Two fine examples of Hollywood’s panicked response to television in the 1950s will show Saturday, July 9 at downtown Peoria’s nonprofit Apollo Theater, where a “drive-in double feature” includes 1956’s “The Girl Can’t Help It” and 1958’s “The Blob.”

As TV increased its penetration into U.S. homes 60 years ago, attendance at theaters fell, so the motion picture industry responded in several ways, from Technicolor spectaculars and gimmicks TV couldn’t then mimic (like 3-D), to stars and stories targeting younger film fans, like monster movies and rock ‘n’ roll pictures.

Two stars who had their big-screen debuts then were Jayne Mansfield and Steve McQueen.

Mansfield, who acted like a “blond bombshell,” is featured in “The Girl Can’t Help It” as a no-talent girlfriend of a retired gangster who hires a desperate talent scout to promote her. Edmond O’Brien and Tom Ewell co-star, but a special attraction is the supporting musical cast: rock legends Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, Little Richard, the Platters, and Gene Vincent.

McQueen in his starring debut plays a resourceful young rebel who helps a small town battle a gooey and growing invader from space in “The Blob.” Although a low-budget thriller, the picture became a campy classic. It costars Anita Corsaut (known as Helen Crump on TV’s “Andy Griffith Show”) and features music by a young Burt Bacharach.

Show times at the Apollo are at 7:00 p.m. Donations are $5 and $4 for kids, students and seniors. For details call (309) 673-4343.