CFS continues its bid to secure “national treasure” status for Heather McAdams and Chris Ligon by offering up the Music Box’s large screen for another orgiastic evening of small-gauge confections from the Renaissance eccentrics’ extensive film collection. Known throughout Chicagoland as masterminds and hosts of the long-running “Country Calendar Show” (and its ancestor, the “Record Roundup Film Jamboree”), Chris and Heather have (since last year’s Big Screen Blowout I) unearthed many more nuggets from their goldmine of 16mm arcana. This includes vintage trailers for films like Diary of a High School Bride, Battle of the Amazons, Shock Corridor, Cotton Pickin’ Chicken Pickers, and The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave; forgotten TV commercials for wacky toys like Water Wiennie, Super Elastic Bubble Plastic, and Dream Date; sensational songs by The Byrds, Sugar Chile Robinson, Steppenwolf, Peggy Lee, The Royal Teens, and more; plus a newly restored print of Chris and Heather’s 1995 “The Lester Film,” a portrait of Chicago club scene crossdresser/artist/therapist Lester Brodzik (aka Lestushka). Naturally, the vivacious duo will appear live on stage to introduce the evening festivities. Highly recommended for fans of 20th century American weirdness, drive-in culture, chugging beers in the parking lot, sitting quietly in the library, knitting, true love, drinking coffee at night, or simply being alive on this magical planet.

16mm from Chris and Heather’s collection

“The Lester Film” has been preserved by the Chicago Film Society with funding from the National Film Preservation Foundation.