- #CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS MOVIE#
- #CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS FULL#
- #CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS SERIES#
Post-Earls Court and pre-Soho, the King's Cross of the 1980s-early 1990s was an LGBT+ haven, but the redevelopment of the area closed many of these venues and there's nothing quite like the Scala left on London's cinema scene.Ī Scalarama celluloid double-bill of Pink Narcissus and Scorpio Rising shows at the Curzon Soho on 30 September, presented by Jane Giles. The Scala was just a few steps away from The Bell, one of London's most popular and influential mixed lesbian and gay venues.
#CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS FULL#
"They started stamping and shouting and throwing full cans of beer at us." The projectionist started the film midway through their routine, to a massive cheer from the audience, leaving Nicholls and the Neo Naturists to make the walk of shame back through the auditorium. "They hated our performance art and ridiculous costumes and semi-nudity," said Nicholls.
#CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS MOVIE#
It was just before a screening of ABBA: The Movie and the crowd wasn't having any of it. They devised a show for The Mix with the Neo Naturists, the performance group started in 1981. Image: David Babskyįashion designer Mike Nicholls was then living in a King's Cross squat with the classically trained ballet dancer Matthew Hawkins and the corset maker Mr. image: Matthew Caldwell Projectionist Billy Bell in 1981. On other occasions, Trash featured a gay version of Blind Date hosted by (the now Reverend) Richard Coles, and Boy George sang onstage ("what a drama diva she was!"). Escorted to the manager's office they were met by Jayne County backcombing her hair with one of her boobs hanging out, asking for a line of speed, while Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady) was getting dressed.
"A couple of things stand out," says club promoter Jeff Duncan, remembering a routine visit by Camden Fire Brigade to check for overcrowding. Over the years, the Scala hosted many All-Night LGBT+ clubs such as The Mix and Trash which featured films, DJs and performers. Image: Mair Payne Shock Around the Clock, 1989. The managers would always have to replace the lightbulbs the next day and the Scala acquired the nickname, 'The Sodom Odeon'. "I think a lot of mischief went on those nights." said Jarman’s friend, the late Keith Collins. The Scala also built up a loyal fanbase for other gay auteurs such as Andy Warhol, Pasolini, Fassbinder and Derek Jarman, who loved to watch the audience watching his films at the Scala and could often be seen at the All-Night gay movie marathons. It was so good, it was almost scary." An Avengers convention, 1980 And with New Line Cinemas announcing a still-to-come remake and 'fresh take' on on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, theres no doubt well all get plenty of looks back at the original 1939 movie as we wait.
"Maybe they were on ecstasy, I don't know, but it was really a raucous audience. Its no secret that movies that came out when Hollywood was still brand new had to improvise quite a bit to get their special effects to work even remotely well. "The audience was even more berserk than any I had ever seen in America," says Waters. The night that the Scala premiered his film Hairspray has gone down in history. Image: David Babsky The Cramps at the Scala in 1986. It was like joining a club - a very secret club, like a biker gang or something… It's like they were a country club for criminals and lunatics and people that were high… which is a good way to see movies". Notable side characters included Tripper’s womanizing best friend Larry Dallas (Richard Kline) and landlords played by Norman Fell and Audra Lindley (and, later, Andy Griffith Show icon Don Knotts).'The Pope of Trash', filmmaker John Waters, says "The Scala had magic. Joyce DeWitt played Janet Wood, while Suzanne Somers became a sex symbol as ditzy Chrissy Snow over the show’s first five seasons. John Ritter secured one Emmy win and two nominations for his performance as Jack Tripper.
#CLASSIC GAY MOVIES NEW LINE CINEMAS SERIES#
The series – which was based on Seventies British show Man About the House – became a ratings smash across eight seasons, delighting viewers with physical comedy and innuendo-laced dialogue. Three’s Company, which aired from 1977 to 1984 on ABC, focused on an unlikely trio of Santa Monica roommates: two single women and a man pretending to be gay in order to circumvent the era’s narrower housing norms. Robert Cort ( Cocktail, Runaway Bride) will produce the project, which will be set in the 1970s, according to The Hollywood Reporter. New Line Cinema is in negotiations to acquire the rights to classic sitcom Three’s Company and has hired screenwriters Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein ( He’s Just Not That Into You) to author the script for a film adaptation.