IN FROM THE COLD

Winter 1978. I'm trying to graduate early by taking night courses at UAA. I park the van and walk across the icy parking lot to a class that, to this day, remains the finest college experience I've ever had: History of the Fantasy Film.

Class met once a week in the auditorium. We watched a movie, then discussed it. Some of the movies were:

A Trip to the Moon
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Metropolis
Flash Gordon serials
King Kong
Dracula
Bride of Frankenstein
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Phantom of the Paradise
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

On Halloween night, during Dracula, the teacher ran around the class wearing a black cape and glow-in-the-dark fangs.

After the movie it was discussion time and the gloves came off. It was a smart group (Satch Carlson was in this class, ok?), and the good-humored teacher just let it roll.

I'd drive home tired as hell, laughing.