In
2007, Cinema Retro contributing
writer Raymond Benson (and author of twenty-one published books, including
James Bond continuation novels) teamed up with Chicago’s Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire to create “Dann and Raymond’s
Movie Club,†a live cinema history program that has become a big draw at
Chicagoland suburban libraries. Â
Benson
met Gire, who is also founder and president of the Chicago Film Critics
Association, around fifteen years ago at the home of mutual James Bond fan Doug
Redenius and have been friends ever since.Â
One day they happened to note how they each had similar
interests—especially in film—and decided to try and “do something
together.â€Â After talking with Susan
Gibberman, Head of Reader Services at the Schaumburg Township District Library
in Schaumburg, Illinois, they struck a deal to present the Movie Club on the
first Thursday of every month (excluding the summer). Using a Siskel and Ebert format, the pair
cover a topic with history, anecdotes, jokes, and clips from their
representative favorites. For example,
one night they might talk about political films such as The Birth of a Nation, Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington, Dr.
Strangelove, and JFK. Audience participation is encouraged, and the
two hour program proved to be immensely entertaining. Dann and Raymond’s Movie Club quickly became
the most popular adult program at the Schaumburg library (the largest suburban
library in Illinois). They are now in
their third season in Schaumburg. The
Arlington Heights Memorial Library hired the duo in 2008, so they now present
their show there on the second Thursday of every month. Â
For
anyone in the Chicagoland area who is interested in attending Dann and
Raymond’s Movie Club (admission is free), the schedule is always posted on the
Appearances page of Benson’s website, www.raymondbenson.com,
and on the Dann and Raymond’s Movie Club page on Facebook.