Sunday, July 31, 2011

Monsters from the Vault #29 Update!



Monsters from the Vault #29 is progressing along and is scheduled to go to press on Monday, August 15th. The issue should start shipping to subscribers and wholesale dealers approximately 10 days after that. Below are a couple of sample spreads from Gary D. Rhodes' article on the 1931 Dracula (the article also features a heavy dose of the 1931 Spanish version of Dracula also). Gary's article is the longest piece (30 pages) ever to run in one issue of MFTV. Usually an article of its length would be split between two issues, but Gary and I thought that given its scope it would better to run the complete article in one issue. It's an important piece and I think our readers will enjoy it, but I also think there will be some strong reactions to it. So hold on a little longer, and the new issue of Monsters from the Vault will be heading your way soon. Look for a few more spread previews here in the next couple of weeks.


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Rob Zombie, Monster Kid!



On July 20th, as part of my week-long birthday celebration, Marian and I went to see Rob Zombie in concert in Reading, PA. Zombie was touring on a co-headline tour with Slayer as part of the Hell on Earth Tour. This is the fourth time we've seen Zombie in concert in the past year and a half, and he remains our favorite performer today. His live show is truly a Monster Kid's paradise, with Universal Monsters appearing on the big screens that adorn his stage throughout his performance. This show was the first to feature a new stage curtain (at least for us) that covered the front of the entire stage before dropping as the band kicked into its opening number. I've attached a couple of photos of the curtain as well as a YouTube video I shot of his encore (Dragula) with this post. The photos and video were taken with my iPhone, so while they're not the greatest, you'll get the idea. If you like Rob Zombie's music, I highly recommend that you try to catch him in concert--believe me, you won't be disappointed!

Huge King Kong Stage Curtain

Let the show begin!



My Other Rob Zombie Concerts






Saturday, July 16, 2011

Island of Lost Souls on Blu-ray and DVD!


I've been hinting about it for months on the Classic Horror Film Board (since I got the word from my inside source); now the cat's out of the bag as Criterion finally made the announcement we've all been waiting for: Island of Lost Souls will be released on both Blu-ray and DVD on October 25th. Below are the disc features:

-New high-definition digital restoration of the uncut theatrical version (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition)


-Audio commentary by film historian Gregory Mank, author of Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff and Hollywood's Maddest Doctors

-New video conversation among filmmaker John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Videodrome), and genre expert Bob Burns

-New interviews with horror film historian David J. Skal (The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror); filmmaker Richard Stanley (Hardware, original director of the ill-fated 1996 remake of The Island of Dr. Moreau)

-New interviews with Devo founding members Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, whose manifesto is rooted in themes from Island of Lost Souls

-Theatrical trailer

-Plus: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Christine Smallwood

Certainly, this is the best news for fans of classic horror in quite some time, and the perfect release for this Halloween! Having being named the "The Film Most in Need of a DVD Release or Restoration" for the past six years by voters during the annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, it looks like voters will have to start thinking about a new film for next year's ballot!

Photos of the Week!


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Friday, July 1, 2011

Posters of the Week!


Monster Bash, It's a Wrap!


Well another Monster Bash has come and gone and as always, a great time was had by all who attended. I've attended every Bash since the beginning except for one (2000) and I don't know how Ron and Gang continue to improve year after year but they do. This year was extremely special for me because I got to catch up with some old friends I haven't seen in a while, and make some new ones as I do every year. There were so many highlights this year, but a few of them stand out for me. First was the Saturday night Drive-in showing of Blood of Dracula, followed by Zach Zito's Live Theatre. Zach is always incredible during his yearly one man show, but this year he had an assist from the lovely ladies of Hammer, Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro, and Yvonne Monlaur. Also, comedian Don Reese delivered the laughs as always during his stand-up performance. Finally, the Bash's new band, The Bash Boys played an entertaining set of classics Friday night in the bar. Hopefully this will be a regular gig for the guys. They sounded great, especially considering they only practice together a couple of times. While these events were highlights for me, in all honesty, the whole weekend was one BIG highlight for Marian and I. 


So as I sit here having Bash withdrawals as I type this, at least I know I'll have a much shorter wait until the next Bash thanks to Ron Adams and gang throwing a October shindig this year. I'll be set up in the dealer's room as always at the show, so make plans now to attend the first of what I hope will be many Monster Bash Octoberfests. So until then, I'll have to settle for all the wonderful memories I have of the weekend, and a HUGE thanks to Ron and the whole Bash crew for throwing the best Monster Party in the world, year after year! We all appreciate the hard work and long hours everyone puts in to make the show a success each year. So from all of us who attend every year, a big THANKS!

Frankenstein's Monster Hits the Dealer's Room
Garou and Penny Dreadful of Shilling Shockers
Tom Weaver Hosting His Annual
Monster Bash Braintwister Game Show
Contestants Trying to Win a Prize
Tom Weaver Seems to Have
Contestant Steven Thornton Stumped
Garou and Penny with Boris of the Ghouligans
Boris and Wolfgang of the Ghouligans
Creighton and The Invisible from Ghoul A Go-Go
Horror Host Dr. Lobo on the Receiving End
Director Daniel Griffith and Dr. Lobo Introduce
Some of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures' Short Features
Director Larry Blamire (Lost Skeleton of Cadavra) Stars
in Daniel Griffith's Short, Jam Handy to the Rescue
The Always Lovely Caroline Munro and Friend
Marian and Friend
My MFTV Partner in Crime
Me and Count Dracula



Comedian Don Reese's New DVD (Filmed at Last Year's
Bash) Premiered at This Year's Bash and Has One
Cool Cover Courtesy of George Chastain
Let's All Go to the Drive-In!
This Year's Feature Was Blood of Dracula
A Surprise Guest Visits the Drive-In
Ursula Adams Made Up by Jesse Melchior
A Face Only a Mother Could Love!
Bash Staffers Toss Blood of Dracula
Frisbees Into the Drive-In Crowd
Things Like This Make the Monster Bash Special
Look, I'm on a Frisbee!
Back Among Friends
The Unbelievable Zach Zito Performs Bram Stoker's,
"Dracula's Guest" During Saturday's Live Theatre
Zach Had Some Help From Yvonne Monlaur
Zach's Performance Was a Huge Hit
Caroline Munro Really Gets Into Her Part 
During the Performance of "Dracula's Guest"
Props Play a Big Part in the Performance
Veronica Carlson Being Escorted From the
Stage after Her Contribution to the Performance
Another Great Prop
Zach and the Ladies of Hammer
The Always Beautiful and Classy, Caroline Munro,
Veronica Carlson, and Yvonne Monlaur
Kevin Slick as Count Orlok Prior to 
His Live Performance of the Score 
During a Screening of the Film Nosferatu
Kevin's Make-up Was Done by Jesse Melchior
Who Said Print is Dead? Monster Magazine Publishers, Dave Davey (Undying Monsters), Dick Klemensen (Little Shoppe of Horrors), Dennis Druktenis (Scary Monsters), and Jim Clatterbaugh (Monsters from the Vault)
Cortlandt Hull With His Newly Painted Dracula Head
Cortlandt With His Monster Bash Award (aka The Forry)
Sunday Night Dinner: On the Left, Kerry Gammill, Rich Scrivani, and Tom Weaver. On the Right, Richard Gordon, Will Roberts, and Steven Thornton
Dick Klemensen and His Lovely Wife Nancy
Max Cheney and I Ham it Up at Dinner





Make plans and reservations now to attend next year's Prehistoric Monster Bash, you won't be disappointed!