Salutations, Great Buckaroo Banzai! Welcome to my little corner of the Halls of Marathonia. For those of you who have stumbled here unawares, this page chronicles the ongoing tradition of Science Fiction Marathons, held annually in Columbus, OH. This particular marathon began at the late, great Drexel North, and has meandered through a few theaters before landing at its current home, the Drexel Gateway.
The marathons have been a tradition of good/bad movies, good/bad food, good/bad company and mass dosages of discomfort and sleep deprivation for many, many years. I first attended this insanity in 1990, the Fourth Dimension of Marathoid bliss, and attend regularly, save for a two year break when I moved to California.
This site includes information on the shorts/films shown at the Ohio Science Fiction Marathons, with as much personal commentary as my limited cranium can produce. As such, it is subject to change at any time, so check back frequently. Please feel free to write me with any errors you may find, and I'll be glad to correct them.
With a little luck (and your support), this tradition will continue ... to infinity, and BEYOND!
Now presenting the list in ALPHABETIZED form!
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The 26th Annual Ohio 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Bexley Theatre, March 28th-29th, 2009 |
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Special Interests:
This year, the upside-down-backward gremlins hit the trailer for the remade The Day the Earth Stood Still starring Keanu ... who? Appropriate given the audience reaction from the year prior when faced with the prospect of the remake.
Projection Notes:
An enormously sad point from this year's lineup. There was a harsh break in the trailer for Eegah which may foretell its doom. Several of the Marathon favorites are beginning to wear thin, and we all hope they can hold out for a few more years. There is no word as to whether Eegah survived, but we're all hoping for a speedy recovery. Also, the print of Cat Women of the Moon was in horrible shape, what little there was of it. The print had been barely cobbled together from many different sources making the 3-D effect a particularly migraine-inducing experience. So much of the print was missing that it was filled in with a montage of oddities and the last Three Stooges short filmed, Flying Saucer Daffy (1958). Even for a film such as Cat Women of the Moon, it wasn't an improvement.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Forrest J. Ackerman
Retrograde Projection:
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 Trailer)
The 25th Annual Ohio 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Bexley Theatre, April 19th-20th, 2008 |
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Special Guests:
This year was a special treat, with the ever lovely and tremendously talented Patricia Neal gracing us with her presence. One of the most beloved and wonderful of guests, she attended despite being down with the flu earlier in the week. She had a gorgeous question and answer session following The Day the Earth Stood Still in which she recalled some of the wonderful memories of her career and her days in the Business called Show. After speaking with us, she was presented the first ever "Gort" award by Bruce and Jeff. She was an instant crowd favorite and we hope that she enjoyed her visit as much as the crowd enjoyed having her.
Special Interests:
The upside-down-backward presentation of the year was the Marathon "favorite", Spaceboy. What's truly amusing about this choice was the fact that the majority of the audience didn't even notice till after halfway through.
Projection Notes:
There were a few oddities in an otherwise exceptionally good year for projection. Because the Battlestar Galactica and The Andromeda Strain prints were archival prints on loan for this presentation, they were shown directly from the reels which were provided. This meant a few small breaks while the reels were changed over, and due to a problem getting the second half of Galactica loaded, a small trailer break in-between. Though obviously not ideal, the quality of the prints was so outstanding that the small sacrifice was hardly even noticed.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Patricia Neal
Retrograde Projection:
Spaceboy
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The 24th Annual Ohio 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Gateway Theatre, April 14th-15th, 2007 |
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Special Guests:
It was intended to show a special interview with Kelli Maroney (of "Chopping Mall" and "Night of the Comet"), but the tape did not arrive in time for the Marathon. The interview is expected to be posted on the website.
Special Interests:
This year the upside-down-backward monster struck at the trailer for "Slither" right out of the gate. Unfortunately, since the print for "Slither" didn't arrive, this was the most we would see of the film.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Flash Gordon
Retrograde Projection:
Slither (Trailer)
The 23rd Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Gateway Theatre, April 22nd-23rd, 2006 |
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Special Guests:
Though unable to attend in person, a special recorded interview was shown with the lovely Anne Francis immediately following "Forbidden Planet." She was very enthusiastic and spun many a tale of her years in showbiz.
Special Note:
The shorts from the Science Fiction Museum which were shown were: Wireless, Microgravity, Heartbeat, They're Made Out of Meat, Scribble, and Cost of Living. Of all of them, They're Made Out of Meat seemed to get the most agreeable audience response.
Special Interests:
Those who had been clamoring to see "Jason X" at the Marathon may have been surprised this year when the trailer for the movie was this year's candidate for upside-down-backward presentation. Personally, I couldn't think of a better way to show the film.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
The Creature From the Black Lagoon
Retrograde Projection:
Jason X (Trailer)
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It Came Back to the Drexel Grandview - The 15th Annual Ohio 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Grandview Theatre, April 2nd-3rd, 2005 |
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Special Note:
You will notice that the numbering sequence seems a bit odd here. Apparently the paradoxical nature of time travel has caught up with us. You will remember that instead of the 13th marathon, we were propelled forward to the 17th (see the 17th marathon for more information.) With the advent of Primer, it seems we've slipped backward now to experience the 15th.
Special Interests:
This year's Upside-Down-Backward-Presentation? The glorious Marathon favorite, "The Chub-Chubs." I have to say, the steadfast presentation of something in this format continues to intrigue me. I suspect the influence of the Illuminati. Still, all-in-all ... as much as I enjoy "The Chub-Chubs", watching it scroll through backward is about 100 times more fun.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Maria
Retrograde Projection:
The Chub-Chubs
The 21st Annual Ohio 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Arena Grand Theatre, May 1st-2nd, 2004 |
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Special Guests:
Phil Tippett (Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation), brought along a demo video for his effects company, shown prior to the film. Sandy Collora (Batman: Dead End) also brought along The Making of 'Batman: Dead End which was shown following his film.
Special Note:
Sandwich is the latest (and reportedly last) of the infamous "Bread Films" by Kevin S. O'Brien - a staple of marathons past and present. He was also on hand to introduce this latest opus.
Special Interests:
The tradition continues. In keeping with a series of projection problems - which ranged from a complete lack of heads during the first 20 minutes of The Amazing Transparent Man to a lack of volume on every presentation not shown in 35mm (and some that were) - the trailers for The Matrix and The Matrix 2, along with two accompanying matrix-themed advertisements, were shown upside-down-backward.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Phil Tippett
Retrograde Projection:
The Matrix (Trailer), The Matrix 2 (Trailer)
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The 20th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Arena Grand Theatre, April 26th-27th, 2003 |
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Special Guests:
Kevin McCarthy was unable to attend due to illness, but sent along a videotaped interview and a number of signed photos in his absence. He was most apologetic and we hope to see him at a future event.
Special Interests:
Intentional or not, what seems to have become a tradition of Marathons-Past resurfaced. True to form, the Battlestar Galactica trailer was shown upside-down-backward. It's an understandable mistake, given the amount of film that needs to be built-up/broken-down for such an event, and it certainly made watching the trailer a much more memorable event. Happy Accidents are what make the Marathons great. Also, because of time constraints, it was opted not to show the second Twilight Zone episode, "Kick the Can", or the fourth "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". Doing so finished the Marathon respectably close to noon, a necessity since the house had a 1:00 PM show going in after us.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Kevin McCarthy
Retrograde Projection:
Battlestar Galactica (Trailer)
The 19th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Arena Grand Theatre, April 13th-14th, 2002 |
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Special Guests:
Tex Hauser and Doug Miles (Don't Ask, Don't Tell)
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Gamera
Retrograde Projection:
Terminator 2 (Trailer)
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The 18th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel Grandview Theatre, April 8th-9th, 2000 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
Harrison Ford
Retrograde Projection:
The Last Action Hero (Music Video)
The 17th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Sony Continent Theater, April 10th-11th, 1999 |
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Special Note:
Concerning the obvious numbering inconsistency... I quote from the certificate for the 17th Marathon: "A long time ago in a theatre not far away [name] did knowingly and willfully submit to strange and inhumane experimentations with an illegally modified W.A.B.A.C. Machine which twisted time and deposited all those who entered in a weird alternate time tangent apart from the popularly acknowledge existenz of "life as we know it" in a bizarre attempt to return to the pre-pharmaceutical grandeur that was the Starship Drexel North and subsequently blasted off in another direction/dimension as far as temporal elasticity could be stretched before snapping us back to the "present day" thus resulting in the four "lost years" & the passengers memories of those thrilling Ohio Science Fiction Marathons 13, 14, 15, & the oh so sweet 16 unfortunately lost in time, floating off in the ether of the might have been."
Special Interests:
In a brilliant move that would galvanize marathon go'ers for generations, the fourth reel of Terminator 2 was shown backward-and-upside-down. As most of the people still awake and watching felt it was a unique improvement on the film, it was continued as-is. Where else could you expect to see such a thing?
Hall of Fame Inductee:
HAL 9000
Retrograde Projection:
Terminator 2 (Reel 4)
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The 12th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Capital Theater in the Riffe Center, Downtown Columbus, April 18th-19th, 1998 |
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Special Guests:
David Wechter, Michael Nankin, and Michelle Stacy (Gravity)
Special Interests:
This year also saw the live performance of Gravity (with Joe Neff playing "Jiminy Gravity"), prompted by the rapidly degrading copy of the print being used by the marathon. The directors donated a mint print of the film for use in marathons to come. Also, it was planned to show Earth Girls Are Easy, but only half the print arrived, so Them! was shown instead.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Drexel North
The 11th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Capital Theater in the Riffe Center, Downtown Columbus, January 25th-26th, 1997 |
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Special Interests:
Midway through the marathon, it became clear that we were not going to make it out anywhere near our projected exit-time, so Invasion of the Saucer Men was cancelled.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Gort
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The 10th Annual 24 Hour Ohio Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Capital Theater in the Riffe Center, Downtown Columbus, March 30th-31st, 1996 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
Darth Vader
It Came From the Drexel North - The 9th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 8th-9th, 1995 |
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Special Interests:
It was originally intended to show a nitrate print of Rocketship X-M, but upon examination the print was found to have some deterioration and shrinkage, and since the Drexel North was not rated for nitrate ... with a packed house ... Them! was shown in its place.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Godzilla
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It Came From the Drexel North - The 8th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 30th-May 1st, 1994 |
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Special Guests:
Kathy Long (Knights), Ed Kemmer (Space Patrol)
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Ed Kemmer
It Came From the Drexel North - The 7th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 3rd-4th, 1993 |
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Special Interests:
The print of Battle Beyond the Stars was in such bad shape by the third reel that it just couldn't keep together going through the projector. After repeated breaks, it was shelved in favor of making up lost time.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Arnold
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It Came From the Drexel North - The 6th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 4th-5th, 1992 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
James Cameron
It Came From the Drexel North - The 5th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 13th-14th, 1991 |
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Special Guests:
Kevin S. O'Brien was on hand to introduce his world-premiered Bread feature, Loaf
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Big Sister
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It Came From the Drexel North - The 4th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theatre, April 21st-22nd, 1990 |
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Personal Notes:
This was the first marathon ever attended by your humble narrator, with my best friend from High School (Dave Hentrich) in tow.
Hall of Fame Inductee:
Duck Dodgers
It Came From the Drexel North - The 3rd Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theater, February 25th-26th, 1989 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
Robby the Robot
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It Came From the Drexel North - The 2nd Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theater, February 27th-28th, 1988 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
George Lucas
It Came From the Drexel North - The 1st Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction MarathonHeld at the Drexel North Theater, April 12th-13th, 1987 |
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Hall of Fame Inductee:
Marvin Martian
I'd like to thank Bruce and Jeff and all the people that have continued this wonderful tradition year after year. Without their hard work and dedication, we'd all have real lives and be reasonably normal, sane people. Thanks to you guys, we're now a danger to society.
Additionally, a big thanks to the good people at Studio 35 whose Marathon Legacy page provided much of the needed information for this little endeavour.
As long as we're thanking the whole entire world, I'd like to thank a guy I know named "Earl."
And, as always gentle reader, I encourage you to seek out independent film and to support the failing livelihood that is the small, art-house theater. In particular, help keep the coffers filled by frequenting the Drexel Theatres. They'll thank you for your support.
Please send any comments/criticisms/corrections to webmeisterzeke@att.net
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.
This page was last updated on May 23rd, 2009 at 02:12 AM
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