KING KONG (and SON OF KONG) 90TH ANNIVERSARY JAMBOREE!!

HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

KING KONG (1933) d. Merian C. Cooper / Ernest B. Schoedsack (USA) SON OF KONG (1933) d. Ernest B. Schoedsack (USA) It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance the original 1933 King Kong has had on the monster movie genre and on the history of cinema overall. As such, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there was a time before Kong, and that there were individuals who brought the character and the film surrounding him into existence. People like producers Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, writers Edgar Wallace, James Creelman, and Ruth Rose, special effects wizards Willis O’ Brien and Marcel Delgado, composer Max Steiner, sound effects pioneer Murray Spivack, and stars Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, and the legendary Fay Wray. The alchemy of the entire production team coalesced into a masterpiece of action, adventure, drama, and romance that broke box office records during the height of the Great Depression, and grossed even higher returns during its re-releases in 1938 and 1952. Including its own sequel, Son of Kong, which amazingly premiered in December of 1933, a mere 9 months later, King Kong has inspired remakes, spin-offs, rip-offs, and the entire giant monster movie subgenre. The entire world knows the name of Kong, The Eighth Wonder of the World. The immortal ape is our subject tonight, and AC is joined once again by another truly epic panel: Stan Hyde, Doug Long, Michael Weber, and Bobby Zier. ------------------------------------------------------------------ STAN HYDE teaches, examines, and consults on international film programs for students (International Baccaluareate's Film Course), as well as writing about model making, film history, and some fiction. He is winner of the Mangled Sky-Scraper Award for helping bring G-FEST, the annual Godzilla Convention in Chicago to life since 1995, and is a 2021 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame recipient for his work with science fiction conventions, clubs, and fanzines. DOUG LONG teaches film-related classes at DePaul University and writes book reviews for film journals, including Film Quarterly and mise-en-scene. MICHAEL WEBER is an actor, director and currently the Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. A Chicago native his fascination with classic horror began with WGN's legendary Creature Features and The Son of Svengoolie. And avid fan of the Golden Age of Radio and he is author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast.) BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre. He recently received a Rondo Award for his effort in keeping classic horror alive and well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!!