Big Gay Horror Fan remembers the terror when, after weeks of working out twice a day and loading up on copious amounts of green, he discovered that he still weighed 207 pounds. Which, the incredibly helpful gym employee preceded to round up to 210 on his paperwork! Frankly, I would have preferred a knife wielding psycho bounding around the corner – but what the heck!

Thankfully, the beyond awesome Sarah “MJ” Kirst is celebrating self-love, no matter your size, with her terrifically spunky blog Curvy Girl Rock. With a sense of humor and tons of sass, the talented Kirst is proving you can look consistently fabulous with the right attitude and a copious amount of self respect.

Be sure to check her out at:

http://www.curvygirlrock.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.facebook.com/#!/CurvyGirlRock.

Meanwhile, join the bloodily important BGHF scare treadmill at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE!!!

Just like state taxes and unexpected financial disasters, Big Gay Horror Fan finds that horror love can be found everywhere. (Although, unlike the first two items mentioned, horror love is definitely a good thing!)

For example, the night club act of jazz legend Judy Roberts and acclaimed Chicago singer Paul Marinaro often includes a passionately swinging version of Victor Young’s “Beautiful Love”, which can be heard in the background of a party scene in the classic 1932 version of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff. When Roberts and Marinaro perform the song (as pictured above) they do a detailed description of the song and it’s musty, heavily bandaged history.

The famed Young, also, composed themes that were featured in such diverse pictures as beloved 1950 noir Gun Crazy (“Mad About You”), queer favorite Johnny Guitar (“Johnny Guitar”) which features genre regulars Joan Crawford, John Carradine, Ernest Borgnine and a very butch turn from Mercedes McCambridge (the demon’s voice in The Exorcist) and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (“A Hundred Years from Today”). His classic “Stella by Starlight” was even featured, briefly, in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.

Meanwhile, acclaimed singer songwriter Josh Ritter (www.joshritter.com) offers up his own version of The Mummy story with his poignant song “The Curse”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxWxiuJRApU.

Be sure to keep up with Judy Roberts at www.judyroberts.com. Paul Marinaro is at www.paulmarinaromusic.com and Big Gay Horror Fan always welcomes a bloody jazz tune at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, too!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE!!!

Of all the things Big Gay Horror Fan collected in his youth – autographed photos of soap opera stars, Lisa Hartman albums, the Fangoria issue with City of the Living Dead on the cover – the thing that he cherished the most was his Charlene Tilton scrapbook!

Tilton, the buxom lass best known for late night antics as the rebellious Lucy Ewing on Dallas (a role she recently reprised in the successful 2012 reboot), began her career with comedic appearances on Happy Days and the original Freaky Friday. But, she capped the period of her greatest success with major roles in two terror twinged 1979 television flicks.

Most notably, as the proper Jennifer Cresswell, Tilton faced down the terrors of The Fall of the House of Usher (above). This rather anemic version of Poe’s oft filmed tale does feature some decent mood (provided by it’s shadowy locale), proper costuming and a nicely passionate performance from the distinguished Martin Landau as Roderick Usher. Tilton is earnest and heartfelt – and if she doesn’t quite wash off the gloss of her suds ridden notoriety – Airplane‘s Robert Hays as her husband can’t quite shake off his modern trappings, either. Thus, the two make a perfect late 70’s television horror film couple – their fame, awkwardness and subtle attempts at appropriateness all mingle into one delicious, must see bath.

Playing more like an after school special with a couple sick twists, Tilton’s role in The Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker allows her to play final girl with a serious social message: Don’t hitchhike! After many awkward stretches, including a break-up scenario with The Brady Bunch‘s Christopher Knight, an assault and a murder finally occur. But the most exciting moment of this labored excercise occurs near the end of the film when Tilton’s Julie has to fight off a frothing Craig T. Nelson (pre-kind Poltergeist dad and comic Coach) as the dangerous cad who picks her up on the way to a job interview. The soundtrack is, also, pleasingly funky while the fact that co-star Dominique Dunne (who would appear in Poltergeist as Nelson’s daughter) was murdered (by a jealous boyfriend) several years after this puts a poignant (very real) stamp on the film’s heavy handed reason for being.

Continuing her terror trapped follies, Tilton, also, co-starred in the parody film The Silence of the Hams in 1994. The film, which poked fun at Psycho along with it’s obvious target, was naturally not well received (despite some fun moments), but features a solid cast including Billy Zane, Shelley Winters, Dom DeLuise -and (briefly) Mel Brooks!

Recently, the passionate performer has, also, showed her sharp skills as an hysterically caustic mother-in-law in another horror parody Paranormal Calamity (2010) and counts a role in horror homage Dr. Spine (2011) as one of her many credits, as well.

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Be sure to check back every Monday as Big Gay Horror Fan cherishes another scarlet woman of horror — and be sure to keep up on the red with BGHF at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

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

This is how Big Gay Horror Fan takes a stand: silently, with arms folded over his chest and eyes rolling as the rude woman in front of him adds and deletes items from her shopping cart while the poor check out person continually reminds her of where her bill is ‘at’. Thankfully, talented actor Greg Rikaart, whose unusual and direct presence has enlivened such shows as Dawson’s Creek (where the poor lad ‘suffered’ through a story arc as Kerr Smith’s boyfriend) and The Young and the Restless (where his quirky Kevin has been a trouble making presence since 2003), is more vocal in his approach to the (real) horrors of the world.

On August 4th, Rikaart responded to an August 1st tweet, by a fellow daytime performer, that proudly showed support for (notorious ‘biblical family advocates’) Chick-fil-A and their customer appreciation day, organized by the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Dan Cathy. Rikaart noted that it was not an issue of freedom of speech (as the other celebrity had stated), but one of “hatred and bigotry”. Further examining the incident in an August 10th article for The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-rikaart/chick-fil-a-controversy-_b_1765990.html), Rikaart made it clear for vaguely informed media whores (such as myself) that Cathy’s goal went beyond denying the queer community it’s rights but also supports the criminalization of homosexuality. (H-m-m-m! Now, would I get to choose my own cellmate?)

Significantly, considering that this is probably an issue that CBS (the home to The Young and the Restless) and NBC (the other performer’s network) would rather have never been publicized and the still homophobic vagueness of the Hollywood scene, Rikaart (whom also played the disapproving brother of Gina Gershon’s bi-sexual rocker in 2003’s fun and poignant Prey for Rock & Roll – see, he is an actor) really has taken a potentially career damaging stand, here, and that is bravery that one can sleep, proudly, on!

You can follow the further adventures of Rikaart on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/gregrikaart.

Be sure to help Big Gay Horror Fan become even more political at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

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

While Big Gay Horror Fan is busy counting crayons and fighting off those ever clinging stomach calories, the amazing Kelsey Zukowski is out making movies! Zukowski is among the new breed of passionate feminine horror makers, whose well rounded interests range from glossier television efforts like Angel to the more graphic terrors of contemporary film, and she has recently left the Midwest to join in the fight against the perilous demons and (hopefully embrace the rarified deities) of the West Coast.

Most importantly, Zukowski, whose sensitive portrayal of a confused sister in acclaimed indie short What They Say has drawn raves, is competing in the ‘pick the winner’ sweepstakes for Slasher 3D. Yes, you can help her get cast in this cool sounding project by simply liking her audition scenes. This link to her Facebook page for the contest (which ends September 8th, 2012) will help get you (and the divine KZ) on the way to bloody victory: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/436110379774984/.

Meanwhile, I talk with Kelsey (whose other awesome credits include horror anthology Psycho Street, Afraid of Sunrise and The Meat Wagon) about the term ‘scream queen’, screenwriting and all around horror love in this fun video interview:

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Be sure to check back every Monday as I expose another pure Goddess of Terror (and believe me that is DEFINITELY preferable to exposing MYSELF) — and be sure to keep up on the BGHF beat by checking out http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE!!!

A week after the dual convention madness of Wizard World and Flashback Weekend, esteemed Horror Hound contributor Jon Kitley (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com) and his family celebrated his birthday in style. Creating their own backyard drive-in, the spooked out trio shared homemade corndogs, delicious cake and screenings of The Green Slime and The Blob with friends. All consumingly perfect, no?!?

A concession area in the kitchen!?! Dawn Kitley (Jon’s awesome wife) rocks!

The legitimate drive-in style cake!! Although, they did get mad when I tried to get busy in one of the cars! Silly? Yes. But, I swear it looked that real!

The Green Slime! Robert Horton (pictured) was on As The World Turns when I was a kid. So, this was the perfect setting to finally see this goofy sci-fi creature feature. (And I am not the only one who mixes up soap fandom with scare tomfoolery. Barbara Crampton (ReAnimator, Chopping Mall, From Beyond) starred on 4 soaps and claims there are a lot of crossover fans. So – there!)

One of the coolest things about a Kitley event is the quick realization that the attendees are some of the most talented folks in the Mid-West horror community. There are writers, directors, actors, producers, artists and –many can make multiple claims on those tags, as well. Here, the awesome Aaron Christensen (editor of the essential Horror 101 and co-star of the acclaimed apocalyptic zombie feature Dead Weight) tries out some of the Green Slime inspired mustard! Watch out for those beady red eyes and dancing legs, buddy!

Is this the sexiest Big Gay Horror Fan moment ever? Here, a certain discerning blonde journalist feeds celebrated death metal horror artist Putrid some sweetly messy cake. Heck, I can go home, now! Right??

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE!

And be sure to come celebrate a devestatingly awesome queer hued look at horror with me at www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Here’s amazing queer filmmaker Jason Paul Collum (October Moon, November Son) publicizing his soon-to-be released, truly incredible documentary Screaming In High Heels, which explores the lives of scream queen legends Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley and Brinke Stevens, at Flashback Weekend 2012.

Don’t these three just make you want to create a demented circus of your very own? These crazed, white faced jokesters scared the wits out of Flashweek Weekend guest Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Wicked Little Things)- a testament to their spooky awesomeness!