Trash Film Orgy

I wish I was writing something other than a elegy or eulogy, and thus, let’s instead look at this as a celebration.
In the early 1970s theaters in urban areas (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc) began showing midnight movies — some were new outré releases (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pink Flamingos, Eraserhead, etc) and some were old «cult» revival films (Tod Browning’s Freaks, Reefer Madness, various Fliesher Bros Shorts, etc), and it created a showcase for films in a fun nighttime setting.
Around the same time, in New York City’s Times Square, as the area devolved into a filthy cess-​pool, the former movie-​palaces transformed; some became adult theaters, while others catered to a B-​Movie crowd, where, infamously, the crowds would drunkenly revel as they watched the films.
By the 1980s, the midnight movie scene started to dwindle. The home video market replaced the need to go to the theater to see interesting films, and the movies being distributed to the midnight market were mostly music oriented. The NYC 42^nd Street Cinema scene lasted for another decade or so until Times Square was cleaned up.
In recent years, some cities have brought back limited run midnight film series that combine the fun of seeing outré cinema late at night mixed with the joy of screaming at the film you’re watching. San Francisco has the Midnight Mass series hosted by Peaches Christ. And Sacramento has the Trash Film Orgy hosted by the Mighty Tiki.
Trash Film Orgy, at the [redacted — ed.], started in 2001 and will end October 24^th 2014 with a final showing of Beetlejuice. The TFO did a bang-​up job at treating film fans to the best of both 70s film worlds, really going above and beyond in their presentations.
They would run for 6 weeks in the summer and have supplemental shows at Halloween, Christmas and when they would promote the films they made (Monster from Bikini Beach, Planet of the Vampire Women and the upcoming Badass Monster Killer). Each film would start at midnight, but the doors would open early for fun, games and dancing in the lobby of the [redacted — ed.] Theater.
Vendors would set up booths selling cool film items or promoting cool goth clubs or haunted theme parks, and the TFO staff would set up interactive games and activities, themed to the film they would be showing, just past the popcorn stand where you would always win prizes. For your $ 10 ticket to get in, you would always leave with armloads of candy and prizes. It was like the best fair a film fan could ever hope for, In the lower area, they would have a bar selling drinks, as well as a video game machine or karaōke set-​up or some other kind of fun.
Making your way into the theater, there is a DJ playing cool punk goth and outré tunes, and people would dance in the aisles, getting pumped up for the show.
The movie is proceeded by a floor show. First, the lights dim to the familiar dance beat as the crowd chants TRASH! TRASH! TRASH! and eventually the mighty Tiki, a giant flaming Tiki head located stage right, would light up and come to life, and would, in his booming drunken voice, announce what is in store for you. Then the players come to the stage and act out scenarios — a range of characters over the years including the Queen of Trash, El Tigre Diablo, Bloody Bethy, Francois Fly and Bloody Bunny and many others.
Then, before the film there are various shorts — some bizarre commercials from local sponsors that are fascinating and awesome (still not 100% sure, even after all these years, what exactly the Diabolical Darlings are and what they do??? Music, I guess? I could google it, but it would remove the thrilling mystery…) and then awesome edited clips about juicy meat and safety is everybody’s responsibility and a dancing hairy elephant, and then, finally, the movie starts.
To be clear, you don’t go to the TFO to watch a movie — people are encouraged the heckle and yell at the film. Speaking as an old-​school hard-​core film nerd, this sort of behavior would normally be abhorrent, but in this setting, in an attempt to recreate the 70s 42^nd Street Cinema experience, I can appreciate it for what it is and revel in it.
Half-​way through the film, there’s an intermission where you can return to the lobby to play more games, socialize with your fellow film fans or just dance to the records the DJ plays. Then you return for more floor show and finally the end of the film.
This has been a great thing in for Sacramento. The type of thing this town needs a LOT more of, desperately… and yet, it’s being shut out. According to their webpage: «It is with a heavy heart that we share OUR LAST EVENT at our beloved [redacted — ed.] Theater. Due to a dramatic change in management at the theatre, the Crest will no longer be home to the TFO after this show.»
On the plus side, the wording of that statement leaves the possibility open that the TFO will rise again. One hopes. Till then, Rest in Peace Trash Film Orgy. 2001 – 2014.

TRASH! TRASH! TRASH!
My Sacramento summers are marked by two series of events: Concerts in the Park and Trash Film Orgy. The opening night of TFO starts with a zombie walk a few hours before the show, which ends with a mass of undead shambling up to the Crest Theater for trashy goodness. TFO films start at midnight but arrive early for pre-​show games and vendors, people watching (usually plenty of themed costumes corresponding with that night’s movie) and the stage show starting about half-​hour before the film.
While TFO is mainly based around b-​movies and horror, it shows a wide variety of movies each year. Classic and new horror, zombie movies, monster movies, sci-​fi, exploitation flicks, cult classics and the best of so-bad-it’s-OH-so-good. Plus the audience occassionally shouts out one-​liners and commentary, so there’s potential for an awesome MST3K vibe.
Enough schlock to rock Elvira!
Enough camp to make John Waters clap!
Enough low-​rent effects and bad acting to make Ed Wood proclaim «Perfect!»
If you’ve never been to TFO, I highly recommend it. Get there early, enjoy the shenanigans off and on the stage, hail Tiki, and enjoy the trash!

Aw-​Yeahhhh!!! TFO Puts The *SMACK* Back Into «SMACKING BUTTS!»
SITREP
Had a blast at the Crest Theater on Halloween Night 2013! The theater was completely taken over by the denizons, the malcontents, and the creative delinquents — all of them the crew for — Trash Film Orgy! Or better known locally as TFO!
THE SETUP
The feature presentation is some old episodes of «Creepshow» cast upon the movie screen with some pretty famous stalwart actors and actresses, such as Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Scott Glenn, etc. etc.
ACTING! THANK-​YOU! WITH MUSIC!!! THANK-​YOU!!!
However, my favorite part of the night is the skits & vignettes that the TFO troupers do themselves, and with a band! In this instance, the very talented «TRASHMATICS!» It was such a hoot! [This special installment of Halloween 2013 TFO had to do with the evils of Horror Comics and how it corrupts our youth!] Yeah!
It was a delight to see one of my favorite baristas — Bethany H — «step out from behind the coffee grinder, and wow us with her Thespian talents! The whole cast & crew & musicians in fact did a wonderful job.
THE LOWDOWN
I shall be coming back for some more TFO-​jobs!

I LOVE TFO! I have been working so much this summer I haven’t been able to attend yet. Buuuuuut Saturday will be the night! It will also be the 100^th movie! So excited to be a part of it!

How come nobody has reviewed TFO for the Zombie Walk?!
I’ll keep this short and sweet!
The Z-​walk hosted by TFO is going to become a Sacramento summer tradition every year for many many years. So much fun! Its a great way to meet new people, do something out of the norm and it’s all ages so you can bring the kids. I brought my nieces! It’s great seeing everybody’s different zombie looks. It’s bloody amazing and I highly reccomend it.

What can I say? Awesome!

Trash Film Orgy Rocks! They show B horror movies at The Crest Theatre at midnight every summer and put on a stage show for each performance as well as have interactive booths in the lobby. They also do a few special event screening throughout the year.
They also make awesome and fun B horror films. Check out Monster from Bikini Beach!
It is a great group of people to work with as well.

For six Saturdays every Summer, as well as other times during the year, the crazy people at the Trash Film Orgy showcase the very best in trash cinema, exploitation, horror, monster movies, and other b-​movie style flicks.
Featuring a fun-​filled lobby with carnival games and crafts, a bloody live stage show, and skimpily clad hotties of all genders, the Trash Film Orgy is one of the best entertainment values in Sacramento!
For reals!