FAREWELL, VALERIE PERRINE

You were one of the most beautiful women in cinema, a "10+" without a lick of debate, and I might add, a mighty effective actress.

Miss (Eve) Teschmacher will always be your signature role and one that made Superman: The Movie and Superman II as special as they are.   

There's also much to be said of your work in Slaughterhouse-Five (as captivating captive, Montana Wildhack); W.C. Fields and Me; Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women; Lenny; The Last American Hero; The Magician of Lublin; Mask of Murder; Reflections in a Dark Sky; Silver Skies; Bright Angel; Maid to Order; The Cannonball Run; Can't Stop the Music; The Fabulous Allan Carr; The Electric Horseman; Steambath; Water; Agency; Malibu; The Border; The Break; Boiling Point; Burning Shore; The Amateurs (aka The Moguls); The Californians; Curtain Call; Marian Ross White; What Women Want; Girl in the Cadillac; My Girlfriend's Boyfriend; A Place Called Truth; The End of the Bar; Brown's Requiem; Sweet Bird of Youth; When Your Lover Leaves; and The Couple Takes a Wife.  

On the episodic side, you visited Walker, Texas Ranger; Faerie Tale Theatre; CBS Summer Playhouse; ER; Third Watch; Homicide: Life on the Street; Just Shoot Me!; Grounded for Life; Burke's Law; Family Law; The Practice; Ghostwriter; The Beast; Northern Exposure; Nash Bridges; Lights Out; As the World Turns, as Dolores Pierce (from 1998-1999); and as Liz Green in Leo and Liz in Beverly Hills. 

You gave it your all and fought like hell, Ms. Perrine, right to the bittersweet end. Please know that we were always at your side, sharing our spiritual support and appreciating your prolific work. You'll now thrive ever stronger in our hearts, and your spirit will always remain inseparable from our own.  

PINUP TIME: TRACI LORDS

MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA: BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA, THIS SATURDAY

Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia 25th Anniversary is upon us, and as a positive precursor (the first in a series of such salutes), our gracious host is showing one of the greatest, "misunderstood" movies of all time: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla. The 1952 oddity will manifest this Saturday Night (March 28) on Twitch, OSI74/Roku and Amazon Fire, with the preshow shenanigans starting at 10pm. (BTW: The historic contents are set to land on illustrious, collectible Blu-ray, which one can preorder at https://www.osi74.com/.)

When I was a wee lad and discovered Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, I mistook Sammy Petrillo for Jerry Lewis and thought that Duke Mitchell was an alternate costar before Dean Martin came along. Of course, I was wrong, but being that I couldn't read the time, let alone research the matter, I just went with the flow, nurturing my misconception. 

Directed by William (Ghost Chasers) Beaudine and written by Tim (Dead Men Tell) Ryan, the plot pits Petrillo and Mitchell, who portray "themselves," against Lugosi's mad scientist, Dr. Zabor, who wants to implant Mitchell's brain into a gorilla on Kola Kola Island. The headlining duo is chased by lusty, native women (Muriel Landers and Charlita), with Ramona the Chimp layering on much of the mush, as she falls for Petrillo who's happy to ape Lewis throughout every speck of the calamity. Honey-voiced Mitchell cuts in to share his breezy tunes, as Lugosi dons his supreme, sinister form. 

Despite the fact that Lewis wished to seize the flick (i.e. stomp it into oblivion), Brooklyn Gorilla managed to make the prevalent, UHF rounds, and because of its surreal nature, it now inspires further, misunderstood fun, thanks to Mr. Lobo, who parenthesizes it with Lewis-loving, MDA Labor Day Telethon, parody skits, joined by Sally the Zombie Cheerleader, Dr. Sphincter, Countess Bloodsugar (Jessie Seeherman), Dark Sarcasma (Penny Dreadful in disguise!), Dr. Sarcofiguy (John Dimes), the Horsen Milken (Reel 7) Girl and her nifty puppet, Professor Shrimply, good ol' Kogarilla, good ol' Romana and the pugnacious, Petrillo impersonator, Gary Blemish (who, if one can believe the audacity, pitches a Birth of a Nation rock opera), plus a number of surprise guests and fan greetings. To embellish this prolific succession, there are time-warping, nostalgic segments that cover Mr. Lobo's vast, informative career. That's right. This one leaps all over the place to ensure one's utmost, wraparound pleasure.  

It should go without saying that Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia Presents Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla will go down as a wild winner; so make it a point to be part of the untamed hijinks this monumental, Saturday night!

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: DAREDEVIL & KINGPIN (MOCKERY OF TIME)

 

CODEX AVAILABLE; PEAKS COMING

An amicable reminder: The second edition of Eighth Tower Records and Books' Codex of Pleasure and Pain: Stories Inspired by Clive Barker's Hellraiser is available for immediate purchase. I have a story in that one, revolving around the fall of Camelot. Perhaps you might fancy it, along with the curation's other chilling tales. 

While Codex reigns supreme, Eighth Tower's David Lynch/Twin Peaks, inspired-by tribute (the official title not yet determined) is in the development, but it's closer to realization than not. My yarn, "The Greater Goo," will be featured and has already premiered in The Eighth Tower Magazine, for those who might be interested. 

Read it at 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/michael-f-housel-149149240

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQfBZgqJxxwMTKSxTpRpBhkmktC

And as for the forbidding Codex, it beckons at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GL8BQ6GS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Delve in and be bedeviled! 

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

GOODBYE, NICHOLAS BRENDON

Most know and love you as the waggish Xander Harris from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as the idiosyncratic Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds, but your resume extended beyond even these renowned efforts. 

For example, you were nothing short of spot-on in the uproarious Psycho Beach Party and made commensurate impressions in Blood on the Highway, Demon Island, Fire Serpent, Unholy, Attack of the Morningside Monster, Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, Coherence, My Neighbor's Secret, Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel, Golden Christmas and several more where you couldn't help but shine.

You had some problems along the way, Mr. Brendon, but we all face such matters at one time or another. When it came to your fanbase, however, you were more than stellar, with artistic provisions that will continue to be reviewed and respected. In other words, you were and will remain one of the few entrenched, legendary figures in popular culture: an irrefutable designation that will stand the test of time.  

PERSONA #2 AUDIOBOOK SALE

Hi, folks! Here's a swell heads-up. Radio Archives is having an enticing, half-price sale this coming week (3/23-3/27) on select titles, and included in the grand queue is my Airship 27 novel, The Persona, Vol 2: Green-Fleshed Fiends. 

The novel is performed by Paul Curtis (featured above), and let me tell you, he does a marvelous job capturing my characters and their many surreal scenarios. 

Why not visit Radio Archives and purchase a download while the price is so fetching? I, for one, would appreciate it, and there's no doubt you'll come away appreciating the superlative quality of the presentation.  

https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Persona_Green_Fleshed_Fiends_p/ra784d.htm

WISE WORDS:

 

SO LONG, CHUCK NORRIS

You were a martial arts icon and an action star supreme, but in everyday life you rivaled both platforms by being just a good-natured guy. 

Of course, that didn't stop us from enjoying your exploits, as we did weekly (and then daily) by viewing the long-running Walker, Texas Ranger.

Then there are those great movies, which include the Bruce Lee headliner, The Way of the Dragon; The Wrecking Crew (yep, the Dean Martin/Matt Helm vehicle, for which Lee was an action advisor); Breaker! Breaker!; Good Guys Wear Black (man, was that ever the talk of the town when I was in junior high); A Force of One; The Octagon; An Eye for an Eye; Silent Rage (a tension-wrought, Frankenstein chiller); Code of Silence; The Hero and the Terror; Forced Vengeance, Lone Wolf McQuade; Logan's War; Invasion U.S.A.; Bells of Innocence; The Cutter; The Expendables 2; The Green Fog; Hellbound; Sidekicks, Top Dog; Forest Warrior; Dodgeball; Firewalker; The President's Man: A Line in the Sand; The Delta Force; Delta Force 2; the Missing in Action trilogy and the Karate Kommandos, animated miniseries.  

You were undeniably one of the special ones: a kind, generous man ... a man who cared for his family, his country and his fans. That puts you on a mighty high and honorable perch, Mr. Norris, one that few ever attain, even though all should aspire to reach it.