2015 Roundup & Reflection

As we rapidly approach last call for this year, I thought it the perfect time to look back and reflect on the year 2015. It was an interesting year, all things considered, and a very successful one for me, professionally-speaking...

During the last year I:

• Was inducted into the HORROR HOST HALL OF FAME
•  Won a RONDO AWARD for BEST BLOG (for this blog!)
• Produced 29 episodes of THE FANTASTIC FILMS OF VINCENT PRICE
•  Had 3 short stories published: Emby Press, Horrified Press, and Empire Comics Lab. Two others were accepted into anthologies but still await publication.
• Wrote 4 Scary Monsters Magazine columns as well as a piece for the Body Count Zine.
• Wrote 10 short film and two feature film scripts
• Was a guest on 14 podcast shows
• Produced 4 video segments for the STAY COOL GEEK podcast
• Did a radio interview with NASHVILLE FILM RADIO
• Hosted THE COMEDY OF TERRORS live at Wonderfest with special guests Sara Karloff and Victoria Price
•  Hosted A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST., THE GOONIES, & TAILYPO at the Franklin Drive-In
• Hosted the 12th annual DR. GANGRENE'S HORROR HOOTENANNY
• Wrote/Produced a short film based on an H.P. Lovecraft short story
• Wrote 100 blog posts
• Introduced TOURIST TRAP at the Belcourt Theater's all-night horror movie marathon
• Made a number of live appearances around town for various events and fundraisers.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Rondo Awards, and to the HORROR HOST HALL OF FAME for the induction. Those are both HUGE honors, and I'm truly grateful.


This was the first year I actually kept tally of my activities - I started keeping track somewhere around mid-year, and probably missed one or two things along the way. Seeing that list makes me realize that I kept busy, and that makes me proud. I like to stay busy. My goal is to top that list next year - but I'm not really sure if that's possible!


2015 was also a tough year, however, as a number of notable celebrities passed away, including:

Christopher Lee, Roddy Piper, Leonard Nimoy, Wes Craven, Robert Z'Dar, Gunnar Hansen, Terry Pratchett, James Best, Filthy Phil Taylor, and Lemmy...

Damn. That's a helluva list. Looking at all those names together, that would have made an awesome convention if they had all appeared together, wouldn't it? Lemmy's passing in particular really hit me hard. He is such an iconic figure, a true one of a kind rebel, a legendary figure the likes of which we'll never see again.

In 2011 I wrote the following review of the documentary LEMMY - I still find that documentary just as inspirational, and will miss that giant for some time to come. Hail Motorhead.

Dr. Gangrene Live Show 4-26-02

I recently started revisiting some of the old live shows I did at the cable access station in Nashville TN. The one I'm featuring in this post is from April 26th, 2002. The cable access station had just opened shortly before this, and we were the first chow to broadcast LIVE from the new station. This was actually our second show, and featured a band called THE REVERBIANS and their awesome dancing robot, toy collector Michael Lester, writer Stephen J. Hill, and more!

Addams Family Polar Bear on Night Gallery

Now that I finally have a DVR and access to METV I have been a happy Mad Doctor, grabbing a number of old TV series, including Rod Serling's Night Gallery. I was watching an episode the other night entitled "Hatred Unto Death" (with a second very short segment called "How to Cure the Common Vampire") when I spotted a familiar face. Not one of the actors, mind you, I'm talking a famous prop in the background.

The episode (from Season 3, aired May 27, 1973) involves a big game hunter (Steve Forrest) who brings a gorilla back from the jungle to civilization after realizing there is a link between them, a hatred carried on from a past life. At one point the gorilla gets loose in a warehouse, and that's where I spotted the fine fellow featured above - the bear from THE ADDAMS FAMILY TV show. No doubt the prop was sitting around the backlot where Serling and Company filmed and they thought why not throw it in the shot.

Here's a shot of Gomez with his bear - definitely the same one. Night Gallery is perhaps my favorite TV anthology series - although it's hard to pick just one. Karloff's Thriller, Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, Monsters... all great stuff. Perhaps someone will revive the TV horror anthology format. Could be interesting to see some fresh terror tales for today's audiences...!

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance

Attention Nashvillians, this weekend at the mighty Belcourt Theater, the midnight movie both Friday and Saturday night is:

SAMURAI COP 2: DEADLY VENGEANCE

A followup to the amazingly inept and equally awesome 1991 film Samurai Cop, starring Mathew Karedas and Mark Frazer as a pair of buddy cops who go toe to toe with Robert Z'Dar and the Yakuza in 1990s Hollywood, the long-awaited sequel this time pairs the two men against none other than Tommy Wiseau (The Room) and promises to be just as mind-bendingly insane as its predecessor.

 

A must-see for bad-cinema fans - come raise a katana in tribute to Robert Z'Dar, who passed away earlier this year.

Belcourt Theater, Friday - Saturday December 4-5, 2015.

The Sign of Satan

This weekend I recorded an episode of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR called The Sign of Satan. Originally broadcast on May 8, 1964, I was excited to find it starred none other than Christopher Lee, and was based on a story by Robert Bloch. Promising!

As the story unfolded I suddenly realized I had read this story - it was from the July, 1938 issue of WEIRD TALES - which was an especially excellent issue featuring works from Bloch, H.P. Lovecraft, Henry Kuttner, Robert Howard, Seabury Quinn, E. Hoffman Price and more. A veritable who's who of Weird Fiction!


The story concerns studio executives who stumble across a foreign horror film that is so realistic it leaves them speechless. They decide they have to have the star, Karl Jorla, in their picture. And they get more than they bargained for, as the scenes depicted in the film were that of an actual black mass, and were never meant for public consumption. Jorla is in fear of retribution from the Satanic cult members.

The screenplay for the  Hitchcock show was written by Barré Lyndon, who wrote the screenplays for a number of films and TV shows, including WAR OF THE WORLDS 1953, The Lodger 1944, and Dark intruder 1965. Interestingly, he also wrote the screenplay for an episode of Boris Karloff's THRILLER I recorded this weekend too called YOURS TRULY JACK THE RIPPER.

Definitely worth tracking down if you get the chance, this is one genre fans - and Lee fans - will want to see. The TV adaptation falls short of the story it's based on, however - but, truth be told, Bloch's evocative writing would be hard to match. You can check out the story for yourself for free on archive.org
HERE

Happy Birthday Boris

 Happy Birthday to the one and only William Henry Pratt, better known to the world as Boris Karloff, born on this day in 1887. Interestingly, he shares the day with his only daughter, Sara Karloff, who was born in 1938. Boris had a long career in movies and television, and embraced his role as horror icon. Here's to the King of Horror, Boris Karloff.

R.I.P. Gunnar Hansen

I was truly bummed to learn of the passing of Gunnar Hansen when I woke this morning. Gunnar was, of course, best known to horror film fans as the chainsaw-wielding lunatic Leatherface in the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, in 1974. I had the pleasure of first meeting Gunnar in 2005. He was in town to appear in director Ben Dixon's film Wolfsbayne (later retitled to Aconite) and doing a signing at a local comic book store, Outer Limits Comics. He was an incredibly nice guy, and funny, as the interview he did for my show, CHILLER CINEMA, shows. We shot a second quick promo for my show that still cracks me up to this day.

A true blow to the horror community, Gunnar will indeed be missed. Farewell my friend.

Vincent Price Memories from Actor David Frankham

Happy Halloween fright fans!

Here's a special treat for all you monster kids, excerpts from an interview I did recently with actor David Frankham recalling memories of Vincent Price. He tells some wonderful stories of Price and what a generous, wonderful man he was both on and off set. David worked with Price on three films: Return of the Fly, Master of the World, and Tales of Terror. This is a lot of fun, give it a listen if you have a few minutes, you won't regret it...

12 hours of Terror Recap

The 5th Annual 12 Hours of Terror festival at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville was a smashing success! Over 200 people crammed into the historic 1966 Hall for twelve straight hours of fright and fun. The movies were an interesting mix this year, ranging from sci-fi to horror and schlock. My son Luke and I arrived early and a line quickly formed outside the theater that wound down the building and around the corner.

The festivities kicked off with something new this year, a short set from Nashville's own THE BOO DUDES, a costumed band comprised of a werewolf lead singer/guitarist, Dracula on keys, the Headless Horseman on drums, an alien guitarist, and a mad scientist on the mixing board. What's not to love?

 They were fun and funny, entertaining the audience before the first film of the night, John Carpenter's THE THING.

 The Boo Dudes then kept the fun rolling as they returned for a second set. Next up on the film-front was a totally insane foreign film called THE BOXER'S OMEN, introduced by the Nashville Scene's Jim Ridley.

Full of blood, vomit, martial arts and magic, this was the type of gonzo feature I've come to appreciate at these shows.

The third feature I had the pleasure to introduce - from 1979, TOURIST TRAP.

Starring Chuck Connors and Tanya Roberts, this is a pretty surreal movie that, while not as full-out insane as the previous film, is still equally-enjoyable for its own merits. Connors is great as a creepy owner of an abandoned tourist trap called Slauson's Lost Oasis and Western Town. Fun film.

 As we exited the theater after Tourist Trap we found the lobby completely transformed. The Belcourt ghouls had been busy, as the lobby was decorated with bats, blood, black lights and body parts.

The frights continued with a period piece called EYES OF FIRE.  Introduced by the Belcourt's Jason Shawhan, this one featured 1700s witchcraft on the American frontier.

Next up was another new feature - the Belcourt's Zack Hall brought his monthly feature WEEKNIGHT REWIND to the Hellcourt for a special segment they called SHRIEKNIGHT REWIND.

 Zack brought three films - on glorious VHS - and read the back of the box and showed a showed a short clip from each. Then it was up to the audience, as they voted on which film to see.

I was particularly happy, as one of my all-time favorite films won the day, TRICK OR TREAT, the rock n' roll masterpiece featuring music from Fastway. Great eye opener late in the evening/early morning.

This was followed by some 80s low-budget fun, DEADLY SPAWN. Once again introduced by Jim Ridley, I had always wanted to see this creature feature but never had the pleasure. Talk about getting a lot of bang for your buck, that's exactly the case with this film. Low budget, big effects. Big fun.

Last but certainly not least was the remake of THE BLOB from 1988. Definitely one of the more worthy remakes, I had forgotten just how fun this one is.

As the final moments of the splatacular feature played on the screen the Belcourt staff encouraged all those still there to gather in front of the theater for a group photo. As you can see, quite the collection of intrepid film-goers braved the night.

All of the films were on 35mm with the exception of The Blob and The Thing, which were DCP, and Trick or Treat, which was presented on VHS (VHS is Alive!!). A huge thanks to everyone who attended, and especially to the Belcourt staff who worked so hard to put this event together.

My son took this picture of me posing with Jim Ridley and Jason Shawhan after the final film. It was a great event, and I look forward to next year's event!

*Special thanks to Jason Shawhan for the loan of the photos!

12 Hours of Terror

The Belcourt Theater's 12 Hours of Terror movie marathon crawls from the crypt again next Saturday, October 24th, for the 5th annual event. 

This year's event promises more frightening features, although the Belcourt is playing coy about this year's lineup, offering only hints. Here's what they've teased so far:

Join us for 12 solid hours of quivering matter, cheap-o splatter, walking heads, the plastic dead, grisly ghosts and horrible hosts—not to mention the phantasmagorical rediscovery that's been blowing minds across the U.S.! All that, plus crazy antics, awesome vintage grindhouse trailers, live encounters with sinister forces, and the moment of truth where you the viewer must CHOOSE THE HORROR ABOUT TO UNFOLD—capped by one of the coolest scare-cinema finds you've never seen!


Interesting...! Out of curiosity, I decided to go back and make a list of all the films they showed at the fest over the years. The following list is pretty impressive!!

2011:
Night of the Creeps
Abby
Anguish
Zombie
Squirm
Lady Terminator
Return of the Living Dead

2012
THE BURNING - Noon
MESSIAH OF EVIL - 1:45 pm
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON -  3:25 pm
BAY OF BLOOD/TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE (Reazione a Catena) -  5:15 pm
SOCIETY - 6:50 pm
DEMONS - 8:45 pm
DETENTION - 10:30 pm

2013
 The Belcourt truly brought it this year. They changed up the format - showed double-features every weekend.

Oct 4th-5th Rosemary's Baby/Let's Scare Jessica to Death
Oct 11th Deep Red/Gates of Hell
Oct 12th Creepers (Phenomena)/Shakma
Oct 18th - 19th - Wickerman Final Cut
Oct. 25th Chopping Mall/Basket Case
Oct 26th Evilspeak/The Craft

PLUS they showed Vincent Price movies at various times throughout the month:
THE TINGLER, THEATRE OF BLOOD, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, and HOUSE OF WAX (2d).

2014
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
The Babadook
Ninja III: The Domination
Inside
Neon Maniacs
Just Before Dawn
UNSANE

Cemetery Plots #2

The comic book anthology Cemetery Plots produced by Dan Johnson, long-time friend and former writer for the Dr. Gangrene Creature Feature show, is planning a second issue. They have started a Kickstarter campaign, and I wanted to share with you ghouls. Check it out, it's got some great incentives, and any help would be appreciated!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/633579500/empire-comics-lab?ref=thanks_share


Here's a brief message from Editor Dan Johnson.


Hello, kids! Dan Johnson, editor of Cemetery Plots here again. Week one of Empire Comics Lab’s Kickstarter has gone really well. Right now, 10% of the amount we need has been raised, but we still have a way to go to meet our final goal of $3,500.

I want to take a moment to remind you all that we’re holding a special ‘Thank You for Pledging’ drawing. If you pledge any amount to the Kickstarter between now and 11:59 PM Sunday, October 4, you will be put into a drawing for a signed first edition of Cemetery Plots #1 and a one-of-a-kind Thank You sketch of the book’s host, D.O. Mann, by ECL’s head honcho, Dave Hearn. Now, I do want to remind you all that we are sold out of first edition copies of Cemetery Plots #1. They are all gone except for a stash that I have for upcoming convention appearances. This drawing is going to be your last chance to get one for yourself. Also, the sketch that Dave is working on is going to be unique. There will not be another one like it offered at any time.
Also, I did want to take a moment to remind you all that pledging to the Kickstarter is a real bargain. For example, if you pledge just $3.00, you’ll get a copy of Cemetery Plots #1 when we go back and print the second edition, as well as a Thank You in an upcoming issue of the book. Now think about that. You’re going to get a heck of a horror comic book for a mere $3.00. Who else is offering a comic for that price these days? Some of the major publishes are talking about going as high as $5.00 PER BOOK. That’s insane! It’s almost as crazy as passing on a book that $2.00 cheaper. And heck, we’re even throwing in the cost of mailing it to you as well! Again, this is a bargain you can’t afford to pass up.
So! Give what you can and help us make our dream of making the best damn comic books a reality. Thank you.

Dr. Gangrene's Horror Hootenanny 12

The premiere Halloween event of the Middle Tennessee area, DR. GANGRENE'S HORROR HOOTENANNY 12, is taking place this year on Friday, October 9th at THE POND in Franklin, TN. Hosted as always by the Physician of Fright, this year's lineup features Opossum Holler (Bowling Green, KY), The Creeping Cruds (Nashville, TN) and The Vamptones (Murfreesboro, TN).


This is the 12th annual Hootenanny, and as always will feature a huge costume contest with prizes from an array of sponsors including EVIL PUMPKINS, LONE WOLF BODY ART/SLAUGHTERHOUSE, UNCANNY VALLEY PRODUCTIONS, PERFORMANCE STUDIOS, UNHOLY APPAREL, WOLFDEN PRODUCTIONS, and more.




And to top it all off there will also be a late-night movie screening of EVIL DEAD - so if you're in the mid-south area make plans now to come join the music city madman, Dr. Gangrene, for this night of music, monsters, and mayhem.

595 Hillsboro Rd, Franklin TN

8:00pm - until, $7 ($6 in costume), 21+

Halloween Triple-Feature hosted by Dr. Gangrene

It's a Halloween triple-feature at the Franklin Drive-in, in Franklin KY on Saturday, October 17th.

In honor of the late Wes Craven, we are showing his 1984 masterpiece NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, along with the 1985 classic THE GOONIES and director Cameron McCasland's short film TAILYPO.

The event is hosted by Nashville Horror Host Dr. Gangrene, and director McCasland will be appearing as well to discuss his film. There will also be a costume contest for kids and adults with prizes, and more. Make plans now, or Freddy will getcha!

Big Developments at the Belcourt

Big news was announced today from my favorite theater, the historic Belcourt Theatre in Nashville. They will begin renovations starting in January to add a third screen, increase bathroom size, and update and repair the facility. The Belcourt is a building rich in Nashville history. It once housed the Grand Ole Opry. It has been in existence for 90 years, and is sorely in need of updates and repairs. The HVAC, plumbing, and electric all need updating, the structure needs repair, and the 1923 hall, the main screen, needs repair work. Most of all the bathrooms, which are notoriously small, currently are not wheelchair accessible. In addition to repairs, the outside of the building is getting a makeover.

Construction will begin in January, and the Belcourt will be completely closed for six months. They will not lose the parking lot - the new third screen, which will seat 45 people, will be located on the second floor. The second screen, the 1966 hall, will go from 366 seats to 254 seats.

Already on facebook there has been the predictable complaining and gnashing of teeth. look, people, change in inevitable. The place is in serious need of repair. Unfortunately nothing stays the same forever. If the Belcourt is to survive and thrive, it needs to be updated. This will make it a viable theater to be enjoyed for the next 90 years. The plan is to preserve as much of the existing look of the Belcourt as possible, including the arches above the current entrance. I for one am excited about the news, and happy for the Belcourt, which is one of the premiere indy theaters in the country and a true Nashville gem.

 Dr. Gangrene PSA shot in the Belcourt

Below is the press release below, spelling out in greater detail some of the changes that will be coming.  

Dear Belcourt friends,

This morning, we share some very exciting news for the Belcourt and its future. Today, we are publicly announcing the Belcourt Campaign, a $4.5 million fundraising effort to restore, refurbish and preserve our 90-year-old building.

It’s been over 50 years since any major work was done on the Belcourt’s building. Resources have certainly been devoted to our programming and our education and engagement work. We’ve invested in exhibition, with new seats, draping, carpeting, and aisle lighting—and the installation of 4K digital cinema projection systems in both halls. And again and again, we’ve patched and repaired old HVAC, plumbing systems and roof leaks (fixes that have been increasingly expensive). At the same time, however, audiences are growing for all our programming, membership is at an all-time high, and the Belcourt is recognized regionally and nationally.

Now, it is time to meet the responsibilities of caring for the Belcourt’s aging structure—and making sure this vital part of Nashville’s past can continue to serve film fans for decades to come. 

For example...

• The theatre’s historic gem, the 1925 Hall, needs preservation and renovation—including the original proscenium arch and wooden fly loft.
• Our restrooms. As you know firsthand, they’re too small. But even worse, they are inaccessible to our patrons who use wheelchairs. We must address that.
• Given its age, the building lacks key accessibility and safety features—and core systems like HVAC and plumbing need replacement and upgrades.
• A new 2nd floor classroom/meeting space and a small screening room are part of the plans. This flexible screening room (with seating capacity of about 45) will be outfitted with a digital projection system and used for public screenings—as well as Belcourt classes and education programs, private screenings, and test screenings for local filmmakers.
• This plan will not change the Belcourt's current footprint or parking.
 

 

Going Attractions - the Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie

I got a DVD in the mail that I have been meaning to tell you all about for some time now. It is called "Going Attractions - the Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie," and it is fantastic!

Going Attractions is a documentary that takes a look at the time-honored tradition of the Drive-in movie theater. Tracing the roots back to its beginning and following it through its decline and near-extinction in the 80s, all the way to the recent revival and digital revolution, this is a really well made and entertaining documentary.

I had the pleasure of seeing it projected on a drive-in screen back in 2013, when it was shown at the Stardust Drive-in in Watertown, TN. Director April Wright was there too, and she was super friendly and a pleasure to talk with. The documentary features a plethora of drive-in ads, memorabilia, and footage as well as interviews with owners across the country, and even segments with director Roger Corman. Definitely a DVD you will want in your collection. AND she is working on a new series - not sure where this will air, but this promo popped up on her Youtube channel recently, and promises to be fun. I'm a huge Joe Bob fan, and he is the perfect host for a series spotlighting drive-ins. Keep an eye out for this one, and I'll post more info as I get it!