{"id":10532,"date":"2017-01-04T14:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T20:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=10532"},"modified":"2017-01-05T10:39:16","modified_gmt":"2017-01-05T16:39:16","slug":"once-bonded-brew-view-thrice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=10532","title":{"rendered":"Once Bonded, Brew & View thrice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moments past and local culture lost will continue to stir C-U Blogfidential<\/strong><\/span> this winter like the longest of overarching shadows, but we must continue to embrace their historical worth. For instance, 20 years ago today on Saturday, January 4, 1997<\/strong>, we might have invited friends to meet us at the “Brew & View” on campus and then decided over pizza slices and libations whether to stay for THUNDERBALL<\/strong> at 7:45 p.m., YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE<\/strong> at 10 p.m., or DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER<\/strong> at midnight. If otherwise not busy that evening, we could have simply camped out for the entire James Bond<\/strong> marathon thanks to the allure of $3 movie tickets, cheap concessions, beat-up sofa seats, drink specials at a fully-stocked bar, and the rarity of watching right here in Champaign-Urbana<\/strong> \u201cnew 35mm Technicolor<\/strong> prints\u201d of famous films we had previously only seen on television in cropped and censored forms.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Before the Canopy Club<\/strong> began occupying the former Thunderbird Theater<\/strong> at 708 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana<\/strong>, in 1998, prior entrepreneurs rented the property and established the Brew & View at the Thunderbird<\/strong>. Their agreeable concept was aimed directly at the University of Illinois<\/strong> student body and modeled after the long-running Brew & View at the Vic<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in Chicago<\/strong> \u2013 book double and triple features of second-run flicks that young people would know and want to see, keep prices low across the board, and reserve off nights for special events rentals. Sensing an opportunity, Paul Young<\/strong> of the Champaign news weekly The Octopus<\/strong><\/span> collaborated with this upstart venue to host a series of offbeat festivals in the hopes they would attract the community at large. Not unlike the Brew & View itself<\/a><\/span>, their novel effort shone brightly and burnt out quickly between 1996 and 1997.<\/p>\n

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Certain programs cooked up by The Octopus<\/span> appealed to general moviegoers while others reveled in peculiar subgenres that would be fancied mostly by the adventurous, reflecting the rise of attention paid to \u201ccult,\u201d \u201cmondo,\u201d and \u201cpsychotronic\u201d cinema in the Eighties and Nineties. Staff writers, UIUC professors, and employees from co-sponsor That\u2019s Rentertainment<\/strong> took their turns in selecting films with Young as well as contributing informative notes to the two-page schedules that appeared in the weekly. The trio of \u201cclip and save\u201d promotions we’ve reproduced in this post feature bylines from none other than CUBlog<\/strong><\/span> editor Jason Pankoke<\/strong>, constituting his earliest pop culture writing in C-U media. They include \u201cThe 1st Annual Octopus Sci Fi Film Festival<\/strong>\u201d from June 1996<\/a><\/span>, \u201cSplatterfest<\/strong>\u201d from February 1997, and the aforementioned \u201cSean Connery as James Bond 007<\/strong>.\u201d Click on each thumbnail for a large-size facsimile you can read!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eight film festivals took place during the nine-month stretch this Octopus<\/span>\/Brew & View partnership lasted; below we have compiled the chronology as best as possible, based on revisiting Ye Ed<\/strong>\u2019s personal copies of The Octopus<\/span> and leafing through a collection archived at the Champaign County Historical Archives<\/strong> in the Urbana Free Library<\/strong>. The Octopus<\/span> would continue to sponsor unique and alternative film happenings that were organized by others in our community, such as a 3-D double feature of THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON<\/strong> and IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE<\/strong> at the University YMCA<\/strong> in March 1997 (Vol. 3, No. 9, 3\/7\/97, p.20) and the entire four-year run of Grace Giorgio<\/strong> and Eric Fisher<\/strong>\u2019s Freaky Film Festival<\/strong> starting in October 1997 (Vol. 3, No. 39, 10\/24\/97, p.F1-F4), but never again take the lead on something this audacious. We are slightly shaken by the reminder.<\/p>\n

~ Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n

p.s.<\/em> As listed on a ballot appearing in The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 3, No. 29, 8\/15\/97, p.12, movie suggestions of a decidedly mainstream bent were fielded from the weekly\u2019s readership for a \u201cMidnight Flashback Film Festival<\/strong>\u201d set to run at the Goodrich Savoy 14<\/strong> between 10\/3\/97 and 11\/8\/97. A subsequent full-page schedule in Vol. 3, No. 35, 9\/26\/97, p.11, more or less confirmed the Champaign-Urbana and University of Illinois communities would rather see CADDYSHACK, THE LOST BOYS, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK<\/strong>, and THE SHINING<\/strong> (1980) on the big screen than what had come before. We can only flash back to the disappointment we originally felt with this inevitability.<\/p>\n

p.s.2<\/em> It is not lost on us that many vintage genre films, including a few of the Octopus<\/span> selections named below, might be deemed tasteless or offensive in 2017 even if seen as merely amusements or curiosities in 1997. We wonder how many community members\u2019 minds would spontaneously combust if, say, a gutsy impresario spoke up tomorrow morning and announced that a Russ Meyer<\/strong> retrospect would soon play the C-U. Does the prospect sound inconceivable, dearest prude or progressive? It actually happened on the UIUC campus<\/em> in March 1971 with Meyer in attendance! (The Daily Illini<\/span><\/strong>, 4\/2\/71, p.21)<\/p>\n

p.s.3<\/em> Yes, they screened BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS<\/strong>. And VIXEN<\/strong>. And CHERRY, HARRY & RAQUEL<\/strong>. And FINDERS KEEPERS, LOVERS WEEPERS!<\/strong> Bless you, Cinemaguild<\/strong>. \u201cFly the \u2018X\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Octopus<\/span> Film Festival chronology<\/strong>
\n @ The Brew & View at the Thunderbird, Urbana, IL<\/strong>
\n June 1996 – March 1997<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 1st Annual Octopus Sci Fi Film Festival.\u201d 6\/14\/96-6\/27\/96:<\/strong> ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), DR. STRANGELOVE, INVADERS FROM MARS (1953), THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, THE ROAD WARRIOR, THE SHADOW (1940), THE TERMINATOR, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953); co-sponsored by Garcia\u2019s Pizza in a Pan, News Channel 15, That\u2019s Rentertainment, and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 2, No. 6, 6\/96, p.3-4; notes and original artwork by Jason Pankoke; programmed by Paul Young and Jason Pankoke: series consultant: Melissa Starker<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond Jackie Chan: Hong Kong Action Cinema Festival.\u201d 9\/8\/96, 9\/15\/96, 9\/22\/96:<\/strong> A BETTER TOMORROW, A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), CITY ON FIRE, HARD BOILED, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA V; co-sponsored by That\u2019s Rentertainment and The Web 93.5; program schedule in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 2, No. 10, 9\/6\/96, p.3-4; introduction by David Desser; notes by Paul Young and Trey Campbell; programmed by Paul Young<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnime-nia!\u201d 11\/3\/96, 11\/10\/96, 11\/17\/96:<\/strong> GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995), PATLABOR 2: MOBILE POLICE, ROUJIN-Z, THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE; co-sponsored by Japanese Animation Club of UIUC, Kamakura, That\u2019s Rentertainment, Toontown, and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 2, No. 18, 11\/1\/96, p.3-4; introduction by Craig Fischer; notes by Ryan Bell, Craig Fischer, and Kevin Gifford; programmed by Scott Durfor<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSean Connery as James Bond 007.\u201d 12\/20\/96-1\/9\/97:<\/strong> DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, DR. NO, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE; co-sponsored by Bank Illinois, Jon\u2019s Pipe Shop, That\u2019s Rentertainment, and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 2, No. 25, 12\/20\/96, p.3-4; notes by Jason Pankoke<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSon of Hong Kong Action Cinema Festival.\u201d 1\/19\/97, 1\/26\/97, 2\/2\/97:<\/strong> THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (1993), DRAGON INN (1993), GOD OF GAMBLERS, TAI CHI MASTER; co-sponsored by That\u2019s Rentertainment and The Web 93.5; program schedule in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 2, No. 28, 1\/7\/97, p.3-4; introduction by Paul Young; notes by Lisa Peabody; programmed by Scott Durfor<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSplatterfest.\u201d 2\/9\/97, 2\/16\/97, 2\/23\/97:<\/strong> DEAD ALIVE, EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972), RE-ANIMATOR; co-sponsored by That\u2019s Rentertainment and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 3, No. 5, 2\/7\/97, p.3-4; introduction and notes by Jason Pankoke; programmed by Paul Young and Jason Pankoke<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPsychotronic Film Festival.\u201d 3\/2\/97, 3\/9\/97, 3\/16\/97:<\/strong> BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, CAGED HEAT, CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS; co-sponsored by That\u2019s Rentertainment and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 3, No. 8, 2\/28\/97, p.3-4; introduction and notes by Jared Kaufman; programmed by Paul Young and Craig Fischer<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBlaxploitation, Baby!\u201d* 4\/6\/97, 4\/13\/97, 4\/20\/97:<\/strong> BLACULA, FOXY BROWN, SUPER FLY, SWEET SWEETBACK\u2019S BAADASSSSS SONG; co-sponsored by That\u2019s Rentertainment and The Web 93.5; program in <\/em>The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 3, No. 13, 4\/4\/97, p.3-4; introduction and notes by Jared Kaufman; programmed by Paul Young and Craig Fischer\u2026<\/em> fin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

*Due to the Brew & View\u2019s abrupt closure that spring, “Blaxploitation” was rescheduled as midnight-only shows between 4\/18\/97 and 4\/26\/97 at the Goodrich Savoy 14, according to a promotional advertisement in The Octopus<\/span>, Vol. 3, No. 15, 4\/18\/97, p.21.<\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

Tear sheets \u00a9 1996-1997 The Octopus<\/span>, Inc.
\nCollection of the author.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We will never again witness the kind of public movie presentations The Octopus and friends selected to play the Brew & View at the Thunderbird in Urbana, IL, two long decades ago. Creepy! Edgy!! Too Damn Wild!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,1666,19,274,13,31,26],"tags":[1753,1754,1631,1066,331,1752,672,91],"class_list":["post-10532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-bittersweet-places","category-images-du-cu","category-print-matter-du-c-u","category-public-events","category-the-old-school","category-theatres-venues","tag-brew-view-urbana","tag-brew-view-at-the-vic","tag-champ-co-historical-archives","tag-james-bond","tag-jason-pankoke","tag-paul-young","tag-the-octopus","tag-thunderbird-theatre"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10532\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}