With Mike out on baby duty (still), Mark Mazrimas steps in this week as we dig into the critically acclaimed Send Help, a darkly comic survival horror that strands its characters on a deserted island. Mark takes a deep dive into what mak...

With Mike still out on baby duty, Mark makes a call to LA LA Land to catch up with dear friend, author, and film expert Mike McClellan. (Please excuse the call audio quality… that one’s on Jim.)The timing couldn’t be better. Wit...

With Mike Schindler still on baby duty (and sleep being but a distant memory), Mark and Randy seize control of the microphones and celebrate 100 years of movie anniversaries. This episode looks ahead to the films turning many a milestone age in...

Mark sits down with podcast producer and certified movie nut Jim Toth to break down the very best of 2025 at the movies — from the films that kicked off the year to the standouts still lighting up screens in early 2026.With awards...

With Mike still out, Mark takes the mic and sits down with Classic Cinemas CEO/CPE (Chief Popcorn Eater,) Chris Johnson, to talk about his favorite subject: movies. Together, these two industry insiders break down what could make 2026 a banner ...

Many of us grew up with Rob Reiner’s films. In light of his passing, we wanted to take time to revisit what he gave us, the stories, the performances, and the moments that shaped how we watch movies. Today, Mark sits down with Randy to talk abo...

Just in time for the holidays, we’re unwrapping a previously recorded episode we’ve been saving for something a little… different. Back in September...we hosted a private screening at the historic Tivoli Theatre for social media influencer Tyle...

Mark (once again bravely filling in for Mike) welcomes Angelique Barthel from Variety of Illinois Children’s Charity to share details on this year’s meaningful fundraiser. The conversation spotlights the Avatar: Fire and Ash collectibl...

After last week’s internet-melting controversy — Mike’s scorched-earth campaign to include Contagion in the canon of holiday movies — the guys return to restore order and festive cheer.With Mike still on the bench, Mar...

Mike is back and joins Mark for an in-depth exploration of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, Quentin Tarantino’s ambitious attempt to stitch Volumes 1 and 2 into a single, uninterrupted cinematic experience. In this episode, they dive ...

This week on the show, Classic's Head Chief, Chris Johnson joins Mark Mazrimas (guest-hosting for Mike!) to talk all things Thanksgiving, including his best pick... Zootopia 2 — the family holiday hit galloping into theatres this ...

Mark (sitting in for Mike again) joins Randy Pollock for a deep dive into Wicked: For Good, sharing early reactions and what audiences can expect. The duo also unpacks Pope Leo’s recent call for everyone to return to the movies — plus ...

Guest host Mark Mazrimas sits down with Mike Balsamo — the voice and spirit behind Christmas at the Tivoli — to talk about the magic of th...

Mike kicks things off with Classic Cinemas’ own Mark Mazrimas to talk Predator: Badlands and the legacy of sci-fi’s deadliest hunters. Then, vintage monster expert Mike Balsamo joins the conversation to trace the origins and evolution ...

Filling in for Mike, Mark Mazrimas welcomes Classic Cinemas CEO/CPE Chris Johnson for a lively conversation about Springsteen: Deliver Me to Nowhere and the decades of music biopics that paved the way. From the lip-syncing legends of t...

Mark and Randy take over the mic for a deep dive into the evolution of movie trailers — from the shocking suspense of Psycho to the blockbuster buzz of Jaws and Alien. They rewind all the way to Citizen K...

Join Mike and special guest hosts Randy Pollock and Mark Mazrimas as they revisit the extraordinary career of Diane Keaton—actress, director, and trailblazer. From the neurotic charm of Annie Hall to the fearless authenticity of...

Mike may be out this week, but we’ve got a killer duo stepping in! Mark Mazrimas and his daughter Sara Frandsen join Magic at the Movies to celebrate Halloween — and spotlight some of the creepy programming Mike lined up for the season...

Classic monsters, cult favorites, and fresh frights — this year’s Halloween lineup at Classic Cinemas has it all. With Fright Night, Carrie, and John Carpenter’s Halloween side by side with modern chills like Shau...

Film lover Mark Mazrimas joins Mike to reflect on Robert Redford’s remarkable contributions to cinema. From iconic performances to the founding of Sundance, Redford’s influence runs deep. Mark also shares a personal memory from his early days a...

With fall in the air in Chicagoland—and that unmistakable combo of pigskin and melted cheese—our movie crew dives into the best football films across the generations. Will you be celebrating with an end zone dance, or throwing a challenge flag?...

This week, Mike cracks open a listener letter from Nigel and somehow spins it into a full-blown PT Anderson appreciation hour. From Magnolia to Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood to The Master, Mike gushes...

Randy and Mike are back together again, and this time they’re tackling the pop culture earthquake of the moment: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s surprise engagement announcement. Naturally, they celebrate the news the only way they know how—by ...

On the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, Mike sits down with longtime theatre enthusiast and Classic Cinemas’ own Director of Special Operations, Randy Pollock. Randy takes us back to 1975, when he first experienced Jaws...

This week, Mike sits down with Ed Finch and Alan Wenzel—two retired educators from Stephenson County who’ve devoted every waking hour to their lifelong passion: movies. For nearly 20 years, they’ve hosted beloved film series at Classic Cinemas ...