Musical Influences On A Young Whiskersnapper!

Some of my memories as a kid was listening to the record player, that required a needle to play the music. Antique, to say the least. Elvis and Jerry Lee were my favourites as a kid, especially "The Killer" with his pumpin' piano. I liked the fast songs for the most part. Rock and roll, hootchie coo. Submitted again for your perusal and approval. v.c.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005


Danny and the Juniors singing "At the Hop." On American Bandstand. Tonite's trivia question: Who wrote the exciting theme that commenced the show. While investigating this foray, the producers who signed Danny had them change the lyrics from "Do the Bog," a dance that was on its way out to "At the Hop." They followed Hop with "Rock and Roll Is here to Stay." Bah, bah, bah oh baby, bah bah, bah, oh baby.....v.c.
 

Back in the day, they were doing the "Stroll" on Bandstand. My sister, Ali, tried to get on the show one fateful day in Philly but was rejected. The show was "live " then, and me and the family were waiting with baited breath in front of the boob tube in hopes of catching a glance of her. It would have been her "15 minutes of fame." Alas, she is still waiting!  

Died in an airplane crash with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. Another trivia question: Who gave up his seat so Ritchie could board the plane, while he took the bus. Not fade away, v.c. P.S. Yes, I listened to the Big Bopper as a kid.  

If Jerry Lee hadn't married his 13 year old cousin, there's no telling how big his career would have become, but, alas, it wasn't in the tarot cards or tea leaves. My grandmother married my grandfather when she was 13 or 14. But this was like the World War One days. In the late 50's marrying 13 year olds was taboo. And especially family members. It'll Be Me, v.c. 

The Catfish family had a 78 record by Gene Vincent called "Be-Bop-a-Lula." A poor man's "King." Not Slim Whitman. The 78's were big ( covered the entire turntable ) and brittle. Oops-Don't step on one, or it's back to ye olde record shoppe. You could make a record back then, ( not the best quality ) and I remember recording Theresa Brewer's hit "Let Me Go, Lover" onto vinyl.  

Fats Domino was a piano player like Jerry Lee, but Fats girth made it impossible for him to jump up on his piano allah "The Killer." I'm gonna be a wheel someday, v.c. P.S. I once had a production manager who looked just like Antoine.  

Horror Foray!

The following movies are rated "H." For horror! Submitted for your approval and perusal, v.c.

P.S. The intro is short cos I'm tired and sleepy.

Just when you thought it was safe to back into the water, er, space. "Aliens." I remember one movie reviewer calling it "the best monster picture of all time." It was very good. And it was directed by James Cameron. See "The Terminator" and "Titanic." I'll be back, v.c. 

"Jaws" is back in the news. On the Gulf Coast. The media spin: You are more likely to be killed by lightning than a shark attack. May be, but how many people in Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming, Ohio, and Washington D.C. ( yeah!!!!!!!!! ) go swimming in the ocean.  

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. These were definitely rated "B." The first starred Kevin Bacon, who midway through the film met an untimely demise. After a roll in the hay with his girlfriend, Kevin is lying comfortably in the camp's lower bunk-his femme fatale counterpart is taking a shower-when a knife protrudes through the mattress and through poor Kevin's throat. Kill kill kill kill kill kill. There were seemingly a thousand sequels. 

"Mother, I'd rather do it myself." Sure, you're irritable and upset, but don't take it out on your friends. Try extra strength Excedrin. And for nite-time headaches, try Excedrin P.M. 

A low budget film shot in 16 mm by a few students? Cost something like $35,000 to produce. And grossed ( pun? ) over $200 Million Dollars. You never see the horror, only imagine something is screwy. The above tag line says it all: "Scary As Hell." The film, for whatever reason. piqued the curiosity of a nation. "Blair Witch II" was a dud-not a milk dud. 

Now how did this political hand grenade end up in the horror foray? Well, it's a long story, but the gist is: The FCC advised me after "The Living Dead" entry, where I disparaged William Rumsfeld, that I must grant "equal time" to both points of view.  

I saw this one with the kids a few years ago before they were driving teens, cos someone had to drive them to the cinema. It was spawned ( pun unintended since the killer is a fisherman gone loco ) by the suckcess of "Scream." One of the stars is Freddy Prinze Jr. ( "eez not my job" ) son to the famous latino comedian. Okay, so I enjoyed it. And Ann Heche's ( see Ellen Degeneres ) character scared the beezeezus out of me and the rest of the viewing audience. Far-fetched story, but what Hollywood movie ain't, eh? It also spawned ( see first pun ) a sequel called, "It's None Of Your Business Knowing What I Did Last Summer-So Back-off."  

Tonite on TCM, they showed the classic, "It Came From Outer Space." Yes, I watched, but fell asleep towards the end. Sleeping pills are never needed on the Pond-just put on an old b/w thrilla, and it's beddy-bye time, v.c. P.S. Never saw this one but would like to see it one day. Maybe not! Because "you'll never close your eyes again." Give me the old b/w "Invasion," and I assure you my eyes will close with a quickness. 

The "Scream Trilogy" was clever, well-written, good characterization, blah, blah blah, and very good. Parodying all of the horror movies that went before. Drew Barrymore was killed at the very beginning, letting the audience know this would be no ordinary horror foray. I scream; you scream; we all scream for ice cream, v.c. P.S. Drew's character meets an early demise, but the move was great for her career. P.S.S. Pyschopath Jeopardy: "Who killed the teens in the original "Friday the 13th?" If you said "Jason" like "Drew," then BEEP-wrong answer.  

Tag line: "Some Homes Are Born Bad." Should have been "Some Movies Are Made Bad and Should Never be Remade;" or "Too Many Computer-Generated-Images Are Not Scary and Sux!" Tagline 2 is from yours truly, v.c. P.S. The original with Julie Harris was rated "B." Cos it DID scare the beezeezus out of me. 

Who is this happy couple? And from what era? And from whence do they hail? My guess is Louisiana. Gimme shelter, v.c. 

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Link To The Dead: "They're Coming To Get You, Barbara."

They're Coming To Get You", Barbara."

Another foray into sci-fi! "Invasion of the Saucer-Men." They don't 'em like they used to. 

Trick or Treat. Sorry, we interrupt tonite's foray to transport you smack-dab into 1978 to view a cult classic. Yes, I love the movies from back in the day, especially the black and white variety, but once a sci-fi/monster fan, always a sci-fi monster fan. And "Halloween's I and II" were the bomb."  

Dr. Loomis played by Donald Pleasance had been Michael's doctor for 15 years. Alas, Michael escapes and Dr. Loomis is in hot pursuit. He had some of the best lines. "I shot him 6 times, sheriff. 6 times in the chest." The policeman says "Yeah, right." But Loomis, Jamie Lee, and the audience knew better.  

The night he came home was the slogan for "Halloween." Halloween II's slogan was: "Get The Hell Out of Dodge ( IF You Value Your Life ) 

Speaking of "cult classic" allah "Night of the Living Dead." Halloween was responsible for the "Friday the 13th Movies." There were 8 or so of them. I heard the newest one is in production aptly entitled, "Michael Myers Meets His Match As He Has A Close Encounter With Vietnam Catfish." Can't wait!!!!!!!!! 

The music was great. Deat deat deat deat.....Hum, hum, hum, hum. Written by John Carpenter, the director.

John Howard Carpenter was born 1948 in Carthage,New York.
His interest in films occurred at a young age as his father
was a college entertainment professor.After seen the 1953
3-d classic It Came From Other Space,Carpenter began to make
short movies and by his teens he had formed his own
production company.He took up an interest in horror and
sci-fi films.in 1970,he began work on DARK STAR with classmate
Dan O'bannon(who would later write ALIEN).In 1974 Carpenter
directed DARK STAR for $60,000,and in 1978 he directed HALLOWEEN. His other films include THE FOG (1980),
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) and THE THING (1982).

 

Would the "living dead" refrain from horning in on tonite's foray. We are perusing "Halloween's I and II." Please give it a rest!  

The Security Guard gets "his lunch packed" in "Halloween II." The scene takes place in the basement of the local hospital. Security smurrity, eh?