Library’s campy series, ‘Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama!’ promises a fun evening

MADISON – Madison Public Library’s staff is introducing a new series of movies that will give thrills and chills . . . as the audience laughs out loud.

“Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama!” is the guilty pleasure for campy, horror films that balance almost equal amounts of comedy with scares that go bump in the night.

Showing films as goofy as the series’ title, Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama! debuts on Feb. 10 at Madison Public Library with “Zero Hour,” which was released for drive-ins and hometown walk-in theaters in 1957. The evening’s entertainment will run from 6:15 to 8 p.m.

At 6:15, a library staffer will give a brief talk about the film, along with a brief history of the ‘stomach distress bag’ gimmick. The movie will start at 6:30 p.m.

This early air disaster film was the inspiration for 1980s’ smash hit “Airplane!” The movie crew for “Airplane!” basically made a remake of “Zero Hour.”

“Zero Hour” is set in the 1950s ‘above’ Canada during a commercial flight. The pilots and some passengers suffer food poisoning. Can anyone on board fly the plane? The situation forces a fighter pilot from World War II to attempt to land the airliner in heavy fog.

Audience members will receive “Chew & Spew” treat bags in case the turbulence caused by over-acting in the movie makes everyone ill.

The audience can forget those exorbitant prices at the movie theater’s concession stand, because the library will allow outside food and drink in the auditorium during the film. Bring your own popcorn and sour gummies.

The schedule for Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama! includes “The Giant Claw,” Feb. 24; “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” March 10; and “Gorgo,” March 24.

The address of Madison Public Library is 142 Plaza Blvd. For more information, call 256-461-0046 or visit events.hmcpl.org/event/2022-02-10/mad-movie-thon-o-rama.