Sixty-five years ago, two European classics debuted in Chicago arthouses after a long delay: Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless (1960) premiered at the World Playhouse, and Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Avventura (1960) premiered at the Town Theatre.

In 1971, who was the baddest mother at the Chicago box office? I'm talking about Shaft! Gordon Parks' iconic film dominated The Loop for an impressive eighteen weeks at the Roosevelt Theatre. Can you dig it?

Forty-five years ago, Hell Night (1981), the latest entry in the slasher craze and starring Linda Blair, opened across Chicagoland, including an engagement at the mighty Woods Theatre alongside the kung-fu film 60 Second Assassin (1978).

Relax and enjoy a movie break tonight!

SURE, THEY'RE CRAZY! But you'll laugh away your cares at their Antics! In the fall of 1931, amid the Great Depression, the Marx Brothers’ latest comedy opus, Monkey Business (1931), was a sizable hit at the McVickers Theatre in The Loop.

THE AMAZING WOODS FILM BUYERS DO IT AGAIN! In October 1981, the mighty Woods Theatre combined the Hong Kong horror film Revenge of the Zombies (aka Black Magic 2, 1976) with Ten Chang Cheh's Tigers from Kwangtung (1979). Early birds could see both for just $2!

When was the last time you were REALLY SCARED!!!? The Exorcist...Jaws...Now there's DEEP RED. You will NEVER forget it!!! Fifty years ago, Dario Argento's Deep Red opened in theaters across Chicagoland, including a double feature with Ebony, Ivory & Jade at the Oriental Theatre.

Farewell to Eva Marie Saint (1924-2026), one of the last living stars of her generation. On July 1, 1959, Eva Marie Saint joined director Alfred Hitchcock in The Loop for the world premiere of North by Northwest (1959) at the United Artists Theatre.

BALLYHOO ALERT: Some clown is stealing all my research and making t-shirts out of it. Should I be selling WCB merch? Would you buy it?

Fifty-five years ago today, the psychological horror film Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971) opened at the Chicago Theatre with memorable ballyhoo, including a hearse parked outside and a spooky young woman ushering moviegoers into the theater.

Forget your cares. See a movie tonight.

Forty years ago today, the Italian horror classic Demons (1985) opened at theaters across Chicagoland, including the grimy M&R Dearborn Cinema in The Loop—a short-lived venue that could have easily doubled for the hellish movie house featured in the film.

An inexplicable double feature opened at the Woods Theatre on September 25, 1981: the new comedy Carbon Copy (1981), featuring a young Denzel Washington, and the dusty Master of Horror (1965), a re-edited Argentinian horror film.

Fifty-five years ago, Honky opened at the Loop Theatre and quickly became a hit, grossing $113,000 in its first month. Originally titled Shelia, theater magnate Oscar Brotman changed the title for exploitation: "It's not a bad little picture, but what can you do with Shelia?"

Forty years ago today, David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986) premiered in Chicago at the Fine Arts on Michigan Avenue. Although Roger Ebert famously gave the film a scathing review, Chicago Tribune critics Gene Siskel and @dave_kehr praised its bold originality.

FROM THE BALLYHOO ARCHIVES: An issue of Balaban and Katz Magazine from September 29, 1928, featuring Esther Ralston on the cover and a profile of Buster Keaton imitating Lon Chaney. These had a circulation of 115,000 and were handed out at theaters across Chicago.

SHUDDER-TREMBLE-GASP SHOW! Sixty years ago, the Starlight drive-in screened The Skull (1965), Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), and The Mad Executioners (1965). Any supernatural creature accompanied by the Devil received free admission.

Filmed in SUPER 70mm CHILL-O-RAMA! Fifty-five years ago today, Frankenstein's Bloody Terror (The Mark of the Wolfman, 1968), the first Paul Naschy werewolf film, opened in theaters and drive-ins across Chicagoland alongside the Italian chiller The Embalmer (1965).

TODAY—BATMAN TAKES OVER CHICAGO! Sixty years ago today, after first conquering television, the feature film Batman (1966) opened in theaters across Chicagoland. Batmania's power was so strong that the film opened just months after its premiere.

A century ago, Daisy & Violet Hilton, billed as "San Antonio's Siamese Twins," were the talk of Chicagoland, headlining live stage shows at major theaters on the Orpheum Circuit throughout the summer of 1926. Today, they are best remembered for their appearance in Freaks (1932).