Local author looks at Red Scare movies
In 2014, longtime Arlington Heights resident David J. Hogan wrote "The Wizard of Oz FAQ," an exhaustively researched look at the classic movie that has spawned inferior movie sequels and prequels, a Broadway musical, zillions of "Oz" conventions and a watershed industry of memorabilia.
Now, Hogan has edited a new book "Invasion USA: Essays on Anti-Communist Movies of the 1950s And 1960s." Sixteen contributing writers (including Hogan) wrote 21 essays on Red Scare films.
The essays analyze an estimated 40 works, including science fiction, animation, espionage thrillers, war adventures, end of the world pictures, slapstick comedies and even a couple of Roy Rogers westerns.
"My intro gets at the whys and wherefores of the Cold War, and the reasons Hollywood felt compelled to marshal its resources to do battle with the Red Menace," Hogan told me by email.
"Invasion USA: Essays on Anti-Communist Movies of the 1950s and 1960s" is available at select bookstores, at Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, Waterstones.com, eBay vendors and from the publisher at Mcfarlandbooks.com.
For our Suburbs to Showbiz profile on Hogan, go to dailyherald.com/article/20140721/news/140729700/.
<h3 class="briefHead">'Wonderful Life' gets run for local charity</h3>
The perennial holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life" returns to the big screen at the historic Tivoli Theater, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove, for two special showings at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3. Holiday music will be performed on the Wurlitzer organ before each show.
Admission costs a $5 donation. Proceeds will go to the Sharing Connections Furniture Bank. Go to classiccinemas.com.
<h3 class="briefHead">'Thrill' gets one-week ride at local theaters</h3>
"Thrill Ride," a fantasy adventure written and directed by Woodstock filmmaker Chris Parrish, opens for a limited release Dec. 1-8 at Classic Cinemas theaters in Woodstock, Elk Grove and Naperville.
The film, inspired by the ideas of Parrish's son Mason, who died at the age of 10 from a rare form of pediatric brain cancer in 2011, tells the tale of three kids looking for Al Capone's treasure, rumored to be hidden somewhere in a Chicago-area amusement park. The movie was shot in Chicago.
"Thrill Ride" can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon. It has a video release date of Tuesday, Dec. 12. Go to theMasonParrishFoundation.org for donations.
<h3 class="briefHead">Love means seeing the great romance movies</h3>
Dann & Raymond's Movie Club presents "We're Not Going to Say We're Sorry - Love Stories at the Cinema," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Free admission! Go to schaumburglibrary.org.