Bad movies are people, too! Celebrate ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ at the Morristown Library

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Okay, now we really feel old.  Mystery Science Theater 3000 is turning 25!

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 logoThe Morristown & Township Library is not about to let this important milestone pass unnoticed.

For three Wednesdays, starting on Sept. 18, 2013, the library will invite the public to make fun of some truly awful movies in the wisecracking style introduced by Joel, Crow and Tom Servo on Minnesota’s KMTA on Thanksgiving Day 1988.

These silhouetted spectators skewered films that probably don’t even deserve a “Grade B” label for a decade on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Network.

The library’s free screenings start at 6:30 pm and include refreshments.  The lineup:

Wednesday, Sept. 18:

'Manos, The Hands of Fate' movie posterManos: Hands of Fate (episode 424, season 4)

This 1966 film features a hapless family on a car trip in rural Texas when they take refuge at an inn that harbors a deadly cult. The episode also includes the conclusion of the two-part short, Hired!, where the sales manager hero gets advice from his father.

Wednesday, Oct. 2:

Jack Frost (episode 813, season 8)

This film version of a Russian folk tale from 1965 shows a woman is forced to slave away, while a young boy with the head of a bear must perform a good deed to reverse the curse.

Wednesday, Oct. 9:

'Konga' movie posterKonga (1961)

Test your own riffing abilities on this horribly-rated, mad scientist thriller, without the aid of the MST3K characters!  See what ensues when Dr. Decker tests his advanced growing techniques on a small chimpanzee and then decides to unleash it upon his enemies!

 

Here are more details.

 

FROM THE MORRISTOWN & TOWNSHIP LIBRARY:

MSTies of Universe, Unite!

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Mystery Science Theater 3000

at the Morristown & Morris Township Library

MORRISTOWN, NJ—The Morristown & Morris Township Library is celebrating the anniversary of the television program Mystery Science Theatre 3000 with a series of programs on Wednesdays, September 18, October 2 and October 9.  The free programs begin at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.  This program is supported through funding from the Friends of the Morristown & Morris Township Library.

On Thanksgiving Day 1988, Joel, Crow, Tom Servo, and the gang first aired their wisecracking (or should that be “sidehacking”) ability to the horrendous movie Invaders from the Deep in the “let’s-make-fun-of-really-bad-moves” show Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Phone requests and a tremendous response from Minnesota viewers––who watched the initial shows on the local KTMA television station––led to the launch of additional episodes and a series that ran on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Network from 1989-1999.  The series even spawned its own full-length feature film based on the show in 1996.  The series developed a huge cult following, with early shows being circulated from person to person via VHS tapes, often around college campuses.  The series’ silhouettes of Joel (and later, Mike) and the robots in front of the movie screen became iconic and many of their witty rejoinders to the film’s characters or about popular culture references, became the equivalent of Facebook posts for a prior generation.

To celebrate with MSTies (what fans of the show call themselves) around the world, the Morristown & Morris Township Library is offering a series of films in preparation for the anniversary.  The Library will show two episodes of the cult-favorite show and will also show a non-MST3K movie for patrons to poke fun of themselves!  Learn from the MST3K masters on Wednesdays Sept. 18 and Oct. 2 with classic episodes Manos: The Hands of Fate and Jack Frost and then come on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to give a try at ‘riffing’ a different film: Konga, a 1961 film about a giant ape that terrorizes the city of London.

Series Schedule:

Wednesday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Manos: Hands of Fate (episode 424, season 4)

This 1966 film features a hapless family on a car trip in rural Texas when they take refuge at an inn that harbors a deadly cult. The episode also includes the conclusion of the two-part short, Hired!, where the sales manager hero gets advice from his father.

Wednesday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Jack Frost (episode 813, season 8)

This film version of a Russian folk tale from 1965 shows a woman is forced to slave away, while a young boy with the head of a bear must perform a good deed to reverse the curse.

Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Konga (1961)

Test your own riffing abilities on this horribly-rated, mad scientist thriller, without the aid of the MST3K characters!  See what ensues when Dr. Decker tests his advanced growing techniques on a small chimpanzee and then decides to unleash it upon his enemies!

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