Monday, October 2, 2017

The History of the Baltimore Film Club

The English Patient, Senator Theater, 11.26.96 
The Baltimore Film Club was born in the creative department of the advertising agency GKE. The department was filled with movie lovers, but many of them lamented that they did get out to the movies enough. The actual idea of forming a movie club came from John Patterson, now the creative director of MGH, but I became the organizer. (I believe John only went three times!)

After the much debate, we decided to meet on Monday nights. No one felt it would interfere with their normal social lives. Football fans were not happy with the choice, but when we started Baltimore did not have an NFL team. We decided we would force ourselves to see a movie every other week, even if it meant seeing a bad one. And, yes, we saw some bad ones. After the screening we would vote on the film Siskel and Ebert style: Thumbs up or Thumbs down. Then we would adjourn to a nearby restaurant or tavern to discuss the film.

We had six people at the first screening: Copywriter Chris Scharpf, Account Executive Michael Marcus, Copywriter Susan Ciaverelli, Art Director Andy Stoller, his wife Paola Stoller, an salesperson for the Baltimore Sunpapers and myself. Over the years our membership expanded to members of the Baltimore Film Community and other movie fans. Regulars included: Deborah Lynn Murphy, John & Maureen Noble, Brian Keller, Jenny Bukowitz, David & Belinda Butler, Kate Butler, Tricia Macneal, Judy & Tommy Thornton, Zach ThorntonClay Valenti, Victor Giordano, Chuck Regner, Mary Holland, Trish SchweersRandy Aitken, Bob Burgess, Timothy RatajczakDave & Teresa Miller, Joel Miller, Chris McCubbin, Mark Redfield, Tom Brandau, Caprice EricsonChris Williamson, Peter MullettStacey Molli, Anita Abbott, Bill & Susan Fidel, Tom Richter, Stephanie Papa, Michelle Costa, Anne SchulteJim ProimosMichelle ProimosJimmy Proimos, Annie Proimos, Tom Loizeaux, Rick Larmore, Jeanne Murphy, David Simpson, Gene Samuelson, Charlotte Ernst, Karen DeBus, and Andi PenaBryan Barnes and Michael Barnes. I attended all but three screening. Chris Scharpf had the second highest attendance. Brian Keller was third. 

I believe our biggest crowd was nearly forty people for a revival screening of The Adventures of Robin Hood at the Senator Theater. Revivals always got the biggest crowds. The smallest crowd was yours truly alone at the Towson Commons for Dragonheart. Bob Burgess maintained a webpage for us. For a while, we also had a branch in New York City. All in all, it was an amazing journey of American cinema during the 90s. Sadly, the club began to decline as the members married and had children. After I married, I eventually gave up the reins and the club drifted into memory. Our last screening was Austin Powers in Goldmember at the Towson Commons in 2002. We had eleven good years.

Now that everyone's kids have grown up, maybe we should try again!

THE GRIFTERS, The Towson Twin, 01.28.91
CYRANO DE BERGERAC, The Charles, 02.11.91
Shot in Baltimore
HE SAID, SHE SAID, The Senator, 02.25.91
THE DOORS, The Rotunda, 03.11.91
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, The Senator, 04.08.91
BEN HUR, The Senator, 04.22.91
LA FEMME NIKITA, The Charles, 05.06.91
IMPROMPTU, The Charles, 05.20.91
BACKDRAFT, The Valley Center, 06.03.91
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, The Senator, 06.17.91
THE NAKED GUN 2‑1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR, The Valley Center, 07.01.91
BOYZ N THE HOOD, The Timonium Cinemas, 07.15.91
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON/REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, The Orpheum, 07.29.91
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY, The Timonium Cinemas, 08.12.91
DEAD AGAIN, The Valley Center, 08.26.91
CITIZEN KANE, The Senator, 09.09.91
BARTON FINK, The Rotunda, 09.22.91
SLACKER, The Charles, 10.07.91
Shot in Baltimore
HOMICIDE, The Senator, 10.21.91
BILLY BATHGATE, The Valley Center, 11.04.91
CAPE FEAR, The Valley Center, 11.18.91
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, The Perring Plaza, 12.02.91
HOOK, The Valley Center, 12.16.91
THE PRINCE OF TIDES, The Senator, 12.30.91
RUSH, York Road Cinema, 01.13.92
HEARTS OF DARKNESS/APOCALYPSE NOW, The Charles, 01.27.92
MEDICINE MAN, The Valley Center, 02.10.92
WAYNE'S WORLD, The Valley Center, 02.24.92
HEAR MY SONG, The Rotunda, 03.09.92
BASIC INSTINCT, The Rotunda, 03.23.92
THUNDERHEART, The Valley Center, 04.06.92
THE BABE, The York Road Cinema, 04.20.92
LEAVING NORMAL, The Rotunda, 05.04.92
LETHAL WEAPON 3, The Valley Center, 05.18.92

HOWARD'S END, The Charles, 06.01.92
Filmclubber Chris Scharpf led a critical rebellion after everyone but him voted thumbs up
on this film. He said, "I know you're supposed to like this film, but did you REALLY like it?"
A second vote was mainly thumbs down.
HOUSESITTER, The Towson Commons, 06.15.92
COOL WORLD, The Towson Commons, 07.13.92
RAISE THE RED LANTERN, The Charles, 07.27.92
UNFORGIVEN, The Timonium Cinemas, 08.10.92
THE BEST INTENTIONS, The Senator, 08.24.92
LIGHT SLEEPER, The Rotunda, 09.07.92
BOB ROBERTS, The Rotunda, 09.21.92
HERO, The Valley Center, 10.05.92
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, The Charles, 10.19.92
BEST COMMERCIALS IN THE WORLD/CHILDREN OF PARADISE, The Charles, 11.02.92
BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, The Towson Commons, 11.16.92
ALADDIN, The Towson Commons, 11.30.92
A FEW GOOD MEN, The Senator, 12.14.92
RESERVOIR DOGS , The Charles, 12.28.92
CHAPLIN, The Greenspring, 01.08.92
DAMAGE, The Rotunda, 01.25.92
MATINEE, The Timonium Cinemas, 02.08.93
GROUNDHOG DAY, The Timonium Cinemas, 02.21.93
MAD DOG AND GLORY, The Towson Commons, 03.08.93
CB4, The Towson Commons, 03.22.93
INDOCHINE, The Senator, 04.05.93
THE MONEY TREE, The Charles, 04.19.93
THE LAST DAYS OF CHEZ NOUS, The Charles, 05.03.93
POSSE, The Valley Center, 05.17.93
JURASSIC PARK, The Towson Commons, 06.14.93
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, The Valley Center, 06.28.93
IN THE LINE OF FIRE, The Towson Commons, 07.12.93
FREE WILLY, The Yorkridge, 09.26.93
Shot in Baltimore
THE METEOR MAN, The Towson Commons, 08.09.93
HARD TARGET, The Towson Commons, 08.23.93
TRUE ROMANCE, The Valley Center, 09.13.93 
AGE OF INNOCENCE, The Senator, 09.27.93
GETTYSBURG , The Towson Commons, 10-11-93
DAZED AND CONFUSED, The Yorkridge, 10.25.93
REMAINS OF THE DAY, The Senator, 11.08.93
RUBY IN PARADISE, The Charles, 11.22.93
A PERFECT WORLD, The Towson Commons, 12.06.93
THE PELICAN BRIEF, The Valley Center, 12.20.93
SHADOWLANDS, The Senator, 01.10.94
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, The Yorkridge, 01.24.94
I'LL DO ANYTHING, The Towson Commons, 02.07.94
REALITY BITES, The Valley Center, 02.21.94
WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE?, The Towson Commons, 03.07.94
NAKED. The Charles, 04.04.94
Shot in Baltimore
SERIAL MOM, UA Westview, 04.18.94
Filmclubbers Chris Williamson and Trish Schweers worked on this one.
BACK BEAT, The Yorkridge, 05.02.94
THE CROW, The Towson Commons, 05.16.94
MAVERICK, The Valley Center, 05.23.94
RENAISSANCE MAN, The Valley Center, 06.06.94
WOLF, The Valley Center, 06.20.94
FORREST GUMP, The Timonium Cinemas, 07.11.94
THE CLIENT, The Valley Center, 07.25.94
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, The Timonium Cinemas, 08.08.94
BARCELONA, The Towson Commons, 09.22.94
A GOOD MAN IN AFRICA, The Towson Commons, 09.12.94
QUIZ SHOW, The Senator, 09.26.94
ED WOOD, The Towson Commons, 10.10.94
A BETTER TOMORROW, The Charles, 10.23.94
MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN, The Senator, 11.07.94

CLERKS, The Towson Commons, 11.21.94
I'll never forget Professor Tom Brandau's review of this film:
"It doesn't cost you any more to be in focus."
TRAPPED IN PARADISE, The Yorkridge, 12.05.94
I.Q., The Towson Commons, 12.19.94
LEGENDS OF THE FALL, The Valley Center, 01.16.95
BEFORE SUNRISE, The Towson Commons, 01.30.95


THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, The Rotunda, 02.13.95
Our 100th screening.
THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE, The Yorkridge, 02.27.95
OUTBREAK, The Valley Center, 03.13.95
ROB ROY, The Towson Commons, 04.10.95
EXOTICA, The Senator, 04.22.95
FRENCH KISS, The Towson Commons, 05.08.95
DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, The Senator, 05.22.95
FUNNY BONES, The Charles, 06.05.95
BATMAN FOREVER, The Valley Center, 06.19.95
FIRST KNIGHT, The Senator, 07.10.95
THE POSTMAN (Il Postino), The Rotunda, 07.24.95
LITTLE ODESSA, The Charles, 08.06.95
DESPERADO, The Timonium Cinemas, 08.28.95
THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, The Rotunda, 09.11.95
SHOWGIRLS, The Senator, 09.25.95
TO DIE FOR, The Senator, 10.09.95
GET SHORTY, The Towson Commons, 10.24.95
Shot in Baltimore
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, The Senator, 11.06.95
Filmclubber Chris Williamson worked on this one.
GOLDENEVER, The Yorkridge, 11.20.96
CARRINGTON, The Rotunda, 12.11.95
12 MONKEYS, The Towson Commons, 01.15.96
DEAD MAN WALKING, The Rotunda, 01.29.96
BROKEN ARROW, The Towson Commons, 02.12.96
BABE, The Yorkridge, 02.26.96
FARGO, The Rotunda, 03.11.96
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER , The Senator, 04.09.96
JANE ERYE, The Rotunda, 04.23.96
LAST DANCE, The Yorkridge, 05.06.96
TWISTER, The Towson Commons, 05.20.96
DRAGONHEART. The Towson Commons, 06.03.96
THE CABLE GUY, The Towson Commons, 06.17.96
THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, The Towson Commons, 07.01.96
COURAGE UNDER FIRE, The Yorkridge, 07.15.96

THE DOBERMAN GANG, The Murphy Backyard, 08.03.96
This film has never been officially released on DVD or Blu-Ray,
so if you want to see it, you have to come over to my house.
TRAINSPOTTING, The Rotunda, 08.12.96
EMMA, The Senator, 08.25.96
BASQUAIT, The Rotunda, 09.09.96
LAST MAN STANDING, The Valley Center, 09.23.96
THAT THING YOU DO. The Towson Commons, 10.07.96
BIG NIGHT, The Charles, 10.28.96
VERTIGO, The Senator, 11.11.96
THE ENGLISH PATIENT, The Senator, 11.26.96
DAYLIGHT, The Towson Commons, 12.09.96
THE CRUCIBLE, The Towson Commons, 12.23.96
SHINE, The Rotunda, 01.13.97
BREAKING THE WAVES, The Charles, 01.27.97
STAR WARS, The Senator, 02.10.97
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, The Senator, 02.24.97
SECRETS & LIES, The Towson Commons, 03.10.97
THE SAINT, The Towson Commons, 04.06.97

PARADISE ROAD, The Senator, 04.28.97
We watched this one with filmclubber Trish Schweers, who 
worked on it as the assistant to director Bruce Beresford
THE FIFTH ELEMENT, The Valley Center, 05.12.97
CON AIR, The Senator, 06.09.97
BATMAN AND ROBIN, The Timonium Cinemas, 06.23.97
MEN IN BLACK, The Towson Commons, 07.07.97
BRASSED OFF, The Rotunda, 07.21.97
SHALL WE DANCE, The Rotunda, 08.04.97
Filmclubber Bob Burgess was inspired to take ballroom dancing lessons after this film.
He dragged me along with him and before long I met my lovely wife at a dance.
COPLAND, The Towson Commons, 08.18.97
THE LITTLE RASCALS, BATMAN & ROBIN, AUSTIN POWERS, ANACONDA, & LIAR, LIAR, The Bengies Drive-In, 08.31.97
THE GAME, The Towson Commons, 09.15.97
SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET, The Yorkridge, 10.13.97
Shot in Baltimore
WASHINGTON SQUARE, The Senator, 10.27.97
THE RAINMAKER, The Timonium Cinemas, 11.24.97
AMISTAD, The Senator, 12.16.97
WINGS OF THE DOVE, The Rotunda, 01.12.98
KUNDUN, The White Marsh, 01.26.98
THE APOSTLE, The Rotunda, 02.09.98
THE ZERO EFFECT, The White Marsh, 02.23.98
THE BIG LEBOWSKI, The Towson Commons, 03.09.98
THE SPANISH PRISONER, The Rotunda, 05.04.98

THE HORSE WHISPERER, The White Marsh, 05.12.98
We got to watch this one with filmclubber Clay Valenti,
who worked as 2nd Assistant Camera on the film
THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO, The Rotunda, 06.15.98
OUT OF SIGHT, The White Marsh, 06.30.98
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, The Senator, 07.28.98
SNAKE EYES, The White Marsh, 08.10.98
PECKER, The Senator, 10.05.98
ANTZ/DEEP IMPACT, The Bengies Drive-In, 10.17.98
THE SEIGE, The White Marsh, 11.19.98
ENEMY OF THE STATE, The White Marsh, 11.23.98
PSYCHO, The Senator, 12.07.98
PRINCE OF EGYPT, The Valley Center, 12.21.98
GODS AND MONSTERS, The Charles, 01.11.99
THE THIN RED LINE, The White Marsh, 01.25.99
CENTRAL STATION. The Rotunda, 02.08.99
AFFLICTION, The Rotunda, 03.01.99
DR. STRANGELOVE/A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, The Charles, 03.16.99
EDTV, The Valley Center, 04.12.99
LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, The Rotunda, 04.12.99
THE MUMMY, The White Marsh, 05.11.99
RUN LOLA RUN, The Rotunda, 07.05.99
EYES WIDE SHUT, The Charles, 07.19.99
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, The White Marsh, 08.02.99
BOWFINGER, The Towson Commons, 08.15.99
MY LIFE SO FAR, The Charles, 08.29.99

DOUBLE JEOPARDY, The Valley Center, 09.27.99
Filmclubber Trish Schweers worked on this one
 as the assistant to director Bruce Beresford 
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, The Charles, 10.11.99 
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, The Rotunda, 10.25.99
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGHm The White Marsh, 12.13.99
MAGNOLIA, The Towson Commons, 01.10.00
SWEET AND LOWDOWN, The Rotunda, 01.24.00
BOILER ROOM, The Timonium Cinemas, 02.21.00
WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM, The Towson Commons, 03.06.00
HIGH FIDELITY, The White Marsh, 04.03.00
AMERICAN PSYCHO, The Charles, 04.17.00
Our 200th Screening.
WHERE THE HEART IS, The Valley Center, 05.01.00
DIAL M FOR MURDER, The Charles, 06.12.00 
WHAT LIES BENEATH, The White Marsh, 07,??.00 White Marsh
Shot in Baltimore
CECIL B. DEMENTED, The Charles, 08.??.00
ALMOST FAMOUS, Hoyts West Nursery, 09.??,00
PAY IT FORWARD, The Towson Commons, 10.28.00
BEST IN SHOW, The Charles, 11.12.00
BILLY ELLIOTT, The Rotunda, 12.11.00 
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, The Rotunda 01.08.00
HANNIBAL, The Towson Commons, 02.12.01
MEMENTO, The Charles, 03.19.01
THE MUMMY 2 , The White Marsh, 05.21.01
PEARL HARBOR, The White Marsh, 06.04.01
JURASSIC PARK 3, The Towson Commons, 07.23.01
PLANET OF THE APES, The Muvico Egyptian, 07.30.01
CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN, The White Marsh, 08,??,01
BANDITS, The Rotunda, 10.15.01
MONTHY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, The Charles 10.29.01
AMELIE, The Charles, 11.19.01
VANILLA SKY, The White Marsh, 12.17.01
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, 01.07.02
BLACK HAWK DOWN, The Muvico Egyptian, 01.21.02
THE MONSTER'S BALL, The Charles, 02.25.02
ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, The Charles, 03.11.02
PANIC ROOM, The Towson Commons, 04.01.02
MONSOON WEDDING, The Charles, 04.22.02
SPIDERMAN, The White Marsh, 05.06.02
STAR WARS II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, The White Marsh, 05.20.02
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, The Towson Commons, 06.03.02
MINORITY REPORT, The White Marsh, 06.24.02
REIGN OF FIRE, Hoyts West Nursery, 06.24.02
AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER, The Towson Commons, 07.29.02

I think everyone would vote thumbs up on the Film Club
Here are some tributes to members we lost:

Randy Aitken

Follow me on Twitter:  SeanPaulMurphy

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