Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Just what the kids'll want next Christmas


What I wanted most for Christmas 2007, I didn't get:


I need some hypno-slaves, especially hypno-LOVE-slaves! (But doesn't everyone?)

Monday, January 28, 2008

The telephone of H.R. Giger?


Y'know, the telephone companies are just getting too intimate and personal!

("H.R. Giger"-- I wish that had been the name of a Sid and Marty Kroft kid's show-- sure would have been more interesting than "H.R. Pufnstuf"!...Even an "H.R. Haldeman" kid's show would have been less bland!)

The Universal Monster Army is now open once more!

That is all...

Sunday, January 27, 2008

UNIVERSAL MONSTER ARMY down but not out!!

An announcement from Terry Ingram: "I would like to make an announcement regarding the ongoing technical difficulties we are experiencing over the Universal Monster Army web site. The problem began on Friday 1/25 when the forum's database connection was interrupted by a server that went down over at our web host. I have been in close discussions around the clock with the Yahoo support staff and they assure me that their technicians are fervently working on correcting the problem. Unfortunately, they can only tell me that this problem should be resolved within 3 to 5 business days. Obviously, I wanted it to be corrected immediately, but my hands are tied. There is nothing I can do without getting access to the database which are the nuts and bolts of the forum. Until that happens, I'm afraid it's a waiting game. We are currently exploring other options that may prevent such an outage in the future. In the meantime, close your eyes, click your heels three times, and keep repeating after me .. "there's no place like UMA, there's no place like UMA, there's no place like UMA"."

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Updates and recommendations!

If you enjoyed the macabre watercolors of artist Linda Miller, several more paintings have been added. You can see them here.

And reader Jack Theakston sends in an old article on a forgotten Laszlo Revik film, THE ISLAND OF DR. GHOUL. See it here.

Recommended new links: Jon's Random Acts of Geekery , Monster Magazines:The First Decade, and Mad-Monsters.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Monster Kid of the Year-- Terry Ingram! (If you ask me.)

A "Monster Kid" is anyone (roughly speaking) who has a passion for the film monsters that appeared in the films of the nineteen twenties through the nineteen sixties. And for purposes of the Rondo Awards, a "Monster Kid of the Year" is someone who made "efforts beyond the call of duty to build a better 'world of gods and monsters'?" (The category quotes from "Bride of Frankenstein.")

I know the Monster Kid of the Year! (He's not yet recognized with a Rondo, but I'm hoping!) His name is Terry Ingram. Here he is drinking something that looks suspiciously like blood:

I've posted about Terry before-- and you can read my interview with him here.

Before YOU vote in the Rondos, please read the following two descriptions of Terry and his accomplishments. Both have been posted at the Classic Horror Film Board. The first is by me and the second was written by my friend Raymond Castile:

Why Terry Ingram is the "Monster Kid of the Year"!

The Rondo award for Monster Kid of the Year goes to the individual who most "helped keep classic monsters alive" in the preceding year. It can be anyone; as a past ballot has said, it can be "a star, an archivist, an editor, an artist, an organizer or an unheralded fan."

I want to make the case for "an unheralded fan": Terry Ingram, founder and host of the Universal Monster Army, and a fan extraordinaire!.

Every year, there are many individuals who do things that make them worthy of being considered the "Monster Kid of the Year." Some people produce great art every year, some produce great monster magazines, some organize monster conventions. But each year, a window of opportunity opens up that puts the contributions of one person into perspective-- one monster kid's pinnacle is reached.

This past year, because of Terry Ingram's dedication, the Universal Monster Army transformed from being one of the internet's most successful monster message boards (over 1200 members with more than 1500 posts a month in some months) to one of the most rapidly growing monster forums in the virtual world of gods and monsters: in the first month and a half of the new UMA, there have been over 8800 posts! Not only that, but importantly, the UMA has become the de facto classic monster toy and image repository of the internet, and is preserving a vital part of Monster Kid pop culture and iconography. There are more than a 1000 monster toy and collectable images in all the UMA incarnations! (This includes the Yahoo groups Universal Monster Army and Universal Monster Army Reserve-- which are now photo, file and message archives only-- and the newly created forum found at www.universalmonsterarmy.com). In an age where the number of printed magazines is shrinking, sites like the UMA have helped to fill the gap. Terry Ingram is a luminous, exemplary leader of fandom in cyberspace.

"I don't hang out at the Universal Monster Army-- so why should I vote for Terry Ingram?"

Maybe you've seen the impressive traveling vintage toy and collectible display put on by the Universal Monster Army and produced by Terry Ingram. If you've seen it, you know that's a fairly good reason. (Though the UMA Vintage Toy tour was the brainchild of Raymond Castile, Terry was the producer for the traveling exhibit, and worked mightily to see the exhibit designed, built, hauled and assembled.) BUT--- there are even more important reasons. There are many people out there building great blogs, constructing fun websites, and hosting interesting message boards, but Terry Ingram shines as a 21st century facilitator for fandom's celebration of classic monsters. (Why, he's the very model of a modern major monster kid!) The Universal Monster Army has become of the best known classic monster fan communities because of Terry's personality and hands-on skill as a host, commentator, and site designer. Terry has never been content to let any aspect get stale, and is always introducing some new element into the Universal Monster Army. A few small examples out of many:

* Other monster groups had a shared interest in classic monsterdom, but no outside organizing theme; the UMA's Army "schtick" was a fun hook that added to fun and relaxed atmosphere at the UMA board. One example: Terry's curiosity about other fans and friendliness led him to posting a colorful, sound-effect-enhanced "Officer of the Month" feature spotlighting interesting individual members. This helped create one of the most closely-knit group of the many boards and forums I've been in.

* Terry's leadership has facilitated at the UMA some of the best work by essayists like Prof. Anton Griffin and artists John Detrich, Rick Stoner, Richard Olson, and John Rozum.

* When the UMA was a Yahoo group, it was known for having great, ever-changing artwork on the home page and a flashing lightning background behind the message board; many other Yahoo sites were very much the same looking. ((Some other groups began adding animated backgrounds after Terry had created the one at the UMA.)

Because of Terry Ingram's continual efforts, the UMA typifies what we turn to online groups for. With members in every age group and walk of life, this group truly a home away from home for its members; the talkative with the terse, the A personality Boomer with the shy Generation X-er, making for one the most welcoming, diverse groups of people I ever known.. Many such monster kids have posted-- or written to me (full disclosure: I help moderate there)-- about how the Universal Monster Army has provided them new friends, relief from the stresses of the "real" world and encouragement for one's inner monster geek!

I am one of those monster kids-- this group and others like it (but mainly the UMA), got me through a rough time when I was struggling through a new career-- and a soured relationship-- that ultimately weren't for me. The rediscovery of my love of monsters made me a happier person. In fact, it made my life take a turn for the best-- I MET MY WIFE THROUGH THE UMA! (And isn't something like that the best thing that can happen in groups of monster kids?) And before our wedding, I was even thrown a virtual bachelor party, complete with racy pictures of me and the classic monsters partying with beauties and villainesses from old horror movies!

The Universal Monster Army is an exemplary 21st century gathering of monster kids who love 20th century horrors. It has just shed its skin and become the kind of gallery and message board more groups are changing over to being. It is, and has been, an amazing success-- and typifies what we love about the horror boards that we hang out in. Vote for its founder, leader, and best monster fan, Terry Ingram, for Monster Kid of the Year. "

--------------Max Cheney (the Drunken Severed Head)

Now for a few words from Raymond:

Monster Kid of the Year

I have a feeling the name "Terry Ingram" is not as well-known as it should be among classic horror fans.

Though he feigns megalomania and calls himself "general," Terry is one of the most humble, generous and self-effacing people in the hobby. He's never bothered to aggressively "brand" himself. Instead of hogging the spotlight, he sets the stage for others to shine.

The Universal Monster Army celebrated its fifth anniversary last year. You would think Terry would spend the year patting himself on the back for having created one of the Web's most popular horror hangouts. But no. He spent it working his tail off to make the UMA better than ever.

Terry spent the first two-thirds of 2007 collaborating with me and other UMA members to bring the fully-realized (we consider 2006 a test run) UMA Toy Display to Wonderfest, Monster Bash and Archon.

He spent the final trimester working almost literally around the clock to build the new UMA. The old Yahoo group was great, but it had limitations. Terry wanted nothing to hinder its growth. So he hunkered down and taught himself how to build and maintain a stand-alone forum. I remember talking to him on the phone as he tried to digest the complex programming. It was like taking a crash course in a foreign language. But he pulled it off. The new UMA debuted Dec. 1. A fantastic online monster kid playhouse painstakingly assembled by Mr. Ingram on his home computer.

I have never seen anything quite like the discussions that have proliferated during the new UMA's first six weeks. People are using the forum as an outlet for their creativity. The threads explode with endless eye candy, sounds, music, games, pranks and pretending. The posts seem hyperlinked directly into the author's brain. The UMA is evolving in directions Terry did not anticipate. But it could not have happened without his dogged determination, his obsession to reach beyond "good enough" and create something capable of changing people's lives.

Like Max, I'm a UMA moderator. So we're both kind of biased. But stepping back and looking at this objectively, I really cannot think of an individual whose contributions to classic horror fandom impacted more people and culminated more magnificently in 2007 than Terry Ingram. That is why I will give him my write-in vote for Monster Kid of the Year.

--------------Raymond Castile (Coffin Ray)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Moninated for a Bondo Awerd!

Exccuse my bad tyuping. I*ve beenn celebarting the nemonotion of this blof for a 2007 RONDO AWARD! WOO HOO!

A tip of the bottle in tanks for arl whoo sogessted the nom, and to Mr. Rondo for tinkling of me.

And for arf woo vote for thes site, (that meeans you, Jane), my deppest grafitude!

Cluck on the link bero to vote:





Saturday, January 19, 2008

Happy Birthday Edgar Allan Poe!


He'd have been 199 today!

In honor of his birth, I'm sharing the late Brother Theodore's adaptation of Poe's story (or long sick joke, depending on how you look at it) Berenice.

Plus, an old-time radio episode-- an adaptation of "The Black Cat", starring Peter Lorre, as heard in 1947 on "Mystery in the Air."

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Very old news: Weasels get beaten off

While visiting the excellent international film horror site The Latarnia Forums, I found a reference to an odd and unintentionally funny 1904 news item from New York. Here's the opening paragraph:

WEASELS ATTACK GIRL.; She Fights Them for Fifteen Minutes, and Wins at Last.

Special to The New York Times.
December 12, 1904, Monday


LINCOLN PARK, N.J., Dec. 11. -- As Jennie Vreeland, fourteen years of age, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Milton Vreeland, was returning to her home from the village late yesterday afternoon she was attacked by two weasels. Only with great difficulty did she succeed in beating them off.

[Go to the Times website to read the full article.]

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Requiescat in pace, Maila Nurmi ("Vampira")

The original horror host and famous friend of James Dean has passed away at age 86. An original, charming, eccentric, and imaginative woman, her death is noted with sadness by many people.

Her Vampira, the inspiration for Cassandra Petersen's "Elvira", was itself inspired by Charles Addams' Morticia. But Nurmi took the image and made it her own, making Vampira the coolest, and sexiest, ghoulette ever seen.

Here's a link to an ABC news video about Maila Nurmi and Vampira from several years ago, celebrating her 78th birthday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me9pT2Z8BqQ

An interview with Maila Nurmi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Juk2VKQ2rY&feature=related

Click on the photo below to read more about Maila Nurmi's life and career:

A wonderful entry on her life can be found here at the Wonderful Wonderblog site.

Friday, January 11, 2008

"Norman Rockwell Meets The Twilight Zone"

I've had a link to the website of artist T. S. Kuebler almost since I started this blog, because he is one of the most amazing sculptors alive. His art reminds me of the works of Bruegel and Bosch-- but in 3-D!.

Now he's being profiled on TV. Here's a link (via Yahoo) to a news video featuring Tom Kuebler and his jaw-droppingly beautiful creations:

http://www.yahoo.com/s/780368

Click on this section of a photo of a Kuebler creation (from his gallery) to go to his macabre and fun website!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Things unearthed on the Net

Here's some interesting/unusual stuff I've found online-- first, a photo of an item at the bizarre Museum of Forensic Medicine in Thailand:


Click on the picture above to find out what the exhibit is. (Hint: Joseph Merrick would sure miss 'em if they were his.)

Was The Boys From Brazil based on a real incident?

The 16-year-old Haitian girl above is Marlie Casseus, a young lady who has been assisted by The International Kids Fund. You can see more photos and read more about the surgical help she's received here, and make a donation to the fund as well.

The Chinese man below, Huang Chunsai, is someone you've probably already read about. He had a 33 pound benign facial tumor; and had surgery to remove much of it. Fortunately, he apparently survived what was described as a risky, even dangerous operation. His appearance, even after surgery, is startling, so much so that the photo is a link to a photo showing how he appears now. To see a slideshow and read about his case, go here.

Is his touch lethal to werewolves?

Here's a guy in the news because he's turned himself blue (permanently) by ingesting lots of colloidial silver (click on the photo for a link to the story):

Looking at him, he strikes me as the Bizarro Santa Clause!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Yule be stunned: Phantastic Photon Philia

Tomorrow (or the day after, depending on which culture's tradition you follow) is the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. Well, any holiday that brings out so much kitsch, conflict, naked greed, corporate anxiety, AND genuine goodwill and thoughtful humility, is a holiday to keep posting about after its official day is done.

The day after Christmas, the Voodoo Queen and I kept out holiday cheer going a bit longer by driving out to a neighborhood known for its outdoor Christmas displays. One house in particular so amazed us with its overkill that we had to take pictures and share them with you.

(Three photos belong to another house in the same neighborhood. $5 to the first person to tell me which ones they are. Answers must be received by 12:01 a.m. EST January 6, 2008.)

Tacky or wacky? You decide.


























Wednesday, January 2, 2008

New Jess Franco documentary

Jess Franco (Jesus Franco), who has been described as the European Roger Corman, is the subject of a new documentary by friend of TDSH Brian Horowitz (owner of the TRASH PALACE web site and lead for the band The Ubangis).

Here's Brian's announcement:

Hello and Happy New Year from your pal Brian Horrorwitz at Trash Palace! 2008 will bring us more rare, hard-to-find and uber-obscure exploitation movies. But now: It brings me great relief to announce to you all that my docu-thingy "Antena Criminal - Making a Jess Franco Movie" is here at last!

"Filmed between late January and early February, 2000, during the beginning days of primary shooting for Spanish director Jess Franco’s 176th movie, “Blind Target”, by Brian Horrorwitz, this is only the second time in a career that spans over fifty years that Franco has allowed an outside individual to document his film making process. This behind-the-scenes documentary offers up a rare glimpse into the inspiration, techniques, pitfalls, and occasional flaring tempers behind low budget film making and shouldn’t be missed by any European movie buffs or Franco fans in attendance."
~Ken Kisch, Video Wasteland

"Antena Criminal" is a 2 disc DVD-R set with all the trimmings including...

FEATURE MOVIE (84 minutes)
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JESS FRANCO (25 minutes)
OUTTAKES AND DELETED FOOTAGE (50 minutes)
PHOTO GALLERY WITH COMPLETE SCORE (21 minutes)
"ANTENA CRIMINAL" WORLD PREMIERE (8 minutes)
TRAILER (3 minutes)
LINER NOTES BY MONDO MACABRO'S PETE TOMBS

Also, each copy of "Antena Criminal" comes with a free DVD of Jess Franco's "Blind Target" (on the Sub Rosa label)!
The price for everything is only $11.98 plus shipping. Yes, this one's for the fans!

For more information on "Antena Criminal" (come check out the trailer!) please visit this page:

http://www.trashpalace.com/Antena.htm

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