When I visited the Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff way back in December, the quartet of guys who run the theater were salivating at the idea of adding a 35mm projector. It’s pretty simple – if you’re going to program a classic theater with lots of repertory titles, something gets lost when those old movies are shown on DVD or Blu-ray. You gotta have that faint hum of the projector turning.

And now, on Thursday, that hum will return to the Texas. The theater is hosting a 35mm Test Party, which will be exactly what it sounds like – a chance to test out the new projector. Show up any time between 6-10 p.m. and check out what’s being threaded through the reels. (Plus, they’ve got happy hour prices at the bar all night, so it’s not like there won’t be anything to occupy your time while they’re changing out the reels.)

Keep reading for the news release and to see which films Texas Theatre  Creative Director Jason Reimer has picked to get first crack at the new projector:

Texas Theatre Welcomes 35mm Projector
Texas Theatre celebrates the arrival of 35mm projection with free 35mm TEST PARTY Thursday, June 30 6 – 10 pm

The Texas Theatre is proud to announce that 35mm is back. To celebrate, the Texas hosts a free 35mm Test Party on Thursday, June 30 from 6 – 10 p.m. Happy hour specials at the bar all night as the projectionists practice 35mm projection on the big screen.

Be the first to witness 35mm film being shown in the Texas Theatre since the 1990s. A “cocktail vote” in ballot form will start at 7:30 p.m. as patrons are invited to suggest and vote on which films they’d most like to see back on the silver screen. These suggestions will be taken to heart for future bookings.

“It’s becoming widely known that movie theaters across America are ‘going to digital.’ As with most decisions we make, if every other theater is going one way, we tend to go in the opposite direction,” said Eric Steele, Chief People Officer for the Texas Theatre.

“Consider it a housewarming for this new addition to our family and like most things at the theater, we want to share its arrival with folks who will appreciate it” added Jason Reimer, Creative Director for the Texas Theatre.

At 8 p.m., the test of brand new (old) machines will begin. The theater has various reels of trailers and films in its possession as well as a variety clips from resident film experts, Jim Reid and Erich Scholz. Expect to see something rare!

Erich Scholz believes the Dallas film community is eagerly anticipating the arrival of 35mm at the Texas Theatre. “It’s really exciting to see the Texas Theatre’s programming evolve in the past year,” said Scholz. “Opening up the doors to screening 35mm  — especially vintage archive prints — is really a Dallas film fan’s dream-come true. There will be some really cool stuff that we’re are now able to show at the Theatre that is only available on 35mm.”

A special preview screening of TROLL HUNTER will follow the 35mm Test Party at 10:30 pm. If the test goes as hoped, the film will be shown in 35mm.

35mm Test Party Details:

Thursday, June 30

Doors open at 5:30 pm

Happy Hour / Cocktail Party: all night

35mm test footage begins: 7:30 pm

Sneak Peak of TROLL HUNTER on 35mm: 10:30 pm

BONUS
Reimer then went on to announce first repertory prints have been confirmed as recently as June 26.

WINGS OF DESIRE  (1987) Wim Wenders  • Thursday, July 7 at 8 pm
THE RIVER’S EDGE  (1986) Tim Hunter • Thursday, July 14 at 8 pm
THE APPLE (1980) Menahem Golan • Thursday, July 21 at 8 pm
NIGHT of COMET (1984) Thom Eberhart • Thursday, July 28 at 8 pm
8 1/2 (1963) Fedirico Fellini  • Thursday, Aug 4 8 pm