The Parkway's Annual Oscar Bash

Beginning in 1999, The Parkway began broadcasting the Academy Awards on both big screens, throwing our own customized, eccentric and insanely popular annual Oscar Bash.  For the price of a single admission, we offered free passed finger foods, champagne, a goodie bag, and live entertainment during the commericals.  At first it was just me as "Will the Thrill" and my lovely assistant (and eventual bride) Monica, Tiki Goddess hosting the festivities, running up and down the stairs, trying to quickly give away trivia/contest prizes while barely stopping to catch a breath. It was quite a workout. And Monica always wore high heels...

Finally, and fortunately for all concerned, our talented in-house troupe Barely Legal Productions, who presented The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the theater every week, took over the downstairs auditorium during the Oscars with elaborate musical stage shows and themed skits performed during the commercial breaks, while I was upstairs doing my vintage smartass lounge lizard schtick to a far less boisterous crowd. Basically it was like going to a Vegas casino with Cirque du Soleil playing the big room and Louis Prima and Keely Smith swingin' in the lounge. Always nice to have options. Same show on the screen, anyway.

Parkway founders/owners Kyle & Catherine Fischer
greet the sold out house, 2005

The Oscar Bash was one of our popular events, with advance tickets selling out seemingly within minutes of going on sale, year in, year out. Patrons dressed up for the various contests, including Most Glamorous ,Best Celebrity Lookalike, and my personal favorite, Best Cleavage. A grand time was had by all. Except for me. I hate the Oscars. IMO, movies should never be reduced to sporting events. But then I also hate sports and The Parkway also hosted annual Superbowl Parties (which I skipped, but nobody missed me, I'm sure). 

I hosted the Oscar Bash for many years because the audience was having so much fun and I considered the gig an extension of my Thrillville  responsibilities. But don't worry. I won't be showing for the Oscar parties at The New Parkway with my grumpy attitude. I'll be at home, watching movies that would never be remotely considered for any kind of award - none anyone would would be proud of, anyway. But you folks will have a blast! Let me know how it goes...Cheers.

Barely Legal Presents: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"!

Once I moved my cult movie cabaret show, initially called The Midnight Lounge, from Saturdays to Thursdays and rechristened it Thrillville, since for my aging lounge lizard ass 9pm was the the new midnight, The Parkway began contemplating the possibility of a new weekly midnight movie show, something that would draw people out to that neighborhood at that time of night on a consistent basis, something with a built-in, rabid following, something with more youthful appeal...Naturally The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the raunchy rock 'n' roll monster musical whose legend had never stopped growing since it premiered in 1975, immediately and pretty much simultaneously sprung to everyone's minds.

I suggested we meet with Barely Legal Productions, the live troupe that recently ended a long, successful run at Berkeley's beloved UC Theater, due to the fact the beloved institution had sadly closed. Nate Havoc and his future bride Bridgid McGuiness (now Bridgid McHavoc!) totally sold us on the viability of such a prospect, and indeed, The Parkway's cavernous, classical lower theater was the ideal venue for a live stage show accompanying the most popular midnight movie of all time. It offered the same darkly cozy, spacious comfort as the UC, but with sofas! I remember seeing the show at the Nuart Theater down in West L.A. years before, where it also enjoyed a lengthy run, but Barely Legal was, and remains, the world's best. 

Barely Legal performed their sexy, spectacular stage show (with the movie) week in, week out to large, loyal crowds, all too anxious to participate in the merry madness, beginning on February 12, 1999, continuing through to their final show at The Parkway on March 21, 2009, the day before yet another unique community movie theater went prematurely dark. Nate and his talented crew often hosted our annual Oscar parties as well, putting on elaborate musical numbers and inventive comedy skits during the commercials (I also hosted The Parkway's Oscar gigs, begrudgingly - more on that later). We were very fortunate to have them as an integral part of The Parkway's identity. They really helped make us special. 

After many successful "road shows" around the Bay Area and beyond, Barely Legal plans to resume Rocky shows at The New Parkway, which will become a whole new tradition. Talk about a "Time Warp." Virgins beware....Cheers.