THE SIXTH DIMENSION INVADES LONG BEACH!

Like something out of one of my wildest high school dreams, the Sixth Dimension of Richard Elfman’s Forbidden Zone sprang to life Friday night as dancing frogs, preened pretty princesses, and Richard Elfman himself took over 4th Street for an amazing night at Long Beach’s Art Theatre.

Richard Elfman looks on as the line crawls around the block.

There was a moment earlier in the evening when we all realized that this event was going to be fantastic beyond expectation. Let me paint a picture: the proud owners of the Art - Mark, Helen and Jan - had invited our guests and myself to a great evening of wine at Art du Vin, their fine wine bar next door to the theatre, and then to dinner at the incredible family-owned Lola’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine. It was an evening of great conversation and laughs, and an almost surreal sense of comfort and familiarity between a group of people who were otherwise meeting for the first time.

Feasting on the finest mole poblano in Long Beach.

Richard Elfman and Helen Vidor, owner of the Art Theatre.

Mark, Richard and Jan with Mindy and Brenda of Lola’s Restaurant.

Suddenly, from out of the cold, in walks Squeezit Henderson.

Diego “Squeezit” and Richard Elfman.

I have to wonder how serious the Elfmans thought I was when I mentioned there’d be a costume contest, or for that matter the dedication of Mondo Celluloid’s gang of wonderfully strange friends, because Lauren Elfman’s face just about lit up when she saw Diego in his tighty-whities - Richard himself sprang to his cell phone to call Squeezit himself, Matthew “Toshiro Baloney” Bright, but alas no connection could be made.

…but seriously folks, for those of you who were there, how seriously rad were the Elfmans?

Richard and Lauren Elfman feast on Art Theatre’s fine fluffy popcorn.

Lauren Elfman and our poster on proud display.

It’s always a dream come true to hang out with artists that one respects, especially those who created works that were as formative and personal as Forbidden Zone has been to me (I have seriously seen this movie well over 50 times), but to find them as cordial, friendly, and down-to-earth as Richard and Lauren were, as well as fellow guests producer Jack F. Murphy and model Hazuki Kato, was something absolutely magical.

Logan, Richard, Jack and Hazuki enjoy Art du Vin’s great wine and hospitality.

Lauren, Logan and Richard.

Hazuki and Jack.

But back to the frogs and princesses…

Bust Rod and Conner Che.

Mondo Shannon as Frenchy, chatting with Richard.

The pre-show costume contest was a hit, with Frenchy, Bust Rod, and Squeezit taking the stage as Judge Richard gave them his full inspection. In a display of true class, and despite resounding applause for Squeezit, Richard announced that all three were winners, and they each received a DVD of the film courtesy of Richard and Jack.

Squeezit becomes Chicken Boy for Richard.

Bust Rod, triumphant, leaves the stage.

Frenchy and Squeezit display their DVD’s.

Shortly thereafter, Diego received the ultimate reward for his ballsy costume - he became the first kid on his block to have his ass autographed by Richard Elfman.

Diego/Squeezit receives the highest honor for his dedication.

One pair of underwear that must NEVER be washed.

All this excitement, and we haven’t gotten to the movie itself!  The screening, alas, did not go without a small hitch - there were complications with the sound early on, and we had to stop the film while they were worked out. Though they were ultimately fixed, some of the audience yelled out “Rewind! Rewind!” seemingly unaware that this isn’t something easily done when projecting on 35mm - one simply can’t hit a << button and go back a few chapters. I was told later that six people actually left and asked for refunds, which we gladly gave them, begging the question - who the hell were those six people? Had they never been to a midnight show? True one doesn’t enjoy having their film interrupted, but when you get Richard Elfman jumping up on stage in the interim for an impromptu Q&A (thanks everyone for their great questions!), and ultimately the film starts up again to a cheering audience and plays into the night as everyone sang and cheered along as if nothing had happened, how heavy, really, the crime? I was less disappointed by the technical glitch than I was by the news that some people weren’t able to handle it - still, 6 out of 169 ain’t bad, and shouldn’t be taken as a sign at all that the spirit of the grindhouse crowd is dead.

Joanna and Mark hard at work in the projection room.

The crowd hangs out after the movie as Martin points to something.

Logan and Joanna, victorious rescuer of sound!

And yes, once the sound got going, there it was - Forbidden Zone, towering over us on the big screen, with all its mad music and imagery, strange goings-on in a universe not much unlike the one in my head. I was a tad nervous that some of the audience may not recover from the unexpected pause in proceedings, but my fears were squelched as the audience erupted in applause as soon as it was clear we had SOUND!, and that noise and energy carried through as people clapped and sang along to their favorite songs, cheering the great lines (”You dumb fuck!”, “What can chickens do?”, “I love to feel your nipples harden when I caress them with my fingertips”, the list goes on and on…) and even sticking around as we started the movie over (thanks Joanna!) so they could watch the first 10 minutes that had gone silent before.

Richard becomes Bust Rod, and lifts Rebecca Roberts.

Diego, Logan, Richard, Terry, Jack and Hazuki celebrate a job well done.

Logan, Richard, Giselle, and more wine!

It’ll be a challenge to try to duplicate the insanity of this screening - I look forward to seeing what the girls of Via Roller Skates and I will put together for the Xanadu screening on January 9th. To those of you who came out, THANK YOU so much for making this such a success - help us keep spreading the news, and hope to see you all again soon!

- Logan Crow

- Photos by Terry Smith