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The City of Minneapolis Shuts Down Outdoor Movie Shows... Barricade Ordered by Police

Sad news has reached Father Geek from the wonderful city that just played host to me, Harry and Quint at the ConVergence fest for 5 days last week. We had a great time up in Viking country, and someone up there just shipped us about 10 pounds of tasty venison harvested from that state's dense woodlands. The people we met and enteracted with were fantastic, the eateries we were taken to like Cafe Havana and The Black Forest Inn were outstanding, the event was among the most pleasurable we have ever attended... then THIS!

This film is at the most only mildly erotic, NOT hardcore at all, it is more comedy than horror, and more of both of those than it is sex filled. The City Officals are "lame beyond all belief" to closedown this screening, it isn't BAISE MOI after all. (Not that that should be closed either) How can the same people that elect a pro wrestling biker motion picture actor Governor stand for this kind of thing? How can THAT Governor stand for it? Speak up!!! Call your city councilmen!!! Fill up their E-mail boxes!!! Shut down their computers!!! Tie up the City's phonelines!!! Show up at the film location and protest!!! Be heard!!! Make these officals' lives Hell!!! This does NOT speak well of your fine city!!! Not at all!!!

Minneapolis, Minn. - July 13, 2001 - For Immediate Release

The city of Minneapolis will mobilize extra police tomorrow night, Saturday, July 14, 2001, to prevent the showing of the film "Vampire Hookers" outside the Grainbelt Brewery complex, located at 77 13th Ave. Northeast. According to Carter Johnson of MCDA, which manages the Grainbelt property, barricades, armed officers, and city officials will be on hand to prevent the public from attending the show. Johnson says the city will spend, "considerable funds and effort" to prevent the show from taking place.

The 1978 film was scheduled as part of Atomic Shock Theater's "Guerilla Drive-In" series. Atomic Shock Theater has presented its unique shows in numerous public and commercial venues since 1999. This marks the second consecutive summer that the troupe has presented outdoor shows at the Grainbelt, under permits issued by the City of Minneapolis. Citing sudden issues including the "right of entry" to a grassy area adjacent to the parking lot, and various city licensing issues, today's order from MCDA effectively bans any future performances planned by the troupe on MCDA property.

Atomic Shock Theater booking representative Bill Carter expressed surprise at the order from MCDA, just one day before the show. Carter says, "We regret any misunderstanding with the city in this matter. Atomic Shock Theater has long operated with the belief that it was in compliance with local ordinance. We have enjoyed a good relationship with the city and MCDA, and have certainly always been willing to work out any problematic issues. We hope this can be worked out in the near future, but we will not withdraw the film in question, "Vampire Hookers", from our repertoire of shows. We will continue searching for a venue that will allow this performance."

"Vampire Hookers" stars horror film legend John Carradine, and award-winning Philippine actor Vic Diaz. It was first released to American theaters in 1978, with an R-rating issued by the Motion Picture Association of America.

More information about Atomic Shock Theater is available at carschoolfilms.com.

FYI - You will find an article about the demise of the Guerilla Drive in the metro section of today's Star Tribune.

WCCO-TV will be at the Grainbelt Brewery (77 13th Ave. NE, suite 205) this afternoon to interview the members of Atomic Shock Theatre at 3:30pm.

If any viewers out there are interested in making a statement, feel free to come by.

The AST members will also be passing out flyers and directing people away from the area around that time that the show would have commenced. It is presumed the press will be there as well.

That is all...

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