Practical Magic
How two veteran community-makers conjured up free mid-week movies to enrich and enliven our area year-round; and some other bargain hunting
According to Aubrey Parker, she and Cory Bissell conceived of the Movie Club in 2023 after a singular betrayal: She had the temerity to watch Practical Magic one time without him. Parker, who edits the Betsie Current (among other good works) cops to a diabolical love for the Sandra Bullock/Nicole Kidman/Aidan Quinn vehicle; she home-screens it at least once a year. Cory Bissell (proprietor of the Frankfort Kilwins) had a big ask for her by way of relationship repair: Rent the Garden Theater and show the movie for him and 20 of their friends. When instead of 20 about 125 people showed up, many of them dressed for the occasion in pointy hats and striped stockings, Monthly Movie Club was born.
Movie Club movies are usually cult classics and crowd-pleasers (Top Gun, Goonies, Dirty Dancing) from the ’80s to early aughts, and a year ago they added a “classic” movie night into the mix (Casablanca was one I was sorry to miss, as I have a fedora). Dressing up is encouraged but not required. Several people brought watermelons to Dirty Dancing—iykyk. As an extra incentive, Bissell donates a special treat from Kilwins.
To celebrate the onset of their third year and their 23rd event, Parker and Bissell rescreened Practical Magic on Thursday, October 30, and WUWU Community Radio was there to interview the 130-strong coven of witches and warlocks (and one Elberta cat of depravity) who swept into the Garden. You can listen to that show while it’s up on the WUWU archive, at the top of the 11 a.m. broadcast of “Beyond Benzie” for October 31. The Kilwins treat was witches fingers—a sort of green-chocolate and pretzel confection that tasted way better than it sounds.
According to Katie Jones, the Garden’s executive director, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 to license these older movies. Along with the normal expenses of being open, which includes staff (chiefly Joe Perkette “the man behind it all!”) and building costs, that means that Movie Club “will likely never be a revenue stream,” though Jones says they do recoup some money in concession sales. For Jones, though, “Having the theater full and energized on a random Tuesday in February is well worth it!”
The free movies, she says, “far surpass” the first-run movies in attendance. “While the price is right, I do think it is more than that. People want (and need!) the camaraderie of watching their favorite nostalgic films with friends.” Jones also credits Parker’s marketing powers for pulling these numbers.
At some point the turnout led Parker and Bissell to realize they had an opportunity to bring the community together around important local causes that aligned with the movies’ themes. To date, according to Parker, they’ve raised nearly $7,000. The April 2024 showing of A League of Their Own scored enough to sponsor a summer girls’ softball team, who sported “Frankfort Monthly Movie Club” T-shirts. On this most recent Practical Magic night, attendees donated about $500 total in cash and Venmo to the Women’s Resource Center.
You can look forward to A Christmas Story and White Christmas (did you hear that, Mom?) in December. No word just yet on what local charitable organization or effort will get the *major award.*
By now, you may be wondering: How do I get them to show Paris Is Burning? “We do take requests!” Parker says. “We have a running list of stuff that people have suggested. We’re always willing to add to that list.” You can pitch your idea at the next Movie Club Night, on Tuesday, November 18, which is First Wives Club, dedicated to the late screen goddess Diane Keaton. I suggest you have a very large belt, hat, and high-necked shirt on when you do.
And Coming Even Sooner … This Thursday
IPR is setting up a blind on Main Street and giving you the opportunity to bag your first (or subsequent) gander at the Michigan-specific Jeff Daniels flick Escanaba in da Moonlight, and eat some slow-cooked deer. How much venison chili can one guy eat? Enough to decide which one is good enough to vote for, hopefully. May the best crock win. This ought to get you excited for opening day on Saturday.
WUWU Open House, Opening Day Saturday, November 15
If you didn’t make it to last Saturday’s rerummage sale, you’ll have another chance to hunt for bargains from 10 am to 3 pm at the *third and final* rummage sale. Do we believe them? But really, come out. You can learn more about what will go in the new Elberta Heritage Center space once it’s empty, and nab yourself something to strap on next to that thirty pointer.
Of course I heard!!
Thank you, Emily.