Music to Make Horror Movies By: The Honey Bees

Published April 7, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Honey Bees

The Honey Bees, comprised of Tina Louise, Natalie Schafer and Dawn Wells, may be the greatest fictional girl group of all time. Gilligan’s Island fanatics surely rejoice in this episode of the popular show which finds the cast’s beloved Ginger (Louise), Mrs. Howell (Schafer) and Mary Ann (Wells) forming a musical version of The Honeys in hopes of finally getting off the island that they have permanently been sequestered on.

But the fact that this versatile trio of actresses has been involved in many individual genre projects makes this joyous collaboration of special notice to terror tikes, as well. Schafer, a veteran performer of film and stage, hit the gothic mother lode first with appearances in The Secret Behind the Door… and a beloved episode of the Boris Karloff hosted anthology series Thriller. Louise made the ‘70s and ‘80s particularly enjoyable with roles in the feminist classic The Stepford Wives and the atrociously lovable oddity Evils of the Night. Wells, meanwhile, found herself battling for her life against a water beastie and a violent serial killer in Return to Boggy Creek and the greatly admired The Town That Dreaded Sundown. (Interestingly, it is rumored that Well’s voice was dubbed here by Jackie DeShannon, the writer of the coolly mysterious Bette Davis Eyes.)

On a side note, Schafer, who died in 1991, also appeared in a popular touring production of the lesbian classic The Killing of Sister George with Claire Trevor. Louise, who has quietly tried to move past her seminal work as Ginger, keeps admirers informed of her activities at https://www.facebook.com/pg/thetinalouise. Wells, meanwhile, has long kept the torch of that imaginary island burning. She, happily, keeps up with fans of GI (and her other work) at https://www.facebook.com/therealmaryann/ and http://dawnwells.com/.

Trio

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

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Music to Make Horror Movies By: Eddie Murphy

Published January 6, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

eddie vampire-in-brooklyn-lb-1

A modern king of comedy, Eddie Murphy’s time as a nocturnal scavenger in Vampire in Brooklyn turned out to be one of his less toothy ventures in cinematic mayhem. Of course, as with many others, the uneven specters of love have perhaps haunted Murphy with more aplomb than any failed celluloid enterprise. Here, his ‘80s hit Party All The Time serves as prime evidence.

As with other funny men, Murphy has had extremely homophobic moments in his material. He apologized in 1996 for comments about the AIDS crisis in his film Delirious, confirming that he wasn’t “anti-gay”. As another twenty some years have passed since then, I am sure that he has evolved even further and in that spirit of hope and forgiveness, I post this column here.

eddie vampire

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

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Real Life Horror 101

Published January 6, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Wow. So, apparently this is an Irish leaflet against gay marriage.

Catchy. But rather sick (on so many levels). Is it just me or does the way that they state this imply that they think it is okay for children to listen to hetrosexual copulating?!

Got me a copy editor – stat!!!

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Pride Weekend Report: Remembering the UpStairs Lounge Tragedy.

Published June 28, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Nobody much looks, anymore, as I swing down the street in razor blade stilettos, howling I Need A Man in a bad Kermit, the Frog voice. Unfortunately, it wasn’t always this way.

This Pride Weekend will mark the 41st Anniversary of what has been labeled one of the deadliest attacks on LGBT people in US history. On June 24th, 1973 in New Orleans, thirty-two people, horrifically, lost their lives when the UpStairs Lounge was set on fire.

Even though all reports suggest that the fire was started by a disgruntled patron of the bar, the city’s lack of response after the attack borders on the criminal. Most news outlets refused to cover the event and when they did, it was merely as a joke. Families refused to identify bodies and one victim, Rev Bill Larson, who perished as he tried to escape through the barred windows, was left on public display for hours, Medieval warning style.

Even now, few know of this heinous incident. But a recent, lovingly detailed article by the Friendly Atheist pays magnificent tribute to those who fell, years ago.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/06/24/remembering-the-upstairs-lounge-the-u-s-a-s-largest-lgbt-massacre-happened-40-years-ago-today/

An upcoming documentary film is, also, a potent reminder of all that was lost that day.

Here’s hoping that as people whisk through this weekend in drunken delight, they take a moment to acknowledge Larson (and all others) who paved the way – – and perished due to much less accepting climes.

Big Gay Horror Fan

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

R.I.P. Michael Hastings.

Published June 21, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

From Dickens to Twain to Hemingway, the life of a newspaperman has been one of romanticized danger and hopeful social reform.

Cashing in on those influential chips, journalist Michael Hastings made his mark with his Polk Award winning (2010 article) “The Runaway General” in Rolling Stone magazine. Exposing the “recklessness” of a commander in a “reckless war”, the piece brought about the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal by exposing the inner workings of his deadly wartime antics.

A frequent lecturer and supporter of his fellow writers, Hastings, 33, who pursued the truth until the end, was killed in an automobile accident on June 18th, 2013.

More info on Hastings and his tragic end can be obtained here: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/michael-hastings-rolling-stone-contributor-dead-at-33-20130618.

Meanwhile, anyone who uses the power of words to make their views (whether factual or funny, heartfelt or profane) known will definitely feel the loss of Hastings, deep within their strivingly poetic souls.