"It's very difficult to keep the line between the past and the present. You know what I mean? It's awfully difficult"
In 1975 the documentary Grey Gardens the story of an elderly woman and
her 56 year old daughter, former members of New York society and
relatives to "American Royalty"captivated the country with it's
unflinching gaze at their adapting to misfortune in a rotting mansion in
the East Hamptons.
This story would have faded in to the archives had it not been for the electric presence of the daug
hter Edith Bouvier Beale. Better known as
"Little Edie", Miss Beale engrossed audiences with her dynamic story
telling,comic flair,heartbreaking honesty about the world at large and
her own suspended dreams. Her unusual style propelled her to the
forefront of popular culture where still, 37 years after the fact she is
revered as high priestess of the eccentrics,a feminist vanguard and
fashion icon.
November 7th, 2012 will mark the 95th anniversary
of Little Edie's birth and The Clinton St. Theater is celebrating this
STAUNCH lady with 2 screenings of Grey Gardens(1975) complete with cake and hors d'oeuvres. Costumes are encouraged and will most certainly be rewarded,however we kindly ask that you leave all cats and racoons at home.
Wednesday November 7th,2012 GREY GARDENS 7:00,9:15 $6.00 All Ages, Beer & Wine 21+w/ valid ID
News you can use from the desk of Miss Glitterbest,
Dearest friends- so delighted that you are delighted with the recent news about our move to The Clinton Street Theater. We are clocking in a lot of hours this month sweeping corners, patching walls and putting some sparkle on the old girl's star.
The theater opened in 1915 and is one of the oldest operating movie houses in the US. The Clinton St...
. is famous for being the Portland home to The Rocky Horror Picture Show which it has shown *every* Saturday since 1978.
Please take time to check out the films they have coming through via their brand new website
We are thrilled to make it known that a good portion of our calendar has been plugged in and we have added some real jewels for your delight. The first being a special screening of "GREY GARDENS" on November 7th, which is Little Edie's 95th Birthday.
November 30th will also mark a reprise of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (in 2013 expect to see it as a monthly event.) I am THRILLED to announce that December 15th &16th will hold 2 family friendly matinees of THE WIZARD OF OZ and there will be a friday night late night screening of "THE DARK SIDE OF OZ" (The Pink Floyd/WoOz mashup) on December 14th.
Also, make your Valentines plans now for 2 screemings of TRUE ROMANCE, complete with a dessert bar and champagne- because Portland, "you're so cool". If TV is your game- we WILL be showing Walking Dead every week and drumroll...... MAD MEN Season 6------ GAME ON.
I couldn't be more pleased to be in league with such great people and to have my feelings about events and community mirrored in the owners. Lani Jo and Roger Leigh's passion and dedication to the revival of this Portland landmark is inspiring.
I hope to see all my lovely friends, fiends and fans out for some events.
Thank you for ALL the support you have shown during this "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" portion of FdL and I hope that in our new guise of House of Glitterbest, we can continue to shoot the moon and thrill you along the way.
For all the up to the minute news on Glitterbest please join our Facebook fan page
"I mean the show will be a magnificent, opulent, tremendous, stupendous,gargantuan bedazzlement, a sensual ravishment.It will be...Spectacular Spectacular!"
Every year for one night a Portland theater transforms into a champagne and
absinthe drenched Montmarte to play host to a "Sing Out" screening of Baz Lurhmann's 2001 musical epic starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.
After 4 magnificent years at The Bagdad Theater we've decided to shoot for the stars... More specifically, the historic Star Theater! Come celebrate 5 glorious years of Freedom, Beauty, Truth and Love and get dastardly with this years bewitching Halloween theme-The "Ghoul-in Rouge!"
In addition to the annual Can Can Showdown and Costume contest this enchanting night also plays host to a pre-film cabaret featuring
Portland's own Sparkling Diamond of the pop-n-lock-n-bump-n-grind
Angelique DeVil, Glitterbest's Own Bombastic Bombshell Miss Nico Bella, out of this world drag starlet Saturn and perhaps, a few surprises!
Because it is our 5th anniversary we are
taking it up a few notches with *MORE* interactive features to the
screening, full lyric sheets and an Absinthe bar flowing all night long-
Perhaps this year you will glimpse the green fairy?
So gentlemen, dust off your monstrous monacles and toppers. Ladies,fluff those skirts and snap your ghostly garters- A dazzling,decadent night dedicated to "La Vie Boheme" held in one of Portland's most beautiful nightclubs awaits you!
Glitterbest ( Formerly Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque )Presents MOULIN ROUGE! A Spectacular "Sing Out!" Spectacle Saturday October 27nd Doors 8:00 PM Film 10:00 THE STAR THEATER 13 NW 6th Ave Portland, OR 97209 21+ $8 general admission $16.00 Ooh La La V.I.P." package This includes: Priority entry and seating ,Champagne,Chocolate and photobooth portraits.
A few updates to the new friends we have made out in the wild world of cinema and events.
After 7 months @ The Hollywood Theatre it has been decided by the powers that be that FdL is no longer
a viable nor valuable entity to the theatre and thus, the remainder of the 2012 calendar has been cancelled @ The Hollywood.
Management here at FdL is grateful for the opportunity ( though truly, she is kicking herself for breaking up with McMenamins) to produce the events she did- and certainly hopes that her events - particuarly the ones she did gratis for the theatre- like The 2012 Oscar Broadcast and Mad Men were enjoyed by all.
Not one to sulk for too long- (There were a few days of vodka and sweatpants, your ringmistress will not deny this) the wheels began turning and inspiration struck-- Why are we limiting ourselves to Movie Theaters?
There are dozens of other venues suitable for our big rowdy nights.
Though we call ourselves Cinematheque- it isn't about the theatre, it's about the movies.
and nowadays with the innovations in projection and mobility of screens- well- Cinema is what you make it, not where you make it.
I have been deeply inspired by Future Cinema in the U.K.
http://www.futurecinema.co.ok
Their interactive, high energy screenings of Grease and Bugsy Malone have opened my eyes to where this can go- and it's not just about movies and the preservation of "Cinema"- ( though I will tell you I will always be in love with film and projectors)
It is about using film and live action to create a space that allows the audience to escape reality- to lose themselves and have FUN.
Look What they did with Bugsy Malone!
I lost track of the fun in my trying to be some sort of kingpin of something that ultimately didn't matter to me- I allowed myself in the hustle of wanting to be recognized and be"cool" to absolutely forget everything that I stand for and that I actually DO stand for something.
My father passed away in March and it has forever changed how I see everything ( as the loss of someone dear always does) but it has also driven home the fact that the ride, is much too short and that everything we do should be infused with the best of us.
Cool points, street cred, whatever you call it- none of it matters unless you are brimming with your own personal joy at what you are giving to the world.
I have not been joyous- I have been going through the motions and it is time for something better.
In keeping with my own personal Sea Change- I decided that it was time for something new here @ FdL as well....as charming as the play on words of Fleur de Lethal is - it ultimately is not a symbol for what I wish to represent in the world.
I am not a nihilist, I am deeply in love with the world and grateful to be alive to enjoy it.
Though I may love the language, images and mystery of crime and noir- I do not wish to be another force of darkness in an already compromised world.
( That being said though, we will never NOT show True Romance for Valentine's Day- It's just too good)
I deeply treasure creating space where people can be silly, sweet, hopelessly romantic,goofy and feel completely free to abandon the old apathy and particularly I treasure creating children's events where kinds are allowed to be free and let the magic of the movie transport them even more through interaction and costumes.
So as of September 7th, 2012 - Fleur de Lethal has officially rechristened it's self as- The House of Glitterbest. this name embraces my rebellious past and paves a sparkling road for the future ( "Glitterbest" was the imprint owned by Malcolm McLaren that unleashed The Sex Pistols on the world in 1977.) From my early days as a founder of the punk
burlesque scene to my current days of sing a longs and sparkle I have
been deeply dedicated to preserving the beautiful balance between
glitter and gutter and keeping entertainment welcoming to and affordable
for EVERYONE. In ambling for cred and press I left behind some of those values, well no more.
Things are changing- and these changes just mean more- more of what?
Let me start with these 4 things.
Freedom. Beauty. Truth. & Love.
October 27th The HMS Glitterbest smashes a bottle of Absinthe on her bough - as we launch in to YEAR 5 of The MOULIN ROUGE! Sing-a-long.
This year we are taking the show to the stars.....or more correctly the historic STAR THEATER in Downtown Portland.
Tickets will be 8.00 in advance and 10.00 @ the door with VIP for 2 available for 35.00 this year.
Tickets will go on sale next week and this year the room is limited to under 350 -However, we have a magnificent, opulent, tremendous, stupendous,gargantuan bedazzlement underway for you.
See you October 27th, consider it our housewarming. ( with Glitter cannons)
In 1987 few things made a woman's heart flutter ( and a man's eyes roll) like the dance moves of Patrick Swayze.
In 2009- Patrick merengue'd his way up to heaven but his memory lives (and dances) on On July 21st we celebrate summer love, swiveling hips and the magnetic power of 'The Swayze" with a special showing of "Dirty Dancing" at The Hollywood Theatre.
As with all Fleur de Lethal screenings - if there is music we expect you to be dressed up and singing and dancing along. So get out your black leather jackets, practice your lifts and rehearse your "Hungry Eyes"--you'll have the time of your life.
Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque Presents DIRTY DANCING Saturday July 21st ,2012 The Hollywood Theatre 4122 N.E.Sandy Blvd. 7:00pm $8.00 All Ages
"Simone:
Do you have any dreams?
PeeWee:
Yeah, I'm all alone. I'm rolling a big doughnut and this snake wearing a vest.."
There are a few things we are fond of in this town-movies,beer and dressing in silly costumes to name a few.
But the bicycle-oh,the bicycle- how we love the bicycle! It is with our love of two wheeled chariots in mind that Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque brings PeeWee'sBig Adventure
to it's new home at The Hollywood Theatre
for the 4th Annual PeeWee'sBigWeekend!
In keeping with tradition we provide 2 screenings- A late night for big kids and a family friendly matinee.
As with all Fleur de Lethal screenings the movie is only HALF the show!
This year, bust out your gray suits and Amazing Larry Hawaiian shirts to enter our costume contest,limber up your toes for the "tequila" dance off and win the cup for best PeeWee impersonation!
FdL screenings are always interactive so shout, cheer and boo along as we follow our
pal PeeWee on his big adventure.
*This screening goes out to the kids,the kid in all of us and the willingness
to go to the end of the earth for something you love...especially your bike.
Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque Presents"PEEWEE'SBIG ADVENTURE"
2 screenings! 6/1 & 6/2 The Hollywood Theatre
6/1-Late Night Big Kid Screening Contests @ 9:15 Film @ 9:30 $8 per person
6/2-All Ages Family Friendly Matinee Costume Parade/Dance Contest @1:45
Film @ 2:00 Adults $8, kids under 12 $5.00.
A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men." - Willy Wonka Here
at Fleur de Lethal we exuberantly relish in not only nonsense but, also the
magic of the cinema ( and in particular,the combination of the two.)
On May 19th we invite the whole family out for a day of nonsense, cinema and CANDY for a special "Sing Out" Matinee of "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" at the dazzling Hollywood Theatre.
This 1971 classic starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka follows 5 lucky children as they are granted unprecedented access to the most eccentric candy factory in the world. The tour quickly takes a turn as outrageous ( and hilarious)
misfortunes befall the naughty children and their indulgent parents leaving Mr. Wonka to wonder are there any good children left in the world?
As with all Fleur de Lethal events the movie is only part of the event.
We encourage you to dress up as a character OR your favorite candy and bring interactive props ( bubbles for fizzy lifting drinks?) to play along. The audience is welcome to sing, dance, boo and cheer as we join
our hero Charlie Bucket on the adventure of a lifetime, full of "pure imagination"
Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque Presents "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" a "Sing Out!" Matinee
Saturday May 19th, 2012 2:00pm The Hollywood Theatre 4122 NE Sandy Blvd Portland,Or 97212 Adults $8.00 Kids under 12 $5.00
The "Sing Out" Series
With the rise of shows like GLEE and an ever increasing roster of musical titles being added to
Hollywood's production schedules it is safe to say- The Movie Musical is BACK.
The "Sing Out!" Series is a collection of music based films and musicals that though not deemed a "sing a long" are certainly films we love to sing to. Ridiculous,outlandish,lavish,lovely and not always plausible-musicals ask us to suspend our disbelief and embrace not the realities of life as it is but the fantasy of life as it could be.
( and if you ask FdL curator Nico Bella "Life as it SHOULD be")
The 2012 "Sing Out!" Calendar includes Xanadu,O Brother, Where Art
Thou?,The 5th Annual Moulin Rouge Spectacular Spectacle and The RETURN
of Cabaret! These unique screenings encourage audience participation So when you come out to a show dress up,dance,holler,laugh and most important- SING!
