MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA HAUNTED HOUSE SPECIAL ON TWITCH (10/5)

Check out this week's Cinema Insomnia's Haunted House Special on Twitch (October 5 at 11pm, with a preshow at 10pm, hosted by Bestow TV's Paul Sanders). For the main feature, the intrepid Mr. Lobo visits an abode of comedic fright upon an ambitious, Halloween night. 

He's joined by his fellow "Totally Fake Ghostbusters" (horror hosts Dick Dyszel, Jerry Moore, John Dimes and Rich Koz), as they explore the mysterious Chestburster House to prove that no real ghosts roam within. 

Laughs, chills and a heap of haunted-house movie trailers (plus a thematically related, Popeye cartoon) spill forth in this energetic entry from the one, the only (drum roll, please) Mr. Lobo!

WISE WORDS:

 

R.I.P. BILL BOWMAN

As the congenial Bowman Body, you brought joyful scares to viewers, hosting the best and worst in horror cinema via WRIC/WXEX's Shock Theatre.  

The documentaries, Hi There Horror Movie Fans and Virginia Creepers, showcase your legacy with heartfelt accuracy, keeping fans close to your frightful endeavors.

As added fun, the Bowman Body even granted fans a musical angle (with the novelty hit, "The Bowman Body Theme"), and with it, special memories that can never fade. You made lives better through your macabre portrayal, because you did so with a hearty wink and nudge. That playfulness prevails, Mr. Bowman, as does your contagious kindness. Take care, my friend, and indeed, rest well. 

GLOBAL JAMES BOND DAY 2024: HAPPY 60TH GOLDFINGER, HAPPY 50TH GOLDEN GUN (10/5)

Collection Recommendation: Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia Presents Retro Con M3 Squared (Space Thunder Kids)

Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia delivers an exciting, third chapter in the Retro Con (Greater Philadelphia Expo Center) series: Retro Con M3 Squared, with (Night of the) Space Thunder Kids as its prime feature. 

Space Thunder Kids, produced in Korea by Ninja-connoisseur Joseph Lai and directed by "Elton Reins," details the mission of three, young pilots who blast off to halt the Dark Imperial Empire from seizing galactic control. To heighten the peril, Space Thunder Kids features a Yongary surrogate, spirited, space battles and flashy, giant-robot jousting. 

Regardless of its avid, astral delights, many consider Space Thunder Kids the worst, anime adventure ever produced, if only because it's cobbled from a slew of other anime entries (including Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers), with come-and-go characters, looping segments and head-scratching, still-frame inserts; but like so many of Mr. Lobo's "misunderstood" gems, it still churns a pleasing diversion. 

In addition to Space Thunder Kids, Retro Con M3 Squared offers special appearances by Sally the Zombie Cheerleader (Nicole M. King); Cinema Insomnia Assistant-Supreme, Ms. Wendy; Grimlock (Adam Emerson Wyeth); ZanyGeek's Cobra Commander (on his Presidential bid); Townsend Coleman (voice of the Tick & Ninja Turtle's Michelangelo); writer/director/producer Eric "The Smoke" Moran; cosplayer Adya Moran; Mandy Cat Kitana; Reel 7 Girl, Natasha Margaret Scarlett; Captain Jack of Jack Arts; arcade-king Mike Kogan of the Game is Afoot; Renee and Todd of Rat Stash; Brian T. Price of Bad Anime, Bad!; David Eisenhauer of Retro Rest Stop; Retro Con owner/promoter, Rosemary Ann Ward-Tuski; the tuneful Cybertronic Spree; and straight from that vaporizing, teen-cult classic, Night of the Comet, Kelli (Chopping Mall/Killbots) Maroney and Catherine Mary (The Last Starfighter) Stewart.

The convention footage is augmented by nostalgic, sci-fi trailers and commercials that highlight Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Micronauts, making this comprehensive release all the more delectable. 

Order the Retro Con M3 Squared Blu-ray at 

https://osi74.square.site/product/blu-ray-backer-pre-order-cinema-insomnia-retrocon-m3-squared-night-of-the-space-thunder-kids-with-credit-1-/185?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true

PIN-UP TIME: INGRID PITT IS ELIZABETH BATHORY (COUNTESS DRACULA)

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #74 & #75

Small Press Comics Episodes #74 & #75 are geared up for viewing, with Larned Justin and Steve Keeter hosting the former, and Justin & Jason DeGroot covering the latter.

For #74, Larned & Steve chat about what led them to enter the small-press sector, based on the Silver Age exploits of DC, Marvel and Warren, and the myopic, company politics that may have daunted them, if not for their indomitable, creative spirits. Dav Pilkey's Cat Club Comic Book Influences and Mark Andrew Smith/James Stokoe's Sullivan's Sluggers are placed under the favorable spotlight later in the installment.

For #75, Larned and Jason reveal the latter's exciting, new project, Shelter Dog, which manifested through the assisting talents of Larned, Teri S. Wood and John Muller. In relation to the Shelter Dog, Jason speaks of those special ways that animals uplift and soothe our souls. (Copies and proceeds of Shelter Dog will be donated to various shelters throughout the country.) 

Listen/watch #74 at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJZ3P0xwjNo&t=91s

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ypro0R9cUw&t=29s

Listen/watch #75 at 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: JOKER V RED SKULL (ANTHONY CACIOPPO)

 

GOODBYE, JOHN ASHTON

For most of us, you'll always be Sgt. John Taggert from the four Beverly Hills Cop movies. In fact, Taggert set the standard for any and all cantankerous yet good-natured men in command. 

But Taggert was just the tip of your eclectic iceberg, as your body of work includes King Kong Lives; The Tommyknockers; Reign of the Gargoyles; So Evil, My Sister; The Psychopath (Eye for an Eye); The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai; Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link; Borderline; Avalanche; Oh, God!; American Christmas; Honky Tonk Freeway; The Day Lincoln Was Shot (as Ulysses S. Grant); Saturday's; Midnight Run; Dirty Work; The Deliberate Stranger; Death in Texas; Loves, Lies and Murder; Once Upon a River; Bill's Gun Shop; Hidden Assassin; Uncle John; Little Big League; Curly Sue; The Neighborhood; I Want to Go Home; Trapped in Paradise; The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands; Last Resort; Lawman Without a Gun; Some Kind of Wonderful; Little Girls in Pretty Boxes; My Father's House; She's Having a Baby; Gone Baby Gone; My Little Baby; Meet the Deedles; Instinct; Middle Men; The Joke Thief; The Rhineman Exchange; Jane Doe: Till Death Do Us Part; Cat Murkil and the Silks; Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2; Hot Bath an' a Shave; Making a Deal with the Devil; I Know My First Name is Steven; Elvis and the Beauty Queen; and Breaking Away.  

On the small screen, you hit it outta the park with Wonder Woman; Columbo; Kojak; Barnaby Jones; Police Woman; Police Story; Police Squad!; Brothers; Fantasy Island; The A-Team; Starsky & Hutch; Hardcastle and McCormick; Emergency!; Code R; M*A*S*H; Phyllis; The Tracy Ullman Show; King of the Hill; Dallas; Judging Amy; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Fairly Legal; The Finder; Body & Soul; Family; The Twilight Zone (1980s: "Chameleon"); Hardball (as Charles Battles for 18 episodes); and Breaking Away (in which you reprised your movie role). 

As is clear, you were here, there and everywhere, Mr. Ashton, and all for good cause and great measure, with efforts that gave us forthright drama, honest laughs and ever abiding thrills that'll thrive far into the future.