By ANN ESCAMILLA, Staff Reporter.
It all started as an idea in college for Kelly Kent of Bay City; an idea to create a Midnight Monster Movie event that everyone of all ages would enjoy. After years of hard work and dedication it came to life… just like Frankenstein.
The fifth Midnight Monster Movies at the Historic Masonic Temple, 700 N Madison Ave, Bay City, took off with a bang Saturday the 21st, with the showing of “Bride of Frankenstein”. Fifty people ranging from teens to adults filled the beautiful Temple room.
The smell of popcorn and quite chatter filled the theatre of the Masonic Temple which is also known as the Blue Room. Magnificent vibrant blues and greens popped as you entered considering it to be breathtaking with it’s old historic charm. “I feel like the feel in this room fits perfectly with the Midnight Monster Movie,” said Paige Sawicki from Bay City.
This Saturday the 21st, the Midnight Monster Movies at the Temple will again bring its viewers an old classic. The theatre will be showing “Carnival of Souls” a 1962 film about a woman who is involved in a traumatic accident then becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.
Every third Saturday of the month, at 9 p.m and Midnight for $2, classic movies are shown at the Masonic Temple to help build notice and appreciation for the building. Wanting to showcase what the building is capable of Kent and business partner Katie Curtis, from Bay City do their best get the word out.
“We are really starting a big effort to find interest in this building and to make it come about. We have to make people interested,” said Kent, who went on to explain how to fill those needs, “We can’t say pay $30 but we can say “Hey pay $2 and watch a classic movie.”
Movies shown so far include, “Night of the Living Dead,” “The Town that Dreaded Sundown,” “Attack of the 50 Foot Women,” “House on Haunted Hill,” and the most recent “Bride of Frankenstein.” Adults and teens laughed and giggled as the cheesy effects, dramatic acting, and intense camera angles from “Bride of Frankenstein” were projected onto the screen.
Now you may be asking yourself “Why the old movies? Why not today’s scary movies?” Well, Curtis had a few reasons as to why. “The aspect of cheesy effects and fun is why. We want people to have fun and enjoy the movies while still learning about film history” Curtis then went on to explain the importance of classics, “A lot of people don’t really go back and see old movies. Movies get remade and there’s no appreciation for old ideas,” said Curtis.
Second time at this event, Sawicki expressed her feelings on the showing of classic movies, “I like it better than contemporary and modern day. I feel like they give more of a story and it’s interesting to see how far along our movies have came today.”
“Carnival of Souls” will be playing this Saturday at 9 p.m and Midnight for $2. You can help preserve the Historic Masonic Temple at www.GoFundMe.com/HistoricMasonicTemple.
