Join Us for a One-Night-Only Cinematic Event!

See Las Cruces’ pioneering filmmaker Orville Wanzer in 1970's black and white at an exclusive fundraising screening of his recently restored and rediscovered second feature-length film, George Andrews (1970) on the anniversary of his passing in 2019, shortly after Dr. Smith first discovered his forgotten film archive. This special event also includes the premiere of the trailer for Birth of the Acid Western, Dr. Julia Smith’s groundbreaking documentary exploring Wanzer’s legacy and the Acid Western genre inspired by his first feature film The Devil's Mistress.

Your ticket purchase directly supports the completion of Birth of the Acid Western, ensuring this vital story of New Mexico’s cultural history is preserved and shared with the world.

About the Event:
Experience George Andrews, a semi-autobiographical masterpiece written, directed, and starring Wanzer himself. This newly digitized 16mm film is an experimental and thought-provoking exploration of memory, reality, and the social conventions of 1970s middle-class aspirations. Dr. Smith attributes Wanzer's dazzling array of stylistic techniques to his love for avant-garde pioneers like Maya Deren, Jean Cocteau, and Ingmar Bergman. George Andrews employs montage, slow-motion, and non-linear storytelling to challenge conventional cinematic norms as it challenges the conventional worldviews of its characters. 

This screening is the result of dedicated restoration work by Dr. Julia Smith. Using Wanzer’s original script, Dr. Smith painstakingly added subtitles to this rare film and carefully stitched recently digitized magnetic tape sound to the original 16mm transfer she completed at the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation in Las Cruces in 2019. This is the only known copy of George Andrews, preserved and made accessible thanks to the Rio Grande Historical Collections and Dr. Smith’s tireless efforts.

The event will also feature the first public unveiling of the trailer for Birth of the Acid Western, offering an inside look at Wanzer’s role in shaping the Acid Western genre and its impact on American culture.

Special Features:
📣 Dr. Julia Smith, director of Birth of the Acid Western, will introduce the evening with insights into her restoration process and the cultural significance of Wanzer’s work. Following the screening, she will host an engaging conversation with the audience about the film and the Acid Western genre and Wanzer's first feature film, The Devil's Mistress.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Feb. 24, 2025 
🕒 Time: 6:00PM (doors at 5:30)
📍 Location: Fountain Theatre, 2469 Calle De Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM 88046
🎟️ Tickets: $17 General Admission ($10 for students at the door, $18 General Admission) 

Contact acidwesterndoc@gmail.com for price reduction requests

In addition to ticket sales, we welcome donations to support the completion of Birth of the Acid Western. Your generosity helps preserve Orville Wanzer’s legacy, ensuring his contributions to independent filmmaking and New Mexico’s cultural history are recognized and celebrated.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness a piece of cinematic history, hear from Dr. Smith herself, and be part of an unforgettable evening. Reserve your tickets today and help bring Birth of the Acid Western to life!