Me And Uncle Owen

Some years ago (I think it was around 2000), a local comic book store had a "meet and greet" with Phil Brown, who played Uncle Owen in the original Star Wars movie. I'm glad I got to meet him, he passed away February 9, 2006.

Death Star™ Space Station

Here's a picture of my brother, Scott™, unwrapping his birthday present in the late 70's (he got all the cool gifts). Below are more pages from the original catalogs that came with the toys."Help Luke™, Ben™, Chewbacca™ and Han Solo™ rescue Princess Leia™ from Darth Vader™. Manual elevator takes figures to any of the four floors. Top floor has an exploding laser cannon, third floor contains a manually operated light bridge, second floor houses the control area and the first floor features the famous Trash Compactor.--complete with removable garbage and Trash Monster! Over 22" tall. Figures not included. Assembly Required""Exciting play environment simulates DEATH STAR SPACE STATION. Features manual elevator, exploding laser cannon, "Light Bridge" with escape rope and trash compactor with foam garbage. Action Figures not included. Assembly required."

Shameless Self Promotion

I posted some auctions on eBay. Mostly Star Wars trading cards. Please buy my stuff :)
eBay Stuff

Star Wars Stamps - Vote Today!

© 2007 USPS. All Rights Reserved

Go to the USPS Jedi Master website and vote for your favorite stamp. Hurry! Voting ends May 23.

The commemorative stamps feature images from all six movies in the Star Wars saga: Luke Skywalker; Han Solo and Chewbacca; Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2; C-3PO; Yoda; Queen Padmé Amidala; Obi-Wan Kenobi as seen in Episodes IV through VI; Anakin Skywalker battling Obi-Wan Kenobi; Darth Vader; Emperor Palpatine; Darth Maul; Imperial Stormtroopers; Boba Fett; the Millennium Falcon; and an X-wing fighter. The stamps will be released at a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Friday, May 25, at Star Wars Celebration IV, the biggest Star Wars event in the galaxy, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Of the 15 images on the Star Wars stamp sheet, the Postal Service is inviting the public to vote on its favorite. The stamp receiving the most votes will be honored with the issuance of a single stamp, which will be for sale later this summer.

The design of the sheet of 15 stamps includes the Star Wars logo and background images of a space battle, including a Star Destroyer, TIE fighters, X-wing fighters, and the second Death Star under construction, as seen in Return of the Jedi. The background also includes the lightsaber-wielding form of Darth Vader, whose helmet comprises the largest of the 15 stamps.

The back of the stamp sheet includes extensive text describing the dramatic roles that each featured character or vehicle plays in the Star Wars saga.

Star Wars stamp artist Drew Struzan's paintings have delighted audiences around the world for a quarter century. Whether he paints album covers, advertising, collectibles, book covers, or his famous movie posters, his strong visual design, draftsmanship, good taste, and immediately recognizable style always produce a memorable and lasting piece of art. Anyone who has seen his work will remember his paintings for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, the Indiana Jones series, the Back to the Future series, Police Academy, the Muppet movies and Hook.

Droid Factory

These scans come from my brother Scott. He still has some of the old Star Wars catalogs that came with the toys and some some of the instructions. The Droid Factory came out in 1979 with a Star Wars box and was re-released in 1980 with an Empire Strikes Back box. It came with blueprints to build several different droids including a three-legged R2-D2. Also included was an order form in case any of the many pieces were missing or broken. You can read more about it here.

Star Wars 30th Anniversary

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Star Wars. I was 10 years old when it premiered and probably saw it about 10 times during it's original theatrical release. My brother and I had most of the toys, comics, posters and anything else relating to Star Wars. I'm gonna try to make a few Star Wars posts before the month ends. First up is a Star Wars Burger Chef commercial from 1977. There was a Burger Chef restaurant near where we lived and I remember having all of these posters hanging in my bedroom.

For more Star Wars fun, check out these blogs--

Neato Coolville
John Rozum
Dartman's World Of Wonder

Howard The Duck OST

I had a request for the Howard The Duck (1986) soundtrack, so here it is. I don't care what anyone else says, I enjoy this movie :)

Track Listing

1. Hunger City - Dolby's Cube feat. Cherry Bomb (vocals: Lea Thompson)
2. Howard the Duck - Dolby's Cube feat. Cherry Bomb (vocals: Lea Thompson, background vocals: George Clinton, guitar: Joe Walsh)
3. Don't Turn Away - Thomas Dolby, harmonica: Stevie Wonder
4. It Don't Come Cheap - Dolby's Cube feat. Cherry Bomb (vocals: Lea Thompson, guitar: Joe Walsh)
5. I'm On My Way - Thomas Dolby
6. Lullaby of Duckland - John Barry
7. Journey To Earth - John Barry
8. You're the Duckiest - John Barry
9. Ultralight Flight - John Barry
10. Beddy-Bye for Howard - John Barry
11. Dark Overlord - John Barry

Click below to download--

--> Howard The Duck OST <--

Pittsburgh Comicon Photos

Here's some photos from The Pittsburgh Comicon. To see all of the photos, visit my flickr page.

T-shirt by comic legend George Perez.















Star Wars Chewbacca - Peter Mayhew.
Artist Mike Grell's autograph.

Monster stuff I bought for $7.00.

Martian Manhunter and Aquaman (thanks to paulv70 from The Pittsburgh Comicon Yahoo! Group for letting me use some of his photos).

1980 issue of The Hulk magazine autographed by artist Joe Jusko.

Superfreeks cards by artist RAK.

Colorist Tom Smith (above) and artist Neil Vokes and writer Bob Tinnell (below). All three are members of The Universal Monster Army. If you are a fan of classic monster movies and all the toys that go with them, I suggest you join this group. Neil and Bob are the creators of several horror comics, such as The Black Forest, which I bought from them and hope to read soon.
My 14 year old son, Kenny, and my 6 year old nephew, Seth, swimming in the hotel pool.

The End!

Hi, I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC

Go here to watch all four of these "commercials".

Gay Purr-ee OST

Here's the soundtrack to the 1962 animated movie Gay Purr-ee.

Track Listing

1. Gay Purr-ee Overture - Judy Garland
2. Mewsette - Robert Goulet
3. Little Drops of Rain - Judy Garland
4. The Money Cat - Paul Frees & The Mellow Men
5. Portrait of Mewsette - The Orchestra
6. Take My Hand, Paree - Judy Garland
7. Paris Is a Lonely Town - Judy Garland
8. Bubbles - Robert Goulet, Red Buttons & The Mellow Men
9. Roses Red, Violets Blue - Judy Garland
10. Little Drops of Rain (Reprise) - Robert Goulet
11. Variation: "Paris Is a Lonely Town" - The Orchestra
12. The Horse Won't Talk - Paul Frees
13. Mewsette Finale - Judy Garland, Robert Goulet & The Chorus
14. Little Drops of Rain (Demo) - Harold Arlen
15. Roses Red, Violets Blue (Demo) - Harold Arlen & E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
16. The Horse Won't Talk (Demo) - Harold Arlen
17. Money Cat (Demo) - Harold Arlen & E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
18. Paris Is a Lonely Town (Demo) - Harold Arlen

Click the link below to download--

--> Gay Purr-ee <--

The Monster Squad Coming To DVD

The 1987 movie "The Monster Squad" is finally coming to DVD on July 24. It will be a 2 disc 20th anniversary edition. It's about damn time!!!

National Scrapbooking Day

Besides being Free Comic Book Day, tomorrow, May 5, is also National Scrapbooking Day. You can combine the two "holidays" by making a Marvel Comics scrapbook courtesy of EK Success. Coming this month is a full line of dimensional stickers, albums and double-sided paper featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Captain America and The Fantastic Four.

Free Comic Book Day Sat. May 5

Click the logo above to go to the website and find out everything you want to know about Free Comic Book Day. The site includes a store locator to find a participating comic book shop in your area. Below are some of the FREE comics you could get this Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Comicon

The Pittsburgh Comicon starts today. I'll be there tomorrow. The main reason I'm going is to get Peter Mayhew's autograph to add to my Star Wars collection. I'm such a geek. Here's some highlights of the show --
• George Perez's last appearance at a U.S. Convention until 2009
• Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise farewell tour
• The return to Pittsburgh of such comic superstars as: Adam Hughes, Mike Deodato, Joe Linsner, David Mack, Rags Morales, Mike Oeming, Brian Pulido, Arthur Suydam and others.
• First time appearances of such artists as: Eric "Ebas" Basaldua, Alex Saviuk and Mike Grell
• Star Wars guests, Peter "Chewbacca" Mayhew, Matthew "Gen. Grievous" Wood and Wayne "Gov. Tarkin" Pygram
• Other Media Guests: Star Trek:DS9's Chase Masterson, Friday the 13th's Kane Hodder, Farscape's Gigi Edgley, Beastmaster-Marc Singer, the Ultimate Bad Guy, Scott L. Schwartz and Ghost Hunter-Steve Gonsalves.
• New Events like, The Comic's Match Game, Comicon Karaoke and a plethora of Star Wars Events
• Fan Favorite Events like, The CBLDF Quick Sketch, Comics Trivia, The Comicon Costume Contest and of course the 2007 Charity Auction
• Exclusive screenings of The Alchemy of Art:David Mack and Terry Moore:Paradise Found Documentaries
• The Best Comic Book and Sci-Fi Shopping on the East Coast with the best retailers in the business!!!!! And so much more!!!

Bobby "Boris" Pickett, R.I.P.

By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer

He does the "Monster Mash" no more. Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose dead-on Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem to the top of the charts in 1962, making him one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia. He was 69.

Pickett, dubbed "The Guy Lombardo of Halloween," died Wednesday night at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, said his longtime manager, Stuart Hersh. His daughter, Nancy, and his sister, Lynda, were at Pickett's bedside.


"Monster Mash" hit the Billboard chart three times: when it debuted in 1962, reaching No. 1 the week before Halloween; again in August 1970, and for a third time in May 1973. The resurrections were appropriate for a song where Pickett gravely intoned the forever-stuck-in-your-head chorus: "He did the monster mash. ... It was a graveyard smash."

Read the full story here.

As a tribute, here's five versions of The Monster Mash --

1. Bobby 'Boris' Pickett (new stereo recording)
2. MISFITS
3. Sha Na Na
4. Stephen Bishop w/ Linda Ronstadt, Karla Bonoff & Andrew Gold
5. The Count, Zoe & Telly Monster (from Sesame Street)

Click below to download

--> The Monster Mash <--

Groovie Goolies

Here's the soundtrack album for the early 70's cartoon 'Groovie Goolies'. I believe I got this from the late-great Mondo Daddykin blog. I loved this toon when I was a kid, I hope to get the DVD some day. Enjoy.

Track Listing

1. Save Your Good Lovin' For Me
2. Bumble Goolie
3. We Go So Good Together
4. Frankie
5. Goolie Get-Together (Theme)
6. First Annual Semi-Formal Combination Celebration Meet The Monster Population Party
7. Spend Some Time Together
8. Cling, Clang
9. Goolie Garden
10. One, Two, Three

Click below to download

--> Groovie Goolies <--

Request

Way back on March 11, I made a post about The Best Movies Based On Comic Books. I said if I found the theme music to all of these movies I'd post a compilation of them. Well, I've found all but ONE!!! If anyone has the following track could you post a link to it? I'd really appreciate it.

A History Of Violence (2005) music by Howard Shore - Track 1) Motel

Warners Forges 'Metal Men'

I also used to read The Metal Men when I was a kid. My brother still has the comic books. This story is from The Hollywood Reporter.

By Borys Kit

April 4, 2007

Mining for new projects, Warner Bros. Pictures is hoping to strike gold with the robotic superhero team "Metal Men," setting up the project with producer Lauren Shuler Donner. Eric Champnella has been brought on board to write.

Based on a DC Comics hero created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru in 1962, "Metal" revolves around a brilliant scientist, William Magnus, and his creations: six highly advanced robots who have powers associated with their respective metals -- gold, iron, lead, tin, mercury and platinum. Instead of having to be programd, the Metal Men can think for themselves, which is both their genius and their biggest flaw.

The heroes made their first appearance in "Showcase," where they were created as filler but proved to be unexpectedly popular and received their own title. The heroes served as a dysfunctional family, and the stories balanced sentimentality, humor and action.

Jack Leslie of the Donners' Co. also is producing.

Geoff Johns, who was an assistant to Richard Donner before becoming one of the comic world's renowned writers, helped develop the take and will executive produce.

Dan Lin and Elishia Holmes are shepherding for Warners. Gregory Noveck is overseeing for DC Comics.

Shuler Donner has a history of bringing comic books to the silver screen. She was behind the "X-Men" movies at Fox, which were based on the Marvel Comics superheroes, and 2005's "Constantine" at Warners, based on a DC Comics/Vertigo title.

Champnella wrote "Mr. 3000" and most recently "Say Uncle" for Warners. He is repped by ICM, Mosaic and attorney Dave Feldman.

HULK SMASH!!!

The Incredible Hulk has been my favorite comic book ever since I was a youngin'. I have every issue, except #'s 1-6 and a few Tales To Astonish. This story is from Variety.com.

Edward Norton has been set by Marvel Studios to play Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk."

The Louis Leterrier-directed drama will be distributed by Universal Pictures, with an opening set for June 13, 2008.

It is a decided return to the mainstream for Norton, who recently has starred in such indies as "Down in the Valley," "The Painted Veil," and "The Illusionist." Pic will shoot this summer in Toronto.

Norton takes over a role played in the Ang Lee-directed "Hulk" by Eric Bana. Though that film opened strongly, it didn’t fare as well as other Marvel efforts, including "Spider-Man," "X-Men," "Fantastic Four" and, most recently, "Ghost Rider."

Marvel Studios, which has a $525 million credit facility obtained through Merrill Lynch, made "The Incredible Hulk" its second film under that arrangement, and seeks to make a sequel that is less self-serious and more in line with the comic series and TV show. Leterrier directed the action-filled "Transporter 2," and "Unleashed."

The new pic begins with Banner on the run, trying to avoid capture long enough to cure the condition that turns him into a misunderstood green menace.

"Edward Norton is a rare talent and one of the most versatile actors in the business," Marvel Studios production president Kevin Feige said in a statement. "His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Edward is perfectly suited to bring one of the most popular and important Marvel icons to the bigscreen in a new and exciting way."

The script for "The Incredible Hulk" was written by Zak Penn, who had a hand in crafting two "X-Men" films, "Fantastic Four" and "Elektra" for Marvel.

"The Incredible Hulk" is being produced by Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd and Marvel’s Feige. Jim Van Wyck, David Maisel, Ari Arad and Stan Lee are exec producing.

Don Ho, R.I.P.

It seems like all I've been posting lately is death notices. A lot of people I admire are dying. It's kinda sad.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) -- Legendary crooner Don Ho, who entertained tourists for decades wearing raspberry-tinted sunglasses and singing the catchy signature tune "Tiny Bubbles," has died. He was 76.

He died Saturday morning of heart failure, publicist Donna Jung said.

Ho had suffered with heart problems for the past several years and had a pacemaker installed last fall. In 2005, he underwent an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart in Thailand.

Ho entertained Hollywood's biggest stars and thousands of tourists for four decades. For many, no trip to Hawaii was complete without seeing his Waikiki show -- a mix of songs, jokes, double entendres, Hawaii history and audience participation.

Click here for the rest of the obituary.

Here's some of Mr. Ho's songs for your enjoyment--

1. Hawaiian Wedding Song
2. I'll Remember You
3. Mele Kalikimaka
4. Tiny Bubbles

Click below to download--

--> Don Ho <--

Here's some other sites that have Don Ho songs that you can download:

Armagideon Time -- Shock The Monkey
Probe Is Turning-On The People! -- Galveston and Has Anybody Lost A Love
Musical Fruitcake -- This Christmas