Terror In The Aisles 2

Designed by architect Henry Newhouse, the historic Portaget Theater opened on December 11, 1920 with 1,938 seats as part of the Ascher Brothers theatre chain. Pre-dating the advent of America's movie palaces, the Portage Theater's megaphone-shaped auditorium features a formal beaux-arts opera house design. When the theatre was taken over by Balaban and Katz in 1940, its marquee, entrance lobby and foyer were redecorated in a sleek, streamlined art deco style to complement its new art deco neighbors -- the monolithic Sears department store and the five-story Klee Brothers building. In the 1980s, the theater underwent a dramatic change when a wall was constructed down the middle of the existing auditorium, resulting in two oddly-shaped cinemas. After a five-year period of darkness, the theater has reopened to its original shape, and has been refurbished and restored to its 1920s splendor. The Portage Theater is located on Milwaukee Ave. on the northwest side of Chicago.

Terror In The Aisles 2 took place August 15 2009 at the historic Portage Theater in Chicago IL. The show featured 3 horror films as well as a few short films and even a sideshow. Attendees were shown The Evil Dead and My Bloody Valentine, but most notably about Terror In The Aisles 2 was it was the midwest premier of one of the most talked about horror films of the last few years, Trick'r'Treat. The show felt like a mini horror convention with dealer tables set up throughout the lobby. There were also celebrity guests. Appearing at the event were Tom Sullivan, special fx master for The Evil Dead, George Mihalka, director of the classic My Bloody Valentine, and Michael Dougherty, writer and director of the new horror masterpiece Trick'r'Treat. The guests were shown The Evil Dead and My Bloody Valentine in glorious 35 mm, the way they should be seen, and after each film the respective guest held a Q and A panel and talked about their film. Michael Dougherty also showed his short film "Season's Greetings" that led to the making of Trick'r'Treat. Before and after the films the guests were in the lobby to sign autographs and take pictures with the fans.

I had a blast at this event and honestly can't wait until their next event. Movieside holds other events throughout the year as well. For a full list of events and up to date info be sure to check Movieside Film Festival's Myspace page HERE and the Portage Theater website HERE.