Magic at the Movies
Mike Schindler, Film Programmer at Classic Cinemas (US), movie enthusiast and all-around good guy discusses current movie releases at Classic Cinemas in this short and fun podcast.
Magic at the Movies
Latest Episodes
106: Stories From the Booth—36 Years in Film Projection
Mike sits down with Alan Gilbertson, who joined Classic Cinemas 36 years ago after already establishing himself as a projectionist in the industry.Now, on the verge of retirement, Alan looks back at a career that spans one of the most tr...
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105: The THX Documentary
This week on MATM, Mike and Jim dive headfirst into the world of cinematic sound, THX trailers that rattled your ribcage, and the surprisingly tangled hyperspace lanes connecting Lucasfilm, Star Wars, film edits, and somehow... Seth Ro...
104: A Wrap on CinemaCon 2026
CinemaCon 2026 brought out the stars—Mike was there (along with Jim) to witness the glory of modern Hollywood. From the latest packed studio slates to unforgettable stage moments featuring celebrity royalty like Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Ro...
103: A Cinemacon Pause...
While we’re in Las Vegas taking in everything CinemaCon has to offer, we’re getting a front-row seat to the movies, stars, and cinema tech that the studios and the industry have in store for us here at Classic Cinemas.We’ll be back next ...
102: A 90th Anniversary for our Lake Theatre!
Mike returns with a look at April anniversaries, highlighted by a major milestone: the 90th anniversary of Classic Cinemas’ Lake Theatre in Oak Park.He dives into the story of the Lake and the thoughtfully curated anniversary series that...
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Fan Mail
I doubt this will work or get to Mike, Randy, and the crew but I just wanted to say this: I love the podcast. It’s an amazing companion piece to my trips to CC (York theater shoutout!!!). There are moments when I agree with Mike and moments that dumbfounds me (how has Mike seen shrek the third and fourth yet not seen 1 & 2!!!). I text all this to repeat: I love the podcast and my local CC (and others but bias). Keep up the amazing work. Can I be a guest on the show? Joking. -Nigel J
Roselle, Illinois