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.

"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!

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!

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.

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