Twenty four teams are competing in the trivia contest hosted by Bill Dwight.
John Hodgman will be the guest at a benefit Sunday for the Amherst Cinema and Pleasant Street TheaterPerhaps John Hodgman’s books will provide an indication of who he is for the uninitiated – “The Areas of My Expertise” which looks at secrets of the Loch Ness Monster, nine US presidents who had hooks for hands, and a list of 700 traditional hobo nicknames.
Or then there’s “More information than You Require” offering information on how to rid your house of a Scottish Terrier infestation; how to win at poker and hermit crab racing; a day-by-day history of the past; and a list of 700 traditional mole-man nicknames.
Hodgman, a contributing expert on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, will be helping the non-profit Amherst Cinema and the Pleasant Street Theater in Northampton raise money at “SCREEN TEST: Movie Trivia Madness” Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Weinstein Auditorium, Smith College in Northampton.
Northampton City Councilor, movie trivia guru, and veteran Pleasant Street Video clerk Bill Dwight will serve as emcee and engage with Hodgman in a kind of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon patter, said Gail Lansky, theater outreach and development director.
Twenty four teams are competing and there was so much interest they had to turn teams away, Lansky said.
But that means more can watch. Tickets are $10 and $7 for theater members and are available at the theaters or at the door.
In the past, the cinema has held galas that have featured Kathleen Turner and Ken Burns at Hampshire College. But this year, they wanted a less costly affair and “on the other side of the bridge (in Northampton,)” Lansky said.
Also she said, “We wanted something to appeal to younger people into movies in their 20s and 30s and to create an awareness we’re a non profit.”
The event will provide “a different flavor and fun,” she said.
“We’ve had amazing questions (submitted) from the community.”
Besides ticket sales and team registration fees, money will be raised from concession sales and raffle tickets. People can buy tickets to win an Ipad and can do so online or at the theaters and don’t need to be present to win,” she said.
They can also purchase tickets for the raffle of a painting by Williamsburg artist Bill Rohan. Tickets for that will be sold only at the event and the winner must be present, she said.
All proceeds will be used for the cinema’s myriad educational programming.