Double secret elation

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By PAUL DAILING

pdailing@kcchronicle.com

"Wait till Otis sees us!" screamed the crowd. "He loves us!"

The crowd members, some of whom were clad in togas, were shouting along to "Animal House," the 1978 classic that gave the world Bluto, Otter, D-Day, Flounder and the rest of Delta house. Saturday night at The Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, fans of the movie got a chance to not only see the film, but also a concert by one of its most famous creations -- the fictional band Otis Day and the Knights.

"I'm trying to bring to the Fox Valley something you couldn't even find in downtown Chicago," Arcada owner Ron Onesti said.

Before DeWayne Jessie, also known as "Otis Day," rocked the Arcada with 1960s classics, the audience watched the story of the trials of the Deltas. The crowd joined in the fun, yelling along with famous lines from the movie such as "Fawn Liebowitz," "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" and many others less printable.

Bill Connell, 40, of St. Charles, said he first watched the movie in high school. He and his wife, Linda, 40, went to the movie/concert in the suggested but optional togas in honor of the movie's famous toga party scene.

"Our neighbors convinced us it would be a good idea," Linda Connell said. "All eight of us are in togas."

Sporting a royal purple toga was Mike Evans, 27, of Roselle. And where did he get the regal threads?

"JoAnn Fabrics. Made it myself. Brings me back to my college days," the class of 2000 Augustana College graduate said.

Onesti said he tries to give Arcada shows "a creative twist." The next big event is The Buckinghams Christmas on Dec. 10. The event will highlight The Buckinghams, creators of such pop hits as "Kind of a Drag" and "Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song." Other bands, such as The Shadows of Knight, famous for "Gloria," also will participate.

Information is available at www.o-shows.com.