Chris + Heather’s 16mm Big Screen Blow Out!

Tuesday, September 17 @ 7:00 PM / Music Box Theatre — 3733 N Southport Ave
Tickets: $13 at the door or purchase in advance

Artist and filmmaker Heather McAdams and songwriter and musician Chris Ligon have assembled one of the most impressive and painstakingly curated private collections of little 16mm films we know of, focusing on music films, commercials, found footage, and other true oddities which usually fall through the cracks at large, institutional film archives. Among many other things, Chris and Heather also host the legendary “Country Calendar Show,” a variety show featuring live performances and 16mm films highlighting twelve different country artists.

Chris and Heather present the very best of their 16mm film collection for a unique and inspiring evening of nonstop laughs and entertainment in their inimitable style. Drawing from their extensive collection, amassed over more than 40 years and edited in their signature “bumper to bumper” style, this selection of short subjects is sure to please everyone, especially those with a short attention span! The program includes amazing vintage trashy movie trailers for films like SuperchickSwedish Swingers, and Sex Kittens Go To College; forgotten TV commercials for goofy games like the Town Dump and toys like Puffy Fuzzy Shrinky Dinks; sensational songs by Ricky Nelson, George Jones, The Staple Singers, and more; plus four one-minute animated cartoons made by Chris and Heather for MTV in the mid 1990s and two early short experimental films by Heather McAdams, All Fucked Up and The Scratchman, recently preserved by CFS. Chris and Heather will appear live on stage to introduce the films and attempt to explain themselves! 

All Fucked Up and The Scratchman preserved in 16mm by the Chicago Film Society with funding from the National Film Preservation Foundation; all other 16mm prints from Chris and Heather’s collection.

Total program length: 90 min

NEXT UP: Vagabond on Wednesday, October 2 at NEIU