It's that time of year in the US when backyard barbecues are fired up and the night sky is full of fireworks. It might be loud and scare the hell out of pets, but it does keep the zombies at bay.
Ooooh, sky flowers pretty!
But fear not, US Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy fans! The patriotic party hasn't put a damper on the events happening around the Pacific Northwest, as this edition of the Weekly Update has plenty of movies, cons and even some stage productions to keep you busy.
For starts, The Addams Family takes to the stage in Tigard, OR, Mister Theater in Portland, OR, presents a stage version of Frankenstein, Gearcon and OzCon start up this Friday, and the Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk and Movie infest Seattle, WA this Saturday. Up in Vancouver, BC, the Rio Theatre has a great line up of films to keep you in a theater seat. And you'll also find details on the Skullface Astronaut Horror Double Feature in Salem, OR, the start of the Spielberg on Film at The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, and MUCH MORE!
Of course, check out the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, as I've got details on the uncut 35mm print of Suspiria coming to Seattle in October and to Portland in December. I've got lots of outdoor movie screenings in the area (with more to come), the screening of a rare 35mm print of Mighty Peking Man and the Wizards 40th Anniversary Record Release Party at The Hollywood Theatre And don't forget, Rock Opera: The Authorized Alice Cooper Story is returning to the stage in Portland and Seattle in July. As you know, more is coming, so keep checking back!!
As always, if you are hosting, or know of, a Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy event in the Pacific Northwest, email me at shadowoverportland @live.com and I'll post the details on the site. Remember, listing on The Shadow Over Portland is FREE and reaches hundreds of readers every week.
And should you attend any of the events listed below, please let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!
Buy Tickets Now!
Puppeteers for Fears brings Cthulhu: The Musical! to 18th and Union (1406 18th Ave in Seattle, WA) on July 21, 22 and 24 (Friday, Saturday and Monday) at 8 pm. The production brings H.P. Lovecraft's classic tale to life with hand-and-rod puppets and an original score featuring pirate chanteys, power-ballads and heavy metal. While all ages are welcome, the material is considered R-rated, so parental discretion is suggested for small children. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the 18th and Union website. Be advised, the Portland, OR, performances sold out in days, so get tickets early!
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You might need to watch for snakes as Mystery Science Theater 3000 presents a LIVE riff of the Arch Hall Jr. film Eegah at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR) on July 28 at 8 pm. I don't need to say much more about this, except that tickets will sell out fast, so don't delay. For additional details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts website.
And in Seattle, WA, MST3K fans can catch the live riff of Eegah at The Moore Theatre (1932 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA) on Saturday, July 29, at 7 pm. Or take a chance and buy tickets for the 10 pm show, featuring a SECRET SURPRISE FILM, also at The Moore Theatre! I don't need to say much more about this, except that tickets will sell out fast, so don't delay. For additional details, and a link to advance ticket sales for either show, visit the MST3K website.
UPDATE: According to a Facebook post from Something Weird Video, the high def scan of Eegah to be used in the show is from the original 35mm camera negative of the movie from the Something Weird film vault!
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The Grindhouse Film Festival presents Mighty Peking Man at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, July 18, in GLORIOUS 35mm! This Shaw Brothers production, designed to cash in on the 1976 remake of King Kong, features a giant ape rampaging through Hong Kong (of course), but adds into the cheesy mix a beautiful blonde who's only comfortable wearing a leopard skin bikini! The show will likely sell out, so get your tickets early!! For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
Exhibitor Space Available
Geek the Halls 2017, hosted by the PDX Browncoats, takes place December 16 and 17 at the DoubleTree Hotel Portland (1000 NE Multnomah St in Portland, OR). Visit the Facebook Event Page for a link to the event's exhibitor application.
Ongoing
The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is celebrating its Five Year Anniversay with the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez love letter to classic exploitation films, Grindhouse, through Thursday, June 29. Showtime is 8 pm. For more details The Joy Cinema website or the Facebook Event Page.
NOTE: Grindhouse is the Weird Wednesday screening this week. Showtime is 8 pm and admission is $2. You must be 21 or older to attend.
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The Bad Batch, the new film from Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) opens today at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA). The film deals with a girl, left in a fenced off Texas wasteland who is captured by a band of cannibals. Expect the film to be more complex than that simple summation. As of this post, the movie is scheduled to run until Thursday, July 6. Please note, the theater is closed on July 4. Visit The Grand Illusion Cinema website for showtimes.
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The McMenamins Mission Theater and Pub (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Luc Besson's Sci Fi classic, The Fifth Element, through Friday, June 30. Minors are admitted with a parent or guardian to all screenings except on Thursday, June 29 (this is a 21 and older only screening). Showtimes vary, so visit the McMenamins Mission Theater website for more details and advance ticket sales.
Haunted Attractions
Please visit the Haunted Attractions page for details on trap rooms and ghost tours in the Pacific Northwest, as well as an advance details for October haunted attractions.
Open Film Submission
May, 2017
Wednesday, June 28
The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is celebrating 30 years of Star Trek: The Next Generation with a screening of The Best of Both Worlds. In this classic two part episode, the Borg attack the Federation and capture Picard, turning him into Locutus, leaving Riker and the crew of the Enterprise facing the choice of killing their captain or giving the Borg a chance to assimilate the Earth. Showtime is 7:30 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
Thursday, June 29
They're creepy and they're kooky... And they are coming to the Deb Fennell Auditorium at Tigard High School (9000 SW Durham Rd in Tigard, OR). The Broadway version of The Addams Family will take the stage through July 23. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Broadway Rose Theatre Company website. Please be advised that children under six, including babes in arms, will not be admitted.
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OzCon International returns to Portland, OR this weekend (see below), and Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) is celebrating with a one night only screening of The Wizard of Oz tonight at 6:30 pm. Emmy Award-Winning producer and Oz historian John Fricke will introduce the film and host a follow-up Q and A, along with trivia and prizes! For more details and advance ticket sales (on sale now and strongly recommended), visit the Cinema 21 website.
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The Miyazaki Film Fest, hosted by Moon Burros, takes place tonight at the Wayfinding Academy (8010 N Charleston Ave in Portland, OR) tonight at 5 pm. The films screened will be Princess Mononoke and Ponyo, and there will be a pre- and post film discussion focusing on the balance of art, nature and activism. A suggested donation of $5 is asked, and all proceeds with go to fund the "soon to be Wayfinding community garden!" For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Mister Theater (1847 E Burnside St, #101 in Portland, OR) presents a stage production of Frankenstein, hosted by The Modern Prometheans, tonight through Saturday, July 1, at 8 pm. A 2 pm matinee will close the show's run on Sunday, July 2. Tickets are just $10. For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
Friday, June 30
The seventh annual GEAR Con (Gaslight-fantastic Explorers, Adventurers and Romantics' Convention) takes place this weekend at the DoubleTree by Hilton (1000 Multnomah St NE in Portland, OR). Expect lots of costumes (and a costume contest), evening entertainment a marketplace and more. For more details, and a link to ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Luc Besson's sci fi classic, The Fifth Element, screens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 9:30 pm. This digital restoration is part of the film's 20th Anniversary, and a nice prelude to the upcoming Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
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OzCon 2017 takes place this weekend at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel (8235 NE Airport Way in Portland, OR). A celebration of author L. Frank Baum and the Land of Oz, the con features special guests Doug Aberle (animator of the Nome King in Return to Oz), Oz historian John Fricke and Inanna McGraw, co-author of Merry Go Round in Oz and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz. For all the details on all the events, and registration information, visit the OzCon website.
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The Five Year Anniversary celebration continues at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) with Raiders of the Lost Ark playing through Thursday, July 6. Showtimes have yet to be announced, so check back here, or The Joy Cinema website.
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The Olympia Film Society presents Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome at 9 pm tonight at The Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA). Tickets are $9 ($6 for OFS members) and are available 30 minutes prior to showtime. For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome will also screen at 11:55 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC). For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
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The Bad Batch, the new film from Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) opens today at The Kiggins Theatre (14011 Main St in Vancouver, WA). The film deals with a girl, left in a fenced off Texas wasteland who is captured by a band of cannibals. Expect the film to be more complex than that simple summation. Showtimes have yet to be announced, so visit The Kiggins Theatre website for more details later in the month.
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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) has added an additional screening of Jim Henson's dark fantasy, The Dark Crystal, tonight at 6:30 pm. For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
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Also playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight is Logan: Noir. The final Wolverine movie gets the black and white treatment the desert scenes seemed to strive for tonight at 8:45 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
July, 2017
Saturday, July 1
The Seattle, WA, Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk and Movie Party has come back from the grave! The undead fun kicks off at 6 pm with an all ages zombie walk around South Lake Union, starting Denny Park and ending at the Space Needle. The event is open to the public. Then, around dusk, The Seattle Outdoor Cinema is presenting a screening of the rom/zom/com classic, Shaun of the Dead on the lawn of the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave N in Seattle, WA). Please note, the screening is for those 21 and older ONLY! General admission is $5 in advance, $10 at the door, though a variety of ticket upgrades (including guaranteed seating with the purchase of a season pass for all SOC screenings). The event is expected to reach capacity, so arrive early and hang out at spend some time at The Winchester Bar Beer Garden (you WILL need your ID). Be sure to dress up for the Zombie Costume Contest! For more details, you can visit the Facebook Event Page or the Everbrite.com Page for details and advance ticket sales.
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The Capital Taproom (150 High St SE in Salem, OR) hosts the Skullface Astronaut Double Feature Horror Film Event tonight starting at 6:30 pm. Local indie horror film director Joe Sherlock will be present to talk about the two films, Blood Creek Woodsman and Odd Noggins, and possibly discuss his future projects. Oh, and the films will be shown in the Taproom's HAUNTED BASEMENT! For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial kicks off the Spielberg On Film series at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7 pm. The film will be presented in GLOURIOUS 35mm, so I'm assuming it's NOT the CGI edited version that hit home video. For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
Sunday, July 2
The Zymoglyphic Museum (6225 SE Alder St in Portland, OR) is open today from 11 am to 4 pm. For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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The psychological horror film, It Comes at Night, opens at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 8:15 pm. The film will be shown again on Wednesday, July 5 at 9:30 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
Monday, July 3
Well, yippie-kay-yay! Die Hard is coming to the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St in Yelm, WA) tonight at 7 pm. Sure, I usually post screenings of this classic 80s action flick in December (hey, it's the greatest Christmas movie ever made!), but I'm very happy to mention whenever the film hits the big screen. For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Yelm Cinemas website.
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Celebrate the Fourth of July like you did in 1996, by watching aliens blow up cities and President Bill Pullman rallying the troops for one final battle! Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents Independence Day tonight at 7 pm in Hecklevision. Let's be honest, the movie features some AMAZING practical effects, but the plot is a mash up of cheesy movie troupes just ripe for heckling. Get your cell phones ready and channel your inner riffer as your comments invade the screen!! For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Jim Henson's dark fantasy, The Dark Crystal, plays at 9 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
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The classic made-for-television movie Duel screens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7:30 pm in GLOURIOUS 35mm! Part of the Spielberg On Film series taking place this month, the film showcases Spielberg's ability to generate tension and contains a few shots that will be later used in Jaws. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Hollywood Theatre website.
Tuesday, July 4
The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) screens Steven Spielberg's summer classic, Jaws, tonight at 6:30 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) screens Logan: Noir tonight at 9:15 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
Thursday, July 6
The Spielberg On Film series continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with another of the director's made-for-television films, Something Evil, presented in GLOURIOUS 16mm. The feature deals with a couple discovering an entity in their house intent on possession the wife. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
Friday, July 7
Glitterpants Productions hosts Urban Unglued: Dark in the Park at Pacific Days at Pacific Park (600 3rd Ave SE in Pacific, WA) through Sunday, July 9. The event is a "very special dark and unusual themed crafters consortium the likes of which Pacific Days has never seen before!" Admission into the park is free, and food trucks will be present. For additional details, including information on becoming a vendor, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Shock Opera: The Authorized Alice Cooper Story returns to Portland for one night only at the Paris Theatre (6 SW Third Ave in Portland, OR). Be sure to check out this local production, hosted by Shock Opera and The 9th Annual Guignolfest: 3-Day Horror Movie Contest. Showtime is 8 pm. For additional details, including a link to the teaser video, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Come out to play tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) as The Warriors screens tonight at 11 pm. Costumes are encouraged (and yes, there will be prizes!), but the management requests you leave the glass bottles and baseball bats at home! For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.
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The Spielberg On Film series gets some bite tonight as The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) screens Jaws in GLORIOUS 35MM at 7:30 pm. The film also screens tomorrow, July 8, at 3 pm. For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
Saturday, July 8
Head off to see the wizard this evening at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) with a screening of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz at 5:30 pm. You know the story, now you can catch it on the big screen! For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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The Spielberg On Film series roars this weekend as The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) screens Jurassic Park in GLORIOUS 35MM at 7:30 pm. The film also screens tomorrow, July 9, at 3 pm. For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
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In honor of the Tacoma Pride Festival, Destiny City Comics (218 St Helens Ave in Tacoma, WA) hosts the Destiny City Queer-Fem Con today from noon to 8 pm. For more details, including a list of guests, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Seattle Outdoor Cinema presents a Quote-A-Long screening of The Princess Bride tonight at the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave. North in Seattle, WA). The event starts at 7 pm with a themed beer garden, and the movie starts at dusk. This is an event for those 21 or older only. Admission is $5 to $10 and it is suggested you arrive early, as these events fill up quickly. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Soundcontrol PDX brings Magnabolt, Leathurbitch (in their debut performance), Gorgon Stare and Warpfire to the Tonic Lounge (3100 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 8:30 pm. This is a 21 and older show. Admission is $8 at the door, $6 in advance. For more details, including a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
Sunday, July 9
The Spielberg On Film series at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) takes you to a dimension that "lies the pit of man's fear and the summit of his knowledge" with a screening of Twilight Zone: The Movie, in GLORIOUS 35mm, at 7:30 pm. For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.
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Holy Heavenly Homage! In tribute to the late Adam West, the Rio Theatre (1600 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is screening Batman: The Movie tonight at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm). This campy classic is PURRFECT on the big screen, as the Dynamic Duo take on Joker, The Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman in classic Batman style! Costumes are encouraged. For more information, including a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.
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Shriek: A Women of Horror Film Class presents Neil Marshall's claustrophobic horror classic The Descent tonight at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Sponsored by Crypticon Seattle and Scarecrow Video, the film and discussion takes place at Naked City Brewery and Taphouse (8564 Greenwood Ave N in Seattle, WA). This is a 21 and older event, and no outside food or drinks are allowed. Tickets start at $10. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.