Scared Straight: Vintage Drug-Scare Films April 17, 2009

Event: “Scared Straight: Vintage Drug-Scare Films” Guest curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of drug-scare films from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. Aimed at school-age kids, these films were produced to be shown in schools or on TV- whether they kept anyone away from drugs is debatable; that they are hilarious today is not. Featured films include: the all-time classic “Narcotics: Pit of Despair” (1967), “The Perfect Drug Film” (1971) with Beau Bridges, “Dope Is For Dopes” (1972) with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Marijuana, Driving and You” (1980), “Stoned” (1980) with Scott Baio and more!
Date: Friday, April 17, 2009 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco 94110
Admission: $10.00 RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117 or [email protected]
Web: http://oddballfilm.com/resources/events_parent.html

“Scared Straight”
Vintage Drug-Scare Films at Oddball Films

On Friday, April 17, Guest Curator Pete Gowdy and Oddball Films present an evening of vintage drug-scare films for your amusement. Aimed squarely (no pun intended) at school age kids and designed to “educate” them about the perils of drug use, these films (like the drunk driving films that preceded them) were really meant to scare the hell out the kids. Nonetheless, the laughable but still eerie freak out scenes reveal some experience and perhaps a somewhat subversive intent by the filmmakers. The films aimed at younger kids (Dope is For Dopes and Stoned) are a bit more humor driven, but like a nervous laugh the subtext is fear.
Showtime is 8:30PM and admission is $10.00. Seating is limited so RSVP is preferred to: [email protected] or 415-558-8117.

Films Include:

“Narcotics: Pit of Despair” (Color, 1967)
The all-time classic of the genre, a real howler! Super-square kid is lured into the world of illicit drugs and other pleasures by the scheming drug dealer and his wanton woman. Sample voiceover: “Take a trip from Squaresville, get with the countdown, shake this square world and blast off to Kicksville!” Sounds good to me!!

“The Perfect Drug Film” (Color, 1971)

Hosted by obvious stoner Beau Bridges, this film has a very educational history of drug use (starting with, and illustrated by cavemen!) and covers all the basic territory: freak outs, wrestling with lions, running into traffic and jumping off cliffs. Hilarious!

“Dope is For Dopes” (Color, 1972)
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids learn a valuable lesson about the evils of the pusher-man. Starring Bill plus Fat Albert, Rudy, Mushmouth, Dumb Donald, Bill, Mudfoot, Russell, Bucky, Weird Harold, Frainey Bates as the connection and his older brother Muggles as the dope dealer.

“Marijuana, Driving and You” (Color, 1980)
The perils of driving stoned.

“Stoned” (Color, 1980)
ABC After School Special (ASS) starring that loveable rascal Scott Baio. Here he is lured into stonersville by a skateboard-riding dope dealer. The munchies and problems at school ensue, climaxing with the near death of his older brother when the stoned Biao clobbers him with a boat paddle.
Lesson learned, nuff said.

PLUS: Drug and alcohol television PSA’s and more TBA!!

Curator Biography:
Pete Gowdy (aka DJ Chas Gaudi) is host of San Francisco’s Shellac Shack, a weekly 78 rpm listening party and a DJ specializing in vintage sounds: soul, jazz, country, punk and new wave. A graduate of the Vassar College Film Program, he is an associate producer of Marc Huestis Presents, the long-running movie legend tributes at the Castro and Victoria Theatre.

Official Website: http://www.flarerecord.com