Here’s not looking at you, kid

You’ve no doubt heard the scuttlebutt on the Internets that my favorite classic movie of all time, Casablanca (1942), will be shown in select theaters across the U.S. this evening at 7:00pm as part of a 70th anniversary celebration engineered by Warner Brothers and, of course, The Greatest Cable Channel Known to Mankind™.  It’s one of those deals where they wanted you to purchase your tickets in advance…something that I would have been only too enthusiastic about doing so until I hit upon one teensy snag.

They won’t be showing the movie in Athens.  Here’s a list of the lucky cities that will get to play it again, Sam, and I was slightly bummed about the snub the first time I glanced at the list.  But I’ve seen Casablanca on the big screen before (several years ago in Savannah) so it’s not a crushing disappointment—what I can’t quite figure out is this part, courtesy of the press release:

The event will begin with Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne taking audiences behind the scenes of this epic love story in a special original production showcasing stories from those who were on set and those who simply admire this timeless classic. Audiences will then be able to see again on the silver screen this beautiful and timeless classic.

A few years back, Bobby Osbo hosted an annual event here in the Classic City entitled The Robert Osborne Classic Film Festival but ever since the University of Georgia “postponed” the event two years ago (blaming it all on the economy) the film fest has become a mist in the memory, and Rob has moved onto to other pursuits like the honkin’ big TCM Classic Movie party held in Hollywood each year.  (I had tickets to see two of the presentations in 2010, until that whole hospital deal reared its ugly head.)  You would think that he could have pushed aside some room on the Casablanca circuit to give a shout-out to the hamlet where the classic film festival wheels first got rolling, but apparently this is not the case.  (Ingrate.)

But don’t let my loud sour grape-munching spoil the experience for those of you who are getting to go this evening; my RS compadre Rodney Bowcock mentioned on Facebook that he’s going, though I don’t know if our pal ClassicBecky will still be able to attend (she had a small surgical matter to attend to this morning, and I hope she’s back in the pink PDQ).  The people putting on the show have also got a contest you can enter to win a romantic weekend getaway at a B&B (plus din-din) for two—and all the details are here.  (They want you to do this on Facebook, with the photo and the “My most romantic experience” stuff, just to let non-Facebook fans know.)