Santa’s Been Kidnapped! Martians Return to Attack During the Christmas Season in “Santa’s Cool Holiday Film Festival”
Santa’s Been Kidnapped! Martians Return to Attack During the Christmas Season in “Santa’s Cool Holiday Film Festival”
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 29, 2011
A digitally restored version of “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” one of the most charming and campy of holiday motion pictures, is being re-released on a one-time-only basis to theaters across the United States and Canada this December, along with other classic holiday movie moments. The film, now it in all of colorful restored glory, has not been seen on the big screen since its initial release in 1964.
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is the main feature of a delightfully retro compilation called SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL, which features a family-friendly mix of vintage Technicolor Christmas cartoons, long-lost holiday greetings from 1960’s TV personalities like Shari Lewis & Lambchop and Ozzie & Harriet, a 1949 bouncing-ball sing-a-long to “Jingle Bells,” the beloved animated classic “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” and lots more holiday season fun.
Holland Releasing, distributor of digitally restored classics, originally planned a narrow release targeted to college-age audiences who know “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” well from its various TV spoofs on shows like “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and “Elvira’s Movie Macabre.” However, says Thomas W. Holland, founder of Holland Releasing, “The film’s appeal quickly crossed over to mainstream theater chains such as Harkins, Rave and Landmark, who saw the program’s huge family and kid-appeal. The space-blazing color restoration of “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” and the other fun film bits included in SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL big screen presentation are sure to bring holiday enjoyment to every generation, from grandparents to young children.”
To date, SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL is scheduled to play in more than 200 theaters with others joining the line-up daily. A listing can be seen at the film’s official website: http://www.SantaMartiansMovie.com.
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is a colorful mix of Christmas comedy and 1960’s sci-fi, resulting in an unexpectedly charming “kids eye view” of the holiday season. Filmed on a New York City soundstage in 1964, the cast was made up of top-notch Broadway and soap opera character actors, including John Call as Santa and Bill McCutcheon as an hilariously bumbling Martian. Even the child actors in the film were Broadway veterans and the film’s production had to be scheduled around their stage and school schedule. For trivia fans, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” marked the film debut of 10 year-old Pia Zadora who, like all of the Martians, performed in varying degrees of green face make-up.
Besides the main feature, the other cool films in this cinematic Christmas stocking are amazing, if not occasionally breathtaking in their Technicolor glory. For instance, the producers have included two rarely seen cartoons from the legendary studios of Max Fleischer, who also gave us Popeye and Betty Boop — “Christmas Comes But Once A Year,” about a grand-fatherly inventor who visits an orphanage to pose as Santa Claus, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Fleischer’s animated treasure that tells the story of the little reindeer who guides Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. The restoration of these gems was costly and time-consuming, but the pay off for the audience is getting to see them as they were originally meant to be enjoyed — on a huge theater screen.
And what’s a family movie experience without an old-time sing-a-long? Holland, also the producer and director of SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL, searched around the world to locate a circa-1949 bouncing ball sing-a-long to “Jingle Bells.”
“I knew this bit of film existed as I recalled seeing the sing-a-long “Jingle Bells” cartoon on television–in black-and-white, of course–as a kid,” said Holland. “After discovering it was originally a segment in a vintage Technicolor cartoon, it took months to locate the only existing print. It even has extra lyrics that have been long forgotten. Holland added, “Community-sings like this are sadly rare today, but in a movie theater environment, as opposed to television, they bring everyone together. It’s just one of many delightful highlights in the whole SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL.”
About Holland Releasing
Holland Releasing, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, has grown to be one of the world’s largest independent theatrical distributors of specialty 35mm and digital motion pictures. The company’s film library ranges from Oscar-winning classics like Mike Nichol’s masterpiece, THE GRADUATE, to George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and Ed Wood’s hilariously infamous PLAN 9 FROM OUTERSPACE.
Holland Releasing is part of Holland Entertainment Group, Inc. founded in 1990 by former Columbia Pictures Television executive Thomas W. Holland. During Holland’s tenure at the studio as Vice President of Distribution, he syndicated such successful programs as CHARLIE’S ANGELS, STARSKY & HUTCH, JOHNNY CARSON and BARNEY MILLER, which was the most profitable program for the studio at the time. Tom Holland was also Chief Operating Officer of Screen Gems, a joint venture between the Coca-Cola Company, Columbia Pictures Television and Color Systems Technology and was a pioneer in the field of the colorization of black-and-white motion pictures.
Press Contact:
Cynthia Lieberman, Lieberman Communications
Phone: (818) 368-3808 / E-Mail: liebermanc(at)gmail(dot)com or santaclausmartians(at)gmail(dot)com
SANTA ON THE WEB: SUGGESTED WEBSITE COPY/LISTING
Delightful two-hour holiday program for the whole family. A retro-rocket flashback to the Sixties that’s chock-full of happy Christmas memories including vintage “Greetings From The Theater Management” ads, two charming Max Fleischer Technicolor cartoons (‘Christmas Comes But Once A Year’ and “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’), wacky 1950′s shorts like “Howdy Doody’s Christmas’, a bouncing ball animated sing-a-long to “Jingle Bells” and much, much more. All this culminates with the restored version of the hilarious 1965 retro-favorite SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS — In ‘Space Blazing’ Color! [LOCATION/DATES/TIMES]
Official Website: http://www.SantaMartiansMovie.com
Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT8eP28koNQ
FaceBook: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians – 2011 Theatrical Re-Issue
Twitter: @SantaMovie
Santa Claus Martians Daily: http://paper.li/SantaMovie/1321321816
Link to Poster Art: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318215195.jpg
Link to Song “Hooray For Santy Claus”: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/Kiddie%20Matinee%20Memories%20Hooray%20for%20Santy%20Claus.mp3
Link to Coloring Contest Circa-1964: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/SANTA-ColoringContest.pdf
Links To Stills:
Santa w/Martians: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318215042.jpg
Santa w/Robot & Martians: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1319426597.jpg
Santa w/Kids: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318215300.jpg
Santa Close-Up: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318215347.jpg
Robot w/ Elf: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318215278.jpg
Martians: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1319426799.jpg
Howdy Doody: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318216203.jpg
Shari Lewis & Lambchop: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318214854.jpg
Ozzie & Harriet: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1318214832.jpg
Rudolph Reindeer Cartoon: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1320521701.jpg
Max Fleischer Cartoon: http://www.hollandreleasing.com/images/1320521984.jpg
Santa’s Coming to a Theater Near You! Theatre Market List*
ALABAMA
Birmingham – Rave Vestavia Hills 10 Cinemas – December 17-18
Daphne – Rave Jubilee 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Huntsville – Rave Valley Bend 18 + IMAX – December 17-18
Montgomery – Rave Festival 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
Orange Beach – Rave Wharf 15 Cinemas – December 17-18
ALASKA
Anchorage – Bear Tooth Theatre Pub – December 16-18
ARIZONA
Avondale – Harkin’s Gateway Pavilions 18 Cinema – Dec 10-11
Chandler – Harkin’s Chandler Fashion 20 Cinemas – Dec 10-11
Gilbert – Harkin’s Santan Village 16 Cinemas – Dec 10-11
Mesa – Harkin’s Superstition Springs 25 Cinemas – Dec 10-11
Nogales – Oasis 9 Cinemas – December 16
Phoenix – Harkin’s Christown 14 Cinemas – December 10-11
Phoenix – Harkin’s North Valley 16 Cinemas – December 10-11
Prescott – Harkin’s Prescott 14 Cinemas – December 10-11
Tempe – Harkin’s Arizona Mills 24 Cinemas – December 10-11
Tempe – Harkin’s Valley Art Theatre – December 2-3 and 9-10
Tucson – The Loft Cinema – December 18 and 20
Tucson – Harkin’s Spectrum 18 Cinemas – December 10-11
Yuma – Harkin’s Yuma Palms Cinemas – December 10-11
ARKANSAS
Little Rock – Rave Colonel Glenn 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
CALIFORNIA
Alameda – Alameda Theatre & Cineplex – TBA
Anaheim – Cinema City – December 17-18
Bakersfield – Maya 16 Cinemas – December 17 & 22
Berkeley – Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas – December 17
Brentwood – Cinelux Delta Cinema – December 10-11**
Brentwood – Rave Brentwood 14 + IMAX – December 17-18
Campbell – Cinelux Plaza Theatre – December 10-11**
Capitola – Cinelux 41st Avenue Playhouse – December 10-11
Castro Valley – Cinelux Chabot Cinema – December 10-11**
Chico – Pageant Theatre – December 17-18
Clovis – Sierra Vista 16 Cinemas – December 11-13
Concord – Brenden Concord 14 Cinemas – December 10-11
Grass Valley – Del Oro Theatre – December 2-4
Los Angeles – The Rave 18 + IMAX Cinemas – December 17-18
Los Angeles – Rave Baldwin Hills 15 Cinemas – December 17-18
Los Angeles – Landmark’s Regent Theatre Westwood – Dec 9-10
Los Angeles – Harkin’s Chino Hills 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
Madera – Movies 7 Cinemas – December 10-11
Modesto – Brenden Modesto 18 Cinemas – December 10-11
Modesto – State Theater – December 11-12
Monterey – Osio Cinema – December 16
Moreno Valley – Harkin’s Moreno Valley 16 Cinemas – Dec 17-18
Morgan Hill-Cinelux Tennant Station Stadium 11 – December 9-15**
Oxnard – Plaza Cinemas 14 – December 11-13
Palm Desert – Palme d’Or Cinemas – December 15-22
Red Bluff – Riverside Cinema 6 – December 3-4 and 10-11
Sacramento – Crest Theater – December 17-18
Salinas – Maya 14 Cinemas – December 17 & 22
San Diego – Landmark’s Ken Cinema – December 10
San Francisco – Castro Theater – December 18
San Jose – Cinelux Almaden Cinema – December 10-11**
San Luis Obispo – Fremont Theatre – December 6 and 17
Santa Ana – Southcoast Village Cinemas – December 16-18
Santa Rosa – Summerfield Cinemas – December 16-18
Scotts Valley – Cinelux Scotts Valley Stadium 9 – December 9-15**
Vacaville – Brenden Vacaville 16 Cinemas – December 10-11
Watsonville – Green Valley Cinemas – December 10-11
Weaverville – Trinity Theatre – December 10-11
COLORADO
Basalt – Bowtie’s Movieland – December 10-11, 17-18
Denver – Landmark’s Esquire Theater – December 16-17
CONNECTICUT
Enfield – Rave Enfield 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Greenwich – Bowtie Criterion Greenwich Plaza – December 17-18
Hartford – Bowtie Cinema at the Palace – December 9-11, 16-18
Kensington – Rave Berlin 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Manchester – Rave Buckland Hills 18 + IMAX – December 17-18
Milford – Rave Connecticut Post 14 + IMAX – December 17-18
New Haven – Bowtie Criterion – December 9-10, 16-18
North Haven – Rave North Haven 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Norwalk – Bowtie Royale 6 – December 10-11, 17-18
Southington – Rave Southington Cinemas – December 17-18
Trumbull – Bowtie Marquis 16 – December 9-10, 17-18
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington D.C. – Landmark’s E Street Cinemas – December 16-17
FLORIDA
Destin – Rave Destin Commons 14 + IMAX – December 17-18
Melbourne – Rave Avenue 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
Pensacola – Rave Pensacola 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
Port St. Lucie – Rave Port St. Lucie 14 Cinemas – December 17-18
Tampa – Tampa Theatre – December 20
GEORGIA
Atlanta – Plaza Theatre – December 10
IDAHO
Blackfoot – Plaza Twin Theatres – December 2-8
Boise – Overland Park Cinemas – December 16-18
ILLINOIS
Champaign – Art Theater – December 23-29
Chicago – Beverly Arts Center – December 21
Chicago – Music Box – December 19 or 20
Clinton – Clintonian Eagle Theater – December 9-11
Moline – Nova 6 Cinemas – December 16-22
Normal – Normal Theatre – December 11-12
Onarga – Onarga Theatre – December 11
Peoria – Rave Grand Prairie 18 + IMAX – December 17-18
Peoria – Peoria Cinemas 12 – December 24-25
Robinson – Eagle Theatre 5 – December 9-11
Sycamore – Sycamore 3 Cinemas – December 9-11
INDIANA
Fort Wayne – Rave Jefferson Pointe 18 + IMAX – December 17-18
Laporte – New Laporte Cinemas – December 4
Plainfield – Rave Metropolis Cinemas – December 17-18
IOWA
Davenport – Rave Davenport 18 + IMAX – December 17-18
KENTUCKY
Corbin – Tri-County 8 Cinemas – December 16
Florence – Rave Florence 14 Cinemas – December 17-18
Lexington – Kentucky Theater – December 16-18
Louisville – Rave Stonybrook 20 + IMAX – December 17-18
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge – Rave Baton Rouge 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
MARYLAND
Annapolis – Bowtie Annapolis Mall Theater – December 10-11, 17-18
MASSACHUSETTS
Springfield – Rave Eastfield 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
West Springfield – Rave West Springfield 15 Cinemas – December 17-18
MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor – Michigan Theater – December 15-16
Birch Run – Hollywood 10 Cinemas – December 16-25
Canton – Canton 18 Cinemas – December 16-25
Muskegon – Harbor Twin Cinemas – December 17-19
Novi – Novi 8 Cinemas – December 2-9, 16-25
Rochester – Rochester 10 Cinemas – December 16-25
Royal Oak – Royal Oak 10 Cinemas – December 16-25
Woodhaven – Woodhaven 10 Cinemas – December 16-25
Ypsilanti – Rave Ann Arbor 20 + IMAX – December 17-18
MINNESOTA
Bloomington – Theatres at Mall of America – December 16-22
Minneapolis – Landmark’s Lagoon Theater – December 16-18
MISSOURI
Kansas City – Tivoli Theatre – December 16
St. Louis – Moolah Theatre – December 9-10
NEBRASKA
Omaha – Aksarben Cinema – December 16-18
Omaha – Dundee Theater – December 16-17
Omaha – Rave Westroads 14 Cinemas – December 17-18
NEVADA
Las Vegas – Rave Town Square 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
Laughlin – Brenden Avi 8 – December 10-11
NEW JERSEY
Hazlet – Rave Hazlet 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Voorhees – Rave Ritz Center 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
NEW YORK
Amherst – The Screening Room – December 8-9
Huntington – Cinema Arts Centre – TBA
New York City – Landmark’s Sunshine Cinemas – December 16-17
Schenectady – Bowtie’s Movieland – December 10-11, 17-18
NORTH CAROLINA
Southern Pines – Sunrise Cinemas – December 16
Winston-Salem – Hanesbrands Theatre – December 16-17
OHIO
Beavercreek – Rave Greene 14 + IMAX – December 17-18
Cleveland – Cedar Lee Theater – December 10
Columbus – Gateway Film Center – December 2-3
Columbus – Rave Grove City Cinemas – December 17-18
Columbus – Rave Polaris 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
Huber Heights – Rave Huber Heights 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
Maumee – Rave Fallen Timbers 14 + Xtreme – December 17-18
Milford – Rave Milford 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
Toledo – Rave Franklin Park 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
West Carrollton – Rave Dayton South 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
West Chester – Rave West Chester 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
OREGON
Canby – Canby Cinema 8 – TBA
Cornelius – Cornelius 9 Cinemas – December 2-8
Corvallis – Darkside Cinema – December 9-15
Eugene – Bijou Cinema – December 16-25
Forest Grove – Forest Theatre – December 9-12
Hood River – Hood River Cinemas – TBA
Hood River – Skylight Theatre Pub – TBA
Independence – Independence 8 Cinemas – TBA
Lincoln City – Bijou Theatre – December 17-18
Portland – Academy Theatre – December 16-22
Portland – Laurelhurst Theatre – TBA
Sandy – Sandy Cinema 8 – TBA
Scappoose – Scappoose Cinemas 7 – TBA
PENNSYLVANIA
Center Valley – Rave Promenade 16 + IMAX – December 17-18
East Greenville – Grand Theatre – December 10-11
Northampton – Roxy Theatre – December 10-11
Philadelphia – Landmark’s Ritz at the Bourse – December 9-10
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston – Terrace Theater – December 2, 9-15
TENNESSEE
Nashville – Belcourt Theatre – December 22
TEXAS
Dallas – Landmark’s Inwood Theater – December 16-17
Fort Worth – Rave Ridgmar Mall 13 + Xtreme – December 17-18
Hickory Creek – Rave Hickory Creek 16 Cinemas – December 17-18
Houston – Landmark’s River Oaks Theater – December 16-17
Houston – Rave Yorktown 15 Cinemas – December 17-18
Hurst – Rave Northeast Mall 18 Cinemas – December 17-18
UTAH
Centerville – Megaplex 14 at Legacy Crossing – December 2-4
Logan – Cinefour Theatre – December 2-4
North Ogden – Walker Cinemas 6 – December 2-4
Ogden – Megaplex 13 at The Junction – December 2-4
Perry – Walker Cinemas 8 – December 2-4
Provo – Wynsonng 12 Cinemas – December 2-4
Salt Lake City – Megaplex 20 at The District – December 2-4
Sandy – Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons – December 2-4
Torrey – Wayne Theatre – December 9-10
West Valley City – The Ritz 15 – December 2-4
VIRGINIA
Centreville – Rave Centreville 12 Cinemas – December 17-18
Fairfax – Rave Fairfax Corner 14 Cinemas – December 17-18
Reston – Bowtie Reston Town Center 13 Cinemas – December 10-11, 17-18
Richmond – Bowtie’s Movieland – December 10-11, 17-18
Staunton – Staunton Mall Cinema – TBA
Virginia Beach – Beach Movie Bistro – December 9-10
WASHINGTON
Battle Ground – Battle Gound 8 Cinemas – TBA
Bellingham – Pickford Film Center – December 16-18
Camas – Liberty Theatre – December 10-11
Kingston – Firehouse Theater – December 10-11
Seattle – Landmark’s Egyptian Theater – December 9-10
Shelton – Shelton Cinemas – December 9-10
WISCONSIN
West Bend – Paradise 10 Cinemas – TBA
CANADA
Edmonton, Alberta – Metro Cinema at the Garneau – TBA
Please confirm your local market theatres and dates at http://www.SantaMartiansMovie.com
**Please note screenings at the Cinelux Theatres will be holding a Toys For Tots toy drive in conjunction with their “SANTA’S COOL HOLIDAY FILM FESTIVAL” showings, and anyone who donates a new unwrapped toy when they arrive will receive a discount admission.
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