In Remembrance: Joseph Alan Johnson

Published June 25, 2020 by biggayhorrorfan

Joseph Main

Joseph Alan Johnson is the perfect Pride Month horror film icon. As an actor, he appeared in such ‘80s low budget efforts as the classic The Slumber Party Massacre, Berserker, which recently received a deluxe reissue by Vinegar Syndrome, and Iced, which he wrote and appeared in with his beloved TSPM co-star Debra De Liso, A few years in Europe resulted in credits with some of the masters of the giallo art form, as well.

His greatest work may have been on the stages of professional theaters in Florida, though. Settling in Saint Petersburg to attend to the needs of his ailing parents, Johnson wrote a number of plays that revolved around his experiences as a gay man in the arts and as a proud member of the LGBTQIA community. His works were often comedies, but also truly celebrated the heart and soul and the wonderful fluidity of the queer community.

https://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/after-misadventures-in-hollywood-theater-mainstay-joseph-alan-johnson/1215626/

Joseph, Deb, Me

When I met him in 2013, he was attending his first convention as a celebrity guest. We discovered that we had theater friends in common and had several long chats about life and the arts. In one of our first conversations, he mentioned his disappointment in how his career had unfolded, that he thought his mother had expected him to go much further than he had. I assured him that I thought he had done a lot of fascinating work and by the weekend’s end, he seemed to feel the same. It was nice to watch him discover that while celluloid buffs from all walks of life appreciated his work in TSPM, the film that was being honored at the Cinema Wasteland event that we were at, they also knew about and appreciated his other film efforts, as well.

Upon learning of his unexpected death earlier this month, I was glad to know that he left this particular coil with the knowledge that his body of work was not only appreciated by so many, but that it will also live on for ages to come. It also seemed significant to me that Slumber Party, his most recognized work, has such strong ties to feminism and, with its initial script being penned by the legendary lesbian author Rita Mae Brown, to the gay community, as well.

That is a legacy anyone could be proud of. Thus, let us all hope that he travels to future planes with joy and a true sense of accomplishment guiding his way.

Joseph Autograph

Joseph Alan Johnson (6/25/57-6/10/20)

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

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Orville in Orbit

Published May 13, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

Orville in Orbit

You don’t always need a time machine to revisit the past. Sometimes you just need a determined director…and an even stronger fan base! Coming in on the latter stretch, exploitation auteur Jim Wynorski has recently announced plans for a sequel to the early ‘90s cult classic Hard to Die.

Hard to Die, connected to The Slumber Party Massacre series via its reuse of footage and plotlines from the original film, is perhaps one of the most notable projects of the VHS and direct to cable era. Luxuriating in that period’s excesses by taking place in a shopping mall as a bevy of gorgeous women do inventory in a lingerie store, the film reintroduced the audience to the hapless Orville, a misunderstood lug, compassionately played by character actor Peter Spellos. Orville, as many enthusiastic viewers can attest, had already been put through the ringer in the very similarly themed Sorority House Massacre II(AKA Nightie Nightmare).

Honing in on Spellos’ popularity, the new film will be titled Orville in Orbit. Naturally, Spellos will be returning along with HTD’s original actresses, Deborah Dutch, Melissa Moore and Gail Thackery (Harris), who were all important figures in the initial, genuine reign of the Scream Queens.

More information on the project is available at https://www.facebook.com/Orville-In-Orbit-1867935273446647.

Hard-lingerie

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

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Debra De Liso in Iced

Published May 4, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

Iced 4

The divine Debra De Liso, one of L.A.’s longstanding and most respected theater artists, will be forever remembered for her refrigerated death reveal in 1982’s beloved The Slumber Party Massacre. But six years later, De Liso turned the tables on that victimhood status in another horror feature that also offered up plenty of frozen delights. In 1988’s Iced, scripted by her TSPM co-star Joseph Alan Johnson, De Liso portrays Trina, the film’s determined final girl.

Here, at a ski lodge setting, De Liso’s Trina battles off a serial killer who uses everything from knives and ski poles to bear traps and gigantic icicles to do away with his targets. Showing off her dancing training to marvelous effect, De Liso skids through snow drifts, up wooden cabin steps and onto balconies as she fights for her life. It turns out someone isn’t too happy with this heroine’s romantic choices and is determined to make her pay.

But, providing Trina with a natural goodness and humanity, De Liso does survive to the end this time…and she also gets to work some awesome winter fashions into the mix, as well.

Iced, meanwhile, offers up solid performances from Lisa Loring, best known for her work in the original The Addams Family, and handsome soap opera stalwart Douglas Stevenson (1955-2011), who also appeared in the opening segment of Joseph Zito’s The Prowler. That it focuses on conflicted adults as opposed to party happy teens gives Iced an extra edge, as well. Its one that De Liso makes full use of and it would have definitely been delightful to have seen her in more projects like this.

Iced 7

Until that happy, frozen tundra presents itself… SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Raising Hell with Debra De Liso!

Published December 11, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Debra DeLiso

As Kimberly Clark in slasher classic The Slumber Party Massacre the eclectic Debra DeLiso took guidance from Pamela Roylance’s supportive Coach Jana.

Recently, in a circle of life moment, De Liso, herself, played the authority figure in the video for (female fronted rock band) Dorothy’s energetic Raise Hell. Nicely, De Liso gets to engage in everything from severe disapproval to wild abandon here, a true testament to her multiple talents.

Be sure to watch the video, at the below link, and…

http://www.vevo.com/watch/dorothy/raise-hell/QMFUA1590166

…keep up with all of De Liso’s projects at www.debradeliso.com, as well.

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

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Debra De Liso’s Beautiful, Terrifying, Love

Published August 22, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Behind the scenes, it may take a village to put on a show. But, sometimes, on the stage itself, all you need is one special presence.

Such is the case with the brilliant Debra De Liso. Best known as Kimberly Clark in the cult horror classic The Slumber Party Massacre, De Liso is a West Coast theatrical mainstay, with teaching, directing and acting credits galore. Now, after years of helping amazing talent travel with their own solo adventures across the boards, she has developed her own memoir piece, Beautiful, Terrifying, Love.

Recently, De Liso took this intimate production, which has been called “a tantalizing Twilight Zone marathon of a life, told by a poetic dynamo” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. There, it was referred to as “involving” by WOW 24/7 and the press, also, delighted in the fact that references to her horror film past were made during the evening.

But, while shaded by veins of humor, the show, tenderly, focuses on De Liso’s relationship with her beloved and very talented bi-polar daughter. These photos from the production, taken by De Liso’s sister, obviously show her heartfelt connectedness to the material, making it seem like a sure fire journey that lovers of, both, the arts and the humanities will definitely want to be taken on.

More information on Beautiful, Terrifying, Love and De Liso, who has also appeared in such horror and cult films as Iced and Dr. Caligari, can be gathered at http://www.debradeliso.com.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Actress Spotlight: Debra De Liso

Published May 12, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

After that incident with the pies in 5th grade, I was forever known as Blueberry.

…and while specific recognition may have its many rewards, sometimes it can limit the scope of one’s overview. This is certainly the case with the brilliantly talented actress/dancer/instructor Debra De Liso. De Liso, who recently won the prestigious Rainbow Award from the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, is best known for her ingratiating performance of Kimberly Clark in slasher classic The Slumber Party Massacre. While her work in TSPM definitely contains some of the most authentic acting in the entire 80s horror universe, De Liso has plenty of other accomplishments to her name.

As “Grace” in Caligari

Popping up in the 1989 oddity Dr. Caligari allowed De Liso to truly show her acting range. Unlike her rambunctious Kimberly, De Liso’s Grace in this wildly impressionistic feature is a prim, religious schoolteacher. This film also allowed De Liso to move from the refrigerator (where Kimberly met her grim comeuppance) to the stew, itself. Grace ultimately ends up as part of an over-the-top madman’s meal.

My Favorite Angel! Sledge Hammer

Further exploring her boundaries, De Liso’s wild Manson-style wanna-be, Angel, on an episode of cult television classic Sledge Hammer is a twisted delight. Showing off her dancer’s technique, she fully embodies the soul of punk style revenge with a manic, comic edge.

Detailed dance training also almost led De Liso to some major behind the scenes work, as well. After intensive auditioning, she was hired to body double Shelley Long in a ballet sequence in Outrageous Fortune (1987). But, in a weird bout of Hollywood logic, the sequence was filmed the day after she was on-set, giving her a very nice major motion picture credit – without the actual screen time!

Lamp Dance

The self produced Lamp Dance (available at convention appearances) does allow her to show off evidence of both her physical and acting prowess. Playing a bookish librarian type who gradually gives into her lust to move to the music, De Liso often is doing two things, physically, at once (giving into the music with one part of her body while restraining herself with another) – resulting in a performance that is a true tour de force.

Never content to remain just one color, De Liso shared stories of her varied career (including thoughts on Iced, a ski slope horror written by The Slumber Party Massacre co-star Joseph Alan Johnson) in Jason Paul Collum’s insightful 2003 look at the world of women in genre filmmaking, Something to Scream About. Her presence here is thoughtful and honest. She even expresses light amusement over the fact that, despite her various accomplishments (including over 70 theatrical productions), that it is the role of Kimberly Clark that she is always recognized for.

Currently involved with a variety of stage worthy projects, including one heading to NYC in the near future, De Liso’s teaching schedule and other activities are continually updated at http://www.debradeliso.com. Be sure to send some loving in that direction – and….

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Pink Chainsaws: The Spring Cinema Wasteland (4/5 – 4/7/2013) Pictorial!

Published April 19, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

The real (?!) Charlie’s Angels: Kelli Maroney, Big Gay Horror Fan and Brinke Stevens being outwitted by a guy in short-shorts – AGAIN!

The weekend of April 5-7, 2013, Cinema Wasteland held their first event of the year in Strongsville, OH. Highlighted by a reunion of The Slumber Party Massacre cast, the presence of genre regular Kelli Maroney, the bold artwork of Chris Kuchta and many well informed, brightly costumed fans – this was a weekend not to be missed!

The Slumber Party Massacre Reunion Panel (with Debra DeLiso, Joseph Alan Johnson, Brinke Stevens and Michael Villella)!

The best bloody loving around? You bet! Hugging on ‘Incest Death Squad’ auteur Cory Udler!

If you’re going to work a chainsaw make sure it’s pink – and that you’re wearing high heels!

Wisconsin film guru (editor/director/producer) Derrick Carey regrets his lunchtime choices. Chick-a-Fil, Carey?!? C’mon!!

End of the day hang-out! Smooching on amazing Debra DeLiso with Slumber Party/Iced co-star Joseph Alan Johnson and the best horror artist ever: Chris Kuchta!

Ending things on a bright note with an adorable shot of Maroney and (best horror artist ever) Chris Kuchta, ‘backgrounded’ by his work.

Check out Cinema Wasteland at www.cinemawasteland.com // Kelli Maroney at www.classickellimaroney.com // Chris Kuchta at www.horrorartist.com // Cory J. Udler at www.incestdeathsquad.com.

Meanwhile, be sure to check back here and at https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan for video interviews with the entire The Slumber Party Massacre reunion cast and a bevy of independent horror film maestros – all shot at Cinema Wasteland.

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