THE MADS VIRTUALLY RIFF “THE GIANT GILA MONSTER”!
Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu are “taking movie riffing back onstage” once again in a livestreamed event – this time a special Halloween event 6:00 pm MDT Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
The two, who starred as Dr. Clayton Forrester and TV’s Frank on MST3K, are livestream riffing on 1959’s monster flick, The Giant Gila Monster. This show – their first since monthly shows ended in July – will mark their 50th time performing together virtually during the 2020-2024 COVID-19 pandemic. Stick around for a post-show Q&A with Frank & Trace and a very special guest TBA (Credit will go here).
Past guests have included Mike Nelson (Mystery Science Theater 3000, RiffTrax), Bridget Nelson (Mystery Science Theater 3000, RiffTrax), Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show), Victoria Price (daughter of horror legend Vincent Price), Jonah Ray (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Kevin Murphy (Mystery Science Theater 3000, RiffTrax), Dana Gould (The Simpsons, Stan Against Evil), Marcus Parks (Last Podcast on the Left), Carolina Hidalgo (Movie Sign with the Mads), Andy Kindler (Maron, Bob’s Burgers), J. Elvis Weinstein (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Bill Corbett (Mystery Science Theater 3000, Rifftrax), Mary Jo Pehl (Mystery Science Theater 3000, Rifftrax), Jackey Neyman Jones (Manos: The Hands of Fate), Rich Koz (host of MeTV’s Svengoolie), Blaine Capatach (Comedy Central’s Beat The Geeks), John Erler (Master Pancake Theater), Beez McKeever (MST3K‘s “Prop Diva”), Dave Hill (Girls5Eva, Drunk Bus, The Dave Hill Goodtime Hour), Martha Kelly (Baskets, Euphoria), Rachel Lichtman (Network 77), Cat Popper (bassist), Myka Fox (comedian, writer, radio personality), and Kim “Howard” Johnson (Monty Python historian), Julie Klausner (Hulu’s Difficult People, host of the Double Threat podcast), and Bonnie Barton (former Lucasfilm employee, The Star Wars Craft Book).
Storyline: A gigantic, mutated Gila monster begins stalking a rural Texas community. Young couple, Pat (Grady Vaughn) and Liz (Yolanda Salas), are attacked by the creature while parked in their vehicle overlooking a ravine, sending the car crashing into the ravine below. Local sheriff (Fred Graham) launches a search for the missing couple, assisted by their friends, including Chase Winstead (Don Sullivan), a young mechanic and hot rod racer. Chase locates the crashed car in the ravine, the inside smeared with blood and the couple nowhere to be found. Meanwhile the creature continues its attacks, eating livestock and crashing an oil tanker, before eventually destroying a bridge, causing a major train accident. Only after this do the authorities realize that they are dealing with a giant venomous lizard. By this time, emboldened by its attacks and hungry for prey, the creature attacks the town!
— A famous B-movie of the era, the film stars Don Sullivan, a veteran of several low budget monster and zombie films, and Lisa Simone, the French contestant for the 1957 Miss Universe, as well as comedic actor Shug Fisher and KLIF disc jockey Ken Knox. The effects included a live Mexican beaded lizard (not an actual Gila monster) filmed on a scaled-down model landscape.
Be sure to join live for a chance to win a 12″x18″ poster print commemorating this event! This poster will go on sale the night of the event! Poster prints are available to purchase at Dumb Industries.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Friends In Need Food Shelf in Minneapolis.
Viewers will be able to tune in from anywhere in the world. Anyone who purchases a ticket will gain access to re-watch the livestream for 7 days.
Tickets for the October 29 livestreamed event are $10.00 + a service fee. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mads-are-back-halloween-special.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Can I watch this anywhere in the world?
A: Yes. As long as you have internet access you will be able to watch and/or download the show.
Q: What is the format of the show like? Will there be silhouettes like on MST3K?
A: While the film plays, only the voices of The Mads will be heard riffing. Trace & Frank will only be on screen during the very beginning for a quick intro and again at the end of the show for a Q&A.
Q: Where will the livestream be broadcast?
A: Most likely on YouTube, but we cannot guarantee this. Unfortunately, sometimes YouTube will flag content in the public domain without reason or warning. We run multiple tests to ensure the movies we select will livestream over YouTube without getting pulled due to their strict copyright restrictions. If this happens during one of our tests, we will find an alternate platform (most likely Twitch) and notify all ticket holders with enough time to prepare their setup.
Q: Is the show appropriate for children?
A: That depends on what kind of parent you are. Strong language is used, but that’s it. Think of it as being rated a “hard PG-13.”
Q: Where will the livestream be broadcast?
A: The show will broadcast via a private Twitch link which will be sent to ticket holders an hour prior to showtime.
Q: Can I watch the show on my TV?
A: Probably! If you have a smartphone and a streaming device (like Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, etc.) you should be able to “cast” from the Twitch app on your phone to the Twitch app on your streaming device. Availability of this feature depends on your own personal setup. Visit here for instructions.
Q: Can I still watch the event even if I can’t tune in live?
A: Yes! Anyone who purchases a ticket prior to showtime will have replay access for 7 days.
Q: Can I gift a ticket to a friend?
A: Yes! If you are doing this, make sure to enter their name and email address on the attendee’s info at checkout. This way they’ll receive all the emails on how to access the livestream and download the show afterwards. If you forgot to enter their info, just email chris@dumb-industries.com to update it.
Q: I never got an email confirmation or instructions on how to access the livestream and/or replay access. Help!
A: Email chris@dumb-industries.com for any issues regarding not receiving emails.