December 11, 2024: Elf (2003) & Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936)
with prelude music by Jake McDonagh
November 11, 2024: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
October 16, 2024: The Wolf Man (1941) & Betty Boop’s Hallowe’en Party (1933) & Idle Roomers (1944)
with prelude music by Jake McDonagh
September 18, 2024: Double Indemnity (1944)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
September 4, 2024: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
(Season 11 Opening Night)
* * *
June 12, 2024: Chinatown (1974) & United News newsreel on D-Day
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing night for the 2023-2024 season.)
May 15, 2024: Back to the Future (1985)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
April 10, 2024: The Wizard of Oz (1939) & The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
With special guest Steve Darnall of “Those Were the Days”
& prelude music by Jay Warren
March 13, 2024: Blazing Saddles (1974) & Ride Him, Bosko! (1932)
February 14, 2024: Titanic (1997)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
January 10, 2024: How the West Was Won (1962)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
December 15, 2023: Die Hard (1988)
with prelude music by Jake McDonagh
October 25, 2023: Little Shop of Horrors (1986) & Little Shop of Horrors (1960) trailer
September 13, 2023: High Noon (1952) & Shot in the Frontier (1954)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 10 Opening Night)
August 23, 2023: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) & High Noon trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
* * *
June 14, 2023: Jaws (1975) & Educated Fish (1937)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2022-2023 season.)
May 17, 2023: From Russia With Love (1963) & Jaws teaser
With James Bond author/historian Raymond Benson
Mar. 29, 2023: The Road Warrior (1981) & In My Merry Oldsmobile (1931); From Russia With Love trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Feb. 8, 2023: Grease (1978)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Jan. 11, 2023: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 14, 2022: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
& Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
With special guest Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune film critic
Dec. 11, 2022: White Christmas (1954) & Meet Me in St. Louis trailer
with prelude music by Jake McDonagh
Nov. 16, 2022: National Velvet (1944)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Oct. 26, 2022: House of Wax (1953)
& House on Haunted Hill/The Abominable Dr. Phibes trailers
With special guest Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price
and prelude music by David Drazin
Oct. 12, 2022: The Thing (1982) & House of Wax trailer
Sept. 21, 2022: Five Easy Pieces (1970) & House of Wax trailer
With special guest Diane Bay, daughter of Karen Black
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Sept. 7, 2022: Rio Bravo (1959) & Five Easy Pieces trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 9 Opening Night)
* * *
Jun. 15, 2022: The Blues Brothers (1980) & Minnie the Moocher (1932)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2021-2022 season.)
May 18, 2022: Dr. No (1962)
With James Bond author/historian Raymond Benson
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Apr. 13, 2022: The African Queen (1951)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Mar. 16, 2022: The Sting (1973)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Feb. 9, 2022: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) & Dancing on the Moon (1935)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Jan. 12, 2022: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 15, 2021: Superman: The Movie (1978) & The Mad Scientist (Superman, 1941)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Nov. 17, 2021: The Magnificent Seven (1960) & preview trailer for Superman
Oct. 27, 2021: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) & Betty Boop’s Hallowe’en Party (1933)
Sept. 15, 2021: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 8 Opening Night)
* * *
Feb. 12, 2020: Moonstruck (1987) & It Happened One Night trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2019-2020 season due to the pandemic.)
Jan. 15, 2020: GoodFellas (1990) & Moonstruck trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 18, 2019: Holiday Inn (1942) & “Christmas Comes But Once a Year” (1936)
with special guests Chuck Schaden & Steve Darnall of “Those Were the Days”
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Nov. 13, 2019: The Right Stuff (1983)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Oct. 30, 2019: Frankenstein (1931) & Dracula (1931)
With “Creature Features” opening & “Intimate Interviews: Bela Lugosi” (1931)
Sept. 18, 2019: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
with special guest Keir Dullea (“Dave Bowman”)
& Stanley Kubrick scholar Raymond Benson
(Season 7 Opening Night)
* * *
Jun. 5, 2019: American Graffiti (1973)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2018-2019 season.)
May 15, 2019: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) & American Graffiti trailer
with special guests: Colin Clark of the Ian Fleming Foundation
James Bond author/historian Raymond Benson
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Apr. 17, 2019: Easter Parade (1948) & “Easter Yeggs” (1947)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
with special guest Steve Darnall of “Those Were the Days”
Apr. 3, 2019: West Side Story (1961) & Easter Parade trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Mar. 13, 2019: The Quiet Man (1952) & “The Wearing of the Grin” (1951)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Feb. 13, 2019: Doctor Zhivago (1965)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Jan. 16, 2019: The Godfather Part II (1974) & Doctor Zhivago trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 19, 2018: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) & “Toyland Premiere” (1934) cartoon
with special guest: Santa Claus
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Nov. 14, 2018: The Great Escape (1963)
Oct. 30, 2018: Beetlejuice (1988) & “Vincent” (1982)
with prelude music by Matt Haider
Oct. 18, 2018: Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
with special guest: Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff
with prelude music by Matt Haider
(Season 6 Opening Night)
* * *
May 16, 2018: Planet of the Apes (1968) with Escape/Conquest of the Planet of the Apes trailers
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2017-2018 season.)
Apr. 25, 2018: Wings (1927)
with organ accompaniment by Jay Warren at both screenings
In partnership with the Silent Film Society of Chicago
Apr. 19, 2018: The Sound of Music (1965)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Mar. 15, 2018: King Kong (1933) & “King Klunk” (1933) cartoon
with prelude music by Jay Warren
with special guest Steve Darnall of “Those Were the Days”
Feb. 13, 2018: Some Like It Hot (1959) & King Kong trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Jan. 18, 2018: The Godfather (1972)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 12, 2017: White Christmas (1954) & “Frosty the Snowman” (1954), “Suzy Snowflake” (1954), and “Hardrock, Coco and Joe” (1951) animated shorts
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Nov. 30, 2017: Home Alone (1990) & “The Snowman” (1931) cartoon
Nov. 14, 2017: The Wizard of Oz (1939) & “The Wizard of Oz” (1933) cartoon
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Oct. 26, 2017: Young Frankenstein (1974) & Frankenstein trailers
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Sept. 14, 2017: Rear Window (1954)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 5 Opening Night)
* * *
May 18, 2017: You Only Live Twice (1967)
with special guests: Colin Clark of the Ian Fleming Foundation
James Bond author/historian Raymond Benson
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2016-2017 season.)
Apr. 20, 2017: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Mar. 16, 2017: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Feb. 9, 2017: Vertigo (1958)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Jan. 12, 2017: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) & Vertigo trailer
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 8, 2016: Spartacus (1960)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
with special guest Steve Darnall (“Those Were the Days”)
Nov. 17, 2016: Enter the Dragon (1973) & Spartacus trailer
Oct. 27, 2016: Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Sept. 15, 2016: The Searchers (1956)
with special guest Lana Wood
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 4 Opening Night)
* * *
May 17, 2016: Captain Blood (1935) & Errol Flynn trailers
with special guests: Rory Flynn and Taryn Power
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Closing Night for the 2015-2016 season.)
Apr. 21, 2016: Thunderball (1965)
with special guests: Colin Clark of the Ian Fleming Foundation
James Bond author/film historian Raymond Benson
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Mar. 10, 2016: A Night at the Opera (1935) & “Thicker Than Water” (1935)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Feb. 11, 2016: Citizen Kane (1941)
with special guest: Michael Dawson, producer and Orson Welles scholar
Jan. 7, 2016: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
Dec. 10, 2015: On the Town (1949) & “Swooner Crooner” (1944)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
with special guest: Steve Darnall, host of radio’s “Those Were the Days”
Nov. 12, 2015: Viva Las Vegas (1964) & Jailhouse Rock trailer
Oct. 29, 2015: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) & “Shiver Me Timbers!” (1934)
with prelude music by David Drazin
Sept. 17, 2015: North By Northwest (1959)
with prelude music by Jay Warren
(Season 3 Opening Night)
* * *
May 7, 2015: Why Be Good? (1929)
with organ accompaniment by Jay Warren!
with special guests: Alice Hargrave, granddaughter of Colleen Moore,
and the Chicago Art Deco Society
(Closing Night for the 2014-2015 season.)
Apr. 1, 2015: Ben-Hur (1959)
With prelude music by Jay Warren!
Mar. 19, 2015: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
with special guests: Beatles author Robert Rodriguez
Chicago Tribune entertainment reporter Mark Caro
And a pre-show performance by Beatles cover band The Time Bandits!
Feb. 10, 2015: Casablanca (1942) & “Our Wife” (1931)
And prelude music by Jay Warren!
Dec. 4, 2014: Gone With the Wind (1939)
with special guest Steve Darnall, host of radio’s “Those Were the Days”
And prelude music by Jay Warren!
Oct. 30, 2014: Son of Frankenstein (1939)
with special guest Donnie Dunagan
And prelude music by Jay Warren!
Sept. 18, 2014: Goldfinger (1964) 50th Anniversary screening
with special guest Colin Clark of the Ian Fleming Foundation
And prelude music by organist Jay Warren!
(Season 2 Opening Night)
* * *
May 1, 2014: In Old Chicago (1938) & Jesse James (1939) with special guests Taryn Power-Greendeer and Michael Butler
And prelude music by Jay Warren!
(Closing Night for the 2013-2014 season.)
Apr. 24, 2014: Scarface (1932) with introduction by Christina Rice, author of Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel
Mar. 13, 2014: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) & “Sons of Liberty” (1939)
Feb. 13, 2014: Wuthering Heights (1939) & “Hearts Are Thumps” (1937)
Jan. 23, 2014: Gunga Din (1939) & “The Film Fan” (1939)
(Opening Night for the “Films of 1939” series)
Dec. 10, 2013: Babes in Toyland (1934) & Big Business with organist Jay Warren
Nov. 20, 2013: The Thief of Bagdad (1924) with organist Jay Warren
Oct. 31, 2013: The Blob (1958)
Oct. 24, 2013: Them! (1954) at the Park Ridge Public Library
Sept. 26, 2013: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
with prelude music by Jay Warren!
(Opening Night for the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series)
At the Park Ridge Public Library:
2020-2022: Legends of Laughter III: The Screwball Comedies
2019: World Cinema
May 10, 2019: The Iron Horse (1924) Transcontinental Railroad 150th Anniversary
2018: The Ealing Comedies
2017: Movies About Movies: Hollywood Projects Itself
2016: Legends of Laughter 2: The Comedy Teams
August 6, 2015: Twelve O’Clock High (The Spirit of ’45 special event)
2015: Cinema of Transcendence
2014: The Rediscovered
with special guest Ann-Marie Streibich, granddaughter of Irene Dunne
2013: Crossed Swords: The Hollywood Swashbuckler
with special guest Taryn Power-Greendeer, daughter of Tyrone Power
& screenings of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Black Pirate (1926) at the Pickwick Theatre
2012: Screen Deco
with special contributions from Screen Deco authors Howard Mandelbaum & Eric Myers
2011: Legends of Laughter
with special introductions by Buster Keaton’s granddaughter and Harold Lloyd’s granddaughter
& a 35mm screening of Speedy (1928) at the Pickwick Theatre courtesy of the Harold Lloyd Foundation
2010: Forbidden Cinema: The Pre-Code Hollywood Series
with an appearance on WBEZ radio (91.5)
2009: Film Noir
This 6-film series was Matthew’s first program since leaving the LaSalle Bank Theatre in 2003. He is also the creator and administrator of the largest Film Noir group on Facebook. Click Here!
