It seems like the festival just started. And it’s over in the blink of an eye. But before I make the trek home, a look back at the final day of the event.
The first screening of the final day of the festival for me was After The Thin Man. I’ve been a huge fan of the series ever since my late mother introduced me to them on a day home sick from school. I probably didn’t get nearly all the jokes the first time. But that experience was my introduction to classic movies and made me a big fan of Powell and Loy. The Thin Man movies are also very popular among TCM viewers. So it’s no surprise the screening was PACKED! I had never seen any of those movies in a theater before. So laughing along with a packed crowd of old movie weirdos got the day off to a great start. As far as sequels go, After The Thin Man is one of the best. It captures the same witty energy as the original movie. And William Powell and Myrna Loy’s chemistry is perfect as always.
Following After The Thin Man, I went over to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for conversations with two complete different legends: Margaret O’ Brien and Piper Laurie. Margaret O’ Brien was just as charming in person as she was in her movies. She really seemed to enjoy seeing her fans in person at the festival. So that was really fun.
Piper Laurie is an actress I still think isn’t appreciated enough. Carrie is my favorite Stephen King book/movie adaptation. But Laurie couldn’t be further from the crazy mother she plays in that movie in real life. She’s very down-to-earth, warm and funny. It was great to see her Club TCM event so packed with fans.

Next on my agenda was originally going to be a new to me pre-Code called Evenings For Sale. I got my queue card. But when I came back I got shutout for the first time all festival. Crushed, I examined my options. I saw that The Pajama Game was starting in 15 minutes. It was one of the closing day encore screenings and I missed it the first go round due to a screening conflict. And lo and behold spots were still available. The whole circumstance turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Pajama Game ended up being the highlight of the festival for me. Only Doris Day with her bubbly personality could sell you on a musical about labor organizing. I was so glad I got to see it. I guess the moral of the story is no matter what screening you go to at the festival, it’s sure to be something special.
Going in a completely different direction, next up was the live table read of I Married A Monster From Outer Space. If you attended virtually last year, you know the SF Sketchfest troupe gave the same treatment to Plan 9 From Outer Space. It was done Luke an old school radio play. And good lord was it funny! The whole ensemble was great. But the highlight for me was Laraine Newman, one of the original Not Ready For Primetime Players.

I had to duck out of the table read a little early to catch my final screening of the festival: A League of Their Own. The cast reunion panel beforehand was just fantastic! That cast is probably the group I would most like to just hangout with for coffee or cocktails. And the movie itself is only my favorite baseball movie. Since it’s a movie that comes full circle and looks back with sentimentality, it felt like the perfect way to end the festival. There were also a few fans that showed up dressed as Rockford Peaches, which was great.

There was a poolside closing night party. It let me say goodbye to the friends I made over the course of the festival. Some were new acquaintances and others I knew virtually through Twitter. And it also provided me with the opportunity to meet a few of the hosts in person: Eddie Muller and Alicia Malone. Both were very approachable and kind, which assuages my social anxiety. The party was bittersweet. It was hard to believe the festival was over. Such an amazing four days! This was my first one and I’m planing to come back in 2023.