Amidst the turmoil of geopolitical crisis and the stockpiling of supermarket goods, an insecure film industry is encountering an existential threat from Pay TV and the challenge of seducing jaded audiences back into movie theatres… And it’s only 1962!

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues our 13th sensational season — SCREAM FOR YOUR LIVES! — With Joe Dante’s keenly nostalgic tribute to William ‘King of Gimmicks’ Castle, MATINEE (1993).

MATINEE tells the story of an old-school cinema showman Lawrence Woolsey — played brilliantly by a cigar-chomping John Goodman — trying to promote his latest low-budget schlocker, MANT! Desperate to open MANT! to big numbers, Woolsey accidentally schedules a preview screening — complete with a marauding actor in a malfunctioning ant costume — in Key West, Florida on the eve of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Just as Roger Corman in 1958 rushed his sci-fi film WAR OF THE SATELLITES into production to exploit America’s fears of the space race, so Woolsey must find a way of making movies matter at a time of global insecurity.

MATINEE will be introduced with a sensational exposé of the TRUE shocking history of movie exhibition gimmicks by queer film fanatic, Token Homo. A must for all film fans! Absolutely not to be missed! WOULD ALL PATRONS PLEASE NOTE: if you dread loud noises in the movie theatre, YOU MUST NOT see this talk!

Polite notice: We are showing MATINEE with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///