Movie Nights in Minerva: October Film Series – Public Domain Horror 

Ghoul-friends and fiends, get ready: every Wednesday night in October the University Libraries are turning down the lights and cranking up the chills for a special run of public domain horror films!

What’s “public domain,” you ask? These are works that have slipped free from copyright’s grip, meaning they belong to everyone. For scholars and students, public domain materials are treasures: they can be studied, remixed, taught, and shared without restriction. For horror fans? They’re a free-for-all of ghosts, monsters, and ghoulish delights we can screen without summoning a copyright lawyer.

First Fright: House on Haunted Hill (1959)
We’re kicking things off with William Castle’s spooky classic, starring the one and only Vincent Price. Millionaire Frederick Loren invites five strangers to spend the night in a creepy mansion, promising a hefty cash prize if they survive until morning. But the house has more in store than just rattling chains… expect campy thrills, ghostly gags, and a rollercoaster of haunted fun.

• Rated: Unrated (1950s thrills & chills, not too gruesome. Perfect for a spooky night)

• Runtime: 1 hour & 15 minutes

And of course, it wouldn’t be Movie Nights in Minerva without hot, fresh popcorn on hand. So grab your friends, stake out a seat, and prepare for a month of eerie cinema history every Wednesday in October, right here in the Minerva Room.

Registration is not required, but preferred.