This week marks the 50th anniversary of the first network television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz. The first CBS broadcast (which was on WBBM Channel 2 in Chicago) was introduced by Bert Lahr with a 10-year-old Liza Minnelli sitting on his lap. Back then, people were unfamiliar enough with the film that viewers were warned that it opens in black and white, lest they think something was wrong with their color televisions. Except for the years 1957-1958 and 1963 (because of JFK's assassination), it has been broadcast annually. The Wizard of Oz has been seen by more people than any other movie (an estimated one billion), and a 1998 Gallup Poll reported that 94% of American adults had seen the film. more ›

Chicagoist remembers being at that awkward age where you’re too old to go trick-or-treating (without getting shitty looks from your neighbors) and too young to hit the bars. So to fill that void we’d rent scary movies. So a quick word to anyone who’s made that their plan this year: get your ass to the store today! If you show up on Saturday night, don’t expect them to have anything else but crappy sequels like Halloween 3, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, and The Rage: Carrie 2. It’s worth it to eat the late fee if it means you’ll have quality viewing options. more ›

Oh man! Chicagoist is having some major flashbacks today. No, we’re not still feeling the effects of the tequila shots. The trippiness is due to the return to Chicago of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. more ›