Gay Fright Fest

Published October 17, 2026 by biggayhorrorfan

As someone who loves physical media, I don’t think I have always reaped the full benefits of my local libraries. Innately, I want to own the books I read and to have copies of the films I love on the ready at any given moment in time. That being said, budget issues and the space limitations of city living have often compelled me to make glorious use of the three libraries that mark the boundaries of my neighborhood. What fantastic spaces they are!

Those who don’t ever visit their own branch may also not realize the amazing services that these institutions provide for the community, as well. They offer free computer use and job resources, after school activities for teens and a warm space for the homeless to gather during winter months. They also provide amazing and inclusive programming.

In fact, this fall I’ve been happily co-programming an upcoming Halloween event at the Bezazian Library Branch in the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago. Gay Fright Fest will highlight how queer genre cinema has changed over the years, with modern short Family for Christmas playing alongside 1940’s The Mad Doctor. Christmas‘ director Nick Pospisil will even be on hand for a panel discussion on how the openly gay couple of his work compares with the queer coded partnering, supplied by the ever elegant Basil Rathbone and the always mysterious Martin Kosleck, at the heart of Doctor.

To make the afternoon even more spook-tacular, electroclash artist Marital Streep will be performing songs from Hunting for a Beautiful Accident, her latest EP. Free candy, coloring contests and photo ops – perhaps even with The Mad Doctor himself!!! – will also round out this eclectic celebration.

We hope all you rainbow-hugging Midwest fiends can join us!

The Friends of the Bezazian Library present Gay Fright Fest on Saturday October 24th – 1 pm at the Bezazian Library, 1226 W Ainslie – Free Admission.

Windy City Horrorama

Published April 12, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Robot Ninja

Chicago is home to many amazing film events. From the multiple festivals originating from the Terror in the Aisles crew to the Music Box Massacre, there are a wide variety of genre happenings for cinema enthusiasts to embrace. One of the newest and most exciting homegrown productions is The Windy City Horrorama, now entering its second year.

Last year’s activities included an anniversary screening of Jason Goes to Hell, with director Adam Marcus in attendance, along with a multitude of premiere screenings. The upcoming edition will also feature special guests including indie legend J.R. Bookwalter, appearing with a celebratory screening of Robot Ninja, and Rodman Fletcher, the director of the much beloved terror comedy Idle Hands.

But WCH is truly making its mark as being a special place for outrageous indie and foreign splatterfests. If titles like Straight Edge Kegger, The VelociPaster and Mutant Blast catch your gore seeking eyeballs, then you won’t want to miss this enthusiastic celebration, which begins a three day residency at the historic Davis Theater in Lincoln Square on Friday, April 26^th.

More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/pg/windycityhorrorama/ and www.windycityhorrorama.com.

I hope to see you there and until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Linnea Quigley at Summer Scares

Published May 20, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

linnea hollywood

This may not qualify as a horse of a different color, but it certainly is unique! Well known for attending celebrations of such ‘80s classics as Return of the Living Dead and Night of the Demons, horror’s goddess of the divine, Linnea Quigley, will be in Chicago on June 10^th for rare screenings of two of her other cult classics. Both Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers and Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-a-Rama, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary, will be shown at Summer Scares, an exciting appreciation of the celluloid culture that excelled in offing nubile teens in warmer climes. linnea sorority

With that thought, 1980’s Friday the 13^th, the film that is the wicked granddaddy of the genre, will also be shown, with that project’s Ari Lehman (“Jason”) on hand to offer an introduction, as well. In an interesting side note, both Quigley and Lehman recently appeared together in The Barn, an acclaimed slasher throwback that has been making the rounds of conventions and fests, as of late.

To sweeten the pot, Quigley and Lehman will be joined by Nightmare on Elm Street 2’s Mark Patton, who will be interviewing Quigley about her illustrious career. Talk about a trio of camp counselors that you could trust your life with! H-m-m-m – or maybe not.

Anyhow, the fun begins on Saturday, June 10^th, at 7pm at the historic Patio Theater in Chicago. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/813470602136871/.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Ax Wound Film Festival

Published October 8, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

This weekend Vermont will not only play host to lovers…but lovers of fright flicks, as well! Hannah Neurotica, the brilliant force behind Women in Horror month, is presenting the first annual Ax Wound Film Festival, featuring 34 short fright films, all masterminded by a worldly group of female directors.

Taking place at the Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery in Brattleboro, VT, all-access wristbands are only $5 and include entry to every film screening and special event throughout the day. Many of the film’s creators will be present for Q and A sessions and there are special items up for auction, as well, with 50% of the proceeds going to The Scleroderma Research Foundation.

More information can be gathered at https://www.facebook.com/AxWoundFilmFestival and http://www.axwoundfilmfestival.com.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Terror in the Aisles Presents Short Cuts!

Published July 11, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

David Schmidt’s Screams on Planet Zero!

Want better news than Yvette Mimieux and Bo Svenson reuniting for a Snowbeast sequel?!? (Which, unfortunately, isn’t happening, BTW!)

Well, how about Terror in the Aisles highlighting a bunch of awesome horror shorts from a bevy of truly talented Midwestern terror filmmakers? Sound good? Then look no further than Terror in the Aisles Presents Short Cuts on this Saturday evening, 7/12/2014, at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago. Featuring a wide variety of scary science fiction, trippy fright comedy and previews of upcoming projects (along with appearances from the talent involved), this is an event not to be missed.

..and yours truly, Big Gay Horror Fan, will be hosting this super cool, totally original, once in a lifetime event! So, get out your vinyl space suits and check out https://www.facebook.com/events/652996118088201/ for more information!

Until we meet, face to face, SWEET love and pink GRUE! – Big Gay Horror Fan!

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Big Gay Horror Fan

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