Laugh

Those of you who have read past blogs of mine are aware I'm quite the fan of things sci-fi and spooky.  But sometimes we all need a laugh - as they say laughter is the best medicine.  So as a devoted tv viewer and coach potato, here are my favorite funny bone ticklers.

Vicious - The only new program to truly tickle my funny bone.  Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Derek Jacobi are fabulous as a long time couple who trade barbs with abandon.  Everyone in their circle of friends are splendid eccentrics, such as their young friend Ash whose family seems to have an extraordinarily high conviction rate.  I find the episodes a marvelous mix of sharp writing and fun physical comedy.  A wonderful Britcom airing new episodes in the states via PBS.


Myself & William Sanderson

Newhart - Much like the legendary Jack Benny, Bob Newhart is a master of reacting to comedic situations.  Therefore his sitcoms generally placed his sane central character amid a cornucopia of zany misfits.  The setting of Newhart was a historic inn located amongst the beautifully tranquil countryside of New England.  But things were never very peaceful for innkeeper Dick Loudon (Newhart) who dealt throughout the long running CBS series with a millionaire heiress as maid (Julia Duffy) as well as three bizarre backwoodsmen brothers.  Of the brothers two were named Daryl and the only one of them who ever spoke was Larry (William Sanderson).

 

The Honeymooners - Jackie Gleason portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden.  His next door neighbor was sewer 'technician' Ed Norton (Art Carney) who often aided in Kramden's numerous mad money making schemes.  Comical highlights included Ralph and Ed appearing on TV to promote the kitchen tool of the future and leaving the set in ruins after Ralph botched his lines.  The action of The Honeymooners generally transpired in the modest lodgings of Ralph and his wife Alice.  Alice Kramden and Trixie Norton rounded out the show's regulars and were played by various actresses throughout the evolution of The Honeymooners from a series of sketches on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars variety show to 39 classic self-titled sitcom episodes to Jackie Gleason's Variety Show on CBS.

 

Car 54 Where Are You?  The officers of police car 54 in the Bronx kept citizens safe and in good humor.  Misunderstanding was a mainstay at the 53rd precinct, such as the time a rumor took root that a temporary captain had previously served as a Nazi general.  The series boasts clever writing.

The Monkees - In the 60's, a group of charmingly zany young musician/actors were assembled in aspirations of bringing a type of Hard Day's Night allure to the small screen.  The Monkees were Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones.  In an era when many musicians were protesting political decisions the network mandated that the show remain largely family friendly as the adventures of The Monkess spoofed almost every genre or thing you could think of - from spies to fairy tales.  The enthusiasm and fun of the production still remains in each episode as well as great tunes from such prestigious pens as Neil Diamond and Carol King.  One of The Monkees songs was called Laugh.  How appropriate, and just the note to end on.

Peter Tork of The Monkees and I - October 2015.

 

All Through Space

A sci-fi magazine recently ran a flash fiction contest with the theme of invasion at Christmas.  Alas, my following submission did not place amongst the winners but I hope you enjoy its offbeat charm. 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

All Through Space

 

 

     Bernie watched as the last of the wreath pictured wrapping paper folded itself across the front of the jewelry box.  He tied a thin red ribbon around the slender item and smiled at his work.  Holiday music grew louder as he passed through the metallic corridor to the relaxation quarters where his wife sipped coffee.  Bernie walked by the electronic screen which displayed the quadrant of space he was designated to monitor and placed the gift beneath the sparkling lights of the holographic Christmas tree.

 

     “That better not be anything expensive,” she chided him.  “Remember our agreement?”

 

     “A quiet relaxed Christmas without expensive presents or any type of holiday ruckus.”  

 

     “Exactly!  Now that the children are grown and gone, there’s no reason to.  Bet they’re all excited to be back on Earth to celebrate the holidays with real snow instead of being stuck in this station watching space traffic.”

 

     “I gotta admit I’ve REALLY been looking forward to the quiet…”

 

     “Me too.”

    

     Suddenly an alarm bell blared. 

 

     Bernie raced to the control panel.

 

     “What is it?”

 

     “Unauthorized ship rapidly approaching,” Bernie replied.

 

     “Alien invaders!”

 

     “Doubtful this far from the rim.  Maybe fugitives – or worse,” Bernie pondered as his fingers engaged the station’s defense systems.

 

     The station then received a transmission. 

 

     “Hi ma! Hi pa!  We knew you couldn’t enjoy Christmas up here alone!  Thought we’d zip up in our new ship to keep you company.”

 

     “The kids are coming,” Bernie gasped.  “No peace here – we’re invaded!”

 

 

                                                                              FINIS

  

© 2015 William P. Rigler

   

My short story collections can be found at www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler - a great gift idea!

A Year of Conventions

I vividly recall Star Trek conventions from my youth.  What fans started as an effort to restore a classic science fiction series to the screen and learn the show's secrets from its production crew blossomed wildly.  The current convention phenomena embraces numerous TV shows as well as comics and other pop culture trends like steampunk.  Fans get to connect and share their special tastes in activities ranging from costume contests to panels. For fans of TV and films the midatlantic U. S. is a great spot for conventions that fit every enthusiast's taste.  I've found 2015 to be a fun year of conventions and thought I'd share some memories of the ones I was fortunate enough to attend.

March has several sensational area cons.  In Virginia, The Williamsburg Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating classic cowboy/western media with celebrity guests, movie screenings and a large, collectible filled vendor's room.  I attended the convention last year where I got to meet guests like Alex Cord and Robert Fuller.  Alas, attending this year was not in the cards.  However I did go to Cherry Hill New Jersey for Monstermania which commenced on March 13th and appropriately enough spotlighted the popular Friday the 13th film franchise over the weekend.  Although I only attended Saturday, that day did feel a bit like a Friday the 13th with overcast skies and cool drizzle as I made my way through the labyrinth like parking lot surrounding the hotel.  Monstermania's main focus is horror films. For me, the best part was chatting with the always amicable William Sanderson.  He's probably best known as Larry, the good hearted backwoodsman, from the series Newhart but has numerous sci-fi/horror credits including Blade Runner, Nightmares and True Blood.

Spring officially arrived by the last weekend of March, but Maryland was in for a dusting of snow.  I travelled through the white stuff without the aid of a TARDIS for the Baltimore based Regeneration Con.  If you're a proponent of TARDIS travel, then you're probably a fan of Dr. Who.  Regeneration Con is a Whovian delight featuring actors and writers who worked on the long running British Sci-Fi series that still makes its presence known Saturday nights via BBCAmerica, currently with Peter Capaldi as the title character.  Doctor Who - an alien Time Lord - has been portrayed by 13 different actors on television and one exclusively for two cinematic offerings.  Two of the actors who had played Doctor Who were present to sign autographs and reminisce about their memories on the show during Q&As.  In addition to the interview sessions with actors and writers, the event boasted numerous panels of interest to fans of the time travelling doctor.  There promises to be more time travelling fun at Regeneration Con 2016.


 

The first con of April transported the focus from all things Whovian to Trek.  The Great Philadelphia

Clive Revill and I at The Great Philadelphia Comic Con.

Comic Con assembled three actors (Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and George Takei) from the original Star Trek series to greet fans, do photo ops and sign autographs.  Other TV shows represented by guests included The Power Rangers and Buffy.  The Star Wars legacy was represented by several guests, including Clive Revill who voiced the Emporer in the original saga.  It was delightful hearing him discuss his career.  I eagerly talked to him about his work on stage in The Marat/Sade, on the silver screen in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and in TV shows such as Remington Steele.

  

Gates McFadden speaks at Steel City Con.

Pittsburgh's Steel City Comic Con is a cornucopia of vendors and celebrities.  April's edition featured guests Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) and Gates McFadden (Star Trek: The Next Generation).  The event had numerous panels and boasted a few classic TV  reunions.  Tom Wopat and John Schneider of The Dukes of Hazzard obviously maintained their chemistry from the series as they joked together about their time on the show and shared touching memories of cast mates.  Three's Company stars Richard Kline, Joyce DeWitt and Priscilla Barnes shared the stage to comment on favorite episodes like the one where confusion reigned when both Jack and Terri's date thought the other was a mental patient.


Amazing Con took place outside of Philadelphia and celebrated an eclectic mix of interests.  Guests  included artists and cosplayers as well as celebrities such as Bond girl Lana Wood and Parker Stevenson.  I couldn't help chatting with Stevenson about 80's TV miniseries as he appeared in the epic production of Civil War intrigue North and South.  It seems we are both fans of Masada. 

April ended with Chiller in New Jersey - certainly one of the area's largest assembly of celebrities.  I got to meet a Monkee (Michael Nesmith) and several film favorites including veteran actor Rip Torn.

My final Spring con was Awesome Con in Washington DC.  I got to hear a fascinating Q&A from both William Shatner and stars of The Lord of the Rings films - John Rhys Davies and Sean Astin.

Summer certainly had some hot fun!  The August offering of Monstermania in Cherry Hill had a great mix of guests including one of my favorite actors - Malcolm McDowell whose Q&A kept the packed audience amused and fascinated with anecdotes of his long career.  It seems McDowell met with disdain at his costar Roy Scheider's idea that the two claim they did their own flying in the film Blue Thunder.  Apparently McDowell loathes flying.  Sid Haig was extremely friendly to his long line of fans eager to get an autograph or picture taken with him.  Haig has an extensive career ranging from TV (the original Star Trek & Buck Rodgers) to films (Diamonds Are Forever).  As Haig signed a pic of him with 007 Sean Connery from Diamonds Are Forever for me, I couldn't help mentioning that I'd met Bond girl Lana Wood at a con earlier in the year.  His one line reply was great - "I threw her out a window once!"

Myself & Michael McConnohie at Retro Con.

September's two cons tugged at the heart strings of my youthful memories.  Near Philadelphia, Retro Con is a great event mostly celebrating 80's animated shows and pop culture.   There you'll likely walk past your favorite comic or Star Wars character.  In fact I especially felt nostalgic when I saw a group clad in the red costumes of the aliens from the original version of V.  V aired when I went to my first cons and those uniforms were awfully popular attire!  Retro Con's guest list included various voice actors of cartoons that I fondly discovered on TV in the afternoons or mornings of my youth, such as G.I. Joe, Mask and Robotech.  It was interesting to see the animation's real life counterparts.  Michael McConnohie was a voice for Robotech and has recently put his talent to use in reading audio adaptions of the adventures of Doc Savage.  I told him I was a fan of the character and it turns out we are both fans of the little known George Pal produced film - Doc Savage: Man of Bronze.  I've never tired since childhood of watching that film!

The Visitors surround C3PO & R2D2 at Retro Con.

Baltimore Maryland's Midatlantic Nostalgia Convention (known as MANC) is a treat for fans of early films and television shows.  This year's edition featured a trio of lethal lovelies from Hammer's horror films and a Bionic reunion with cast members from both The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.  The vendor's room with classic toys, books, movies and other historic mementos can easily transport one to an earlier era.


The scenery of scarlet and golden trees on the drive to Chiller's October edition really put me in the mood for Fall.  Police officers were on duty as usual guiding vehicles into the spacious parking lots across the street from the huge hotel that housed the convention.  Perhaps due to my selection of Sunday to attend, I was able to park closer then usual for my arrival in conjunction with the opening of the event and enjoyed a brisk walk in the autumn air.  The registration area was thankfully efficiently manned this year.  Once inside there was a large crowd milling through the vendors' rooms and the various celebrity signing areas.  Some of my favorite stars were signing at this con - like genre actress extraordinaire Sybil Danning whose credits include the original V TV series, Roger Corman's Battle Beyond the Stars, Rob Zombie's version of Halloween and The Howling 2 - Your Sister Is A Werewolf.  It was a pic from that film that I got her to autograph and she sweetly asked my preference for signature color!  Other celebrities included her Battle Beyond the Stars leading man, Richard Thomas AKA John boy of The Waltons and Chyna, the wrestler.
I really enjoyed chatting with a couple cult favorite actresses.  Brenda Strong said she and British actor David Warner had such chemistry as their characters in Twin Peaks that their time in the bizarre TV town was extended for additional episodes.  Being a season two player, she never got to work with its co-creator David Lynch but was directed by the show's other regular directors.  Misty Rowe played Maid Marion in the 70's Robin Hood TV spoof from Mel Brooks called When Things Were Rotten.  I remember the series as being hilarious - far funnier then Brooks film attempt at infusing the Robin Hood legend with comedy called Men in Tights.  "The show was ahead of its time," Rowe mused.  "It was cancelled because with so many sets it was too expensive."

Leroy and Star Trek's Walter Koenig.

I got to celebrate my birthday in Pittsburgh at Steel City Con's December edition.  I went with my friend Marie and her service dog, Leroy - who was a real star of the show!  Children were eager to pet him and he certainly charmed the celebrities so much so that he was called over by Star Trek's Walter Koenig and Paul Sorvino.  Leroy was happy to grant free photo ops! Leroy really liked William Katt, who he favored with some licks.  I've met Katt at several cons and he's always very friendly.  Katt starred in the '80's classic fantasy TV series The Greatest American Hero as well as numerous films.  Katt autographed for me a dvd cover of the movie Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend which he starred in opposite one of my favorite actors - Patrick McGoohan.  When I asked him about working with McGoohan he spoke of the actor with respect in his voice - especially at the way McGoohan departed the set regularly when free to return to be with his ailing wife.  All in all 'twas an excellent time and great end to the con year.

Believe it or not - the two Williams.  Myself and Katt at Steel City Con.

Many of these cons have more offerings then what I managed to briefly detail, such as musical offerings and costume contests.  There are themes for every taste in cons, ranging from faerie festivals to comic cons.  The common denominator is the fun. 

Open Channel D - And Happy Birthday

     Today is the 83rd birthday of Robert Vaughn. 
     Vaughn is a legendary actor of diverse talents who has brought charisma and a sense of gravity to every role.  His resume includes cult films such as Roger Corman's Teenage Caveman (in which Vaughn was the title character in a jungle that appeared rather flimsy) and Hollywood prestige pictures like The Young Philadelphians for which the acclaim the actor achieved resulted in an Oscar nomination.  Vaughn often found himself working alongside tinsel town's top talent and never failed to hold his own or outshine them.  Along with Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, he was part of the line up of current or impending mega stars that reinterpreted Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai for American audiences in the form of The Magnificent Seven. Vaughn portrayed a cold hearted gunslinger who carried out his work without a twinge of feeling - although such actions would seem to haunt him. 
     Humble in stardom, Vaughn seemed happy to give audiences what they wanted and returned to this famous character type to play an interstellar mercenary in Roger Corman's low budget outer space adventure Battle Beyond The Stars which I recently viewed and found just as exciting as when I was a kid. Robert Vaughn also directly revisited The Magnificent Seven's recent TV version as a judge.  I met one of that show's stars, Dale Midkiff who spoke of Vaughn's appearance with respect.
     Robert Vaughn occasionally appears at conventions.  I've been lucky enough to see him twice.  Both time I've been impressed by his intelligent demeanor.  At The Dean Martin Expo in New York City he gave an intriguing Q&A in which along with tales from his career he discussed differences between British and American TV.  Vaughn could certainly be an expert on the subject. 
     Thanks to the success of James Bond in the movies, 60's television was dominated by spies.  Other British spies included Patrick McGoohan's John Drake who was a no nonsense agent, uninterested in frivolous activities or guns as he tried to keep the world safe and Patrick Macnee's John Steed who sported a bowler and was armed with an umbrella as he teamed with a series of lethal lovelies to fend off enemy agents.    
     Robert Vaughn and David MCallum shot to international stardom in the TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E..  The show offered the weekly international adventures of U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (McCallum) as they fended off evil  madmen, usually in service to the sinister organization called T.H.R.U.S.H..  The series started in black and white with rather conventional tales of espionage and daring do.  In the second season the series shifted to color - and much more colorful adventures.  Solo and Kuryakin generally approached their problem separately (but not always) and generally found a civilian embroiled in the case either to be used or rescued.
     Many other TV shows such as Murder She Wrote have been favorably graced by Robert Vaughn's appearance. 
     Recently Robert Vaughn starred as Albert on the British TV series Hustle, which followed the complex plans of a group of relatively kind hearted con men.  I couldn't help but smile as I weekly watched Vaughn star in Hustle and David McCallum star in NCIS.  I guess you can't keep a good spy down!  

Robert Vaughn & I at the Dean Martin Expo - June 2014. 

Monsters!

     Monsters have always held our attention, whether presented by a storyteller, upon the written page or upon a screen.  Homer's Odyssey featured various horrific creatures, most notably the Cyclops which had a hankering for human flesh.  Other monsters like werewolves and vampires have invaded our nightmares in various forms.   Scientists such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein have sought to learn life's mystery by mastering science with frightening results.
     And then there are those walking horrors so popular on TV of late - zombies.
     Just because a guy gets his face covered with latex and drenched with fake blood to roam about in search of brains, he's automatically labeled a zombie enthusiast and expert.  I must admit that I approached appearing in Trailer Park of the Living Dead with a limited amount of zombie knowledge.  I had watched the classic vintage version of Night of the Living Dead but had not seen most of that film's sequels or the more modern renderings like 28 Days Later, in which I believe zombies have actually sped up quite a bit.  In fact I confess that of the usual lineup of iconic horror characters, my preference lies with those fun fanged denizens of the night - vampires!
     Both vampires and zombies have their fair share of the horror market and fans' hearts - as well as their throats or brains.  I've gotten to play a vampire briefly in Mortal and have stumbled around as a zombie in a few low budget pictures.  I thought I might indulge in a comparison in honor of the approach of Halloween - the holiday when everyone enjoys hearing of or dressing as monsters. 

1.  A Horrific Heritage - For far reaching historic and global folklore, the vampire seems far ahead.  Some point as far back as the biblical Lilith for the vampire's bloody origins.  Plus thanks to Bram Stoker and Dracula, the vampire has a far loftier literary heritage.
WINNER - VAMPIRES

2. The Confidence Factor - Gotta go with zombies on this one.  Ever heard of a zombie questioning its existence or trying to blend in with humanity?  Hell no!  They just want to eat your brains and make no excuses for it!
WINNER - ZOMBIES

3.  Masters of Movie Mayhem - Both Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee made impressive Draculas.  There are few films as atmospheric with creepiness and chills as the silent Nosferatu.  This vampire was hideous to look at, a far cry from today's pretty boy bloodsuckers.  The zombie has also undergone quite a few cinematic makeovers, starting with White Zombie...hey here's Bela again!  But it was Night of the Living Dead that took the zombie from labouring mindlessly at home on a plantation and gave him an appetite for freshly freed organs.  Night of the Living Dead really renovated the whole zombie myth and released low budget movie makers' most graphic dreams.
DRAW

4.  Convention Fun -  I'm no stranger to horror cons, and it seems that the zombie isn't either!  I've seen tables touting the chance to have your picture taken with a zombie, the opportunity to have your zombie portrait drawn, and even been given a zombie survival packet.  I always see a few bloody zombies wandering about.  Course maybe the vampires are just blending in...
WINNER - ZOMBIES

5.  TV Terrors - While The Walking Dead is currently very popular on TV - Vampires seem a lot more active in this field.  TV vampires range from Dark Shadows in the 60's to Buffy to Tru Blood.
WINNER VAMPIRES

6.  The Better Role - This is my favorite category, where I get to plug the two films I acted oh so briefly in.  After the application of latex to my face to give me ghoulish good looks and being soaked with red liquid to prove I meant bloody business, I was ready to join the zombie horde in Trailer Park of the Living Dead.  I'm not sure that I can say that it was a meaty role, but the character certainly was fond of meat as he wandered through woods and pursued an ice cream truck more interested in its drivers then its frosty treats.  There were plenty of victims and organs available for a zombie to indulge in on the set as you get in the zen mindset of a walking monster whose only desire is to satisfy his horrible hunger to the tune of his own growl.  Of course once you're out of that mindset and character there's the cleaning up to do.  A lot.  I think I had a bright pink under my fingernails for a week after the first shoot.  But I've learned that dial's glycerine based soap are a wonder for removing fake blood, so I am wiser now.


Director Kat Lehmer & I on the set of Mortal.

For my vampire role in Mortal, there was no such makeup concerns.  In fact the sole wardrobe instructions were to wear black.  And there was no mindless roaming through the woods, I was on a quite cool set.  The vampire has long been the most talkative of monsters and I was given the challenge of a line.  I delivered it appropriately enough through the various takes.  Okay, perhaps I flubbed it once.
So how do I pick the better role?  I had a great time playing both.  Perhaps I should just wait and see which role I receive an award for.
DRAW









Well I guess my little comparison has ended in draw, meaning I may have a future in politics.







My ponderings on the nature of horror in film, horror conventions and film making are also to be found in my new book Midnight Writings available at www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler

Halloween Treats

As Halloween approaches there are numerous treats associated with the season - colorful leaves, parties with lavish offerings of candy, and scary tales.  The movies are a great medium for terrifying tales dating back to its inception. 

Some of the most spellbinding horror films I've ever seen are silent era offerings from the German expressionist cinema.  The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a captivatingly filmed production utilizing bizarre angles to nightmarish effect as it ensnares its viewers in a sinister tale of a sleep walker causing havoc in a small village.  There's a twist at the end which I've read is a result of  1920's
German censorship.  In 1922  F. W. Murnau treated audiences to another frightening silent Greman classic - Noserfatu.  The film counts as the first adaption of Bram Stoker's Dracula (although the name Dracula was not used in hope of avoiding payment to the Stoker estate).  The movie is as spooky as possible with magnificent imagery that has passed into the vault of horror history.

Many horror films have followed, some adaptions of literary classics like the series of films from Roger Corman starring Vincent Price based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe.  The black and white films from Universal in the 30's introduced audiences to Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster.  In the late 50's and 60's British based horror films from Hammer Studios often teamed Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee for full color horror classics with an erotic edge.  Italian horror films intensified their imagery of horror for chilling films like the atmospherically frightening Suspiria by director Dario Argento.  In the 80's American audiences became mesmerized by films with villainous protagonists with supernatural abilities like Pinhead from the Hellraiser series & Freddy Krueger from The Nightmare on Elm Street movies.

W. P. Rigler with Malcolm McDowell of the newest Halloween.

And of course there is the movie which draws its name from the holiday - Halloween.  The original Halloween by director John Carpenter is a thrill ride of carefully orchestrated scary moments starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence dealing with a seemingly supernatural madman that strikes upon Halloween.  The recent remake from director Rob Zombie starring Malcolm McDowell boasted a bigger budget, bloodier effects and an all star supporting cast.  

Halloween itself has been showcased by Hollywood in a multitude of styles, ranging from childhood's simple appreciation of it in Meet Me In Saint Louis to 1951's The Man With A Cloak starring Joseph Cotton as a historic writer trying to solve a diabolical mystery.

I couldn't help sharing my appreciation of such Halloween/horror icons as the vampire and the zombie in my new book titled Midnight Writings.  The book consists of my newest scary stories and articles concerning hauntings, horror films and more.  Do check it out at  www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler and order it for yourself as a Halloween treat!

Midnight Writings Available



Leading a ghost tour in Havre de Grace.

This is my second year of working for Havre de Haunts Tours & Paranormal Research Group.  The group has explored and investigated strange as well as historic happenings in Havre de Grace, Maryland from which a tour has been formed.  The town's tales of history, prominent visitors, and hauntings makes for an amiable walk though the picturesque water front location.  Each October chilly winds rustle the leaves as the moon peers down for added atmosphere.

The Friday night tour I led was additionally interesting as several tour customers brought along their own emf detectors - which were very active during the walk.  It is believed that the presence of ghosts can cause a disturbance in electromagnetic fields, which is what the detector reads.  Of course myriad things can trigger a reaction and at certain points when the detectors were very active there were telephone poles with numerous transformers or such attached.  Hardly an ideal scenario for ghost hunting.  Interestingly at one point in the tour the detectors became very active at my every mention of the word 'gangsters'.  Not proof, but oh so curious.



Available at http://lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler

I've had odd experiences at haunted places before.  Doors opening on their own seem a popular occurrence for me - I've had similar experiences at the Hollingsworth house in Cecil County and The Whistling Oyster in Fell's Point.  I decided to jot down these experiences for my new book - Midnight Writings.  Other articles included in the book concern my zombie make over for a day on the set of Trailer Park of the Living Dead (filmed in Cecil County, Maryland), my musings about horror conventions, films, and Edgar Allan Poe.  For these segments I must thank all those who have agreed to be interviewed by me in the past, such as actress Tanya Erin Paoli.

And there are a baker's dozen of fictional offerings as well, including The Customer in which a bothersome bar patron has an unfortunate occurrence after last call and Midnight Encounter in which a pair of grave robbers with a body on their hands get an unusual offer.  Why not take time to take advantage of the offer of buying Midnight Writings at http://lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler ?

Happy Reading & Ghost Hunting!



A murder occurred at Havre de Grace's State Theater, which once showed silent films and although long closed might not be totally abandoned.

  



More Fun Than A Barrel Of...

Peter Tork & I at the Shoe Suede Blues birthday bash/fan party.

Thankfully the looming threat of an approaching hurricane veered away from Maryland last weekend, leaving only an overcast sky on Sunday - which did nothing to dampen the lively spirits of those within Edgewood's Club 66 enjoying the music of Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues.

Peter Tork is undoubtedly best known for playing Peter Tork in the TV series The Monkees which gave birth to an actual band also known as The Monkees.  The Monkees (both TV show and band) have weathered highs and lows since their 60's inceptions.  Everything was sort of originally modeled from A Hard Day's Night - the black and white classic movie from The Beatles with cutting edge editing by director Richard Lester.  The Monkees TV series featured the band in zany antics, often accompanied by their music.  And what music it is, featuring tunes penned by Neil Diamond and Carol King, as well as memorably awesome contributions from The Monkees themselves.  The Monkees are Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and the late Davy Jones.

When I was in high school, long ago in ye far away 80's, I became a huge Monkees fan.  Repeats of The Monkees were regularly airing and one of the group's reunion tours was a hot ticket - which, alas, I didn't get.  But my time would come.


Peter Tork  

New albums have been released over the decades as various groupings of the Monkees have taken the stage on tour.  The individual Monkees actively appear on stage and at conventions.  I've been very lucky in that I've got to see (individually) all four Monkees at cons and three of them perform in small, approachable venues.  I must say that each of them have been quite charming in person and nice to their fans.

The band Peter Tork is currently making the rounds with is called Shoe Suede Blues and upon October 4th 2015 the band had a special fan party/birthday bash at Club 66 in Edgewood Maryland.  I take the following facts from facebook - "Shoe Suede Blues was formed in 1994 when Peter Tork and friends, Tadg Galleran and Michael Sunday, were asked to put together a band for a benefit dance at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice Beach for Felicity House, a women's recovery home and child care program. This year we happily celebrate the 21st anniversary of what was supposed to have only been a one-time event."



The Tork dummy at the selfie station.

The special event was memorable fun.  Shoe Suede Blues performed a set of songs ranging from blues to rock, with some solo classical keyboard numbers from Tork thrown in for good measure.  Of the actors/musicians recruited to be The Monkees, Peter Tork was squarely in the musician's camp and his abilities were certainly in top notch at the birthday bash.  The room vibrated with emotion as he sang.  His humor shown from the stage as he interacted with the audience and fellow band mates.

Tork was certainly in good humor signing albums and photos.  I have to say that I inadvertently made him laugh.  There was a slight lag in the line behind me and I figured I might as well mention that my family got a kick out of his appearance on The King of Queens.  In the heat of the moment I said "My family enjoyed your work on The King of Brooklyn."  Whoops!  Still, it was nice to get a laugh out of he who played the fun, quirky, innocent Monkee. 

Fun is the perfect description for the event.  Fans were dancing, posing with Peter Tork as well as his dummy version at a selfie station and submitting jokes for Sunday Sillies found at The Real Peter Tork facebook page.  All in all I'd describe the day as more fun than a barrel of Monkees. 

Bang! Zoom! To the Moon...or Mars!

Myself at Chiller with Joyce Randolph who played Trixie Norton on The Honeymooners.

TV fans have never ended their love affair with The Honeymooners and today marks the 60th anniversary of that classic B&W show's debut.  Kind of.

In The Honeymooners, Jackie Gleason portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden.  His next door neighbor was sewer 'technician' Ed Norton (Art Carney) who often aided in Kramden's numerous mad money making schemes.  Comical highlights included Ralph and Ed appearing on TV to promote the kitchen tool of the future and leaving the set in ruins after Ralph botched his lines. 

The characters of Kramden and Norton actually originated as a series of sketches on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars variety show for the Dumont network.  Kramden's wife Alice and Ed's wife Trixie were also featured on The Honeymooners, albeit it in the guise of various actresses through the saga of The Honeymooners.  The official Honeymooners' show commenced on October 1, 1955 for 39 episodes of classic comedy.  Once The Honeymooners ended its run as a series, it returned as sketches to Jackie Gleason's Variety Show on CBS.

The action of The Honeymooners generally transpired in the modest lodgings of Ralph and Alice Kramden.  Life could be gloomy for the couple but they persisted to make the best of things.  The two had titanic battles due in part to Ralph's big dreams and Alice's common sense.  The duo's bouts often included Ralph's threat to belt Alice with the promise of "Bang, Zoom, to the moon Alice!" but the big mouthed bus driver always saw his wife's reasoning and apologized with, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Of course currently Mars seems much more popular then the moon.

I believe scientists have recently declared that there was once water on Mars.  I can't help but think of the romantic work of Ray Bradbury concerning the red planet.  I remember reading Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles one autumn in middle school, and somehow the book especially calls to me at this time of year.  While in middle school the book did not exactly entrance me, but I did return to The Martian Chronicles years later and was totally transfixed by its yarn of Mars' colonization by Earth men.  The individual stories that made up the tapestry of The Martian Chronicles are high points of literature to me.  And I am equally in awe of Bradbury's other works - especially those dealing with October and Halloween.  How appropriate for this time of year!

Of Flowers & Vampires

Tanya Erin Paoli by Batmobile at Monstermania in Cherry Hill.

     I met Tanya Erin Paoli several summers ago at a Monstermania convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  It was our first in the flesh meeting, although we both are in an upcoming film from Trinka Five Films by director Kat Lehmer called Mortal.  I'm a bit vampire, she's a star in it playing Ava. 

     Paoli described Ava as "Very mysterious.  She is ever changing and timeless.  Ava is a sad story.  She can be cold, and yet caring.  Her dreamy presence mesmerizes, or seems to heavily impact whoever she encounters.  She is so deep and full of wisdom, but can be quite elusive."  Her enthusiasm for the film continues.  "My favorite role so far would be Mortal.  Kat is a dream to work with, and I hungrily anticipate the premiere of this movie.  Like a fine wine it ages to perfection, and when the time comes.. I feel it will be the project I've worked on that I am most satisfied with, because I had so much fun making this film with her, and the wonderful crew."

     But the actress is not content to rest on her vampire laurels in the arena of horror cinema.  A more recent acting challenge was to appear in director Phil Stevens independent horror film - Flowers. 
    
     "I am Flowers girl # 4. I am someone who died in this killer's house who basically is trapped in purgatory," Paoli commented.  "We don't have names. I believe Phil was trying to get us all to be nameless and just  emote which is why there are no words in this film.  It is all pure acting."

     Outside of acting, Paoli has numerous interests of which her enthusiasm for crystals are at the forefront.  "When I was a little girl people always gave me crystals.  My father, grandmothers, grandfather, random people, friends.  Crystals have always just been something I've been not only fascinated with because they are beautiful, but because they carry the vibration from the womb of the earth.  I enjoy collecting them, selling them, trading them, researching their metaphysical healing properties, and doing crystal healings with myself and basically everyone I know!  Crystals, rocks, and minerals are our friends.  In this new age of technology I feel we are all allowing ourselves to be cut off from Nature and this is one way to stay connected to the vibration of the earth always.  There are so many uses it is endless, and I could talk for days about them.... I actually went to Burning Man last year and worked with crystals with people and I must say it was one of the high points of my life.  I'm very honored that my spiritual sister Anastasia from Flowers was with me under the same tent doing her healing work with people as well.  It was such a profound beautiful experience that I wouldn't take back for anything." 


 

The Prisoner Anniversary

The Prisoner turns 48 today.

The cult classic series had its British television premiere on September 29, 1967 and was unlike anything else contained on the small screen.  Dynamic and enigmatic, episodes revolved around such controversial themes as the manipulations of society, drug use and the rights of the individual.

The Village was the show's mysterious setting - a picturesque place where those with important information deemed too sensitive to be widely known were kept.  Who ran the Village was a secret, especially to The Prisoner's protagonist played by Patrick McGoohan.  McGoohan's work on the series stretched beyond that of actor to occasional writer and director, as well as shaping the series as a whole.  Patrick McGoohan had previously found fame on TV in the show Danger Man which imported to the United States in an incarnation known as Secret Agent.  The Prisoner had its roots in the spy craze of the 60's but was altogether a different kettle of fish.

I entered The Prisoner's fandom as a teen when that and other classic British series occupied the 11pm time slot on Maryland Public TV.  I found the adventures of The Avengers and Dr. Who quite stylish and engaging.  These British classics became my TV favorites - and The Prisoner was at the top of the list. 

Everything about The Prisoner is top notch, from the writing to the direction.   The exciting opening title music by Ron Grainer (also responsible for Dr. Who's original theme) began royally with rumbling thunder.  There was something just so magnetic about McGoohan - especially as he drove his car and strode the corridors to offer his resignation during the show's opening credits.  Patrick McGoohan's character of Number Six seemed a champion of independence and intelligence - something very appealing to me.  The Prisoner rebelled against a succession of village bureaucrats, all referred to as Number Two played weekly by (mostly) different actors.  The series introduced me to numerous great British actors like Leo McKern who menaced The Beatles in Help!. 

The Prisoner doesn't look its age - probably because the colorful fashions were evoking a style instead of an era and the setting was deliberately obscure.  The Village could have been everywhere, but its meaning and entrapments were uniquely surreal.  A large weather balloon type object called rover was the security system of the village.  When an attempt at escape was initiated the rover bounded into action, impressing itself onto its victim.  The science of the village was beyond technology.     

The Prisoner can easily be considered an ancestor of enigmatic and challenging programs such as David Lynch's Twin Peaks and J. J. Abrams' Lost. There was even a 'reboot' Prisoner mini-series from AMC with Ian McKellan as Number Two.  But for fans of the original iconic series there can be no replacing the image of Patrick McGoohan grimly guiding his car or shouting out his declaration of independence on the village's beach at the beginning of each episode.

Patrick McGoohan as Number 6 often undergoes 'treatment' in the village.

Havre de Grace Ghost Tours - October 2015

The seasons are changing once more, with the warmth and green of summer giving away to autumn's falling leaves which are carried to the earth by cool breezes.  Autumn's my favorite season due in part to the colorful leaves and spookiness ushered in by the oncoming holiday of Halloween.  What better time is there to enjoy a good ghost story or stroll through a picturesque scene of fallen leaves?
Havre de Haunts Tours and Paranormal Research offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in such a pastime.  I'll be leading ghost tours as follows :


In Havre de Grace at the Wolbert grave.
Frank Wolbert was murdered at the Seneca House.

October 9th at 8 :30pm
October 10th at 8 :30pm
October 16th at 7pm & 8: 30pm
October 17th at 7pm & 8 :30pm
October 23rd at 7 pm
October 24th at 8 :30pm


You may ask for me when making your tour arrangements.
For ticket ordering info or more complete details, go to havredehaunts.com
The tour commence at Concord Point Coffee in Havre de Gace.  Walk ins are welcome but tour space is limited.

The tours include commentary concerning Havre de Grace's history and notable visitors/citizens as well as stops at haunted hot spots like the Seneca House and the Joseph L. Davis building.

Havre de Grace's main street boasts several stops on the ghost tour.

Wondering if You're a Werewolf?

The following occurrences generally reflect the problem of lycanthropy...

1. The number of your neighbors mysteriously eaten skyrockets on nights of a full moon.

2. After seeing your palm, most gypsies refuse to look you in the eye.

3. Your lover isn't the least bit kinky but gets out chains for you to wear when the moon is full.

4. Unexplainable flea problems.

5. There's a large amount of fur found shed in your bed on nights after the full moon.

6.  Every time you hear the phrase, "Listen to them - the children of the night.  What beautiful noise they make!", you get a really, REALLY, strong urge to howl.

Welcome to the Library...Shhhh!

This is National Library Week, an observance first started by The American Library Association in 1958. 

As I think back, libraries grew and evolved for me. The library of my elementary school was a colorfully whimsical place of an intimate size. Plastic frog chairs offered a fun place to sit and read. The books featured on the shelves carried gold badges proclaiming their perfection for young minds. Dr. Suess was there. Young readers were offered adventures on the western frontier or in magical lands. Visual thrills were abundant in the books.


My middle school’s library was larger. Its books were larger as well. And they featured less pictures. At the very front of the library was a case of encyclopedias and biographies, to which we were often led for research - back in ye old days when research wasn't magically provided by the press of a button. There were still magical adventures present in this place…thanks to Tolkein, Bradbury and other enlightening authors whose appeal crossed generations. And this library had a wondrous heart – an oasis of plants and a tree that reached up to the skylight over head. I remembering staring at that sight on melancholy days for a bit of an uplifting inspiration.  I think it’s that library that comes quickest to mind when the word is mentioned. A wondrous mix of books - for pleasure and work - with a beautiful living centerpiece showing that books are meant to be a part of life.



The cover of Summoned Secrets.

Other libraries have left their touch on me – like the Spartan college libraries, one of which had walls lined with posters for classic movies I had yet to see but would.


But alas some libraries were underappreciated, especially in the growing computer culture. A teacher at the local community college referred appropriately to the place as a bowling league with an unused library. And when I took a course at a small college at the start of this century, a younger fellow student complained about not being able to find enough info on her topic. When the instructor asked what library books had been used, the student responded with a confused look. The internet had been used…not the library. It is nice that technology allows us to carry so much information in the palm of our hands…a library’s worth. But as a place, I think libraries remain kinda cool and special.

I was even led to write a story of a fantastic library. Appropriately enough, it is called The Library and can be found in my book, Summoned Secrets.  If you'd like to add it to your personal library, you can find it at http://lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler .  Thank you internet. 
  

90's TV Classics

TV's about to look like the 90's all over again, due to the proposed return of two cult classics - The X Files (returning to its former home on Fox for a limited run) and Twin Peaks.

Paranoia seemed highly popular in the 90’s, especially if one judges by the coolest programs on the air waves. Twin Peaks seemed to usher in the decade’s dark obsessions with its odd characters and unsettling visions occurring in small town USA, but it was The X-Files (whose mottos include ‘The Truth Is Out There’ and ‘Trust No One’) that seemed to make paranoia a TV fashion. The investigators of The X-Files routinely encountered aliens and ancient monsters while never quite managing to prove their existence. The show’s creator, Chris Carter, launched two other series of X-Files stylistic sensibilities – The Lone Gunmen, and Millennium. The first series continued the outrageous adventures of conspiracy crazed computer masterminds who had regularly appeared on The X-Files. Millennium was something a bit different, with complex storylines dealing the darkest motivations of human nature as well as destructive Biblical prophecies. After all a new millennium was looming with the dreaded Y2K bug approaching.

Myself & Lance Henriksen (Frank Black on Millenium) at Monstermania.

Millennium gets my vote as the best series of the 90’s due in large part to an excellent turn by Lance Henriksen as Frank Black, a tortured former FBI profiler in league with the mysterious Millennium group. The group is comprised of talented investigators whose interest in violent crimes often goes beyond the mundane goal of simply catching a killer.

Other favorite series of mine from that era includes…

Twin Peaks – “Who killed Laura Palmer?” was the catch phrase of the early 90’s.

Babylon 5 – A complex sci-fi narrative charting treachery and intrigue on a space staion playing host to alien ambassadors.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Even the normally optimistic Star Trek franchise painted a bleak picture in this entry focused on the aftermath of war and corruption on another planet.

Forever Knight – Before TV’s Buffy took a swing at a vampire, this series delved into the remorse felt by its title character after ages of evil acts as he continued his interaction with fellow vampires.

   

Clues You Could Be A Ghost

I like writing horror tales, especially playing around with iconic creatures.  Of late ghosts have been the object of my musings, perhaps partly influenced by the Havre de Haunts ghost tours I led last Autumn.  It is said sometimes ghosts aren't even aware of their condition.  Now I've been feeling odd of late, but not that strange.  Still, there are numerous clues of a ghostly existence such as these...

1. Every evening around dusk a different team of ghost hunters arrive at your house.

2. You have no problems passing through doorways…even when you forget to open the door.

3. Abe Lincoln was president when you were born.

4. Every family reunion picnic is held Halloween night.

5. There’s a tombstone in the graveyard with your name on it.

6. No matter what you eat, you never gain weight on your hips and remain able to float in the air.

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions you may be a ghost. If you’ve answered yes to all of them, you probably are.

Be sure to check out my books at www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler for more supernatural ponderings.

The Anthony Perkins Legacy

April 4th marks the 83rd anniversary of the birth of Anthony Perkins.  While undoubtedly best known as Norman Bates, the career of Anthony Perkins is multifaceted and enduring.  Anthony continued the Perkins acting legacy as handed down from his father Osgood, whose roles were mainly in silent films before his untimely death.  Anthony Perkins set out to take Hollywood by storm from the start and did with diverse performances ranging from Friendly Persuasion (for which he received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination) to The Actress.  Perkins' early roles ranged from leading man in romantic pics like Goodbye Again to adventure outings like Green Mansions.  He was also adept at comedy, as proved by his work in Tall Story.  Tall Story cast Perkins as an honest if naïve basketball star courted by Jane Fonda.  That film also offered an early acting opportunity to Gary Lockwood, who appeared in it as a basketball player.



Anthony Perkins on the court in Tall Story.

During a sci-fi con I had the chance to meet Gary Lockwood and even share a meal with him.  It was fascinating to discuss his sci-fi work (in 2001 A Space Odyssey & Star Trek) and I couldn't help mentioning my interest in Tall Story and Anthony Perkins to him.  Upon reflection he mused that he didn't feel Anthony Perkins was properly utilized by Hollywood, which sought to manufacture him into a star.  Anthony Perkins was an ACTOR.  Perhaps this is a reason Perkins had better luck with starring roles in European films after Psycho.  It seems European cinema is more accepting of its lead actors disguising their appearance or star reputations for their parts, such as Laurence Olivier.  Hollywood wants easily prepackaged stars like John Wayne, whose mere name or image is a link to a specific film genre.  Perkins thrived in Europe and upon his return to the states became a marvelous character actor in supporting roles as witnessed in Murder on the Orient Express and Catch 22. 

At any rate I do think that Anthony Perkins' European films are just as good as his masterpiece outing as Norman Bates in Psycho.  Below are some of my favorites from Anthony Perkins' body of work.

FRIENDLY PERSUASION: Directed by William Wyler, this tale of Quaker life during the Civil War was Anthony Perkins' second film.  As the son of a successful farmer (played by Gary Cooper), Perkins had a role that allowed him to show both sensitivity and determination as he questions the moral ambiguity of participating in war.

PSYCHO: Alfred Hitchcock was determined to make a low budget black and white masterpiece in the style of the Hitchcock TV series - with an addition of sex and realistic violence.  Mutated from the story of real life serial killer Ed Gein, Psycho shocked audiences upon its release and still does.  Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates is highly sympathetic, despite his obvious nervous disposition and dark secrets.  Norman Bates was the role Perkins would become most identified with and would play three more times.

GOODBYE AGAIN: Anthony Perkins is a part of a three sided love affair.  The object of his affection is the older Ingrid Bergman, who although attracted to his youthful zest cannot bare to part from her less then sympathetic husband.  One of Perkins' first European films.


THE TRIAL: Director Orson Welles' version of the Franz Kafka novel finds Perkins as Joseph K.  Society seems out to get poor Joseph for something Joseph claims to be unaware of.  Is he guilty or not?  Depends on who you ask.  At any rate, the theme of one man lost in the mechanisms of society and the grandiose visuals of this film echo in later movies like Terry Gilliam's Brazil. 

EDGE OF SANITY: Anthony Perkins' later starring roles tended toward horror films, and in this genre effort he plays the iconic literary characters Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with gusto.  This version of the classic Robert Louis Stephens novel incorporated heavy drug use and Jack the Ripper.


Film & TV Challenge

Myself & Malcolm McDowell.  Can you name the three films he played Mick Travis in?

I've always been a big film & TV fan, with eccentric tastes.  My favorites tend to be British and often in the genres of sci-fi or fantasy.  Have I seen such main stream faire as E.T. or Downtown Abbey?  Nope, and I don't plan to soon.  But if you're up for a discussion of German silent films or TV super hero adaptions, I'm there. 
Here's a few question off the top of my head (or the depths of my mind) to test your film/TV knowledge. There's no award for high scores, other then the knowledge that you've seen some pretty cool shows/films and have a good memory! 

1. Which actor has not played Dracula?
A. Bela Lugosi     B. Boris Karloff     C. Christopher Lee    

2. The only Hammer film featuring a wolfman starred which actor?
A. Christopher Lee     B. Peter Cushing     C. Oliver Reed    

3. Which historical figure has David Bowie not portrayed in film?
A. Andy Warhol     B. Pontious Pilate     C. Jack the Ripper     D. Tesla

4.Which film did David Bowie not contribute music to?
A. Cat People     B. A Clockwork Orange     C. Cool World     D. Lost Highway

5. Which Superman actor has not portrayed the man of steel on the silver screen?
A. Kirk Alyn     B. George Reeves     C. Christopher Reeve     D. Dean Cain

6. Malcolm McDowell portrayed Mick Travis is all the following films except...
A. if....     B. O Lucky Man!     C. A Clockwork Orange     D. Brittannia Hospital

7. Which sci-fi film did not inspire a short lived TV series?
A. Alien     B. Logan's Run     C. Planet of the Apes     D. Westworld

8. Which Marvel character appeared in films without first appearing on TV?
A. Iron Man     B. Captain America     C. Thor     D. Spiderman

9. Which film was based on a story by Philip K. Dick?
A. The Lawnmower Man     B. Total Recall     C. A Clockwork Orange

10.  What actor has portrayed both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who on the silver screen?
A. Christopher Lee     B. Peter Cushing     C. Oliver Reed     D. Malcolm McDowell

11.  Patrick McGoohan's character in The Prisoner is trapped in what's called...
A. The Village     B. The Prison     C. The Dark House     D. The White House



Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. B 10. B 11. A