'Animal House' is 30, and that brings us … Karen Allen!
Throughout my life, the film "Animal House" and one of its stars, Karen Allen, has played an unwitting supporting role.
"Animal House" is 30 years old now and so am I. And to mark that momentous anniversary, six cast members from the comedy appeared Friday night at Hollywood Blvd. Cinema in Woodridge.
They were there for a weekend of signing autographs, answering questions and screening the film with the audience at multiple showings throughout this weekend. For me, I hoped Friday would be one of those events that brings part of your life full circle.
I knew Allen, who played Katy in "Animal House," would be there. If you don't remember her character, she's the same woman who played Marion Ravenwood, the romantic lead in the first "Indiana Jones" film. She'll reprise that role when the latest "Indiana Jones" movie hits theaters in May.
In a way, Allen was my introduction to writing. "Indiana Jones" inspired me to write my first short story after I saw it when I was about 9 years old. I called it "Illinois James." I instantly fell in love with the writing experience, and it started me on the path to becoming a journalist.
Coincidentally, "Animal House" was the first film I saw when I started college at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, the town in which John Belushi purchased the "College" shirt he wears in the film.
"Animal House" was one of my graduation gifts and continued to be part of my life when I began covering Wheaton for the Daily Herald. Belushi grew up in Wheaton.
But as I said, Karen Allen was really more of an inspiration to me. So it did feel like fate when I was asked to write about her appearance and the "Animal House" screening.
As I entered Hollywood Blvd. Cinema on Friday, the first thing I noticed was most of the audience members were at least 40 years old. At the autograph table, Mark Metcalf (Neidermeyer) was gray at the temples. Stephen Furst (Flounder) was slightly hunched with age. And Karen Allen, well, she looked exactly the same as she did the first time I saw her in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
The room was filled with fans quoting lines, taking photos and seeking autographs. Soon everyone was in the auditorium asking questions of the stars, including Karen Allen.
Confession time: In case you haven't figured it out, Allen was sort of a boyhood crush of mine. Indiana Jones loved her, so I did, too.
I found myself almost blushing as she described for the audience how she adamantly opposed director John Landis' decision to have her show her bare bottom in "Animal House."
Donald Sutherland's unexpected decision to insist Landis let him also show his bottom was the only thing that quieted Allen's protests. If the great Donald Sutherland could bare his bottom, so could Karen Allen.
On behalf of other Karen Allen fans, a big thanks to Donald Sutherland.
And then it was over. It was time for "Animal House" to begin, and the theater darkened. I found myself disappointed I hadn't been able to make my way to Allen to ask her any questions.
But then it happened. As the lights dimmed, and I stood in back of the cinema, a preview for the new "Indiana Jones" film projected onto the screen. As I watched, the door cracked open and Karen Allen tip-toed in to watch the preview -- right next to me.
I stood there and watched her smile beam in the dark as explosions sounded and whips cracked on the movie screen. I felt like, well, Indiana Jones.
The ushers came by and whisked her away before I could ask her anything. But as she rushed out, I booted a small pile of french fries out of her path, saving her shoes from untold defiling.
I was Indiana Jones saving Marion Ravenwood from disaster in that moment -- or at least I was Illinois James -- and by doing so, that part of my life had finally come full circle.