Bikers Invade The Parkway

The Devil-Ettes at Thrillville's Honeymoon Show,
 June 2001

The East Bay Rats often frequented The Parkway, especially on 2 for 1 Wednesdays, and I spotted more than a few Hell's Angels at the the theater over the years. They always parked their bikes outside, though, per the law and all. Very respectful and polite.

But on two separate occasions, I actually allowed - make that encouraged - local biker gangs to bring their bikes inside the main theater, park them along the stage, and on cue, rev their engines. Call me crazy. I hear it often. Mostly for jazz like this. But The Parkway was that kinda place. It fostered insanity, er...creativity.

Poster by Strephon Taylor

The first time I pulled this stunt was for my big Thrillville Honeymoon Show (actually shows, since we did it twice in one evening) on June 21, 2001. Monica Tiki Goddess and I had just returned from Hawaii after tying the knot at the Cal-Neva Lodge in Tahoe, and we wanted to celebrate in Thrillville, since that's how we initially met. I booked a rare 35mm print of Ted V. Mikels' classic She Devils on Wheels (1968) from The Werepad, and for live entertainment we had legendary local burlesque troupe The Devil-Ettes, along with a Oakland's famous female biker gang The Devil Dolls, who wheeled their hogs through the lobby or via the side theater door, lined them up along the stage, and right before the movie began.....vrrrrooom! Twice. It was such a blast, so to speak, I did it again later for a sold-out Thrillville screening of Easy Rider (1969).

I seriously doubt this was legal. Don't expect this experience to be replicated at The New Parkway. At least not by me, anyway. I don't want to push my luck...cheers.

(See video of the infamous Honeymoon Show here.)

Live Brrrrlesque At The Parkway!

Twilight Vixens: burlesque troopers

On December 7, 2006, I presented a beautiful, newly struck 35mm of the 1957 "classic" The Giant Claw, about a gigantic mutant space bird attacking the Earth, at The Parkway and called it "Thrillville's Big Holiday Turkey Roast." I pitched the movie as a "long lost Christmas classic" and booked popular local burlesque troupe The Twilight Vixen Revue - frequent guests on that big stage - to perform their Xmas show. It was a great night. (See live video of the show here.)

The original Thrillville tiki bar set

The only problem was the big heater was broken, and it was freezing. Remember, this was December. In fact, the heater had been broken for a while by that point and would continue to be broken for a while longer while technicians tried to figure out how to fix the archaic equipment. Few people realized that the old Parkway - initially built circa 1926 - was a monstrous mess of electrical, heating and plumbing problems, and we barely kept that boat afloat for the duration of our occupancy. But here's the rub: the fact that the heater busted just as Winter began and stayed busted for most of the season did not deter our hardcore loyal patrons from showing up in their usual droves. Their response to the chilly temperatures? They brought their own blankets. It was a heart-warming sight. Literally. That is love. 

Festive fun for all!

As for the bold and beautiful Twilight Vixens, dancing cheerfully to traditional Christmas tunes in the dark, icy cavern with hardly any clothes on at all, much less blankets, Monica Tiki Goddess's quip from the stage summed up their experience: "Their nipples aren't hard because they're turned on...." 

Poster by R. Black

Cheers.