“Almost Ghosts” documentary to screen this fall in historic theaters along Route 66

“Almost Ghosts,” a Spaniard-directed film that won the Best Documentary award during the Arizona International Film Festival earlier this year, will be screened this fall in several historic theaters along Route 66.

The film’s makers interviewed Angel Delgadillo of Seligman, Arizona; Harley Russell of Erick, Oklahoma; and Lowell Davis of Carthage, Missouri; about the near-death of numerous Route 66 towns during the era of the interstate highway.

“We have selected very carefully the theaters where Almost Ghosts will screen because we want it to be an authentic experience. We want the audience to sit in a historic theater, a classic movie palace or a vintage drive-in to watch a film that talks about all the things that America will lose if it definitely let go on Route 66, which is now in a list of endangered historic places. Most of the theaters where we will screen the film are built on Route 66 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so we feel they are the perfect venue to watch a movie that brings us back to the America of yesterday.”

Cristina Vivo, producer of “Almost Ghosts”

Ana Ramon Rubio directed the film. The film initially premiered in her native Spain in October 2018.

According to a news release, the film will be screened at these historic venues in September and October:

• Highland Theatre in Los Angeles
• Orpheum Theatre in Flagstaff, Arizona
• Circle Cinema in Tulsa
• The Guild Theatre of Albuquerque

The release also stated screenings also will occur in Chicago, St. Louis or Tucumcari, New Mexico. (The latter almost would have to be at the Odeon Theatre because it’s the only remaining operating theater in town and it was built in 1936.)

The first screening will be Sept. 12 at the Orpheum in Flagstaff. Other dates will be announced later.

Here’s the film’s trailer:

Other historic and still-operating theaters along or near Route 66 that come to mind are the H&S Theater in Chandler, Oklahoma; Admiral Twin Drive-In of Tulsa; Ki-Mo Theatre of Albuquerque; the soon-to-reopen Pecos Theatre of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Sky View Drive-In of Litchfield, Illinois; West Theatre of Grants, New Mexico; Center Theatre of Vinita, Oklahoma; Coleman Theatre of Miami, Oklahoma; 66 Drive-In in Carthage, Missouri; Gillioz Theatre of Springfield, Missouri; Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, California; the Normal Theatre of Normal, Illinois; and Rialto Square Theatre of Joliet, Illinois. I’m sure there are more I’ve missed.

(Still image of Angel Delgadillo from “Almost Ghosts”)