Record Turnout for Gone With the Wind! – Park Ridge Classic Film

The line stretched down the block even past 7 PM…

Our 75th anniversary screening of Gone With the Wind (1939) on December 4, 2014, was a colossal success with 735 people attending! This is a new attendance record for the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series. The evening had the feeling of a re-premiere; it was a major event for the Park Ridge community. We tried to do the film justice by making the evening a big celebration–something you would not have found in a cineplex. We were honoring the film’s actual premiere, which was seventy-five years ago in Atlanta, Georgia.

Radio Host Steve Darnall of “Those Were the Days” (90.9 FM) and his wife, Meg, were in the lobby meeting fans of old-time radio. The Spring 2014 back issue of the “Nostalgia Digest” featured a cover story on the “Films of 1939” written by program host Matthew Hoffman. The new Winter 2015 issue was also available. Radio Hall of Famer Chuck Schaden and his wife, Ellen, were in attendance as well.

From 6:30-7:00 PM organist Jay Warren performed prelude music on the theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer. He played a medley of instantly recognizable themes. There were the Civil War-era melodies that composer Max Steiner himself incorporated into Gone With the Wind– as well as a rousing rendition of the “Tara Theme” from the movie.

Before Gone With the Wind began its Overture, Matthew Hoffman revealed some of the upcoming shows the theatre was planning to present in 2015. The audience’s excitement was clearly evident when the titles were unofficially announced onstage. Afterward, movie hostess Allison pulled the winning ticket (out of a film can, of course) for the GWTW gift basket. For an hour before the show, audiences had an opportunity to participate in the raffle. The wrapped basket had been prominently displayed in the lobby. The winner was a very nice lady named Jennifer who had purchased five tickets– and the winning number was on the second to last ticket she had.

We screened a gorgeous DCP (digital) restoration of the film that included an intermission (which audiences quickly took advantage of since the entire presentation was about 233 minutes). Gone With the Wind looked spectacular on the big screen. Audiences applauded when the four principal stars made their respective debuts. Perhaps the largest applause, however, was reserved for Clark Gable’s Rhett Butler during his first appearance at the staircase in Twelve Oaks.

A very festive atmosphere could be felt at the Pickwick Theatre. Those who came knew they were seeing something very special. Even the few patrons remaining in the library that night were wondering what was going on across the street. The line outside the box office continued to stretch down the block past 7 PM. It was a mixed crowd that included seniors (one of whom had seen the original release of the film), Baby Boomers, and younger people who made GWTW their date night. In fact, over 400 were $7 admissions (people under the age of 60). We are extremely grateful to all those who came out to support this show.

The following is a sample of some of the feedback that has been coming in since last Thursday:

I wanted to follow up with you on the presentation of GWTW on Thursday. The entrance foyer with the girls in period gowns generated an atmosphere of romantic antebellum elegance. People seemed to be truly excited that a great event was about to take place. My wife Jean and I were transfixed by the opulence of the sets and beauty of the Technicolor scenes. We waited patiently for years for the right time to see GWTW in the right kind of theatre and weren’t disappointed. You did a great job putting together the entire evening.

Regards

Ben and Jean

Program host Matthew Hoffman with movie hostess Allison…