Public Domain Theatre

- Season 1

(2011)

Paul gets things going by introducing the unsuspecting public to the "comedy and song one-two punch" of Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo (The "Martin and Lewis" knockoffs). Then tries very hard to warn people about what they are about to see - the classic where the film's star doesn't turn up until forty-five minutes in.

Paul introduces the film "Destroy all Planets" while making references to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and avoids mentioning the fact the color has faded so much that most of it looks like it was done with pencils on white paper.

Ever wonder what Jack Nicholson looked like as a 20-year old hot rodding beatnick? Paul sure did! That's why he wanted to watch "The Wild Ride"! Although why he chose to ask others to watch it with him remains a mystery.

Paul gets confused between "Dementia 13", The 5th Dimension and an episode of the old "Spider-Man" cartoon series until Bryon sets him straight. Then he goes through a who's-who of Hollywood's finest that has worked with producer Roger Corman.

After viewing the film, Paul wonders aloud why it's called "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter", when the daughter is never seen or even mentioned. He also wonders (not aloud) why the film got made.

Filmed during a heat wave, Paul's hair returns to it's natural state. He, mistakenly as it turns out, decides to watch "Frozen Alive" in order to cool off. It does not work. Also, at the very end, he proves himself to be a complete light-weight in the libation department.

"The Master" marks a first for "Public Domain Theatre". 1) It's the first time that the usual opening sequence is replaced with a different one. B) We see Bryon (billed as "Brian") for the first time on screen, and Thirdly) "The Master" is actually two episodes of a short-lived television show starring Lee Van Cleef and Timoty Van Petten, not a movie. Paul loved the show back in the early 80s and quickly realizes why it got canceled. He then wonders what it would've been like with Dick Van Petten in the Lee Van Cleef Role.

Paul finds out the hard way how to waste three talented actors. However he has no trouble understanding how someone could fall in love with another person who has stolen their wallet.

This early 30's gem shows how to make a future Oscar winner disappear right before your eyes! Paul then shows how easy it is to do in real life.

Paul opens the show with a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. He thinks that it's a good idea to show the film "Breakfast in Hollywood" really early. He's so tired that he doesn't even notice that the outside shots look nothing like Longmeadow. One of them even looks like a painting. Then after the movie's over, he hopes that a big hat will help him score a kiss.

Paul goes all black and white and bad filmy to help people prepare for the silent classic "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" with the help of some on-screen title cards. He goofs up and the title cards call him out on it. If you've ever wanted to see a man yell at his title cards in silence and then see said title cards stumble and try to change the subject then this is the show for you!

Paul brings the campy, horror-comedy of Roger Corman's "A Bucket of Blood" to your living rooms. Watch him marvel at the number of times star Dick Miller has played characters named Walter Paisley. Then watch him wonder how Anthony Michael Hall could even dare to attempt it.

One Paul's all-time favorite B movies, "The Brain that Wouldn't Die" is a real head-scratcher. Is it "The Brain that Wouldn't Die" or "The Head that Wouldn't Die"? He's not surprised to learn that there are many others out there who love this film as much as he does. This episode also marks the first time Paul mentions "Mystery Science Theater 3000" out loud as well as wearing a "MST3K" t-shirt. Stay through the end credits for a touching tribute to his life-long friend Chris Robertson, who passed away a few days before the episode was filmed.

Paul gets excited over the prospect of seeing Steve McQueen before he became "Steve McQueen". "The St. Louis Bank Robbery" may not be the first film 'based on a true story', but it may be the first film 'based on a true story that actually uses the real people who were there when it happened'. It is also worth noting that the film's director Charles Guggenheim went on to win three Oscars for directing documentaries.

Season 1 of "Public Domain Theatre" ends on a high(-ish) note with the classic "Attack of the Giant Leeches". Paul recounts his formative years with his friends that were spent staying indoors, eating junk food and watching films like this on "Creature Double Feature". After the film he kills the mood by bringing up the grizzly fate of Yvette Vickers. Trying to recover and end on a laugh, he shows a picture of the cheap leech costumes.