There's nothing like watching a classic horror film on the silver screen in a real theater, and young Cohen Phillips found that out recently. Let's join him as...
By Cohen Phillips (Note: Cohen Phillips is the son of Dan "Monster Man" Phillips, whose article for HORROR-WOOD on 8 mm horror film collecting can be found here. Cohen, who is 14, has an interest in classic monsters, writes and produces "James Bond" and "Batman" home made video skits, loves old-time radio shows, has a fascination with Austin Powers, collects Spice Girls music, gave The Phantom Menace a "10," and never thought that Jar Jar Binks was ever annoying! In other words, he’s a monster-mad kid, just the right sort for HORROR-WOOD, and so we’re running an article he wrote about his participation in a theatrical showing of the venerable monster-comedy, Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein. In this case, of course, it’s really "Abbott And Costello Meet Cohenstein!" Wish we could have been there!) It seemed like another ordinary Friday morning, arising for school at 6:40 a.m. Around 6:55 a.m. we turned on the television to tune in to the local "weekend movie reviews" segment of a Kansas City news show. Then, all of a sudden, without warning, the news hit! The announcer said, "And by the way...you might want to think about catching the return of the 1948 classic movie, Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein. It is playing at the Englewood Theatre for one week only."
Dad and I were ecstatic!! It has been Dad's all-time favorite horror/comedy film since his childhood and my personal favorite movie from all the 36 films that the comedy duo released. We had to contact the theater as soon as we could right after school. Being 62 miles south of our home in St. Joseph, we knew nothing about this movie house and no news or advertisements ever prompted us to attend. We got the theater’s management on the phone and began asking questions like, is this in 16mm or 35mm? Screen size? Print quality? Sound quality? Expected turnout on special showing of this nature? The gentleman gladly informed us that this theater books only classics on a regular basis. Wow! He added that the A&C print looked fairly new. A newish 35mm print? Fantastic! We investigated further to find out that Realart Pictures Inc. (which re-issued the classic Universal Studios monster films in the Fifties) is still alive and well and behind the re-issue processing of these prints.
Dad and I just had to go. We made plans on attending the final night and believe me, when all was said and done, we were not only treated to a classic movie but a real. Classic, restored movie house as well. The Englewood Theater is unlike any Theatre in Kansas City. The restored 1940 Art Deco theater has a huge 50-foot curved screen (probably 35 ft. high). Over 1,000 feet of neon (inside and out), 670 seats, and is patterned after the Radio City Music Hall. So, on Thursday, it was a quick after-school supper and homework session, Then, at 5:30 p.m., we (including my "can't-miss-this-either" younger sister, Charla) headed down the road, We set the mood by listening to some of my favorite old-time radio classic cassettes of Abbott and Costello. I love these guys! Driving up to this grand suburban front Picture House was awesome! The neon overhang theater sign and marquee showed up great at 7 p.m. It was still hard to believe what movie title those plastic marquee letters were spelling out. Dad brought along the still camera and started taking shots immediately.
The show started at 7:15! He took pictures of the theater front (while clicking snaps outside, Dad asked a sidewalk-strolling senior citizen couple if they were coming to the show. They excitedly responded, "We sure are!". Admission prices: box office (adults $5, children $3, Tuesday Special--All Seats $2), Concession Area ( three small buttered popcorns, one large drink, a Snickers bar and Dad's favorite, one giant box of Raisonettes, please!) And the huge auditorium! It felt like Premier Night must have felt back in '48. The only thing missing were the huge crowds. I'd say about 50 people attended the show. It was a mixed group of all ages. There were young kids, groups of teens, couples and families. We sat in the middle third row back from the screen and stage area. House lights dimmed along with the multi-colored lit curtains. They parted to the starting of a full color cartoon. Wow! That is a big image on the screen! Mono sound only was coming directly out from behind the screen, but it sounded good. Sound bounced around a little due to size of the auditorium with those walls. The reverb of the soundtrack sounded kinda cool! OK, here it comes. The feature starts off with a black and white, bold and creepy wording that read "Universal Horror". Then there was a fade to a "Realart Pictures, Inc.." logo, another fade out, and on with that unique and super animated opening title and credit sequence. This newly copied print was so excellent it just blew us away. Pin-point sharp, ultra clean (no dirt, lines or scratches), great contrast, just beautiful. Seeing it that big and sharp puts a real dimension to it, making you feel like you're right there! Close-ups of Chaney changing into the Wolf Man, Lugosi’s eyes, and Glenn Strange’s monster makeup were mind-boggling.
Another surprising treat was the crowd’s reaction. They were all, and I mean all, responding to the film as if they never seen it before (perhaps some of them haven’t). Genuine laughs (out-loud and uncontrollable laughs, too)--the response was so overwhelming and amazing to hear. Even those groups of teens were sincerely resounding to those hilarious Costello punch lines and slapstick antics. Any shrieks or screams? You bet! Do you remember during the chase climax when Abbott and Costello think they have trapped Frankenstein’s Monster behind the locked door, only to have the monster’s fist smashing through that closed door and almost smacking Costello in the head? Well, at that point, a female scream filled the auditorium. It was great! After 50 years, this movie was welcomed, received and reacted to just like it was a thrilling new release. To witness this movie performing its magic and entertaining influence after all those years will truly be a memorable moment for me. And for us, too, Cohen, thanks! Your article makes old Renfield want to "scare up" a copy of the film and watch it again. Cheers! Article copyright Cohen Phillips |
