I, recently, had the chance to meet bodaciously talented (NYC based) artist Sasha Steinberg. Here, we chat about his vibrant new comic book series celebrating the glorious personalities that participated in the historic Stonewall Riots:
Further information on Steinberg and his art is available at http://www.ahsasha.com.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
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.
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
After working all day at Big Bo’s Big Body Parts Shack, I often feel particularly filthy.
My outsides could never look as corrupted as the insides of the lead character in Zach Schildwachter’s potent short, Scum, though. Utilizing testimonials from real life serial killers to populate his killer’s thoughts, Shildwachter creates a very potent, nearly poetic examination here.
Nice editing, solid performances and a sure sense of filmic purpose mark Scum as a vital calling card, making viewers eager for more fine, independent horror from the shores of Ohio, where this mini-opus was filmed.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
So, this is just like the time I went out with the drooling maniac that my mother (the lesbian prostitute nun) wanted to marry. Even though she didn’t realize it at the time, I was doing her a favor.
Likewise, the charming gents of the amazing podcast Astro Radio Z and myself have taken a bullet for all cinematic voyeurs out there by diving into the entire Witchcraft series! Yes, watching the oftentimes unbelievably boring entries in this soft core horror enterprise was both a horror and a joy – something we all point out in this the (gasp!) final episode covering the last two (ahem!) films in the series.
So, dive in – and if you find that you need a warlock to help pull you out of the mucky abyss – please DON’T call someone named Will Spanner!
http://astroradioz.tumblr.com/post/89509938852/the-final-witchcraft-episode-its-over-listen
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
Acting like a witch isn’t always a bad thing – especially when you are talking about Charlie Irving and Aaron Cammack, the two versatile performers playing seductive witches in New American Folk Theatre’s Dark of the Moon. I, recently, had the chance to talk with this fabulously talented duo and I am still feeling beguiled and fascinatingly charmed!
Dark of the Moon runs until June 29th, 2014 at the Den Theatre in Chicago. More information is available at http://www.newamericanfolktheatre.org.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
Me and my real dad.
This is probably my favorite photo of us. We’re in costume for (my first summer stock show) American Primitive.
There is an interesting, vaguely unsettling (to my childhood mind) stage dad story with this, as well. This was 1976 and for the 1.5/2 weeks of rehearsal, a young, very handsome blonde actor had been playing my father in the show. Suddenly, a day or so before we opened, the director (a darker, heavyset guy) took over the part. If I’m not mistaken, that was the plan all along – but I was never told.
Honestly, I don’t think I ever said a word to the first guy off-stage, being enamored and much too shy, but I had definitely bonded with him, theatrically, and didn’t like the change. I was bewildered yet exceedingly polite about the situation – but not happy.
As the show came to a close, the imposter stage dad became increasingly emotional before every performance – stating each night, loudly and dramatically, to me (& to all that were near) that “In two days…one day…tonight…I’m losing a son!!!”
I thought it was the strangest thing ever. I knew we were just acting!
Anyhow, all these years later, I do hope that my second fake dad eventually had plenty of kids who truly loved him – or, as the case may be (bachelor actor!!!), had plenty of fictional theatre children who adored him in all the ways that I certainly couldn’t!
But…
Next time, let a kid know, yo!!!!
Big Gay Horror Fan
http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan
She’s overpowered tiny yet vicious rolling robots, post apocalyptic zombies and a murder happy madman or two – now eclectic genre actress Kelli Maroney is taking over the airwaves.
Along with Rick Farmiloe, Amanda Raymond and Jerry McCarty, Maroney (Chopping Mall, Zero Boys, Night of the Comet) is one of the co-hosts of the truly fun podcast, Rick’s Martini Bar. The show’s most recent guest is the (pictured) legendary Chuck McCann (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Cameron’s Closet), but you can catch up with previous episodes featuring folks like Maroney’s CM co-star Tony O’Dell and former drive-in cutie Kristine DeBell (Meatballs, Cheerleaders Wild Weekend) at the link below, as well!
http://www.mccartymetro.com/podcast.html
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
“Lakes of fire just don’t grow on trees!” – Devil, Hell
Short and sassy – that’s how I like my gym teachers and my horror shorts.
Thankfully, ambitious Naked Hobo Productions (based in ever-loving WI) has given us a sharp, quick take on terror comedy with their fun Hell.
Here, the wrongdoing Mr. John Jacobs (a fine Mark Wooldrage) finds that the wicked underworld looks much like Earth and that his options for eternity come with a bizarre twist.
Filled with nice pacing and set-ups (courtesy of director Glenn R. Buettner) and some extraordinarily vibrant photography (courtesy of Dave Garacci), this piece also contains confident performances from all involved (especially in Buettner’s low-key, totally charming Irish accented Devil) making it a truly engaging way to spend 9 (or so) minutes.
Be sure to keep up with all the fiery happenings of Naked Hobo Productions at https://twitter.com/Nakedhobo. Meanwhile, the official page for Hell is https://www.facebook.com/Hellshortfilm.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
“The real famous people are in the news.” – Allen Dean, 7th Day
In my head, I’ve been a worldly pop star serenading a gaggle of worshipful soap opera actors. I’ve, also, won several Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards and, most importantly, I am still in the shape I was ten years ago!
Mind games, also, weigh in heavily in Dire Wit Films’ explosive 2013 examination 7th Day. A dishwasher in a midrange restaurant, Allen Dean is quiet and shy. Often picked on by his co-workers, Dean harbors a dark secret. He is, also, a notorious serial killer. Or is he? As Allen is followed by a mysterious interviewer, the strong corridors of his reality soon seem to weaken. Could the vivid destruction and grue strewn mayhem that he engages in be nothing but an escape from his dreary existence? Ultimately, the affections of a disdainful waitress that Allen has fallen for may be the only balm for his fractured soul.
Filled to the brim with gut wrenching effects (brilliantly created by Kaleigh Brown), eclectic writer Mark Leake (Isle of the Damned) and leveled director Jason Koch (Aftermath FX Studio) seem to be going for much more than shock value here. Allen’s internal ramblings, ultimately, hit an emotional cord within us all. His inner monologues remind us of how we all would like to react in the face of adversity — calmly and with intelligently well spoken confidence.
Anchored by Mark Sanders’ subtle, surprising sympathetic performance as Allen, 7th Day is an interesting, much needed shot in the arm to the prevalent landscape of independent serial killer adventures.
More info on 7th Day is available at http://www.direwitfilms.com, https://www.facebook.com/pages/7th-Day and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dire-Wit-Films.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
She danced for Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and spoke the first words in the classic 1931 Dracula – and now the iconic Carla Laemmle has breathed her last breath on this planet.
This beloved host of 1999’s The Road to Dracula (and one of the remaining heirs to a Hollywood film dynasty), passed away on June 12th, 2014 at the age of 104.
Loving and appreciative of her fans to the end, Laemmle’s energetic spirit will always reside, though, in those glowing embers of gothic celluloid and the ever sparkling photos that she left behind.
R.I.P., Carla! May your current journey be much smoother than that legendary (cinematic) one from 70 years ago!
Big Gay Horror Fan 