was. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bongos/Berets/Bottle of cheap Chianti). Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“USA: Poetry – Allen Ginsberg & Lawrence Ferlinghetti” (b+w, 1969)
Super-rare documentary focused on two Beat Generation legends: local hero Ferlinghetti and the late Ginsberg. Both men read and discuss Beat history- filmed in City Lights Books and around North Beach.

“The Interview” (Color, 1960) dir. Ernest Pintoff
Animated short by th
e brilliant Ernie Pintoff has square interviewer befuddled by fictional hipster jazz musician Shorty Petterstein (voiced by Henry Jacobs) as the Stan Getz combo blows and riffs “off camera”. “Like, don’t hang me- I didn’t wanna fall up here in the first place!”

“Help, My Snowman’s Burning Down” (Color, 1964)
Academy award-nominated short by Carson Davidson starring Bob Larkin (later in the cult film Putney Swope). Beatnik lives on a boat dock off Manhattan with only bathroom furnishings. Stop motion and surreal effects, original music by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet.

PLUS: Hollywood sends up the Beat Generation- sadistic killer beatniks, ubiquitous bongos, seedy pads, espresso joints and gone poetry.

Video clips from the following masterworks:
The Bloody Brood (b+w, 1959) Peter Falk (of Columbo fame) stars in this beatnik murderer flick. Quote: “Did he die, or was he murdered by life?”

Beat Girl (b+w, 1959) English beat scene starring the devastating Ye-Ye singer Gillian Hills and Adam Faith. Quote: “Why can’t you sit up? I like floors!”

Bucket of Blood (b+w, 1959) The quintessential beatnik exploitation film by Roger Corman “burn gas, buggies, and whip your sour cream of circumstance”.

The Rebel Set (b+w, 1959) More murder and crime-committing beatniks. Quote: “When in Rome, do the Romans”.

The Beat Generation (color, 1959) Vampira recites poetry with a rat on her shoulder.

High School Confidential (b+w, 1958) Amazing clip featuring poetess Phillipa Fallon accompanied by Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester from the Addams Family). Quote: “Turn your eyes inside and dig the vacuum”.

Take Her, She’s Mine (b+w, 1963) Bob Denver channels Maynard G. Krebs to serenade James Stewart.

The Munsters (1965) “Far Out Munsters” Poet Herman Munster – “That cat is deep!”

Beverly Hillbillies (1965) “Cool School is Out” and more TBA at show time!

Event: Coffee, Tea, or Me?: Sex in the Age of the Stewardess Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present the rarely screened 1965 film Boeing Boeing. Starring Tony Curtis, Jerry Lewis and Thelma Ritter, this sex farce has playboy Tony Curtis juggling three stewardess girlfriends at his bachelor pad in Paris, with the help of his housekeeper Thelma Ritter and no help from houseguest Jerry Lewis. Out of print on VHS and not available on DVD, this is a beautiful Technicolor 16mm print. Select jet age shorts, trailers and commercials will also be screened.
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

On Friday, March 13, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present Boeing Boeing, the rarely screened, Hal Wallis produced 1965 feature film starring Tony Curtis, Jerry Lewis and Thelma Ritter. Playboy Bernard (Tony Curtis) is juggling three girlfriends at his bachelor pad in Paris with the help of his housekeeper (Thelma Ritter). Each is a stewardess on different schedules with no knowledge of each other, until new, faster jets are introduced, throwing a monkey wrench into the works. To make matters worse, old friend Robert Reed (Jerry Lewis) shows up and insists on staying in the apartment- where he schemes to take over!

The last of the Hal Wallis/Jerry Lewis collaborations, Boeing Boeing teams the red hot Tony Curtis and veteran character actor Thelma Ritter with the sex symbol of times: the stewardess, long before they were de-sexed in the late 1970’s to flight attendants. Boeing Boeing started life in the early 1960’s as a Broadway stage production. In 1985 there was a lavish Indian re-make. And a new stage production just finished a smash run on Broadway in January this year (and will soon be on tour). Out of print on VHS and not available on DVD, this is a beautiful Technicolor 16mm print. Don’t miss it! In addition, short films about the jet age and stewardesses will be screened before the feature. Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

PLUS: Clips, shorts, trailers and commercials including Operation Jetliner (b&w, 1960s), Airplane Trip by Jet (b&w, 1960s), Pan Am’s World (color, 1970s), Superchick trailer (color, 1973), more.

Curator Biography:
Pete Gowdy (aka DJ Chas Gaudi) is host of San Francisco’s Shellac Shack, a weekly 78 rpm listening party and a DJ specializing in vintage sounds: soul, jazz, country, punk and new wave. A graduate of the Vassar College Film Program, he is an associate producer of Marc Huestis Presents, the long-running movie legend tributes at the Castro and Victoria Theatre.

Event: “White Trash on the Silver Screen: Hicks, Hillbillies, JD’s and Junk Food” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare 16mm films, kinescopes, clips and trailers exploring the fascinating world of White Trash: the lovable characters, their leisure-time pursuits and pastimes, and their curious diet. Featured shorts include Deep Fat Frying (1969), Boy With a Knife (1956), Jalopy Jockeys (1966), Home Sweet Mobile Home (1950s), Two Sons (1970s), Them Thar Hills (1934). Plus, an entire 1949 episode of Bay Area TV show the Hoffman Hayride and much, much more!
Date: Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or info@oddballfilm.com
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

On Friday, March 6, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of rare 16mm short films illustrating the fascinating world of White Trash culture. Short films, clips and trailers that explore this curious milieu include demolition derbies, junk and fried foods, “mobile” homes and trailers, juvenile delinquents, teen boozers and smokers, moonshiners, hicks, hillbillies and hucksters. Refreshments will be served. Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: info@oddballfilm.com or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“Deep Fat Frying” (Color, 1969)
Instructional film on the techniques and possibilities for making delicious, artery-choking fat bombs.

“Them Thar Hills” (B&W, 1934)
Laurel and Hardy head to the hills for some “mountain water” to cure the gout, and run in to some moonshiners. One of their best and most celebrated shorts.

“The Hoffman Hayride” (B&W, 1949)
Popular TV show the Hoffman Hayride was locally produced and starred Dude Martin as host. Country and Western stars were featured as Dude hawked the latest TV sets from sponsor Hoffman, starting his long, slow decline from top local musician to sad salesman. Guests include Rusty Draper (who later hit it big with “Gambler’s Guitar”) and Sue Thompson.
Local hayseeds in action!

“Boy With a Knife” (B&W, 1956)
Narrated by film noir legend Richard Widmark, this educational film makes juvenile delinquency seem positively benign compared to today’s problem youth. Some great campy moments.

“Home Sweet Mobile Home” (B&W, 1950s)
Mobile home propaganda film- actually makes you believe they would be mobile.

“Jalopy Jockeys” (Color, 1966)
Classic smash ‘em up derby, last one driving is the winner.

“Two Boys” (Color, 1970s)
More JD action, as exasperated white trash parents try to deal with their two white trash kids- one “well adjusted”, the other a boozing, troublemaking, going to hell-in-a-hand-basket case.

PLUS: Hillbilly Huck (Huckleberry Hound), Grapevine Twist (square dancing) First Cigarette (pre-teen/teen smokers), Look Before You Eat (junk food), Hee Haw trailers, commercials and, as always- more!