It’s been 50 years since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre first terrified audiences. Now the locally-filmed classic is getting a home town celebration as the City of Austin proclaims Oct. 11 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day.
The day marks the anniversary of the release of the genre-defining shocker, which hit theatres around America on 11 Oct. 1974 – only 10 days after the world premiere on Oct. 1 of that year in Austin, the city where it was filmed.
The event is the brainchild of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre superfan Gregory Wight. He’s friends with Allen Danziger, who plays doomed van driver Jerry in the original film. Wight said, “I asked him, ‘What are they doing for the fiftieth anniversary,’ and he said, ‘Not much.’” So about two months ago, Wight took it upon himself to reach out to City Council, and started the process to have October 11, 2024 declared The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day in Austin. “Then I went, ‘That’s not enough. Let’s get the mayor to proclaim it.’”
So now there will be a ceremony on the steps of City Hall at 12pm on Oct. 11, with Mayor Kirk Watson making the official proclamation. Danziger will be in attendance, alongside fellow cast members Teri McMinn (Pam), Edwin Neal (the Hitchhiker) accompanied by his wife Theresa, Ed Guinn (the truck driver), and Perry Lorenz (the pickup driver). Also present will the owners of the original house from the film, formerly in Round Rock but now relocated to Kingsland and open to diners as Hooper’s (named after Chain Saw‘s director, cowriter, and creator Tobe Hooper).
Plus, representatives of the Austin Film Society and Texas Film Commission will explain the enormous impact the film had on movie production in Austin and across the Lone Star State. After all, it’s not for nothing that they call it “the film that built the Texas film industry.” (For more on the history and impact of the movie, read our retrospective from the 40th anniversary, “Cowboys vs. Hippies: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Subtext,” Oct. 3, 2014.)
But this won’t be your average boring proclamation ceremony. Danziger will be bringing the original van from the film, freshly restored, and a certain chainsaw-wielding Texan may be lurking around City Hall. Plus, Ranch Hand Catering will be on hand, too. Plus, the celebrations continue with a special screening at the AFS Cinema that evening.
However, that’s not the only event across October celebrating the film:
Oct. 11 You’ve got two choices for watching Chain Saw. At 9pm there will be the screening at AFS Cinema (6259 Middle Fiskville, austinfilm.org), but if you’re feeling eager, you can also catch the film at We Luv Video (100 North Loop, weluvvideo.org) complete with barbecue and exclusive merch. Or, if you love your movies with that drive-in thrill, the Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In will show the movie at their Downtown location (300 San Antonio, book parking slots here).
Oct. 18 The Bullock Texas State History Museum will be holding their own anniversary screening at the Texas Spirit Theater (1800 Congress, thestoryoftexas.com) in association with the Texas Film Commission, followed by a Q&A with McMinn, co-writer Kim Henkel, and composer Wayne Bell in attendance. Come early for refreshments courtesy of Texas Coffee Traders and Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts.
Oct. 25-27 Kingsland will be the center of a three-day extravaganza at Hooper’s (1010 King Ct., Kingsland, hooperskingsland.com) with Danziger, Guinn, McMinn, and Neal being joined by John Dugan (Grandpa), Bill Vail (Kirk), and cinematographer Daniel Pearl, plus screenings of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2.
This article appears in October 4 • 2024.