Giant bugs will be invading WOW Hall on Saturday when the local venue has its Monsterama 2 movie showing. WOW Hall will show two insect fear films, “Godzilla vs. Megalon” and “Beginning of the End,” in an effort to recreate the drive-in theater experience.
The 1973 flick “Godzilla vs. Megalon” centers on what happens when a robot sends Godzilla to rescue people from a giant beetle called Megalon sent by the underground kingdom of Seatopia.
Released in 1957, “Beginning of the End” is about a journalist who uncovers an Illinois State University science experiment that resulted in giant locusts taking over Chicago.
“(These movies) reflect the social mindset of people at that time — their fear of untapped science and government experimentations,” WOW Hall board of directors Vice Chair Robin Shurtz said. Shurtz suggested the idea for Monsterama.
Shurtz, who also teaches Incredibly Strange Films, a class at Lane Community College, is an avid fan of old science-fiction movies. He first thought of showing old movies on the big screen when he noticed outdoor drive-ins in his area being replaced by other buildings.
“It came from an idea I had almost 10 years ago, when the American drive-in dried up,” Shurtz said. “The American pastime of going to the drive-in was disappearing and the WOW Hall gave me an opportunity to try and recreate it.”
Traditionally, only live performance acts are featured at WOW Hall. However, publicist Bob Fennessy said WOW Hall purchased a projector at half cost and thought Monsterama would be a great way to use it.
The venue will show vintage cartoons and movie trailers, and popcorn will be for sale in the lobby to help complete the drive-in experience. “It’s just a matter
of being able to sit where you want, eat popcorn in the lobby,” Fennessy said.
This Saturday’s showing is the second installment in the Monsterama series. Shurtz will continue the exhibitions as long as they remain successful. He plans to show “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” in December.
The doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday and the double feature begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $3.