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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Debbie Harry

Published July 29, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Debbie Harry Koo Koo 2

Before she began a healthy run of horror and science fiction roles with 1983’s Videodrome, the incomparable Debbie Harry flirted with spacey themes via her 1981 solo recording debut Koo Koo. Featuring cover art from Alien‘s HR Giger and futuristic production work from Chic’s Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards, this LP continued the artist’s eclectic pursuit of musical exploration, but was considered a critical and financial failure upon its initial release.

The passage of time, of course, has led many fans to reconsider this incredibly varied and truly interesting work from a group of creative individuals in the prime of their careers.

Harry, whose other genre credits include the anthology features Tales from the Darkside: The Movie and Body Bags, continues to dive into new sonic adventures to this day. You can keep up with her always noteworthy journeys at www.blondie.net.

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Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Hopelessly Devoted to: Rose Marie

Published July 26, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Rose Marie 1

Beginning her career as an infant in vaudeville, the distinctive Rose Marie was probably best known for her snappy work on the iconic Dick Van Dyke Show in the ‘60s. Thankfully, for horror honeys everywhere, she made a number of appearances in projects that relished terror filled antics, as well.

Her best known work in genre films may her memorable appearance as Mrs. Moses, the inquisitive landlady in Kevin Tenney’s popular Witchboard, but she also found time to appear in 2000’s Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th, a ridiculous parody in the style of Scary Movie. Rose Marie witchboard

Another of her ghoulish outings is 1985’s fun Jack the Ripper inspired Terror at the London Bridge (AKA Bridge Across Time). As Alma Bellock, the curious clerk at a rundown hotel, she interacts with a mysterious tenant – who just may be the world’s most notorious serial killer sprung fully back to life in another century! Ever the professional, Rose Marie imbues her moments here with a suspicious sense of fun.

Rose Marie and guestIn her final moments she even shares the screen with ‘80s era action hunks David Hasselhoff and Randolph Mantooth, giving those (then) famous youngsters a crash course in how to handle a scene!

Nicely, even though this indomitable spirit passed away in 2017 at the age of 94, her family and friends are keeping her memory alive at http://missrosemarie.com/.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Joan Blondell

Published July 21, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

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She was one of Warner Brother’s brightest, sassiest dames in the ‘30s. The distinctive Joan Blondell also found recognition in such ‘70s MFTV horror flicks as The Dead Don’t Die and Death at Love House. Joan Death at Love

But whatever era she found herself in, she was always her simply irreplaceable self…most particularly in this production number by the influential and equally singular Busby Berkeley.

Also of significance here are the haunting vocals of Etta Moten. Moten appeared in a number of fun Warner Brothers pictures, including the WIP epic Ladies They Talk About, but was never allowed to reach her full potential, cinematically, due to the racism inherent in that (and, unfortunately, every) decade.

Etta

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Barbara Bingham in Terror At London Bridge

Published July 19, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

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My friends Kirsten and Bryan are in the process of making these multi layered candles. In every level, they bury a surprise trinket. As the wax melts, the treat emerges. For me, certain movies contain these kinds of unique gifts, as well. Utilizing my online media memberships for maximum benefit on a recent vacation, I dove into the low budget latter day oeuvre of Eric Roberts and several lurid television films of the exploitation genre. Upon viewing 1985’s Terror at the London Bridge (AKA Bridge Across Time), I anticipated the participation of such performers as Adrienne Barbeau and Rose Marie from the opening credits. But my little unexpected nugget of delight was the unanticipated appearance of actress Barbara Bingham.

Barbara TerrorHere Bingham, best known to terror enthusiasts as the kind Ms. Van Deusen in Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan, appears as Alice Williamson, a wealthy traveler who soon finds that her adventurousness will lead to a bloody end. An accident, as she traipses across the restored London Bridge in a tourist town in Arizona, puts her face to face with the resurrected Jack the Ripper. Nicely, Bingham radiates with a warm presence in her early scenes while providing the requisite terror in her final moments onscreen. Therefore, it is a shame that, despite lead roles in other genre projects such as Claudio Fragasso’s Beyond Darkness, she didn’t go on to become a bigger name in the entertainment industry. Barbara Terror 2

Still, with an eye on longevity (which is certainly the most important thing to a performer), Bingham has become a commercial force in Australia, appearing in numerous ads and pictorials. More info on her career is available at https://barbarabingham.com/.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Martha Davis

Published July 14, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

328544CB-1210-4548-8F22-52AD352601CAShe possesses one of the most unique and powerful voices in pop and New Wave music. Thankfully, The Motels’ irreplaceable Martha Davis also lent her talents to Dreams, a song featured in Night of the Creeps, Fred Dekker’s genuine horror cult favorite.

Thankfully, akin to Terri Nunn from Berlin, Davis’ popularity has recently surged due to an elastic stretch of ‘80s nostalgia. She and other members of The Motels are consistently touring and creating new music.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMotels/

A49B6DB6-43A4-4DDA-934E-7B195F72A8D3.jpegUntil the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Horror Mash-Up: Richard Masur and James Remar

Published July 12, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

3CBC5FB3-7726-4FA8-9894-CBC2DD56CA89Many may assume that is Liza Minnelli and Dionne Warwick who provide the diva power in 1987’s ridiculously fun crime caper Rent-a-Cop.  In actuality, the truly extravagant team up of this flick occurs between acclaimed character actors James Remar and Richard Masur. Here, Masur is a crooked former cop on the take while Remar is a twisted assassin. Of course, Remar’s Dancer also just happens to be a former summer stock hoofer turned deadly ballroom instructor.

Masur, of course, is best known to terror freaks as the frightened, incredibly damaged Stanley in the original television version of It and as Clark in John Carpenter’s beloved remake of The Thing. Remar meanwhile has amassed such horror film credits as Hellraiser: Inferno, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Fatal Charm, Night Visions and many others.

7407280A-108F-4D47-88B9-D9FD257DA77FThe two here play a classic dance of cat and mouse with one of their more evocative sequences occurring when Masur’s Roger confronts a sweaty, post workout Dancer. In this moment, Masur’s affable every man contrasts perfectly with Remar’s more mysterious qualities.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Barbara Cook

Published July 7, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

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She was one of the queens of the Broadway stage and the cabaret circuit. But the multi-talented Barbara Cook also took a turn towards the gothic as one of Hitchcock’s famously conflicted blondes in the A Little Sleep episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Long considered to possess one of the sweetest, nuanced soprano voices, Cook was a 2011 Kennedy Center Honoree and, appropriately, received many other honors (including a Tony Award) before her death in 2017 at the age of 89.

Barbara Cook Kennedy

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Robert Goulet

Published June 30, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Robert Goulet Beefcake

Best known for his exquisite musical performances, the handsome Robert Goulet enlivened Tim Burton’s horror fueled comedy Beetlejuice with his majestic smoothness.

Thus, as Pride Month jogs healthily to a close, a melody of Cole Porter tunes done in Goulet’s impressive style seems like the perfect way to lower the curtain on June’s rainbow fueled activities.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Robertgoulet beetlejuice

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Pride Month Dagger Cast – with Kyra Leigh

Published June 29, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

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It’s the end of Pride Month and you’re probably still go-go-going!

But if you need to catch your breath for a moment, feel free to take a second and listen to the latest episode of Dagger Cast with the amazing Kyra Leigh. Leigh is also always go-go-going as the musical director of Chicago’s production of Head Over Heels, the Go-Go’s musical, and here she talks about that project and her take on horror as a Trans Woman. We discuss Sleepaway Camp, Dressed to Kill and how Leigh feels the Trans Community should fit into upcoming genre films. It’s an important and informative talk fueled by her grand heart and infectious spirit.

https://soundcloud.com/daggercast/ep-8-kyra-leigh

Happy Pride kisses to everyone, all year long, and….until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror!

Pride kisses

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Debbie Deb and Ma

Published June 23, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Debbie Deb

The classic freestyle fun maker Lookout Weekend has been covered and/or sampled by everyone from Kelis to Janet Jackson. Nicely, it has also recently been given a glorious nod in Ma, this summer’s fun, twisted horror joy ride.

The inclusion is especially important as Debbie Deb, the song’s jubilant vocalist, along with many other of her dance music contemporaries, was rarely given the credit she deserved. Fans of this life filled musical style will surely recall how Deb was often replaced by models on the covers of her singles and lip syncing actresses at live music events.

But she is taking the world by command now. You can help celebrate her soundtrack success at https://www.facebook.com/therealdebbiedeb/ and at a series of concert dates throughout the rest of the year!

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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