Thumbs Down! "At The Movies" Ends Its Run. How Did Gay Movies Fare?

This week is the final airing of the syndicated movie review program At The Movies, marking a true end-of-an-era for those of us who grew up eagerly anticipating the weekly thumb wrestling of critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

In September of 1975 Chicago Tribune writer Gene and Chicago Sun-Times writer Roger were reluctantly paired for the monthly PBS show Opening Soon at A Theater Near You, which ran for two seasons before being renamed Sneak Previews.

The show became a huge hit for PBS, which decided to syndicate it with Gene and Roger remaining as hosts until 1982, when contract negotiations fell through. They were replaced by liberal commentator Neal Gabler and human block of wood Jeffrey Lyons, who would become best known for siring a quote whore (more on that later.)

Gabler left after three years, unhappy with the direction of the show, and was replaced by Michael Medved, who would of course become best known as a legendary asshat.

Gabler, Medved, Lyons: Guess which one would become a self-described "cultural crusader?" Here's a hint - he's still rocking the 70's stache.

Gene and Roger hosted At The Movies in syndication from 1982 to 1986, when they decided to sign with Disney for a new film review show. At The Movies continued until 1990 with replacement hosts Rex Reed, who is best known for playing a pre-op Raquel Welch and for starting that vicious and untrue "Marisa Tomei didn't really win that Oscar" rumor, and gossip hound Bill "we'll talk again" Harris.

Harris waseventually replaced by Entertainment Tonight reporter Dixie Whatley, and of the Whatley/Reed pairing I will charitably say no more.

Reed, Harris, Whatley. Okay, I actually couldn't find a pic of Bill Harris, but trust me, that's his doppelganger.

Gene and Roger hosted Siskel & Ebert & the Movies (which would eventually be whittled down to just Siskel & Ebert) from 1986 until Gene's death in 1999, and it was this version of the show that would become the most influential and revered.

It would also prove to be a vital part of the childhoods of many GLBT youth growing up in the 80's and 90's. Back then, "gay-themed films" were few and far between, and since this was before the internet, the only way for queer kids to learn about these movies was from occasional newspaper or TV reports, or when Siskel & Ebert brought these films right into our homes.

Thankfully for history, the At The Movies website has archived thousands of reviews since 1986, including dozens of gay-themed films.

Let's take a look at a some of Siskel & Ebert's queer movie reviews, for both classic and obscure films, all of which can be seen on video at their website, and many of which are also included on our poll of The 50 Best Gay Movies.