SPECIAL EVENTS & NOTEWORTHY ATTRACTIONS ALWAYS INCLUDE:   

* MOVIE, MOVIES and more MOVIES! We cram in as many classic Drive-In movies, independent films and shorts as we can pack into a weekend. You’ll find movies and shorts on real 16mm film in our 200 seat “Film Room” and all kinds of indy films, shorts, and guest related features in our smaller, 100+ seat “DVD projection Room” all weekend long.

* Q&A Sessions, Live Movie Commentaries, Guest Talks and Movie Introductions... Our guests are always willing to interact with attending fans, and we’ve come up with all kinds of fun stuff for them to do over the years. Let’s see what we come up with for the next show shall we?

* SURPRISES and MORE SURPRISES! With most of the shows we run, things fall together a few weeks before show time. Be sure to check back as the show draws closer to see if we may have a surprise guest addition, extra film screening, or special event added to the weekend schedule.

* EVERY CINEMA WASTELAND MOVIE AND MEMORABILIA EXPO offers attending fans over 60 Hours worth of Movies and Programming over the course of three days. And it’s all 100% Free with the price of admission. It can be a bit overwhelming, so be sure to check over the complete Weekend Schedule of Films and Events before you arrive so you can plot out your weekend early. The Weekend Schedule is usually posted 3 or 4 weeks before any given show.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE MOVIES YOU ASK?...
You can't have a "Movie Convention" without them, can you? ABSOLUTELY NOT! And we plan on showing plenty of films on both 16mm Film and Video at Cinema Wasteland - Many of which may be hosted by the Stars and Directors appearing as Guests at the show. Our evening film show is Free to all attendees and hotel guests.


Here are the movies we are showing on 16mm film: 
 

CANNIBAL ATTACK (1954) In this installment of Stock footage Action Theater, we find jungle guide and all around protector of all things nature, Jungle Jim… ah, “Jungle” Johnny Weissmuller that is, out to stop greedy cannibals who disguise themselves in crocodile skins from stealing cobalt ore. He sets out with jungle princess Luora (Judy Walsh), his monkey Kimba (replacing long time chimp companion, Tamba), and his trusty knife in order to fight jaguars, hawks, and stand off against the money grubbing cannibals. After 13 films in the “Jungle Jim” film series, the long running Jungle Jim comic strip ended… so did the Jungle Jim and Tamba the chimp’s name. But Weissmuller was contracted for 16 films, so they simply called him “Jim” changed his chimp’s name to Kimba, and made three more films in the series to end his contract. None of the last three films are any better or worse than the previous 13 films since the formula was set with film number one, so kick back and enjoy film number 14 in the Jungle Jim / Johnny film series.


THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY SHOWCASE: THE EAST SIDE KIDS / THE BOWERY BOYS - To us, the “Golden Age” of comedy sort of ended in the 1940s. Some of the classic acts like The Three Stooges, and Abbott and Costello were still plugging along in the 1950s, but they were established acts doing their classic skits. The Bowery Boys started out as the Dead End kids in 1937. After seven films as tough street kids, they morphed into The East Side Kids in 1940 and added a little comedy to their hijinks. After a series of 21 East Side Kids films, The Bowery Boys comedy series spawned 50 films between 1946 and 1958 before it limped to a halt after leader “Slip Mahoney” (Leo Gorcy) left the series in 1956. Here we have a couple of 1950s Bowery Boys films, which were popular with kids at the time of their release, as well as on repeated TV broadcasts throughout the 1960s and 70s.

Check out one of the most well known East Side Kid films, along with the antics of The Bowery Boys this time around as our tribute to Comedies Golden Age continues -

SPOOKS RUN WILD (1941) In Spooks Run Wild, we find The East Side Kids: Muggs (Leo Gorcey), Glimpy (Huntz Hall), and the boys sent to a mountain camp. Stranded en route in a small town, they hear about a “monster killer” that roams the countryside, and naturally decide to sneak out at night to search for him… or it. Peewee (David Gorcey) is shot by a grave-digger and they seek shelter and help in an old mansion. The owner, Nardo, (Bela Lugosi) insists that they all spend the night. Later, they see Peewee sleepwalking around the old mansion and decide that Lugosi turned him into a zombie. The usual silliness found in all East Side Kid films ensue. Eventually the nurse (Dorthy Short) at the boys camp, along with Dr. Von Grosch (Dennis Moore) set out to find them. This is one of two films Bela Lugosi did with the East Side Kids for Monogram Pictures. The other was Ghosts On The Loose in 1943.

PRIVATE EYES (1953) After a punch to the nose, Sach (Huntz Hall) gains the ability to read minds. Slip (Leo Gorcey) and the rest of The Bowery Boys buy private eye Eddie’s business when he plans on leaving town to try and cash in on Sack’s new found power. It isn’t long before a blond damsel in distress rushes into their office fearing somebody is trying to kill her in this spoof of the popular private eye genre. Bowery Boys films had the habit of Sach (Hunts Hall) acquiring some sort of “power” that gets everyone in a whole heap of slapstick mayhem, only to have that power be completely forgotten about by the next film in the series… until he acquires some other weird power a few films down the road.

THE MAN WHO TURNED TO STONE (1957) Dr. Murdock leads a group of 18th century scientists that discovered the secret of immortality. In order to selfishly prolong their own lives, they need the life-extract of other human beings; preferably young fertile women. And what better place to scout for an endless supply of young disposable women than in the women’s prison they set up shop in? Carol Adams, a young prison employee, begins to grow suspicious of all of the sudden unnatural deaths and enlists the aid of a psychiatrist to uncover what’s going on. As their investigation draws them closer to the group of alchemists they have no choice but to continue their treatments. If they don’t their skin will literally petrify and harden to the toughness of stone.

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON HOUR -Resident horror host, Son of Ghoul, will once again put together an hour’s worth of original cartoons to kick off Saturday morning. We give him free reign to screen any cartoons he’d like, so you never know what he’ll dig up. To give fans somewhere to go while waiting for the Vendor and Guest Room to open, cartoons kick off at 9:30am on Saturday mornings in MOVIE ROOM 1. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and stop in and see what’s in store this time around.

THE THREE STOOGES HOUR - It’s been a tradition since the very first Cinema Wasteland Show to screen Three Stooges shorts on Saturday morning. Resident horror host, Son of Ghoul, took over the job of sorting out which Stooge shorts to run when he mentioned that he owned every short on 16mm film. Stooge hour moved from early mornings to Noon on Saturday and the rest, as they say, is Wasteland history.

THE UNDEAD (1957) Diana Love (Pamela Duncan) is the subject of doctors Olinger (Maurice Manson) and Ratcliff’s (Val Dufour) hypnosis therapy experiments. She regresses back to a life in the first millennia AD where she’s been condemned to die for being a witch. When her mind goes back to that era, she’s able to escape the headman’s ax and survives. This creates a paradox because she didn’t die as planned in her past life that puts her life in the present day in jeopardy with real witch Livia (Allison Hayes). Fascinated by everything, Doctor Radcliff regresses himself through hypnosis to see how everything unfolds, and meets up with Satan himself, who is also interested in how things pan out. It’s rather ambitious for a Roger Corman film, but well worth the watch.

VOODOO WOMAN (1957) For some odd reason, a tribe of natives who hate outsiders have let crazy, scenery chewing scientist Roland Gerard (Tom Conway) move right into their tiny village where he promptly attempts to use jungle voodoo to create an army of monster slaves. He keeps his poor wife Susan (Mary Ellen Kay) locked in a guarded hut so she won’t interrupt his “experiments” while he never seems a bit bothered about the Tribal Leader always threatening to kill him. Wicked and greedy Marilyn Blanchard (Marla English) and her partner Rick (Lance Fuller) hear that the very same tribe has a load of gold stashed away so they hire rugged jungle guide Ted Bronson (Mike Connors) to take them there so they can steal it. Before they arrive, loony Dr. Gerard succeeds in creating a lone female voodoo monster and fully plans on having it kill everyone in sight. Plot? OK…maybe a little. Bad acting? Absolutely! A native dance number to pad out the running time? You know it! Clunky direction from Edward Cahn? You betcha! A wonderful monster created and played by Paul Blaisdale, who really just redesigned his “She-Creature” suit since he played that monster too? Damn straight! A terrific time? Guaranteed.

WASTELAND INTERMISSION REELS - Brand new intermission reels will once again screen between our Friday and Saturday night double features (and again on Sunday) between the 16mm film screenings at our next show. Chock full of assorted movie trailers, cartoons, old intermission and snack bar spots and public service announcements, these twenty minute reels are bound to bring back memories of drive-in days gone by.

Please check back later...

Here are the movies we are showing on DVD Projection:

ASSAULT OF THE PARTY NERDS (1989) Richie Spencer (CW guest Richard Gabai) and his buddies have a problem. They’re the only four members of their unpopular fraternity, and all four of them are graduating. They need to find a way to bring in more members before they leave and avoid the jock fraternity in the process. They resolution? Throw a party of course! And make sure you invite chicks like Muffin (Michelle Bauer) and Bambi (Linnea Quigley), This one used to play late night cable TV back in the day, so maybe you remember it from USA’s Up All Night movie show?

CAMP BLOOD CHRISTMAS (2025) The new owner of Camp Blackwood wants to put its bloody history behind and turns it into a Christmas attraction. But as the camp’s employees begin to arrive, is the killer clown of camp blood ready to celebrate peace on Earth and good will to man?

COCAINE STEPDAD (2024) On the run after he breaks out of prison, Terry Miller teams up with his estranged, and very reluctant stepson Kyle, and an accidentally kidnapped videographer in order to stop his ex-wife from marrying the psychotic gun-loving pastor Shelby White. Along the way they’re framed for the murder of a body found in the trunk of their car, argue a lot, avoid a couple of Pastor White’s machine gun toting goons, and score some blow at a carnival. Eventually they make it to Shelby’s house right before the wedding, escape his goons, and make their plans to stop the wedding… with unexpected results. 

DEMON DIVAS AND THE LANES OF DAMNATION (2009) In a little throw back to the “scream queen” films of the 1980s, we find a sorority mixer being held at a local bowling alley go terribly wrong. The bowling alley is owned by a group of seductive demons (including Brinke Stevens, Debbie Rochon, and long time CW regular, Amy Lynn Best). They grant a couple of nerdy college coeds a wish, and of course it goes horribly wrong. Chaos and death follow.

EVIL SPAWN (1987) When a returning space probe brings alien microbes back to Earth, a scientist (John Carradine) starts to use them in his aging experiments, but dies before his work is finished. His assistant approaches Lynn Roman (Bobbie Bresee), an aging actress who has recently been passed over for some lead roles for younger actresses. She uses the serum hoping to become young again, but it instead transformed into a hideous bug-like creature. You guess how this enjoyable B horror film ends. Written and directed by CW guest Kenneth J. Hall, with a little footage from director / producer Fred Olen Ray.

THE FRIDAY NIGHT SHORT FILM BLOCK -The poplar Short Film Block returns this show with a trio of indie sort films guaranteed to please. Catch them in the following order -

THE DIRECTOR’S DEMISE (2025) Some people will do anything to make it in Hollywood. They’ll even work for sleazy and abusive director Douglas, who seems to enjoy berating and firing people more than anything. But have no fear. He gets what he deserves.

WISKER DISSOLVE (2025) I wish David Lynch were still alive. He might be the only person that could explain this index oddball to me. You tell me what it’s all about after you watch it.

THE STENCH (2025) Sam hires debt-ridden Tony to cut down a dead tree in his back yard. There’s a horrid stench and a green ooze coming from the tree and it seems to be taking both a physical and mental toll on Sam. When he starts to cut the tree down, it starts to affect Tony as well…

Gunga Jim Presents: TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE (1965) When lawyer Albert Kovac (Walter Brand) arrives at a castle to settle the estate of the recently deceased owner, Dr. Hauff, the owner’s wife (Barbara Steele) and daughter (Mirela Maravidi) reveal that Hauff was able to summon the souls of ancient plague victims, and his spirit still roams the castle. Soon enough, occupants of the castle begin to die off in gruesome and violent ways in this Euro-clunker from director Massimo Pupillo.

THE HARDCORE WRESTLING HOUR - Always a popular way to kick off Saturday mornings, the original Hardcore Wrestling Hour expanded to a couple of hours several years back and moved to opening the show on Friday. This time around, we will once again venture back to the days of Japanese death match wrestling of the 1990s when barbed wire ruled, and bloodshed filled the ring. Don’t miss it!

HE’S COMING TO GET YOU! (2025) George and his girlfriend Aja have a night planned to celebrate his birthday but kidnappers have other plans for Aja. When they make a move to grab her, George is killed. The murder is witnessed by a woman with the powers to bring him back from the dead. George now has until sunrise to save Aja and get revenge against the guys that killed him.

HOBOCO (1925) Journey back to 1999 to witness the origin of Buddy Ross, the Hobocop. Homeless and struggling, Buddy refuses to give in. Assuming the guise of a police officer, Buddy sets out on a path of vengeance and revenge against those that have wronged him… and a few people that just get in the way. If you’ve seen a few Gatorblade Films, then you may know Buddy Ross. If you haven’t, then no worries. You don’t need to know who he is as you’ll find out here.

HOUSE 2: THE SECOND STORY (1987) A young couple are gunned down by an undead assassin in their mansion at the same time they decided to give their baby up for adoption. Years later, their baby, Jesse (Arye Gross) decides to move back into the family mansion with his girlfriend Kate (Law Park Lincoln). They’re soon joined by Jessie’s goofball buddy Charlie (CW guest Jonathan Stark) and his wannabe rock star girl Lana (Amy Yasbeck). While rooting around the basement one night, Jesse discovers a photo of his great-great-grandfather standing in front of an Aztec temple with a crystal skull in his hand. What would you do if you found his photo? Why, you’d naturally dig up the old guy’s grave, right? And if you found Gramps still alive in his coffin I’m sure that wouldn’t surprise you a bit. It turns out that the mansion was built using stones from that Aztec temple, and contains gateways into other time periods, with the crystal skull acting was the “remote control” to these other realms. Unfortunately, the forces of evil are drawn to the skull and the guys will need to defend it in this sequel director Steve Miner’s horror-comedy, House (1985).

I:SCREAM (2025) A love-smitten scientist plans the perfect date with the perfect new ice cream flavor that she’s created. When a clumsy janitor spills chemicals onto the the frozen treat, he accidentally creates a ravenous blob-like creature out to chow down on humanity in this musical horror comedy.

I WISH I KNEW (2025) For over 25 years, Melanie has searched for the answers to why her parents abandoned her as a young child by taking any job that gets her in touch with strangers that may help her with the life choices that she’s made. Then, on one random day, everything just seems to fall together for her. Not a horror, sci-fi, or exploitation themed short film, but a very well done indie all-the-same.

NIGHT KILLER (1990) A serial killer that wears a demonic mask is terrorizing Virginia Beach and killing women after he rapes them. Melanie Beck (CW guest Tara Buckman) was a victim that survived when the killer is interrupted. Trauma blocks out the memory of the violence she suffered, but the memory returns when the killer shows up to continue to torment her and finish the job he started. Another low budget horror film from Italian director Claudio Fragasso, with a dose of gore added to spice things up from fellow Italian trash film king, Bruno Mattei. Our friends at Sevrin Films are celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year, and Night Killer is part of their “20 Screening for 20 Years” convention screenings. We’re more than happy to help celebrate.

NIGHTMARE SISTERS (1988) Three geeky sorority sisters (Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, and Linnea Quigley) decide to hold a seance and invite a couple nerdy guys (including fellow CW guest Richard Gabai) to join them. When the girls are possessed and turn into sex starved vamps, will the guys be able to transform the girls back to normal or parish… with a smile on their face, naturally. One of our favorite late 80s “scream queen” flicks, we just had to pull out Nightmare Sisters one more time since we had several cast members in attendance this show.

ORGY OF THE DEAD 2 (2025) Does the world really need a remake of director Stephen Apostolof’s (Ed Wood scripted) stripper’s in a graveyard oddity, Orgy of the Dead? You’re damn right it did! The Emperor has a series of dead beauties return for a night of debauchery and seductive dancing. A car full of teens out to party the night away crash near the graveyard where the dead are doing their thing. They’re brought to The Emperor and forced to watch the festivities and deal with their own inner demons.

REALLY BIG TROUBLE (IN JACKASS FLATS) (2025) Neurotic Slim Goody runs a dry goods business in a little western town. He plans on heading to Jackass Flats to pick up some turmeric from his friend Salt Peter and seek out a little adventure along the way. He says goodbye to his girl Marabelle and heads off to Peter’s ranch in the hidden valley outside Jackass Flats. Miss Lilly owns many a business in Jackass Flats, including the town’s whore house. When one of her girls is roughed up by Wild Bill and his posse of insane clowns, she demands justice. Unfortunately, the Marshall is killed by Wild Bill. But soon enough, Slim and Peter arrive in town and soon enough find themselves duped into the martial and deputy martial jobs. Slim also falls for Miss Lilly… and sure enough wind up in a confrontation with Wild Bill and his clown posse in this amusing western-comedy.

SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER (2004) When theater student Jenna Wholly returns home with her boyfriend Alex at Halloween time, her little brother Douglas (“Dougie”), who is very attached to his big sister is jealous of boyfriend Alex. Dougie is fascinated with the video game “Satan’s Little Helper” and leaves home one day wearing his Satan’s Little Helper halloween costume. He’s out looking for Satan himself so he can ask him to kill Alex. Coincidently, he meets a serial killer that’s wearing a Satan costume and asks him for help. The killer agrees, and he brings the insane murderer home. Jenna and her mom believe that the masked killer is just Alex acting like Satan to please Dougie. Later, Dougie walks the maniac around the streets helping him to terrorize the locals in this dark comedy horror outing from director Jeff Lieberman.

SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT (1984) When psycho in a Santa suit stops the family car on their way home during Christmas, Billy is excited to see Santa. But when he shoots dad in the head and tries to rape his mother (CW guest Tara Buckman) before he slits her throat in front of him, Billy is lucky he’s able to escape and hide… but as you can imagine, it really messes with his head. He and his little brother wind up raised in a Catholic children’s home where the strict Mother Superior dishes out punishment to all “naughty” children. Of course this just adds to his problems. When he reaches the age of eighteen, he gets a job at the local toy store… where they need someone to dress like Santa Claus. Billy snaps and begins dishing out punishment to naughty people, eventually making his way back to the children’s home to take care of the Mother Superior. I never understood why this film created such an uproar when it was released. It’s a decent slasher for the time, but it certainly wasn’t, say, William Lustig’s Maniac. Still, the hype made it a box-office success and a video store mainstay that spawned its share of sequels.

SUGAR ROT (2025) Candy and Barbie work at the Sugar Rot ice cream shop. They live life, go to concerts, have sex and deal with the same shit a lot of us do. When the ice cream man rapes Candy, she winds up pregnant. But things are most definitely weird. It seems that Candy is sweet… literally! She breaks out in sweet goo that people find delicious and something is definitely wrong with the baby. She begins to change physically. This can’t end well…

SWIRLEE (1989) Ice cream mascot and spokesperson, Mr. Softie (past CW guest James Lorenz) is depressed. Seems his time has come and gone, and ice cream boss, Don Tofutti (Street Trash’s mob boss - and fellow past CW guest - Tony Darrow) is taking over the ice cream racket. After a depressed Swirlee attempts suicide, his roommate (David Caruso, in one of his earliest rolls) snaps him out of his funk and he sets off for revenge! Co=written and directed by James Lorenz, it really showcases his dry wit to a “T” and really shoulda… coulda… been made into a cult comedy. Still can! James… The cult film fans of the world are waiting. Roy Frumps produced the short film, and was on the set throughout. We screened this short way back when James Lorenz made his first CW Show appearance, but it’s time to pull it out for a new generation of CW attendee. We’ll screen it before Roy Frumps talk and have him fill you n on a few behind-the-scenes did bits come showtime.

VIDEO VIXEN (2025) In a work that glutted with everyone and their second cousin making and posting online video content and every talentless loser begging for money without ever actually working to earn it, we find one vigilante that’s killing the begging whiners and content creators off. Kitty specializes in online punishment and snuff style videos. Has she taken her obsessions too far?

WOLF PACK (2026) Why skittish Ashley was hitchhiking and accepted a ride from some creep in a truck is a mystery. What isn’t a mystery is when a wolf-like creature leaps on the parked truck. The driver high tails it on foot and Ashley takes the truck and escapes when the creature go after the guy. It seems that Ashley has run away from an unhappy home life. Meanwhile, our wolf-like creature continues its rampage.

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT (2025) The typical family Christmas hassles are made even worse when mom gifts a cursed talisman to her son Tyler and he decides to take a peek at his gift early. Add in the fact that cousin Victor complicates things when he brings his new girlfriend Courtney with him. She used to go with Tyler, and the guy still has a thing for her, so enter a little jealously mixed with anger with that dread cursed talisman, and it isn’t long before Tyler grabs an ax and begins to slowly kill off his family. Holiday horrors start early this year… and you better watch out!