Rediscovering a Strangelove

Comments (0) By James A. Keith Thursday, Apr 28 2011

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The iconic image of Major T.J. "King" Kong riding a plummeting H-bomb like a rodeo star has ingrained itself within American film culture, but how much does Slim Pickens' portrayal really relate to the history of Oak Cliff? Terry Southern, screenwriter for Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, entwined his Oak Cliff ties and sensibilities to the creation of Pickens' ill-fated character. To honor Terry Southern, the Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd., hosts a special screening of Dr. Strangelove on Sunday. During the event, Southern's son Nile Southern will accept a proclamation naming May 1 as "Terry Southern Day" and will host a preview of his upcoming documentary about his late father, Dad Strangelove. In addition, Nile Southern will participate in a Q&A session with audience members (moderated by the Observer's own Robert Wilonsky). Terry Southern Day kicks off the Soul of Oak Cliff event series at the theater honoring artists from the O.C. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8.50. For more information, call 214-948-1546 or visit thetexastheatre.com.
Sun., May 1, 7 p.m., 2011