Fear of a Black (Planet)?

...or is it 'Welcome to the TERRORdome'?

SON OF More Classic TV Horror Hosts

A big ole' coffin full of clips of various shows around the country from a 1985 'Bloopers & Practical Jokes' on NBC. Featuring Zacherley, Dr. Paul Bearer, Son of Svengoolie, Count Scary, Chilly Billy, Big Chuck & Little John and (of course) Elvira & Her Breasts.

Oooh Scary. More Classic TV Horror Hosts...

VAMPIRA (Los Angeles, CA)

ZACHERLEY (New York, NY)

GHOULARDI (Cleveland, OH)\

M.T. GRAVES (Miami, FL)

DR. PAUL BEARER (St. Petersberg, FL)

I know there are a million more, but I could spend all day. Hoist a skull-full of your favorite brew tonight in their honor!

BERWYN?! (Son of Svengoolie)

'Calling all stations, clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast.'

Bringing things back to the month-long Halloween fun-fest, I have to take a moment to pay some respect to the man that made it possible for me to post up w/ such retro-horror/sci-fi goodies...Rich Koz AKA The Son of Svengoolie! Kind of like Dr. Frankenstein before him, he created a monster in me built from b-movie creatures and horrible skits only a goofy grade school kid could truly appreciate.

Son of Svengoolie debuted on WFLD 32 in June of 1979 and while I wasn't actually raised in Chicago...I watched the show religiously every Saturday night in Central Illinois, where we (luckily) picked it up on cable. It followed the standard 'creature feature' format, where every week a classic (or classically bad) horror/sci-fi flick is shown by a host w/ skits peppered within. Just about every city had one, but Svengoolie was (and still is) mine.

The song parodies w/ musical co-conspirator Doug Graves...'Svensurround' with added sound-effects and dubbed in dialogue ala MST3K...'BERWYN!'...the rubber chickens...and most of all, the movies. It was the coolest thing on TV as far as I was concerned. Not as many people agreed as a result of an early 80's 3D broadcast of 'Revenge of the Creature' (the sequel to 'Creature from the Black Lagoon'), that resulted in a civil action lawsuit by people who felt they didn't get 'enough 3D' for the 89 cents they laid out for the cardboard glasses.

I tuned in some capacity until WFLD was sold to FOX in 1986. After 334 shows, the new management canceled the show after deciding it didn't fit in new programming direction. Luckily, the series returned to TV in 1994 on WCIU and has aired ever since (9PM CST). I don't get a chance to watch as much as I used to, but I rest easier at night just knowing he's still out there.

Enjoy a fun retrospective they did in celebration of their 300th show back in 1985...

PART I

PART II

Wilco Bonus Video Party Cut w/ Bonus Party Cut?

Performing Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released' w/ openers Fleet Foxes in Spokane, WA.

Plus, if you dig what you see/hear, you can get a free audio version of the same collaboration from Bend, OR at wilcoworld.net just by pledging you'll vote on November 4th. The band is working with Headcount.org, 'a nonpartisan, non-profit organization dedicated to voter registration and inspiring participation in democracy through the power of music.'

While you're there, if you're feeling generous, they are also suggesting you make a donation to Second Harvest/Feed America. Get some, give some!

BTW (A Unified Theory of Everything)...

For those that aren't familiar, the title of the last post is cribbed from lyrics in a great 'unreleased' demo from Wilco's 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot':

'Laminated Cat (a.k.a. Not for the Season)'

Springtime comes and the leaves are back on the trees again

Snipers are harder to see my friends

Weeding out the weekends

Summer comes and gravity undoes you

You're happy because of the lovely way the sunshine bends

Hiding from your close friends

Weeding out the weekends

Candy left over from Halloween

A unified theory of everything

Love left over from lovers leaving

Books, they all know they're not worth reading

It's not for the season

When autumn comes you sit in your chair and you stare

At the TV square

Hiding in the deep end

Weeding out the weekends

Winter comes and the days all start late

There's motion on the boughs where the dark shapes prowl

Feeling out the feelings

Feeling out the feeling

Candy left over from Halloween

A unified theory of everything

Love left over from lovers leaving

Books, they all know they're not worth reading

They're not worth reading

Great song. I was listening to said 'YHF' demos yesterday in the car and that tune always reminds me of Autumn...really, the whole album does. Anyhow, enjoy it for yourself in the sample area and don't let the Indian Summerish weather fool you...FALL IS HERE.

Weeding Out the Weekends...

'America's Favorite Hockey Mom'? I know they've gone as far as booing Santa Claus in Philly, but that is some good stuff.

Looks like my weekend went a little better than hers. Weather was fantastic, so the boys and I hit the park on Saturday morning...yard work, Fat Tire and Mats Re-mastered on the iPod in the afternoon...then the Mrs. and I actually got a babysitting offer to take a night out! Dinner, drinks and then we went and saw 'Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist'. Cute flick w/ some funny moments...but not quite targeted to old folks like us.

Yesterday, I went to a small comic book/collectible show in Gurnee and picked up a mint hardcover 'Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 1 (Issues 1-10)' for 1/2 off, plus some other various Batman TPB's. Then, when I went in to Half Price Books to unload some of our stuff that afternoon, some guy had just sold them a bunch of the 'Complete E.C. Library' collections. So, I snagged...

...the 'MAD (4 Volume Boxed Set)' in color!

It's in great condition and I got it for $50! These are out of print and going for anywhere from $100-200 online, so i'm completely stoked. They had the 'Tales From The Crypt', 'Shock Suspenstories', 'Vault of Horror', 'Weird Science' and 'Weird Fantasy' sets as well, but i'll have to hope they're still there when I go back.

No Tricks, No Treats...

...i'm on Daddy-duty today. More goofy stuff so sweet it'll rot your teeth later. Have a great weekend!

A Very Special Halloween Special...

Quite possibly one of the greatest holiday variety specials EVER. Paul Lynde, Witchiepoo, The Wicked Witch of the West and Billy Barty introduce (in their first prime time appearance on prime-time TV) KISS, performing 'Detroit Rock City' on 1976 The Paul Lynde Halloween Special.

Plus, i'd be remiss if I didn't throw down w/ the amazing star-studded finale w/ Pinky Tuscadero, Tim Conway and Florence Henderson bugging out to a gender-neutral version of 'Disco Lady'...

FAMOUS MONSTERS

'In the Night!!!'

A perfect musical segue and an even more perfect soundtrack to your Halloween BBQ and Dance Party. Famous Monsters (the band, not the magazine) consists of Devil Doll (a post-White Zombie Sean Yseult), Vampire Girl (a post-NY Loose Brijitte West) and Shezilla (Carol Cutshall)...serve up utterly silly, spooky garage-surf mayhem for the whole family (if you're the Adams Family that is).

Nothing at all revolutionary here, but certainly a whole mess of fun. Think of a female version of Man or Astroman, except w/ sound a little more garage than surf (ala The 5,6,7,8's) and a shtick more vintage horror/saturday morning cartoons than sci-fi. Some tunes stand out more than others...the title track, 'Outerspace Deathrace No. 13', 'Hairy Eyeball' and 'Satan Sends a Rat!' Throw in two great covers from Cheap Trick and The Groovie Ghoulies...more fun than a shrunken head!

Kind of hard to find, as it's both out of print and not on iTunes...but worth nabbing a used copy or obtaining by whatever other means suits you best. I've put the rocking lead-off track in the sample area, crank it up and wake the dead!

EVEN MORE (EL) FAMOUS MONSTERS!

(EL) FAMOUS MONSTERS!

THE 'ACKERMANSION'!

A cool interview/tour of the infamous 'Ackermansion' of the illustrious Forrest J. Ackerman from a 1986 cable access show. Ackerman is the editor/co-creator of the legendary horror film magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland and could almost be considered the original FANBOY.

If not the original, then surely one of the most prolific...check out the 18-room 'Ackermansion', filled with 300,000 books and pieces of sci-fi, fantasy and horror film memorabilia, and see if you disagree. Makes me feel a lot better about my own menagerie, paltry in comparison.

From Politics and Comics...

...back into the oncoming holiday, what says Halloween more than a 'VAMPIRE IN THE WHITE HOUSE!'? Personally, I don't know if that's any more frightening than a 'TEEN PRESIDENT' in the White House. Have you watched MTV lately?

CAPTAIN OBAMAMERICA!

Granted, McCain could be considered more of a 'Fleshy Pink Skull' than Red...but B is still the man.

Another 'Debate Night in America'...

...and much like the last one, it really didn't move the needle that much either way. As predicted, w/ the town hall was McCain's forum of choice (kind of like Dusty Rhodes and Texas Bullrope match), he came off okay at best. From my vantage point, it was interesting to see how he seemed more comfortable in speaking to the economy than foreign policy versus the first debate, where it was the opposite. Outside of that, his occasional stabs at being funny came off more creepy than anything else.

That said, for me, 'That One' (AKA Obama) still came off the more 'presidential' of the two...hands down. Why? Because he presented a more tangible case for why his financial and foreign policies will at least help to right the dim path we seem to be traveling upon today. Less laying back in 'I know how to' do something and actually illustrating HOW he is going to do something. He continued to illustrate the differences between the two as well versus spending too much time w/ personal attacks.

In the CBS poll, 40% of uncommitted voters said Obama won. 26% gave it to McCain, while 34% said it was a tie. Over at CNN, B fared even better w/ 54% saying he did a better job and 30% giving it to McCain. That said, these polls never seem to be an iron clad way of determining a winner so, my friends, I still see it being a crazy race. Choose or Lose...Vote or Die...Rock the Vote...Say your Prayers...Eat your Vitamins...whatever, just stay informed.

One Last Jab...

...before 'next year' is now. Too funny and yet, too sad.

New Era + Marvel = Super Fresh!

THOR

CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN

FANTASTIC FOUR

Missed the announcement back in May, but hat giant New Era has teamed up w/ Marvel comics for a line of character-themed caps. The above are some sweet limited-edition lids available at Rock'n'Jocks...a tad bit more b-boy than I think I could pull off, but they were cool looking enough for me to dig the fact they're out there.

Speaking of SCARY...

Dow fell below 10,000 for the first time since 2004. *GULP*

FEEL LIKE MAKIN'...

LOVE? Mmmmm, not quite...but equally as awesome as the 'I Was a Teenage Frankenstein/Werewolf' was 'How to Make a Monster'. A movie w/in movie w/in a movie...or something like that. Whatever the case, it's afternoon creature-feature fun at it's finest.

A chief make-up artist for 25 years at American International Studios, is pink-slipped by the new management, who plan to make musicals and comedies instead of the horror pictures for which he has created his remarkable monster make-up and made the studio famous. In retaliation, he vows to use the very monsters these men have rejected to destroy them.

By mixing a numbing ingredient into his foundation cream and persuading the young actors that their careers are through unless they place themselves in his power, he hypnotizes both dudes playing THE TEENAGE WEREWOLF and TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN in the picture (fittingly enough) 'WEREWOLF MEETS FRANKENSTEIN' currently shooting on the lot.

Hilarity follows...

Smells Like Teen Horror...

FYI kids, some things can be much worse than acne...

'BUSTIN' Makes Me Feel Good...'

'Costume also includes a small and sassy proton pack around 14cm wide & 30cm high. For size small and medium, we recommend that you buy this product only if you are a C Cup, or above.'

On the Bright Side, 25 Days 'Til Halloween!

Copious amount of horror movies, all the candy you can stomach and buxom babes in slutty costumes...HOORAY!

(Wait 'til) Next Year is NOW!

Grieving fans left candles, flowers, cans of Old Style and some nasty notes to the Cubbies at a makeshift memorial to the 2008 season outside Wrigley Field. The shrine, at Waveland and Sheffield, was started by Murphy's Bleachers workers upset at getting drummed out of the playoffs. One letter, short and to the point, stood out: 'Dear Cubs,' it began...'Thanks for nothing.'

Me? Really, i'm only upset at myself. I allowed myself to get legitimately excited before they made it out of the first round. I should have known better. Ah well, everybody is upset now...but come next Spring, 101 years ain't nothing but a number. Please God, just don't let the flipping White Sox go all the way...salt, wound, you get what i'm saying. GO BEARS!

After Last Night, I'm UNDECIDED...

I can't decide which made me want to puke more, the Cubs defensive meltdown in Game 2 (i'm still pulling for them, but has anybody told them they're in the playoffs?) OR Sarah Palin's faux 'sixpackiness' during last night's VP debate. Am I a little pissed? You betcha!

Seriously though, Palin gave a performance geared at garnering popularity via personality. Unfortunately, for me, that equates to bringing a 'running for grade school class president' approach to a fucking US Vice Presidential debate. O'Biden knew McCain's record and platform better than Johnny's own running mate...but she remembered to give a 'shout-out' to some third graders! Again, Sarah, US Vice Presidential debate...not TRL.

She can basically be lauded by the Press for not fucking up, gleefully spouting off scripted jabs/talking points w/ as much substance as a deep-fried Twinkie and coming of sounding like Grandpa Howard during the Long Duk Dong dinner scene in 'Sixteen Candles'...

I mean, who actually talks like that?! It's pandering and insulting. I have a lot more faith in the intelligence of the American collective than some and this visible attempt at 'dumbing down' the election under thinly-veiled 'straight talk' to 'main street' makes me ill. Conversely, Joe Biden stood tall and came off both real and real intelligent about the task at hand.

Sigh. That said, i'd still do her. Under protest, while listening to 'Ride the Lightning' on my iPod and I wouldn't buy her dinner...but you betcha. Anyhow, have to run to a work thing, so that's it for today kids. Have a great weekend! (PLEASE) GO CUBS!

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

File this one under 'books I actually picked up a long time ago, but ended up too lazy to post about', but considering the last post and that Halloween is right around the corner...better late than never! 'Foul Play!: The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics!' is a wonderful book no comic and/or horror buff should be without.

Entertaining Comics (E.C.), was an publisher of comic books specializing in crime fiction, horror fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the 1950s, until censorship pressures prompted it to drop it's entire line and, eventually, give birth to/focus on on the seminal humor magazine Mad.

Arguably, the actual E.C. stories could be regarded as only slightly better than those of it's competitors at the time, but it was their stellar roster of artists that earned them cult-like legendary status amongst comic heads from yesteryear and today alike.

Thusly, this coffee-table tribute focuses on those illustrators via insightful biographical sketches of 14 of said talented lunatics via full-color covers/story pages/panels (including rare pre-EC work) by the subject, photos and other memorabilia. Really (and oft literally) eye-poppingly fun stuff organized in a thoughtfully-designed tome.

'Vault Keeper' and author Grant Geissman has served up a meaty and well-deserved retrospective of the lengendary Al Feldstein, Jack Davis, Graham Ingels, Johnny Craig , Al Wlliamson and Wallace Wood...worth checking out if you're a fan of all things funny, frightening and (most definitely) freaky.

Published back in 2005, it's still in print and i've seen it at Borders...I got mine at a Borders Outlet for a steal. Scare a copy of up for yourself today!

'You Got Peanut Butter in my Chocolate!'

...or should that be 'you got chocolate in my peanut butter!'? Either way, in an example of 'two great tastes that taste great together', my love of comic books and political satire merged recently to delicious results.

The Vice-Hockey Mom hopeful will soon be depicted on the cover of half of the copies of Papercutz' 'Tales from the Crypt' #8, shipping to your favorite comic shop later this month. 'The Barracuda' is shown brandishing a hockey stick and asking: 'Didn’t we get rid of you guys in the 1950s?' as the classic narrators of EC Horror comics (the Crypt Keeper, the Old Witch and the Vault-Keeper) flee in panic.

The issue will also include a special editorial by Cathy Gaines Mifsud, the daughter of William Gaines, the original publisher of EC Comics and Mad Magazine. Said editorial ties the cover to the semi-controversy over Palin’s queries (while Mayor of Wasilla) to a librarian about the 'possibility' of removing controversial books from the public library.

Considering her father was forced to quit publishing Tales from the Crypt and other horror comics in the 1950s because of a wave of media and and politically-inspired censorship...even an attempt at book banning hits a little too close to home. Hell yeah!

In further parity, one of the stories found within also hits close to home: Christian Zanier's 'She Who Would Rule the World,' which the publisher describes as a story where 'a pair of misguided scientists help turn a homeless woman into a near-invincible, power-hungry being bent on becoming a human weapon of mass destruction.' Doh!

Really, I just think it's funny to see the two collide, plus it serves as a great segue way to my next post. I quote A-Team leader, Hannibal Smith, when I say: 'I love it when a plan comes together.'

'BEER ME, AMERICA!'

'It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency, and I think that that's kind of taken some people off guard...but it's motivation for John McCain and I to work that much harder to...put government back on the side of the people of Joe Six Pack like me.'

That's Sarah Barracuda, er, Sarah SIX-PACK on a recent talk radio appearance, w/ another 'aww geez' statement that brought to mind the 2004 Zogby election poll that stated 57% of undecided voters would rather have a beer with W than John Kerry. WTF?!

Look, first of all, I can just about down a six-pack over the course of a full-Saturday's worth of yardwork. Even though it's usually some sort of elitist microbrew, that does not make me qualified to be Vice President, let alone President, of the United States! For the umpteenth time...I DON'T WANT A 'REGULAR GUY/GAL' RUNNING THE COUNTRY...how about somebody who's more, oh I don't know, PRESIDENTIAL?!

I've imbibed a lot of 'six packs'...w/ alot of of 'Americans'...a fair share who were probably even named 'Joe'. While I enjoyed their company, not one of them ever struck me as somebody so fun to hang out with that they'd make an awesome World Leader.

For example, i'm thinking the real 'Joe Six-Pack American' method of diplomacy for dealing w/ Iran...would resemble standing outside their border w/ a boombox held aloft over his head playing Roger Hallmark & The Thrasher Brother's 'A Message to Khomeini'. Click PLAY in the sample area and try it for yourself! You can be Vice President too!

'Likeability' should have stopped being a 'factor' in American politics back in GRADE SCHOOL ELECTIONS! Want me to stop treating you like nothing more than a milf-tastic airheaded bimbo soccer mom? THEN KNOW YOUR SHIT AND STOP ACTING LIKE ONE! The VP debate tonight should be interesting...or frightening...interestingly frightening?

Hopefully, this is the only bloodbath I witness tonight...Biden over Palin versus Dodgers over Cubs.

Damn. Shake it Off Boys!

That grand slam last night took the piss right out of Wrigley for the rest of the game. Hopefully, in a weird way, it actually take some of the pressure off versus applying more...get a loss out of our system now rather than later. Eh, it's a 5 game series, so there'll be plenty of opportunities for further hopeful fanboy rationalization.

GO CUBS AND GO BIDEN!

Just In Time For Halloween...

...and equally as scary as that 'W' movie. 'Fear(s) of the Dark' looks to be an amazing looking collection of fearful animated tales by six of the world's most renowned comic and graphic artists...including one of my favorites, Charles Burns!

I think it was actually released originally in France, but select dates start popping up in the States in October. Looks like scary fun! Speaking of which, AMBFAD is going to start the holiday a little early this year...watch for Halloween-flavored junk to start egging your house soon. BOO!

Wow, Sports Fans...

...it's officially time for October Baseball. This year, not only does that mean rooting for the almighty Wrigley Field sign to light up in the manner above clear through the World Series, but the freaking Sox eeked out their division title last night as well. I kind of hoped they would choke and lose it in a gut-wrenching heartbreaker, but for now i'll say congrats to all my Southside pals.

God help us if both teams make it to the end. GO CUBS GO!