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By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com

DeWayne Jessie knows how to get people to shout.

Through his alias Otis Day, he provided the most memorable songs to the movie "Animal House." Day and his band the Knights performed now classic songs such as "Shamalama Ding Dong" and "Shout!"

That role has become a full-time career for Jessie, who tours across the country as Otis Day.

The crowds end up having as much fun as the band.

"They like to relive the moment that's on the film too," Jessie said. "Everybody can have fun."

Otis Day & amp; the Knights will perform Saturday at The Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, as part of the Animal House Toga Party.

"Animal House" will be shown at 6:30 p.m., with the concert starting at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15 through $35, available on the Internet at http://www.o-shows.com, or by calling (312) 733-7469.

Jessie began his movie career at the age of 17 with a role in the movie "Halls of Anger." He then went on to roles in such '70s movies as "Car Wash," "Thank God It's Friday" and "Where the Buffalo Roam."

But his big break came when he landed a role in "Animal House."

"I was offered it by the studio," Jessie said. "I had won an Image award for 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings' (starring Billy Dee Williams), and Universal said they had something for me. That's the way it happened."

Jessie is in the spotlight these days. His Otis Day character will be featured in a commercial for Aquafina water that is set to air in January.

Working on "Animal House" turned out to be more fun than work, Jessie said.

"You didn't care about going to work, because everybody was cool," Jessie said. "We knew something was going to be good about this film. We just didn't know what."

However, he had no idea "Animal House" would become the classic it is today. The cast of the 1978 movie reunited in 2003 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

"It changed my life," Jessie said.

Jessie said he especially liked working with the late comedian John Belushi.

"We got drunk together a little bit," Jessie said. "He was working hard, doing 'Saturday Night Live' and the movie. Everybody was really cool."

Besides "Shout" and "Shamalama Ding Dong," Jessie and his band perform other classic songs on stage, like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Gimme Some Lovin."

For Jessie, the excitement of being on stage is seeing the audience's reaction.

"People turn me on. I like that interaction," Jessie said.