Ep. 18: Harold and Maude at The Westgate Theater by John Gaspard

TWO YEARS, ONE THEATER: THE CULT FILM THAT WOULDN'T DIE The studio wanted it buried. Critics dismissed it. But when Harold and Maude arrived at Minneapolis’ Westgate Theater, something magical happened. The quirky dark comedy about a death-obsessed teen and an 80-year-old free spirit found its home. And stayed. And stayed. And stayed some more—until angry neighbors started protesting. This true story captures the remarkable phenomenon that transformed a box-office disaster into one of the most beloved cult films of all time. Inside this captivating chronicle, you'll discover: • How a single theater kept Harold and Maude alive when everyone else had given up on it • The joyful celebrations when stars Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort visited their devoted fans • The superfan who saw the film so many times he became friends with Ruth Gordon herself • The hilarious neighborhood protests demanding a change after endless months of the same film • Rare, never-before-published photographs of the theater, the celebrations, and the protests Before streaming, before home video, before "cult classic" was even a term—there was a small theater that wouldn't let a strange little film die. This is their story.

PURCHASE LINKS Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Held-Over-Hardback-Standard-Gaspard/dp/0578574713

Direct From Author:

http:/ www.albertsbridgebooks.com/ - /held-over-harold-and-maude-at-the-westgate-theater/

Outside the U.S.: https://tinyurl.com/4e2d8n4y

Credits

Stephen Bluhm - Sound Engineer and episode editor

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.stephenbluhm.fun⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rich Wexler

Producer/Interviewer

⁠⁠⁠http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com

Episode Editors

Otter Castro

https://www.instagram.com/ottercastro

Rudy Fischmann

https://www.instagram.com/onelastfisch