Final Classic Movie Night
The monthlong schedule of 40th on Broad events winds up Thursday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. with the final Classic Movie Night. Adults will watch “The Man Who Fell to Earth” on the 4th Floor; the kids will watch “Pete’s Dragon” on the second floor.
Activities celebrating 40th on Broad, the Chattanooga Public Library's 40th anniversary at its 1001 Broad St. location, culminate this weekend with an architectural tour, vinyl dance party and more flicks from '76 among the events. All are free. Call 423-643-7700 or 423-757-5310 for more information.
Today, Oct. 20
* Classic Movie Night, 6-7:45 p.m. - For adults on the 4th Floor, we're talkin' "Car Wash," yeah. Look for Richard Pryor, George Carlin and The Pointer Sisters among the stars of this 1976 comedy about the close-knit employees and eccentric customers of a Los Angeles car wash. Rose Royce sang the signature song, one of the biggest hits of the disco era.
Meanwhile on the second floor, kids will be watching Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster as a mother and daughter who mysteriously switch personalities and have to live each other's lives on a "Freaky Friday."
Friday, Oct. 21
* Readathon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Local leaders will present readings of favorite books of the era on the fountain plaza. There's no word yet on exact titles, but Listopia's best books of 1976 (some in paperback) include "Roots" by Alex Haley, "Interview With the Vampire" by Anne Rice, "Ordinary People" by Judith Guest, "The Human Factor" by Graham Greene, "1876" by Gore Vidal and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" by Manuel Puig in its Top 20.
* Brutalist Tour, 1-2 p.m. - The name may suggest a beatdown, but brutalism is actually the form of architecture used in the design of the landmark Broad Street building, originally known as the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library.
According to online sources, brutalism was a movement in architecture that flourished from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. The term originates from the French term for the choice of material, béton brut, which means raw concrete. Such buildings are typically massive in character (even when not large) with a predominance of exposed concrete construction or rugged combinations of brickwork and concrete.
But you'll want to learn the specifics from the tour's leader, William H. Wilkerson, who as a self-described "very young" architect 40 years ago, was a member of the team that designed and built the downtown branch. The project won a Gulf States Regional Design Award from the American Institute of Architects.
Space is limited on the tour, so registration is required. You'll find the official registration form on the library's website, http://chattlibrary.org/events/40th-broad-architect-lead-tours.
Saturday, Oct. 22
* Vinyl Dance Party, 1-4 p.m. - The library will party like it's 1976 with soul, rock and funk hits of the 1970s played on the fountain plaza.
If you need a quick disco break, step inside for a 40th anniversary reception in the auditorium and have a piece of cake (while supplies last).
Shush Cafe will offer fresh-brewed coffee at 1976 prices.