The 15th anniverary edition of our annual series pairing weekly serial episodes with secret classic features, all on 16mm film.

In the iconic cliffhanger King of the Rocket Men (1949, 12 episodes), the mysterious Dr. Vulcan is stealing the latest atomic-powered weapons developed by Science Associates, and murdering the scientists! One of them secretly survives and recruits trusted Jeff King to fight back using a cutting-edge rocket suit! Together with reporter Glenda Thomas and a few others, it’s a race against time to stop Dr. Vulcan and his gang of thugs — and their devastating atomic arsenal!

The secret features followed these bi-weekly themes... Jan. 7 & 14: It Came from Planet Blech! (cheesy sci-fi “classics” from the ‘50s). Jan. 21 & 28: Swashbuckling Generations (father and son actors each in a classic). Feb. 4 & 11: Haunted Avarice (greed collides with the spirit realm). Feb. 18 & 25: Nuts! (‘30s comedy classics, each shown with a short). Mar. 4 & 11: Espionage! (spy thrillers from the silent and early sound eras). Mar. 18 & 25: Space Epics in Cinemascope (rare widescreen prints of struggles to survive on hostile planets).

This year’s series was presented as part of the Grand Illusion Cinema’s year-long 16mm Centennial celebration.