Vampire Lore

     The October country has arrived.  What better night of the year is there to celebrate chills down the spine and things that go bump in the night then the fast approaching Halloween?  Dozens costumed as witches, werewolves, zombies and vampires will saunter down streets to add candy to their bags of sweet booty.  But each iconic creature has a heritage beyond the common ideas of modern writers and readers, of bizarre beliefs that people once cherished as the best way to survive supernatural encounters.

     My monster of preference has always been the vampire.  But what really are the facts behind the ancient fanged predators of the night?  Did you know that vampires might be the first and only OCD  monster as it was once believed that if one dropped a handful of pebbles the creature would take the time to count the fallen objects instead of pursuing its prey?  And don’t think you can kill a vampire with a wooden stake through the heart.  A wooden stake will just pin the vampire in its coffin, ’cause the creature is already dead!  My how the vampire’s reputation has evolved over the years, from filthy smelly undead beast whose scent was stronger then garlic to a figure of dark romance.

     I’ve written about vampires in several stories and even a novella titled Terror’s Taste in which I attempted to add to the vampire legacy with my own origin of the species dating back to Atlantis, and answer some of the mystery of the vampire’s special relationship with mirrors.  All in all though I’ve tried to remain loyal to the original personality of the vampire – a creature cursed to the night with little humanity remaining.

     At Monstermania in Baltimore I listened with great curiosity to Christopher Sarandon speaking of fashioning his vampire character for the 80’s film Fright Night.  Apparently the director wanted each actor to dwell on their character’s backstories and further flesh out who they were portraying.  Faced with playing an ancient vampire, Sarandon chose to turn his attention to bats and found that there were more fruit eating bats then vampire bats.  Hence his character was often seen munching on an apple, as a tribute to the character’s bat lineage not focused on blood.

     Have a happy Halloween, whichever monster you may embrace for it.  And I hope you’ll enjoy one of my frightening stories from Midnight Writings or Summoned Secrets available at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler

Fright Night reunion at Monstermania with Christopher Sarandon (far left)
 

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. 

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

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.

  



MANC Approaches

     Once more Maryland's Hunt Valley Wyndham is about to play host to three days of film and entertainment inspired fun! September 18 to 20th are the dates of the 9th annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention.  I've been happily attending since it first started in Aberdeen, Maryland.  The con has definately grown over the years and played host to a multitude of guests, from cinematic classics to sitcom favorites!  The list of past celebrity guests includes - but is not limited to - Larry Storch, Ron Ely, Davy Jones, James Best, Ed Asner, Julie Newmar, and Lana Wood.  In fact Wood was at the first con and must have had a good time as she is returning.  And the former Bond girl will fit right in as a Bond himself, George Lazenby, is amongst this year's guest list which also includes Veronica Cartwright, Piper Laurie, Josip Elic and William Sanderson (another returning guest)!  The con is a great chance to collect autographs and have pics taken with the guests.  There's a movie room plus seminars and slide shows address a wide variety of topics from entertainment's history.  See you there!

For more info go to www.MidAtlanticNostalgiaConvention.com     

Top pic -myself and Ed Asner at 2013 MANC. 
Bottom pic - Larry Storch, myself and Josip Elic at Storch's stand up event in NYC.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malcolm McDowell = Fantastic Films

Today, June 13th, is the birthday of actor Malcolm McDowell.  I've been a huge fan of his for years.  I first saw him in Time After Time, a film which wonderfully mixed sci-fi, humor and adventure.  McDowell played science fiction novelist H. G. Wells, whose time machine was stolen by Jack the Ripper (David Warner) in an attempt to avoid the authorities by escaping to the future.  Jack finds himself in an environment he happily calls home, while Wells in depressed by humanity's lack of progress.  Even a trip to McDonald's failed to lift the time traveller's spirits!

Malcolm McDowell also happens to star in my favorite film, O Lucky Man! which combines dark satire and whimsy in a plot about a coffee bean salesman inspired by McDowell's own youthful experience.  Alan Price, of Animals fame, provides a fantastically memorable soundtrack.  The film was directed by Lindsay Anderson.  Anderson was the director who brought McDowell to fame with the starring role of Michael Travis in the film if.....  McDowell returned to play the character twice more for Anderson in O Lucky Man! and Britannia Hospital.

The role which probably casts the greatest shadow across McDowell's career is that of Alex in A Clockwork Orange.  His appearence of a single false black eye lash and bowler hat accenting his tight white garb is iconic in the annals of cinema.  Director Stanley Kubrick's film offered abundant violence and nudity, but allowed Alex's unsavory actions an amount of appeal thanks to stylized scenes and McDowell's charisma.  It's shocked audiences and critics upon its release and still manages to do so.

Diverse is the best descripion applied to McDowell's work of the past 35 years.  He's portrayed villains with copious zeal in sci-fi pics like Star Trek Generations and Tank Girl.  He's been the lead in historic films with a tendacy toward drama like the World War I story of pilots - Aces High, as well as romps like director Richard Lester's Royal Flash.  Cat People presented McDowell as an odd indivdiual, desperate and cursed by a bizarre pedigree in an erotic reworking of the classic B&W horror film.  Along with other established actors like Peter O'Toole and Helen Mirren, he took a chance to appear in the sexually graphic Caligula.  Whether in the past or future, as hero or villain, McDowell is always fascinating to watch.

Most recently McDowell has starred on the TNT series Franklin and Bash as the eccentric head of the law firm which employs the title characters.

I've been fortunate to see Malcolm McDowell in person at several conventions.   His Q&A's concerning his career are always entertaining.           

Appreciating the Career of Lance Henriksen

Today, May 5th, is the birthday of Lance Henriksen. 

I'm pretty sure I was introduced to Lance Henriksen's work by the original entry in The Terminator series of films.  As legend has it, Henriksen was director James Cameron's first choice to portray the metallic killling machine from the future.  However the studio desired an actor with greater name recognition and the part went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Henriksen portrayed one of the frustrated cops dealing with the terminator's killing spree and had little luck in fending off the inhuman murderer's assault on his police precinct.

With his distinctive looks and sombre voice, Henriksen is an actor hard to get out of your mind once you've seen him.  His career is full of diverse roles, from hero to villain and from blockbuster studio faire to independent outings of interest.  He's been the lead in westerns, like Gunfighter's Moon and horror films like The Pit and the Pendulum.  Perhaps his most famous film role is that of the android part he did score - Bishop in Aliens, also from director Cameron.

He has had memorable TV appearences including a turn in Tales From the Crypt in which he portrayed a gambler literally willing to put his life and limbs on the line for his obsessive wagers.

In the late 90's Henriksen took on the role of Frank Black.  The TV series was from creator Chris Carter, quite hot in Hollywood at the time as his series The X Files was doing amazing for Fox.  Millenium starred Henriksen as a retired FBI profiler whose services were still used by a mysterious group called Millenium.  They were bracing themselves for an oncoming onslaught against society by crime and other dangers at the turn of the millenium. 

The stories were cryptic, dark and mysterious, but always engaging due to Henriksen's powerful work.  It was this show that made me a fan of Henriksen and eager to seek out his full body of work. 

I've been lucky enough to meet Henriksen twice at horror conventions.  He's very nice to fans, eager to hear their reaction to his work.  He can really reach fans on a common level as he seems very direct in speaking his mind.  Fans are lucky that he has his autobiography out, Not Bad For A Human.