Aparofan's Kansas City Movie Ads

Goldfinger 1964

2012-02-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

The 50 years of Bond celebration continues with an ad from arguably the definitive Bond movie. Goldfinger is a masterpiece that helped the spy genre craze of the 60's reach its peak. I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen once but it would have been incredible to see it at the Plaza, which was one of the most beautiful theaters in Kansas City. I miss it to this day. This ad is from the 12/25/64 Kansas City Star.

James Bond Double Feature 1965

2012-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

This year is the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie Dr. No. In honor of the occasion, I've decided to repost my Bond ads. I wish I had more but I have a decent supply of them. It looks like I might have to hit the KC Star microfilm again. Anyway, first up is this double feature from 1965 featuring the first two Bond flicks, Dr. No and From Russia With Love. I wish they'd bring back double features. It was a pretty good bang for your buck back in the day. Plus Agent 007 was there himself with gifts. What more could you want? This ad is from the 5/28/65 Kansas City Star.

Get Yourself A College Girl 1964

2011-12-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nothing represents the holiday season like this groovy flick with babes like Mary Ann Mobley and Nancy Sinatra go-going to the cool sounds of The Dave Clark Five and The Animals. I definitely believe that it was the swingin'-est blast ever filmed. And it was playing at the drive-ins in the middle of winter no less. I love these mid 60's cheesfests. This ad is from the 12/25/64 Kansas City Star.

Alien 1979

2011-12-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

I've been on a big Alien kick lately. I think it's because of the new "prequel" coming out. Prometheus promises to be cool but I don't think it'll have the impact the original Alien had on me in 1979. My dad took me to see it thinking it would be like Star Wars. Little did he know that it scarred me for life in a good way. It's a fantastic film that is just as good and scary now as it was over 30 years ago. Seeing that giant bug in 70mm at a movie palace like the Midland didn't help my fright. Needless to say, I didn't see many more horror movies after that for a really long time. This ad is from the 6/29/79 Kansas City Star.

The Muppet Movie 1979

2011-11-28T16:03:00.001-08:00

With the release of the new Muppet movie, my mind raced back to that great summer of 1979 when the first Muppet Movie came out. Like a lot of kids my age, I grew up with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show and was super excited for their big screen debut. It didn't disappoint. I loved every minute of it and saw it several times that summer both indoors and outdoors. I haven't seen the new one yet but if it's even half as good as the first one, I'll be happy. For more great Muppet memories, check out my buddy Neato Coolville's great blog. This ad is from the 6/29/79 Kansas City Star.

Halloween 1978

2011-10-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

There's not much to say. The greatest modern horror movie in my opinion. I wish I would have been old enough to see it at a theater. Seeing it at the old Empire downtown would have been pretty cool not to mention seeing it at a drive-in. I guess I'll have to settle for my darkened living room. This ad is from the 10/25/78 Kansas City Star.

3 Science-Fiction Thrillers 1964

2011-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wish I was born 10-20 years earlier than I was. I would have loved to have been able to go to the drive-in on Christmas night and watch three gloriously awful sci-fi B movies. To me, that's what the classic drive-in experience represents. By the time I was old enough to go on a regular basis, the drive-ins stopped doing stuff like this except on very special occassions which I always found out about a day later. Anyway, I've actually seen two out of the three of these gems and they would have been great after a long day opening presents. This ad is from the 12/25/64 Kansas City Star.

Come Fly With Me 1963

2011-10-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the new TV series celebrating the greatness that was Pan Am in the 1960's. While I've been disappointed in the show, I love that era and this movie encompasses it pretty well. I watched it about a year ago on TCM and it's kind of silly but I enjoyed it quite a bit. It had that 60's movie innocence to it that movies don't have much anymore. Oh the good ol' days when flying was all about romance and adventure. Now it's just a pain and something you want to get over with as soon as possible! This ad is from the 3/28/63 Kansas City Star.

Seattle Cinerama Film Festival

2011-09-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm just sick that I'm going to miss this very impressive film festival the Seattle Cinerama Theater is putting on later this month. I would love to see the two three strip Cinerama movies that were released. That would be a dream come true. Instead I'll have to get into my imaginery time machine and head on down to the Empire, or the Missouri as it was known back then, to check these film wonders out.

Oh well, I guess I can ask my dad or aunt who saw them when they came out or my buddy Todd who saw This Is Cinerama a couple of years ago to try and replicate the feeling. I'm hearing rumors that the Cinerama Dome in LA is planning something special for Cinerama's 60th anniversary next year. If it comes to pass, I know who'll be on the first jet to sunny Southern California! The above ads are from the 6/15/56 and 3/28/63 Kansas City Star.

Mid-America Cinemas Listings 1982

2011-08-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Boy the summer of 1982 was an awesome one for moviegoers. On this ad alone you have classics like Fast Times At Ridgemont High, E.T., and of course Zapped! and Six Pack. That Twin Drive-In lineup of Fast Times, 1941, and More American Graffiti is inspired. And where else but the early 80's could you have Blade Runner, Star Trek II, and Raiders Of The Lost Ark all playing at the dollar house? No wonder I went to a ton of movies when I was 12 years old. This ad is from the 8/13/82 Kansas City Star.

The Apes Are Back!

2011-08-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about seeing the new Planet Of The Apes movie. It's getting pretty good reviews and I've always loved the series. I would have loved to have seen the original on the big screen back in 1968. The Empire would have been an awesome place to see it.

I can sort of relive the experience since the Empire has been remodeled and reopened as the Mainstreet in downtown KC. The interior is vastly different but the theater is state of the art. It won't be the same as seeing Heston in 68 but it will still be cool.

In 1971, some of the drive-ins showed an Apes triple feature. It would be really cool if one of the surviving drive-ins would do an all night marathon of all the Apes movies. It would never happen but I can dream, can't I?

The above ads are from the 4/3/68, 4/5/68, and 12/16/71 Kansas City Star.

Happy Birthday Raiders!

2011-06-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

30 years ago today a movie was released that changed my childhood yet again for the better. Raiders Of The Lost Ark was a perfect blend of action and adventure that has yet to be duplicated. It's my favorite Steven Speilberg movie and it will stand the test of time forever. I wish I had seen it for the first time in a big movie palace like the Midland but I had to settle for the Independence Center theater, a tiny mall theater. Oh well, it still blew my 11 year old mind. The above ad is from the 6/12/81 Kansas City Star and the ad below is from the 7/31/81 Star.

Apocalypse Now 1979

2011-05-30T05:36:00.001-07:00

I recently rewatched Francis Coppola's epic Vietnam movie Apocalypse Now and was blown away by how insane it was. It reflected all the problems they had making the film but the results are pretty amazing. It's a beautiful film and the acting is top notch. I'm surprised it didn't play any of the big movie houses in KC at this time. Ranch Mart had probably the biggest screen of these four theaters but it was small compared to the Glenwood or the Midland. This movie would have been mind blowing at the Midland. This ad is from the 12/21/79 Kansas City Star.

Blade Runner 1982

2011-04-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Blade Runner was arguably the most stylish movie of the 1980's. It was ahead of its time visually and I'm still amazed at how well it holds up. The music by Vangelis is perfect for the depressing Los Angeles cityscape of the future. The production design is awe inspiring. In fact I can't find a whole lot I don't like about this science fiction classic. I first saw it at the theater believe it or not. I was over six feet tall when I was 12 and I got into a lot of rated R movies then because of it. I'm pretty sure I saw it on the big screen at Blue Ridge East but it's possible I saw it at the Independence Square too. It's also possible I saw it at both places since I went to the movies an awful lot that summer of 1982. This ad is from the 7/9/82 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Listings 1963

2011-04-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Since drive-in season is just starting up, I thought I'd post this cool listing of some of the drive-in fare from the days when they were open year round. I'm sure those heaters came in handy during those cold January nights. It would have been fun to see something like That Touch Of Mink on the big screen with all the great food the refreshment stand offered. Of course it's fun to go to the drive-in anytime! This ad is from the 1/27/63 Kansas City Star.

The Tall Men 1955

2011-03-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

My buddy Neato Coolville sent me this cool 1955 ad for a western I have never seen before. It looks pretty cool though. I'm not that familiar with the Orpheum but I don't think it was a movie theater very long. This was still in the days when the Cinemascope widescreen process was new and it was always touted in the ads. Seeing this would have been a fun part of American Royal week.

Enter The Dragon 1973

2011-01-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

I've been on a huge Bruce Lee kick (pun intended) lately and just rewatched this jem, his only American produced film. It's great from start to finish with tons of awesome karate action. I would have loved to have seen it at the theater. This would have been a fun drive-in movie. This ad is from the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

Tron 1982 (Repost)

2010-12-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

I just saw Tron Legacy, which I enjoyed but it got me thinking about seeing the original and playing the game at the Spaceport Arcade which was right next door to the Blue Ridge West theater. It was very popular for the first couple of weeks, as it took up two of the three screens the theater had at the time. Poltergeist would have been cool alternative though if Tron had been sold out.

I wish I would have seen it at the drive-in with Battle Beyond The Stars. That would have been a great double feature.

While I liked the sequel, there was no replacing the fun I had that summer seeing it and then playing the game. It was a great summer! If you want more info on this seminal Disney film, check out my buddy Neato Coolville's blog where Tron Week is just about over but there are a lot of cool goodies to check out from that summer.

Seven Days In May 1964

2010-12-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

I recently watched this on TCM and was quite impressed by how good it was. It was a classic Cold War thriller that still holds up today. This ad is from the 5/20/64 Kansas City Star.

Girl Happy 1965

2010-11-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

I've always loved Elvis movies and this one is one of my favorites. I wish the scan from the microfilm was better but it would have cool to see the King of Rock N Roll head to the beach to woo Shelly Fabares on the big screen. This ad is from the 4/14/65 Kansas City Star.

The Breakfast Club 1985

2010-11-19T04:34:00.001-08:00

Here's another 1980's teen movie classic. I remember seeing it at Blue Ridge East when I was 14 and not being carded. It was one of the advantages of being a tall teenager. I looked like I was 17 so I got in to see a lot of rated R movies back then. Needless to say, John Hughes' classic detention movie is still great and holds up very well 25 years later. This ad is from the 2/15/85 Kansas City Star.

Sex And The Single Girl 1964

2010-11-11T05:56:00.001-08:00

I watched this goofy movie the other day on TCM. It was kind of a typical 60's "sex" comedy that was very tame compared to stuff on movie screens nowadays. Of course watching Natalie Wood for a couple of hours is never a bad thing! This ad is from the 12/24/64 Kansas City Star.

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1965

2010-11-10T04:21:00.000-08:00

I've always enjoyed this 70mm Cinerama zany masterpiece. It features pretty much every famous comedian of the time in typical madcap shenanigans. The funny thing is, I saw it at the Englewood Theater in Independence about 30 years after it was there on this re-release. This ad is from the 4/14/65 Kansas City Star.

Get Yourself A College Girl 1964

2010-11-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

I've never seen this gem but anything with go go girls and the bounciest beat and Nancy Sinatra sounds good to me. This is the perfect drive-in movie, even in the middle of winter. The Granada Theater was the theater my parents used to go to when they were kids. I think it closed not long after this, probably due to the box office of this movie. This ad is from the 12/25/64 Kansas City Star.

Sixteen Candles 1984

2010-11-08T04:21:00.000-08:00

This is arguably the best 1980's teen comedy. I remember seeing it at Blue Ridge East and loving every minute of it. It seemed fairly real to me although I wasn't in high school yet. It holds up very well today as well. This ad is from the 5/4/84 Kansas City Star.

3 Science Fiction Thrillers 1964

2010-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

What better way to cap off an exciting and exhausting Christmas Day than by heading out to the drive-in to catch this triple feature of cheesy science fiction movies. Now that sounds like a very Merry Christmas indeed. This ad is from the 12/25/64 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Listings 1977

2010-10-10T15:06:00.001-07:00

Boy, I wish drive-ins still stayed open year round. I shoudn't complain because I'm lucky enough to have three drive-ins near me but to sit in your car at the drive-in during the winter and see three all time classics like Smokey And The Bandit, Airport 77, and Two Minute Warning would be an awesome experience. I'm not sure if the drive-ins still gave out or rented heaters by this time but evidently business was still good enough to stay open when it was freezing outside. I never went to the drive-in during the winter when I was a kid because my mom was sane enough not to go when it was freezing out. The local drive-ins stay open until the end of October now so there won't be anymore car chase and disaster movies during the holiday season anymore, which is a shame. This ad is from the 12/2/77 Kansas City Star.

The Rocketeer 1991

2010-09-18T05:47:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I haven't posted this ad yet. The Rocketeer is one of my all time favorite movies. I believe it comes the closest to the original material of any comic book movie ever made. Director Joe Johnston did a fantastic job getting the feel of the 1930's and Dave Stevens' great world. Hopefully he'll do as good a job on the new Captain America movie next year. I remember seeing The Rocketeer at the Glenwood in 70mm and I think that played a huge part in my love for the movie. Man, I miss the Glenwood (and 70mm movies too for that matter)! This ad is from the 6/21/91 Kansas City Star.

Disco Godfather 1981

2010-08-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like seeing a dated 1970's style Blaxploitation movie at an old beat up drive-in like the Fairyland and the Heart were by the time this classic was rereleased in 1981. These drive-ins would only last a few more years unfortunately. This ad is from the 7/31/81 Kansas City Star.

Bond Double Feature 1966

2010-08-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Here's another image of the then popular James Bond double features that were popping up in theaters all over the mid 60's. This particular one featured the most popular Bond film of the time, Goldfinger, with the first film in the series, Dr. No. The Uptown is still standing as a live concert venue that brings in tons of cool shows, including one by one of my favorites, Weird Al Yankovic, later this month. It's a cool place to see a concert but I bet it was an even better movie theater. This ad is from the 10/7/66 Kansas City Star.

50 Cent Movies 1976

2010-07-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

I really like this ad that appeared in the July 4, 1976 edition of the Kansas City Star. 50 cents would have been quite the deal to see classics like Robinson Crusoe And The Tiger and Superbug. My choice would have been seeing Planet Of The Apes at the Chouteau but my mom probably would have taken me to The Shakiest Gun In The West at my old (and new for that matter) stomping ground the Independence Cinema on the Square. That wouldn't have been a bad second choice though. I wish theaters would run classic kids' movies like these again for cheap prices. Happy Independence Day everybody!

Seville Cinema Opening 1977

2010-06-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

I remember going to a lot of movies at this theater while my dad lived on the Plaza in 1977. I don't remember it being new but I do remember seeing the trailer for Star Wars at this theater and being blown away by it. It wasn't the greatest theater. It was just a small bunker type place but I had a lot of childhood memories here and I was bummed when it closed several years ago. This ad is from the 2/4/77 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Listings 1970

2010-05-28T08:12:00.001-07:00

In honor of my being 40 years old today, I thought I'd post the drive-in listings for that Thursday night. I'm sure my parents would have much rather caught How The West Was Won at the Twin than go through the pain of having me!

Boy, I wish there were this many drive-ins to choose from today! These ads are from the 5/28/70 Kansas City Star.

AMC Theaters Ad 1979

2010-05-17T05:34:00.001-07:00

This ad for AMC theaters from the summer of 1979 features many movies I remember fondly from my childhood. The Muppet Movie and C.H.O.M.P.S. were two particular favorites. I also remember seeing The In-Laws with my dad at the Oak Park theater around this time. Of course the great Alien was just starting its exclusive at the Midland and Halloween was still playing at the Empire after more than six months of release. You'd never see that anymore. This ad is from the 6/29/79 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Movie Jam 1985

2010-05-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

As the drive-in season has started, I thought I'd post this cool ad for a Labor Day drive-in marathon that featured some of the most popular comedies of the 80's. I definitely could sit through this lineup. All five movies are great and would have been cool to see on a cool September night, especially on the I-70's giant screen. This ad is from the 9/1/85 Kansas City Star.

All The President's Men 1976

2010-04-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

I recently rewatched this great film about the uncovering of the Watergate scandal. Redford and Hoffman are both fantastic and the movie is still gripping over 30 years later. This ad is from the 4/4/76 Kansas City Star.

Sleeping Beauty (Rerelease) 1970

2010-04-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed Walt Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty. It was one of the first Disney films shot in Cinemascope and the animation is just breathtaking in the wider screen format. I never saw it in a theater. I could just imagine what it looked like at a theater like the Uptown or one of the drive-ins. This ad is from the 6/19/70 Kansas City Star.

The Cat From Outer Space 1978

2010-04-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this cheesy live action Disney movie from the late 70's. Anything having to do with space interested me and this one was one exception. I saw it a couple of times that summer, once at Blue Ridge and once at Twin Drive-In. My dad loved going to the drive-in and we'd go regardless of what was playing, provided it was kid friendly of course. I'd like to see this one again. I doubt it still holds up but I'd like to find out. This ad is from the 8/4/78 Kansas City Star.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest 1976

2010-03-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

I've always loved Jack Nicholson's performance is this classic film that swept all the Academy Awards that year and deservedly so. It's really well written and the acting is off the charts. It still holds up today too. I wish I would have seen it at a theater but it was a little intense for a six year old. This ad is from the 4/1/76 Kansas City Star.

Phantom Of The Paradise 1976

2010-03-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Phantom Of The Paradise is one of the more well known cult movies of the 1970's. I remember seeing it on cable sometime in the 1980's and was amazed at how strange it was. I was a little surprised at how many theaters carried it on its first release. Naturally, it was a staple of the drive-ins for a while in the spring of 1976. It's the perfect film for the ozoners. This ad is from the 4/4/76 Kansas City Star.

Car Wash 1977

2010-03-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

There were many great movies that came out in 1977 and Car Wash is definitely one of the greatest. It's an all time classic that doesn't get old. It's been a long time since I've seen it but it was a staple in high school. It's definitely of its time. It would have been the perfect drive-in movie. This ad is from the 2/6/77 Kansas City Star.

Hooper 1978

2010-03-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

I was really happy to find this ad. As a kid I loved this gripping tale of stuntman Burt Reynolds as the one and only Hooper. My dad took me to see it a couple of times because he loved it too. The whole movie is great but the appearance of the one and only Terry Bradshaw took it over the top. It would have been great fun to have gone to the Hooper Day USA bubble gum blowing contest. I miss the days of cheesy movie promos like this. This ad is from the 8/4/78 Kansas City Star.

AMC Theaters Ad 1980

2010-02-10T15:51:00.000-08:00

There were a lot of great movies playing at the local Kansas City AMC Theaters in toward the end of 1980. That 2001 rerelease on the big screen at the Midland would have been fantastic. The Empire Strikes Back was still going strong at the Oak Park Mall after being out over six months by this time and Caddyshack and Private Eyes at the Independence Center would have been a tough choice for moviegoers to choose from. But Flash Gordon at the Empire makes me the most excited. I would have loved to have seen it there. It's one of my favorite movies and it would have great on the big screen. This ad is from the 12/5/80 Kansas City Star.

Star Trek The Motion Picture 1979

2010-02-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago marked the 30th anniversary of the first Star Trek movie, Star Trek The Motion Picture. I remember being pretty excited about its release. I didn't watch the show much as a kid. I didn't get into it until junior high. I thought it was going to be something similar to Star Wars or The Black Hole. Needless to say when I left the Blue Ridge theater that winter I was pretty disappointed. It was incredibly slow and my hyper 9 year old self could barely handle it. I thought for sure it was going to be better than it was. I mean every comic I read that summer seemed to have this cool ad in it.

As the years have gone by however my appreciation of this movie has grown. It's well made and has a lot of cool elements that stayed true to classic Star Trek. I liked the set design and even the pajama style uniforms are pretty cool. And it has a sexy bald woman to boot. It's a pretty cool entry in the series. This ad is from the 12/21/79 Kansas City Star.

Durwood Theaters Ad 1966

2010-01-30T03:46:00.000-08:00

I like this ad from Durwood (soon to be AMC) Theaters from the fall of 1966. The Sound Of Music was coming up on a successful one year engagement at the Midland. In fact, I believe it was there almost two years but I'm not positive about that. In any case, it was one of the most successful runs in Kansas City movie history. I've talked to a lot of friends and relatives who saw it there when they were young and never forgot it. Although it would have been great to see the seminal musical at a place like the Midland, I would have been more excited to see the latest Cinerama film down the street at the Empire. Cinerama's Russian Adventure was one of the lesser known Cinerama travelogues but I'm sure it had a lot of beautiful cineamtography that would have looked great on the Empire's big screen. If those two weren't enough, the awesome Dean Martin spy movie The Silencers was playing at the smaller Studio Theater in the same block. It was a good time to be a moviegoer on Main Street. This ad is from the 10/7/66 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Listings 1977

2010-01-16T05:40:00.000-08:00

Here's the listings for the independent KC drive-ins from early summer 1977. I wonder how many people at the Fairyland who were watching The Shootist turned their heads to catch some of the offerings on the other side. Needless to say, The Fairyland was a pretty seedy drive-in by this time. I do like the King Kong, One Million Years BC, and The Longest Yard pairing at the Crest however. This ad is from the 6/5/77 Kansas City Star.

Why Bother To Knock 1965

2010-01-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

I dig this ad for the "adults only" Elke Sommer house party movie Why Bother To Knock. I've never seen it but I doubt it would even cause a ripple today. It was probably pretty tame. But an evening at the drive-in with a Cinemascope "adults only" movie would have been a good time. The Terrace Drive-In in Lee's Summit has been gone for years but it was located not far from where I work. It was probably the typical drive-in for the time, a big screen set out in the middle of a huge field. That area wasn't much developed then. I can't imagine a drive-in being there now although I wish there was. This ad is from the 10/2/65 Kansas City Star.

Highlander 1986

2009-12-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

I remember vividly seeing Highlander for the first time at the Blue Ridge West mall cinema. I really dug it and wanted to go back and see it again. The music by Queen wasn't quite as good as their Flash Gordon music but it was very cool nevertheless. The movie hasn't aged real well but it's still a fun couple of hours. This ad is from the 3/16/86 Kansas City Star.

Dickinson Theatres Ad 1978

2009-12-17T15:47:00.001-08:00

I recently watched Superman The Movie again for probably the hundreth time or so and I still loved every minute of it. Seeing it at the downtown Empire Theater was one of the highlights of my childhood. While it was awesome there, I would have loved to have seen it at the Glenwood. The grandeur of the Man Of Steel on that huge Glenwood screen would have been awesome. This ad is from the 12/15/78 Kansas City Star.

The Exorcist 1974

2009-12-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

A while back I posted an ad for the 1979 rerelease of this horror classic but I decided to post this cool ad from its initial release. This movie was all sorts of creepy when it came out but I think it's kind of cheesy now. This ad is from the 2/8/74 Kansas City Star.

Carrie 1976

2009-12-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of this seminal 1970's horror movie. I kind of came across it a little later than most people. I didn't see it until I was in college. I never knew why I never saw it until then. I would have loved it in high school. Anyway, it's a great movie that I need to watch again soon. I haven't seen it in a long time. This ad is from the 12/3/76 Kansas City Star.

McQ 1974

2009-11-28T05:50:00.000-08:00

This great John Wayne 70's cop movie is often overlooked when people talk about the Duke's career. Needless to say, he's kind of miscast as a tough 70's cop. This was one of his last movies and it kind of shows. It's super cheesy and is very fun to watch even today. This ad is from the 2/8/74 Kansas City Star.

Two Minute Warning 1976

2009-11-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love this movie. It got released at the tail end of the golden age of disaster movies but it's not quite a disaster movie. It has most of the ingredients of one though. Charleton Heston stars as an LA cop that tries to stop a sniper from killing a bunch of people at the Super Bowl like football championship game at the LA Coliseum. It has a bunch of great shots of the Coliseum circa 1976. It's a fun movie that's definitely worth seeing. This ad is from the 12/3/76 Kansas City Star.

Revenge Of The Nerds 1984

2009-11-24T05:26:00.000-08:00

Revenge Of The Nerds is one of the most underrated 80's teen comedies. It's pure raunchy fun. It cracks me up every time I watch it. I actually managed to see it at the Independence Center cinema back when I was 14. I was pretty tall for my age and I got into R rated movies fairly often. Needless to say, my junior high buddies and I loved it. This ad is from the 7/27/84 Kansas City Star.

The Blues Brothers 1980

2009-11-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

I always dug John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's SNL soulmen Jake and Elwood Blues, when they performed on the show during the late 70's. Their versions of songs like Soul Man and Expressway To Your Heart were my first exposures to these classic songs. I was really excited when I heard they were making a movie about these funky siblings. Unfortunately they made it R rated, which meant my little ten year old self was staying home. My parents learned their lesson from the Alien fiasco a year before. I didn't get to see it until I was in junior high when my uncle taped a copy of it for me on VHS. I loved it. It is a little long and slow at times but the music is great and Belushi and Aykroyd are wonderful. It's a very fun movie that I still like watching once a year or so. This ad is from the 7/4/80 Kansas City Star.

Herbie Goes Bananas 1980

2009-11-09T05:47:00.001-08:00

It's amazing what these ads can do to jog your memories. I remember wanting to see this one pretty bad, not because of Herbie but because of the epic Mickey Mouse Disco short that preceeded it. Only in the late 70's-early 80's could you get something like that. I was bummed it wasn't playing at the drive-in but that was small potatoes. I remember it being pretty silly even then. I'm sure it's pretty unwatchable now. Herbie Goes Bananas is still pretty fun though. This ad is from the 7/5/80 Kansas City Star.

Urban Cowboy 1980

2009-10-31T04:31:00.000-07:00

This is one of the all time cheeseball classics. I didn't know that back in the summer of 1980 though. I was mortified that Danny Zuko himself would do a "cowboy" movie. I wasn't a big fan of that scene then. My dad dug that stuff and as a self respecting ten year old, I couldn't be into anything my dad was into. Anyway, I finally saw it years later and it kills me. It's pretty funny. I kind of wish now I had seen it at the theater. This ad is from the 7/4/80 Kansas City Star.

2001 A Space Odyssey (Rerelease) 1974

2009-10-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

I never get tired of seeing ads for 2001, one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. I watched it again recently and it's just stunning. I would have killed to have seen it on the Glenwood's big screen. That would have been a real trip. This ad is from the 10/11/74 Kansas City Star.

The Longest Yard 1974

2009-10-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

I love this ad for one of the best sports movies of all time. The reviews listed on the ad kill me. The movie still holds up well, in spite of the fact it was remade a few years ago. The remake was terrible and makes the original seem even better than it did before. This ad is from the 10/11/74 Kansas City Star.

KY-102 Fantasy Jam 1980

2009-10-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

I would have loved to have seen this back on the 4th of July in 1980. Nothing says showing your patriotism by checking out Flesh Gordon at the drive-in. This ad is from the 7/4/80 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In 1976

2009-10-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of ashamed that I've never seen this gem from 1976. I know I'd probably love it. It's not on DVD which is a real shame. I'd love to see it. This ad is from the 7/4/76 Kansas City Star.

Airplane 1980

2009-10-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Airplane is one of the greatest comedies ever put to film. It just kills me from start to finish. I can't even watch the original Airport movies anymore without thinking of this gem. It was a staple of my high school VCR and I still try and watch it every year. This ad is from the 7/4/80 Kansas City Star.

Slime Town Blues 1974

2009-10-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

By request I've posted the listing for a local movie that had its premiere at the Midland Theater in the fall of 1974. It looks like quite the classic. I wonder how many people took advantage of the free toilets. These ads are from the 10/11/74 Kansas City Star.

Master Of Horror Double Feature 1965

2009-10-10T05:12:00.001-07:00

This great horror movie double feature would have been cool to see back in the fall of 1965. The Paramount was a neat downtown house that was one of the more popular theaters back then. The days of the double feature need to come back. I'd spend the ten bucks or so for a cheesefest like this. I loved Grindhouse and there's definitely room for more of the same. This ad is from the 11/12/65 Kansas City Star.

Rope Of Flesh 1965

2009-10-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Out of all the ads I have I think this one ranks up there as one of the quintessential drive-in double features. Who wouldn't want to go out on a cold winter's night and see such cinematic classics as Rope Of Flesh and Moonshine Mountain. Although I'm not real fond of seeing frank presentations of people so I might not have gone. Oh who am I kidding? Of course I would have gone to see this shlock! This ad is from the 11/12/65 Kansas City Star.

Commenwealth Theatres Listings 1976

2009-09-27T04:59:00.001-07:00

Commenwealth Theatres had a presence in Kansas City for several years. This 1976 listing showcases a lot of the cool movies that were out that winter. The Ranch Mart had quite the eclectic lineup. Carrie, Two Minute Warning, and The Song Remains The Same provided quite the cinematic entertainment. I know I would have been there. This ad is from the 12/3/76 Kansas City Star.

Dickinson Theatres Listings 1970

2009-09-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

This ad for Dickinson Theatres 5 Kansas City theaters is interesting because of the sneak preview for Tora, Tora, Tora, one of the better World War II movies. It would have cool to see this on the Glenwood's big screen. It's a fairly accurate representation of the Pearl Harbor attack that still holds up well today. This ad is from the 12/4/70 Kansas City Star.

Empire Theater Closing Listings 1985

2009-09-18T06:39:00.001-07:00

I've been looking for the listings for the last day the Empire Theater in downtown Kansas City was open for awhile now. I finally found the day. These classic 80's films definitely aren't on a par with the many classics the theater showed over the years but it's not a bad list. Hopefully they'll keep showing great films in its new incarnation as the Mainstreet for many years to come. This ad is from the 9/26/85 Kansas City Star.

Return Of The Jedi (Re-release) 1985

2009-09-12T04:17:00.000-07:00

I like this ad for the 1985 re-release of Return Of The Jedi. Although I was disappointed in the third episode of the Star Wars trilogy, I was excited to see it come back that spring. Seeing it again didn't really change my mind about it but seeing it on a big screen again was a real treat. This ad is from the 4/5/85 Kansas City Star.

European Vacation 1985

2009-09-05T05:02:00.000-07:00

I was happy to find this ad for my favorite Vacation movie. I know I'm in the minority but this movie just kills me. The Griswolds in Europe is just a classic story idea. I saw it at Blue Ridge East that fall but I really got into it when it came out on home video a year or so later. My uncle taped a copy for me and I watched it over and over and over. I still have that raggedy tape with 80's classics like this and Fletch on it. This ad is from the 8/8/85 Kansas City Star.

Beverly Hills Cop 1985

2009-09-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

I've always been a big fan of early 1980's Eddie Murphy. His comedy was ahead of its time and he was huge in both TV and movies by the middle of the decade. My favorite Eddie Murphy movie was Beverly Hills Cop. It was a great blend of humor and action. I laughed from start to finish. I remember seeing this at the Independence Square theater that summer with a bunch of buddies. It was fairly easy getting into R rated movies back then. That was great for me. I would have missed out on a bunch of good movies if they had been more strict. This ad is from the 4/5/85 Kansas City Star.

King Kong (Re-Release) 1970

2009-08-29T04:20:00.000-07:00

I kind of like this goofy ad for a re-release of perhaps the most innovative movie of the first half of the 20th century. The original King Kong was revolutionary for its time and is still a marvel of storytelling and special effects. I'm not sure why the ad said it came out in 1935 when it actually came out in 1933 but it really doesn't matter. It would have been a treat to see it in a nice theater like the Capri. This ad is from the 10/23/70 Kansas City Star.

The Man With No Name Marathon 1970

2009-08-27T04:45:00.000-07:00

This would have been a fantastic night at the drive-in. Who wouldn't want to watch spaghetti westerns until the wee hours of the morning on a nice fall evening? I really like all four of these movies but it would have been hard to make it through all four in one night, but it would definitely be fun trying. This ad is from the 9/25/70 Kansas City Star.

Top Gun 1986

2009-08-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

I've always liked Top Gun. I remember vividly seeing it on opening weekend in 70mm at Blue Ridge East and really getting into the aerial scenes. It was really well done and was a huge hit that summer. I like it now for different reasons. It's hysterical. Every scene with Cruise and Val Kilmer is great. The movie's really over the top and cheesy, which is a good thing. It's one of those movies that I like watching every year or so. This ad is from the 5/16/86 Kansas City Star.

Octopussy 1983

2009-08-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

Octopussy is not one of my favorite Bond films. I remember being disappointed when I saw it back then and my opinion hasn't changed much over the years. I remember thinking that the great Roger Moore was finally getting a little old for the role. Since the movie came out in the summer between my seventh and eighth grade years, my junior high buddies and I got a lot of mileage out of the title. This ad is from the 7/1/83 Kansas City Star.

E.T. 1982

2009-08-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

Man, I was not a big fan of this when it originally came out. I was very upset that it unseated Star Wars as the highest grossing movie of all time. I remember a neighbor taking me to see it at Blue Ridge East (I told you I saw a lot of movies there). In hindsight it's a great movie which has stood the test of time. This ad is from the 8/13/82 Kansas City Star.

Commado 1985

2009-08-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed Commando. I always thought it was one of Schwarzenegger's better movies. I'm pretty sure I saw this at Blue Ridge East. By this time I looked much older than 15 and could get into rated R movies pretty easily. This ad is from the 10/4/85 Kansas City Star.

Mid America Cinemas 1982

2009-08-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

I am really digging that Fast Times-1941-More American Graffiti triple feature at a couple of the drive-ins. Man, there were some good movies out that summer. This ad is from the 8/13/82 Kansas City Star.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High 1982

2009-08-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

Fast Times is my all time favorite 80's teen comedy. It's incredibly well written and Sean Penn is unbelievable as the immortal Jeff Spicoli. And having Phoebe Cates in it doesn't hurt it either. It's an all time classic that holds up really well. I never saw it at the theater but it was one of the first cable movies I got into. A great, great movie. This ad is from the 8/13/82 Kansas City Star.

Pretty In Pink 1986

2009-08-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

I just heard of the passing of the great John Hughes. It's very sad because he was responisble for the bulk of the good teen comedies of the 1980's. One of my favorite Hughes films was Pretty In Pink. It's not as highly regarded as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club but I think it's just as good. Hughes just wrote the movie but it definitely has the same feel as the ones he directed. I remember vividly seeing this with my high school girlfriend. It was one of many movies I saw at Blue Ridge East, which was finally torn down this week. Two icons of my teen years are now gone. R.I.P. John Hughes. This as is from the 3/16/86 Kansas City Star.

Hot Lead And Cold Feet 1978

2009-08-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hot Lead And Cold Feet was one of the first Disney live action movies I ever saw. Don Knotts is fantastic in it as he was in everything he was in. There was something about Disney live action then that isn't there anymore. I don't know what it is. It probably has to do with childhood nostalgia. Anyway, it's a great movie. This ad is from the 7/28/78 Kansas City Star.

West Side Story 1962

2009-07-28T06:36:00.001-07:00

I've just recently grown fond of this classic musical. I used to think it was really silly and goofy but now I love the widescreen drama. Natalie Wood is beautiful and the songs are great. It would have been cool seeing it on a big screen. This ad is from the 6/8/62 Kansas City Star.

Cleopatra Jones 1973

2009-07-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have a special fondness for the blaxploitation movies of the early 70's. They're definitely of their time. One of the better ones is Cleopatra Jones. It's a lot of fun watching Tamara Dobson kick major butt. This ad is from the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

The French Connection 1972

2009-07-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

I've always been a big fan of The French Connection. It was one of the first real gritty cop drama. Gene Hackman is great and the film is entertaining from beginning to end. The above ad is from the 1/2/72 Kansas City Star and this one is from the 3/24/72 Kansas City Star.

Mary Poppins (Re-release) 1973

2009-07-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

I really like this 1964 gem from Disney. Julie Andrews is fantastic in the title role and Dick Van Dyke gives one of his greatest performances as Bert the chimney sweep. I'm not sure if I would call it Walt Disney's greatest achievement however. It would have neat to see this at a drive-in. This ad is from the 8/15/73 Kansas City Star.

Roxy Theater Kansas City, MO

2009-07-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

By request, here are a couple of very small photos I found online of the Roxy Theater in Kansas City. They both date from the 1960's. I'm sorry I can't remember where I found them so sorry to whichever kind soul posted these originally.

I wish I would have had a chance to see movies here. It looked like a beauty.

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 1977

2009-07-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Seeing this fantastic Speilberg epic at the Glenwood would have been a fantastic Christmas present. I did see it there but it was a few months later. I thought it was kind of slow when I was a kid but I know see what a great movie it is. This ad is from the 12/14/77 Kansas City Star.

The Guns Of Navarone 1961

2009-07-11T04:10:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite war movies is the classic Guns Of Navarone. It's a gorgeous widescreen WWII epic with great performances and set pieces. It would have been great at a refreshingly refrigerated palace like the Plaza. This ad is from the 8/30/61 Kansas City Star.

Enter The Dragon 1973

2009-07-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite martial arts movies. Bruce Lee was definitely one of a kind and was taken from us too soon. I really don't see the comparisons to Dr. No however. I can't see Bond taking out SPECTRE with some kung fu holds. This ad is from the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

American Graffiti 1973

2009-07-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of my all time favorite movies, number 5 to be exact. It's a classic that would have been awesome on the big screen at the Glenwood.

These ads are from the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

Come Fly With Me 1963

2009-07-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

I recently watched this on TCM. It's a pretty cheesy 1960's version of what it was like to work for the airlines in the early 60's. Good stuff. From the 3/28/63 Kansas City Star.

Drive-In Marathons 1973

2009-07-04T06:55:00.001-07:00

Now this would have been a cool way to spend Labor Day weekend, hanging out at the drive-ins catching a couple of different 5 movie marathons.

Nothing would have been cooler than a whole night of biker movies at a sleazy drive-in. I miss the 70's. From the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

Three Blasts Of Burt 1973

2009-07-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Now this is the definition of early 70's drive-in shlock. I wish they would have done three blasts of Burt about ten years later with Smokey And The Bandit, Hooper, and Cannonball Run. From the 9/1/73 Kansas City Star.

The Sound Of Music (Rerelease) 1967

2009-07-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

I dig this early Glenwood Theatre ad from the first few months it was open. The Sound Of Music would have been great at Kansas City's luxury theater. This ad is from the 2/8/67 Kansas City Star.

Saturday Night Fever 1977

2009-07-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

I really dig this quintessential 70's movie. John Travolta was fantastic in the main role and the soundtrack is really good. I miss this Travolta. He seems really different now. I guess that's what 30 years will do to you. This ad is from the 12/14/77 Kansas City Star.

Durwood Theatres Bargains 1963

2009-07-03T11:27:00.001-07:00

I'm glad to see that Durwood Theatres (now AMC) cared enough about their patrons in 1963 that they reduced their ticket prices .50. I'd kill to go to the new Mainstreet Theater (formally the Empire) for $2.25 and .25 parking. Those were the days! From the 3/28/63 Kansas City Star.

AMC Theatres 1974

2009-06-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

Boy, the Christmas season of 1974 had some pretty cool movies out. Making the choice at the Empire between Godfather II and Airport 75 would have been tough, although movies were pretty cheap then so I probably would have tried to see both then go up the street to check out Earthquake in Sensurround at the Midland. It would have been cool to check out the 2001 rerelease too although it was at a couple of pretty small theaters that would not have done it justice. I don't know how I would have got any Christmas shopping done then with all these great movies to see. This ad is from the 12/20/74 Kansas City Star.

Mid America Cinemas Ad 1979

2009-06-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of good stuff playing at the local Mid America cinemas in the fall of 1979. You could go see Alien on the big screen at Blue Ridge or Rocky II at the Independence Square cinema. The drive-ins had some good stuff too. I would have loved that Battlestar Galactica-Buck Rogers double feature at the 63rd Street. And my favorite Bond movie, Moonraker, was at my favorite drive-in, the Twin. How I wish that I could have checked that out. This ad is from the 9/21/79 Kansas City Star.

Gremlins 1984

2009-06-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

I love this ad for Gremlins, one of my favorite movies of 1984. It would have been fantastic seeing the title character representing the US in LA that summer. It would have been a diaster of course if they represented us in the pool. This is one of the many movies I saw at the Independence Square that summer. This ad is from the 7/27/84 Kansas City Star.

The Graduate 1968

2009-06-13T04:15:00.000-07:00

I recently rewatched this Dustin Hoffman classic on TCM and really enjoyed it. It was a very unique film for its time and is rightfully considered a cinema classic. It had been playing the Brookside Theater in south Kansas City for almost two months by this point in the spring of 1968. This ad is from the 4/5/68 Kansas City Star.