Monday, June 25, 2007

Merry Christmas-And-A-Half!


Today is Christmas-and-a-Half. Six months until the real Christmas. Be sure to visit FaLaLaLaLa.com to kick off the season with an album from 1964 called "NORAD Tracks Santa" by The Norad Commanders.

One of my Christmas compilations from December still has an active link. Click the link below for--

A Classic Cartoon Christmas, Three

Halloween Stomp - Link Updated

I had a couple of requests to re-up this wonderful Halloween CD. So, here it is. Enjoy.

Halloween Stomp

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Monster Bash 2007

It's time for the Monster Bash again. If you're a fan of the classic monster movies, this is the convention for you. I've attended the past two years, but can't make it this year. Here's some pictures I took at the 2005 Bash. And the 2006 show.

The Bash is also home to The Universal Monster Army Classic Toy Display. If you can't afford to buy them, at least you can see them.

Since I'm not gonna be at the Bash this year, I decided to make a compilation featuring movie and TV themes based on the guests at this year's show. These tracks come from a variety of sources including my CD collection and stuff I downloaded from other blogs and websites. They may have different bitrates and sound quality. A special thanks to Soundtrack Rarities where I borrowed some of these tracks.

Track Listing

1. The Brides Of Dracula
2. The Creature From The Black Lagoon
3. The Addams Family
4. The Haunted Strangler (radio ad)
5. Elvira's Theme
6. Journey To The Seventh Planet
7. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
8. The Little Shop Of Horrors
9. Night Of The Living Dead
10. Chiller Theatre (Experiment In Terror)
11. I Was A Teenage Werewolf (radio ad)
12. Not Of This Earth!
13. Plan 9 From Outer Space
14. The Outer Limits
15. Queen Of Outer Space
16. The Terror
17. The Twilight Zone (Rod Serling intro)
18. The Twilight Zone
19. The Wolfman
20. The She Creature/It Conquered The World (radio ad)
21. The Wild, Wild West
22. Elvira Outro

Click below to download--

--> Monster Bash 2007 <--

This years Bash guests include--


Ben Chapman - The man who was the Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954!
Kevin McCarthy - best known for playing the lead in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956), but also has been in scores of other films and The Twilight Zone too!



Elvira - The one and only Elvira will be at Monster Bash 2007 - SATURDAY ONLY. Don't miss ... Mistress of the Dark - Elvira (Cassandra Peterson).
German Robles - It's the 50th Anniversary of the greatest Mexican horror movie ever made - THE VAMPIRE (1957). The man who was Count Lavud. German went on to appear in the sequel - THE VAMPIRE'S COFFIN, THE BRAINIAC, THE LIVING HEAD and the horror-comedy THE CASTLE OF THE MONSTERS! He was also the vampire Nostradamus in BLOOD OF NOSTRADAMUS, THE GENIE OF DARKNESS, THE MONSTER DEMOLISHER and THE CURSE OF NOSTRADAMUS.
Richard Kiel - He's in EEGAH, THE PHANTOM PLANET, played BIGFOOT on TV, was in the classic Twilight Zone episode TO SERVE MAN as the alien, was an ongoing character in WILD, WILD WEST and in the James Bond movies THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER as "Jaws."
Yvonne Monlaur - The lovely star of THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (with Peter Cushing), THE TERROR OF THE TONGS (with Christopher Lee) and CIRCUS OF HORRORS!







"Chilly Billy" Cardille - The host of Pittsburgh's Chiller Theatre from the 1950's through the 1980's. This is the man who brought you spooky movies and made pizza parties a way of life on Saturday nights for the city of Pittsburgh for three decades. Appearing Saturday only.
Ib Melchior - Writer and/or director on fan favorite films THE ANGRY RED PLANET, REPTILICUS, THE TIME TRAVELERS, ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS, JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET, THE OUTER LIMITS original TV show, 13 DEMON STREET and more. Ib will be bringing various props and memorabilia from his films. Ib has said he will be selling an original movie script for REPTILICUS!
Dee Ankers-Denning - Dee is the daughter of Evelyn Ankers (THE WOLFMAN and scream queen of the 1940s) and Richard Denning (star of numerous 1950s Science fiction films). Dee is working on her biography about her mother and hopes to have it ready for Monster Bash 2007.
Richard Gordon - Richard produced THE HAUNTED STRANGLER, CORRIDORS OF BLOOD, FIRST MAN INTO SPACE, FIEND WITHOUT A FACE and more! He assisted Bela Lugosi on the set of VAMPIRE OVER LONDON, the British stage production of Dracula and worked with Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing!
Laurie Mitchell - She's the lovely girl that appeared in ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE, MISSLE TO THE MOON, 20 THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA with James Mason and Peter Lorre, and she was the Queen of Outer Space in QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE. She's also appeared in TV Shows: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Addams Family, My Three Sons, The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves and much more.
Kenny Miller - Kenny starred with Laurie Mitchell in ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE, co-starred with Michael Landon in I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and worked with Orson Wells in TOUCH OF EVIL too! This year marks the 50th anniversary for I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF!
Susan Gordon - Actress Susan Gordon has appeared in ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE (co-starring Bash guests Laurie Mitchell and Kenny Miller), TORMENTED, THE TWILIGHT ZONE TV show and more.

Jonathan Haze - Jonathan was featured in films: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE VIKING WOMEN VS. THE SEA SERPENT, NOT OF THIS EARTH, SWAMP WOMEN, THE TERROR (with Boris Karloff), DAUGHTER OF HORROR, DAY THE WORLD ENDED, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD and more.
Conrad Brooks - Ed Wood stock player and friend of Tor Johnson, Bela Lugosi and Wood. Appears in PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE, NIGHT OF THE GHOULS, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, THE MAD MAGICIAN and the movie about Ed Wood - ED WOOD as the bartender.
Daniel Horne - Pittsburgh native artist with some of the coolest sculptures and illustrations to be seen anywhere in the Monster World.

Basil Gogos - Monster portrait artist Basil Gogos will have on hand prints of many of his famous paintings. He and Forry Ackerman brought us all the great monsters through the 1960s and 1970s.
Richard Sheffield - Friend of Bela Lugosi and author.
Frank Dello Stritto - Frank has a new book coming out called "The Real Hollywood Confidential." Great information on Karloff and Lugosi. He'll be discussing his book in a talk at Bash.
Timothy Herron - Who knows what he will appear as next...his infamous Baron Von Wolfstein TV character, a gravedigger, the Frankenstein monster, a cyborg, Joe Nosferatu or other unsavory vampires? The TV Horror Host of a Thousand Faces!
Ghoul A Go-Go - It's Vlad and Creighton from the Ghoul A Go-Go show. A twisted twisting monster craze for kids of all ages. A retro kid's show that is a combination of Dick Clark's American Bandstand and The Addams Family.
Cortlandt Hull - Cortlandt Hull is the nephew of Henry Hull (the WEREWOLF OF LONDON) and Jospehine Hull (ARESENIC AND OLD LACE). Cortlandt is a sculptor and artist, heading The Witch's Dungeon in Connecticut. On display you'll see some of his life-size wax classic monsters!
Ygor - Michael Thomas - Old grumpy blacksmith who will introduce many films at Monster Bash! Michael is a make-up artist from New York City with a long line of movie credits...and he's one of the funniest, wittiest guys on Planet Bash!
Kyra Schon - "The ghoul next door" from the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Kyra will be signing autographs, trowels (if you've seen NOTLD...you know why!) and feature various cool items for your perusal!
Bill Hinzman - Shuffling into Monster Bash, it's the graveyard zombie from the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD!
Don Reese - Evening Improv Comedy - Classic Horror Fan and all around great guy. Has Tor Johnson returned, or is it just an evil prank??!! Don Reese is at the heart of the Monster Bash.
Son of Ghoul - The horror host that rocks Cleveland! Make sure to visit him at Bash and if you're in Ohio, check your local listings for the SOG! Son of Ghoul will host Saturday Stooge Matinee at Bash.
Leonard Kohl - Historian and author of the wonderful SINISTER SERIALS! Len will be introducing various chapters of the great cliffhangers daily at Monster Bash! Len is also an expert on classic cartoons.
Richard Valley - Richard Valley of Scarlet Street magazine will be on hand to introduce a movie in his unforgettable style. He will also be on hand through the weekend at the Scarlet Street tables.
Robert Tinnell - Director of the cult monster-family classic FRANKENSTEIN & ME. Bob will be teaching "Monster Bash 101" on some classic movie-making techniques in his lecture series at Monster Bash.
Tom Weaver - Noted author of many, many books on the genre. Host of the Bash Braintwister Quiz live at Bash.
Richard Scrivani - Noted author of the book "Good Night, Whatever You Are!" about horror host Zacherley and an expert on the Universal horror films. He's also the host of the Forgotten Film Series at Monster Bash.
Lorraine Bush - Classic monster portrait artist! Cover artist for Monster Bash Magazine.
The Patient Creatures - Spooky personalities, the Patient Creatures will be roaming the Monster Bash halls in search of a home....perhaps, yours! Our friends from the Netherworld will treat the kiddies to spooky stories too!
David "The Rock" Nelson - No budget film-maker from the Chicago area. An inspiration to some, a nusance to others. But, undenibly a unique personality that can't be duplicated or cloned. Fueled on coffee and monster movies, and video taping everything for stock footage in his movies. If you see people running down the hallway and a guy wearing a suit and a rubber creature mask and dripping wet from going in the swimming pool, you've found The Rock!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

MANTLO: A LIFE IN COMICS

Bill Mantlo was a prolific comic book writer during the 1970's and 1980's. I have many of his books in my collection including The Incredible Hulk, Micronauts, ROM: Spaceknight, Alpha Flight, Rocket Raccoon and others. In the early 1990s, Mantlo was struck by a hit-and-run driver while rollerblading. The accident caused severe head trauma from which Bill is not expected to ever fully recover. Writer/illustrator David Yurkovich has created a tribute book called MANTLO: A LIFE IN COMICS which is being produced as a non-profit venture. All proceeds from sales of the book are being donated to Bill's caregiver to help ensure that Bill's daily needs can be met. The 72-page, magazine-size book is planned for a June 13, 2007, release and will retail for $7.50.

Go here - Sleeping Giant Creations - for more information and to order the book.

Below is a list of Bill Mantlo's work, courtesy of The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators.

Story/Plot
Alpha Flight (I) 29 - 62, 64 - 66
Alpha Flight Annual 1 - 2
Amazing Adventures (II) 33, 38
Amazing Adventures (IV) 1
Amazing High Adventure 4 - 5
The Amazing Spider-Man (I) 181, 222, 237
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual 10 - 11, 17
The Amazing Spider-Man: The Origin of the Hobgoblin 1
Astonishing Tales 32 - 35
Avengers (I) 174, 188, 206, 210
Avengers Annual 9, 12
Avengers Legends TPB: The Korvac Saga 1
Avengers TPB: Vision and the Scarlet Witch 1
Backpack Marvels Avengers: Nights of Wundagore 1
Battlestar Galactica 8 - 9
Bizarre Adventures 30
Buckaroo Banzai 1 - 2
Captain America (I) 191, 256, 291
Captain America Giveaway: The Campbell Kids 1
Captain Marvel (I) (Mar-Vell) 47
Captain Universe TPB: Power Unimaginable 1
Champions 3, 8 - 17
Champions Classic TPB 1 - 2
Cloak and Dagger (I) 1 - 4
Cloak and Dagger (II) 1 - 11
Cloak and Dagger and Power Pack: Shelter From the Storm (Graphic Novel) 1
Contest of Champions 1 - 3
Daredevil (I) 140
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu 7 - 14, 16 - 27, 29 - 32
The Defenders (I) 30
Epic Illustrated 5
Essential Defenders 2
Essential Ghost Rider 1
Essential Killraven 1
Essential Luke Cage, Power Man 1 - 2
Essential Marvel Horror 1
Essential Marvel Team-Up 2
Essential Marvel Two-In-One 1
Essential Monster of Frankenstein 1
Essential Moon Knight 1
Essential Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 1 - 3
Essential Punisher 1
Essential Spider-Man 7 - 8
Essential Super-Villain Team-Up 1
Essential X-Men 1
Fantastic Four (I) 172, 182 - 183, 193 - 194, 216 - 218
Fantastic Four Annual 13
Fantastic Four/Spider-Man Classic TPB 1
Fear 29 - 31
Frankenstein 18
Ghost Rider (I) (Johnny Blaze) 16
Ghost Rider TPB: Team-Up 1
Heroes for Hope starring X-Men 1
Howard the Duck (I) 30 - 31
Howard the Duck Magazine 1 - 9
The Human Fly 1 - 19
The Incredible Hulk (II) 245 - 313
Incredible Hulk Annual 10 - 13
Incredible Hulk Megazine 1
Incredible Hulk TPB: Transformations 1
The Incredible Hulk versus Quasimodo 1
Iron Man (I) 78, 86 - 87, 95 - 115
Iron Man (III) 46
Iron Man Annual 4
Jack of Hearts 1 - 4
John Carter, Warlord of Mars Annual 2
The Last Starfighter 1 - 3
Magneto Ascendent 1
The Man from Atlantis 1 - 7
Marvel Chillers 1 - 2
Marvel Classics Comics Series Featuring 15, 18
A Marvel Comics Super Special 31, 33
Marvel Fanfare (I) 7, 16, 19, 25, 27 - 28, 43, 47, 56 - 58
Marvel Graphic Novel 14, 34
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men 1 - 2
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men 2nd Edition 1 - 2
Marvel Milestones: Legion of Monsters, Spider-Man and Brother Voodoo 1
Marvel Premiere 26, 28, 31, 40, 44
Marvel Preview 4, 7, 10, 24
Marvel Spotlight (I) 27
Marvel Spotlight (II) 9 - 11
Marvel Super-Heroes (III) 10, 15
Marvel Super-Heroes Megazine 1
Marvel Tales Annual 199, 220 - 222, 228 - 229, 235 - 236, 239, 245, 247 - 248, 262 - 263
Marvel Team-Up (I) 38 - 51, 53 - 56, 72, 134 - 135, 140
Marvel Team-Up Annual 1, 6
Marvel Two-In-One 11 - 12, 14 - 19, 21 - 24, 47 - 48, 99
Micronauts (I) 1 - 58
Micronauts Annual 1 - 2
Micronauts Special Edition 1 - 5
Morbius Revisited 3 - 5
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 9 - 10, 12 - 15, 17 - 34, 36 - 40, 42, 53, 61 - 89, 104, 120
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man Annual 1, 4
Power Man 25, 27, 29, 38 - 39
Questprobe 1
Rawhide Kid (II) 1 - 4
Red Sonja (III) 5 - 7
Rocket Raccoon 1 - 4
Rom 1 - 75
Rom Annual 1 - 4
Sectaurs 1 - 8
Skull the Slayer 5 - 8
Son of Satan 8
Special Edition on Warlock 5
Spider-Man/Daredevil Special Edition 1
Spider-Man TPB: Birth of Venom 1
Spider-Man TPB (HC): The Complete Frank Miller 1
Spidey Super Stories (TV) 25, 38
Strange Tales (II) 1 - 7
Super-Villain Team-Up 4, 9 - 14
Swords of the Swashbucklers 1 - 12
Tarzan (Lord of the Jungle) 20 - 29
Tarzan (Lord of the Jungle) Annual 2 - 3
Team America 2 - 9
Thor (I) 240 - 241, 309
Transformers 1 - 2
Transformers Digest TPB 1
Transformers (UK) 1 - 4, 55 - 69
Uncanny X-Men 96, 106
Uncanny X-Men TPB (HC) Omnibus 1
Vision and Scarlet Witch (I) 1 - 4
Warlock (II) 5
Web of Spider-Man 11
What if? (I) 21, 31, 36
Wolverine Saga 1
X-Men/Micronauts 1 - 4

Colors
Avengers (I) 129 - 130
Avengers TPB: The Celestial Madonna 1
Captain America (I) 182
Captain America and Falcon TPB: Nomad 1
Captain Marvel (I) (Mar-Vell) 36
The Defenders (I) 19
Doctor Strange (II) 5
Doctor Strange/Silver Dagger 1
Dr. Strange TPB: A Separate Reality 1
Fear 26
Giant-Size Avengers 2
Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu 3
Ka-Zar (I) 7
Marvel Team-Up (I) 28
Marvel Two-In-One 7
Master of Kung Fu 25
Strange Tales (I) 177
Supernatural Thrillers 11 - 12
Werewolf by Night (I) 22

Feature
Essential Marvel Horror 1
Howard the Duck Magazine 4 - 5, 7
The Human Fly 15
Marvel Age 6
Marvel Graphic Novel 14
Marvel Preview 7, 22
Micronauts (I) 2, 56

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

LAST CALL FOR SUMMER VAMPIRE VACATION

Transylvania: The Summer version of the Dracula Tour takes place next month, July 10-17, and there are still a few openings for travelers. Join vampire and horror enthusiasts on the travel adventure of a lifetime which brings thrill-seeking travelers to Transylvania.

This year’s Halloween tour in October is completely sold out, but now is last call for monster mavens wishing to take the journey through the Romanian countryside roads following in the footsteps of Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula." There is an equal portion of history, involving Vlad Tepes, plus the myth and mystery surrounding Dracula, and all the ways that Vlad inspired Dracula.

The tour visits Snagov Island, where a secluded monastery contains Vlad's coffin. There's a visit to Vlad's birthplace in the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Sighisoara. This is the region of Transylvania where there were attempts to build a "DraculaLand" theme park. While there, the group also ventures into a haunted graveyard, takes part in a witch trial (a re-creation, that is) and also climbs the historic Clock Tower above the Torture Chamber and torture museum. The group explores the historic ruins of Vlad's Poenari Castle, the true Castle Dracula, which is as breathtaking as the more tourist-visited Bran Castle, also on the itinerary.

Ascending up Borgo Pass into the Carpethian Mountains, travelers follow the path of Jonathan Harker, the character described in the Dracula novel. The group has late-night parties along the way, but the highlight is unquestionably the masquerade ball in Dracula’s Castle, as travelers from all over the U.S., Canada and overseas experience what is the definitive costume celebration, in the dungeon room at Dracula's Castle in Piatra Fantanele atop the Romanian alps. This costume gala is preceded by an outdoor bonfire with music by local gypsy musicians, followed by a six-course meal, culminating with a gala monster mash costume extravaganza and dancing into the early morning hours.

2007 is the 110th anniversary of the Dracula novel, and it also mark the 10th anniversary of the "Dracula Tour" to Transylvania. Hosting the Summer edition of the Dracula Tour is Leonard Pickel of Haunted Attraction Magazine, and producer of HauntCon, with some new tour twists and surprises planned for this special trip, including “haunt” seminars and discussions. Additionally, every single traveler will be given a gift “swag bag” filled with vampire & horror goodies worth over $100! One of the cities that the tour visits, Sibiu, will be the European Culture Capitol in 2007, so mixing the chills & thrills with the cultural aspect will bring the trip to a whole new level. In Sibiu, the group visits the Evangelical Church built in 1300, which contains burial vaults in its crypt connected to both Dracula and the legend of Frankenstein. A "bloody" good time is guaranteed for all.

"Dracula Tour" is the only fully-escorted, professionally guided vacation organized by fans for fans. The trip is open to all ages, and welcomes couples, families and solo travelers. There is both educational and entertainment value for anyone looking for an unusual week-long ghoulish getaway. Vampire fans, vampire slayers and perhaps even vampires are obviously all welcome, and all get along harmoniously.

For further details on the "Dracula Tour," call toll-free (866) T-E-R-R-O-R-T-O-U-R (direct line 203-795-4737) or email DracTours@aol.com.

110 year later, Bram Stoker would be proud.