Anybody Remember Teen-Age Book-club?

Also known as TAB, this was a service of Scholastic Book Services, and it got a lot of folks into reading (I hope).  Me, I was already there!

When cleaning out the family household, I came across this artifact.  Why in the world Mom would have kept this flyer from January, 1970, I don't know -- I was thirteen years old at the time.

This was back when paperbacks were cover-priced from 60 to 95 cents, on the average, with plenty of 40-centers, too.

As you can see by the front page, the style has surrendered to an adult's idea of Pop and Psychedelic style.

The cover shows images from Dark Shadows (an old-age Barnabas Collins), Land of the Giants, and a WWII plane.  Why World War II?  Well, DUH!  Our moms and dads lived through it, at almost exactly our age (as we were in 1970).

Here is the center spread.  As you can see, every time you bought a book you got a credit, and occasionally you could "cash in" your credits to get free books.

It's a shame that I don't have the entire flyer, but I used the order form!  As you can see, I marked Life Beyond the Earth, and Barnabas Collins in a Funny Vein, as my free books.

Along with the teen angst of the times (Phyllis Whitney's The Highest Dream) and sports for the guys (Basketball Stars of 1970), there is a heartening emphasis on the classics, like Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Here is the back page (or what was left after coupon removal).

Pardon me for seeming curmudgeonly, but to me it feels like that, with all the possible media and learning resources available to teens nowadays, our cultures's horizons have withered quite a bit.  Sure, John and Yoko nude on Two Virgins might seem equivalent to Lady Gaga's meat suit in shock value -- but John and Yoko only occupied perhaps .05% of media attention (and for a brief few months perhaps), not a whole TV channel's worth of "deviance."

See you next Wendesday!

Degrees of "Son of Frankenstein"

While watching the 1940 WC Fields film The Bank Dick on TMC the other day, I was astounded to recognize some of the music.  It’s an active, suspenseful piece that is used twice in The Bank Dick, each time to accompany a bank-robber chase (there are two bank robberies in the movie!).

It was music from 1939’s Son of Frankenstein, by Frank Skinner!  The music is heard at the climax of Son, when the Monster (Karloff) has taken Dr Frankenstein’s little boy.  There are various scenes of pursuit and standoff, as the Monster holds the tyke over the lava pit, until Basil Rathbone does his Tarzan act and saves the day.

I checked with IMDB                        http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032234/fullcredits#cast          about The Bank Dick,   and it says that Frank Skinner was the “uncredited” composer.  The onscreen credits list the Musical Director for this Universal movie as Charles Previn.

So here we have a clear case of what they call, in TV, “tracking” – that is, using music previously prepared for one situation, in another.  Another classic example from the movies is how Universal reused Franz Waxman’s exotic Bride of Frankenstein music for its Flash Gordon serials.

Now, here’s another interesting movieland cross-pollonization.  Growing up as a twisted sort of soul, I had seen Son of Frankenstein at least ten times before, as an adult, I watched Bambi with my young children.  Once again, I went “hmmmm,” when I heard “young” Bambi speak.  Now, WHERE had I heard that too-cute voice before?

And then it hit me – it was the same voice as Peter von Frankenstein, the infant Son of Frankenstein!

Nowadays, you can see Donnie Dunagan listed as the “uncredited” voice of young Bambi on IMDB.  But twenty years ago, all I could do was go, “hmmmm.”

See you next Wednesday!

MA-26 - Break -Ins from Beyond

Along with the rising of mass media and a united pop culture in the twentieth century came a realization that folks might have shared the same experience as you, even if they hadn’t been WITH YOU.  In other words, two people might have seen the same silent movie, even though they lived in far-apart towns.  Hence,  “So’s your old man!” came to mean, “Shut up” or “I disagree with you,” by common reference to the WC Fields 1926 silent movie of the same title.

Similarly, Veronica Lake’s hair-over-one-eye look may have been sultry and attractive, even when emulated by thousands of women in the 1940s, but it also was dangerous when those same women were working in war plants during WWII and got their loose, sultry tresses caught in machinery, leading to injury and death.  Here’s a Youtube video concerning this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgpvKXLTwr8

When recorded music reached this same plateau (or valley, take your pick), then folks could start referring to hit records with the assurance that the listener would understand the reference.  That’s the whole idea behind sound-alike “cover” versions of pop tunes.  If the imitation sounded enough like the original, then the cover version could score some sales, riding on the coattails of the original hit record.

Then came along people with twisted senses of humor, like me.  They realized that this same familiarity with hit records meant that various catch-phrases could be cut out from the recording and reassembled, much like a newspaper-ad ransom note.

And thus the “break-in” record was born.  Ordinarily, such an assemblage would have the format of a narrator or an interview giving a leading statement that could then be “replied to” by a one-or-two-second segment from a song that was current enough that the hoped-for listener would recognize the clip, and get the joke – meanwhile marveling at the assembler’s creativeness, and eventually buying the break-in record.

Here’s my own assemblage of a bunch of these, as they relate to outer space and little green men, and the like.  Not all are break-ins, there are some more straight songs.

Here are the tracks:
1 -        Marty on the Planet Mars Part 1         Martty 1954
2 -        Marty on the Planet Mars Part 2         Martty 1954
3 -        Santa and the Satellite Part 1  Buchanan and Goodman        1957
4 -        Santa and the Satellite Part 2  Buchanan and Goodman        1957
5 -        Destination Love        Jan Davis         1958
6 -        The Outer Space Looters Part 1          The Mad Martians       1958
7 -        The Outer Space Looters Part 2          The Mad Martians       1958
8 -        Flying Saucer The 3rd Buchanan and Goodman        1959
9 -        Blast Off!        Jimmie Haskell and His Orchestra      1959
10 -      Comic Strip Rock N Roll        Robert Ashley 1959
11 -      Space Ship      Dickie Goodman         1960
12 -      Santa and the Touchables       Dickie Goodman         1961
13 -      Moon Gas       Dick Hyman and Mary Mayo 1963
14 -      The Flying Saucer       Chickenman      1966
15 -      Luna Trip        Dickie Goodman         1969
16 -      London, London         Ceatano Veloso           1971
17 -      Spaceship        Spontaneous Combustion         1973
18 -      Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft     Klaatu 1976
19 -      Hey ET            Dicklie Goodman        1982
20 -      The Martian Boogie    Brownsville Station    1977
21 -      The Ballad of William Robinson        Bill Mumy       1997
22 -      Return of the Flying Saucer    Jon Goodman  1997
23 -      I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship          David Bowie      2002
24 -      UFO    Darryl Rhoades           2005
25 -      le flying saucer hat      Chairlift           2008
26 -      Flying Saucers Breakfast in Fur          2009

And here is the link:   http://www.megaupload.com/?d=X17GB074

As John Landis likes to say, SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY!

Farewell to a King-Sized Sweetheart

Here’s what the Daily Oklahoman’s obit read

March 22, 1959 - October 28, 2011 MOORE Mark Lynn Barragar left this life to be with the Lord on Friday, October 28, 2011. He was born March 22, 1959 in Columbus, Kansas. He was the only child of Wallace and Loree Barragar. He graduated with the Capitol Hill High School Class of 1976. He spent most of his working life as a Master Control technician. Mark enjoyed a variety of pastimes, especially entertaining. Many people know Mark best by "Ranger Roger," the name he used when he hosted "Camp Kids Club" on KOKH (Channel 25) from 1991 to 1998. His most recent passion was as an Elvis "tribute artist" known as the "King-sized King." Mark married the love of his life, Yvonne, in 1981 and is the stepfather of Dru West of Chicago, IL; and Yevette O'Leary of Shawnee, OK; and is survived by them and his son-in-law, Michael O'Leary; and grandchildren, Turner, Kathryn, Ashlyn and J. Patrick. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Loree Barragar. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at John M. Ireland Funeral Home Chapel, Moore, OK, under their direction.

I knew Mark since the 1990s.  He came to a ThunderCon in full Klingon regalia.  Believe me, you pay attention to a 6-foot-4 Klingon!

Mark had played the Frankenstein Monster on Count Gregore’s Sleepwalker’s Matinee on Channel 5.  In the 1990s he was “Ranger Roger” for Channel 25.  Later he became an Elvis tribute artist, “The King Size King.” 

in the 2000s, Joyce and I saw him perform as the King several times, once at Moore’s Yellow Rose Theatre, where we bought this CD.

In between, Mark had talked to me about having his own show as a horror host (probably based on Count Gregore and other hosts).  I wrote him a couple of scripts, and when Mark said his character would be Cyclopean, I suggested we name him Professor Eisingel (“Eye”+”single”, get it?)  Alas, nothing came of that.

You can find a few more tributes here:

http://www.thelostogle.com/2011/10/31/rip-ranger-roger/

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSlh=1&GRid=79691753&

As to his CD, here are the tracks:

1) 2001 / That's Alright Mama

2)  Hound Dog

3)  Treat Me Nice

4)  Love Me

5)  Follow That Dream

6)  Viva Las Vegas

7)  In the Ghetto

8)  Wonder of You

9)  American Trilogy

10)  I Can't Stop Loving You

And here is the link:   http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CT5EG86Q

See you next week!

Under the Halloween Tree

We end this Halloween season with a bit of gentle fun, John Debney's enchanting soundtrack to the 1994 telefilm The Halloween Tree.  It was based of course on Ray Bradbury's fun tour of Halloween origins, the volume of the same name.

Here are the tracks:

01. Main Titles

02. Our Costumes

03. Pip's House

04. The Note / The Ravine

05. The Funeral March / Stairs

06. The Marley Knocker

07. Meeting Moundshroud

08. Pip and the Tree

09. Where is Pip?

10. The Barn Poster Kite

11. Landing in Egypt

12. Feast of the Spirits

13. Through the Streets

14. The Tomb Chase

15. Mummies

16. Pip's Casket

17. Funeral Procession

18. Leaving Egypt

19. Medieval Festival / New Years'

20. Stonehenge

21. Broomsticks

22. Witches Hideout

23. "What's a Witch?"

24. Witches Chant

25. Burnings and Flight

26. The Construction Yard

27. Sanctuary

28. The Cathedral

29. The Whistle / Gargoyles

30. Gargoyle Chase pt. 1

31. Gargoyle Chase pt. 2

32. Next Stop, Mexico!

33. Candle-lit Graves

34. Gargoyles Dissipate

35. Sugar Candy Skulls / Piñata

36. The Catacombs / Pip Trapped

37. The Trade

38. Coming Back

39. Pip's Alive! / Moundshroud's Pumpkin

40. End Titles

And here is the link:     http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KEE70YEZ

And, as the butcher said when he sold me the empty frankfurter casing,

HAPPY HOLLOW-WEENIE!

Anybody Remember Mazeppa?

In the early 1970s, late-night Saturday TV, in the Tulsa, OK broadcasting area, didn't get any cooler (or sillier) than Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.  Unlike many monster-show hosts, Gailaird Sartain's skits were actually humorous (sometimes).

Here's a contemporary photo

and here's me in about 1972, wearing my mom's rendition of the outfit:

One can only say, LAWZEE!

About twenty years later, the costume was still intact when I posed with a Franken-friend:

Growing up means being able to be silly.

See you tomorrow for some fun and creepy music to wrap up this year's BLOG-O-WEEN!

The Haunted Treehouse

From my copy of the October, 1964 Jack and Jill:

She Hate Me. Like Others!

The rest of the Bride's tale from the coloring book.

more from Jack and Jill

more of my eight-year-old Halloween reading.

Except for the skin color, the witch on the bottom right kind of resembles a couple of Jr High teachers I remember.

Windmills Are Less Dangerous Than You Think

Not only did Victor Frankenstein survive being tossed from the windmill in Frankenstein, his critter survived in the basment, as told in more pages from the Universal coloring book.

"I was gonna make espresso!"

Ghouls with Attitude, Volume 2

Here is the second installation of Oddio Overplay’s Halloween record.  As I said last Monday, the comps are sadly no longer available from them!

Here are the tracks:

1)  Billy DeMarcus - Drac's Back

2)  Movie Trailer - Ghost In The Invisible Bikini

3)  Peter Pan Singers  - Theme to Casper the Friendly Ghost

4)  The Creatures - Mostly Ghostly

5)   Tyrone A' Saurus & his Cro-Magnons - The Monster Twist

6)  Mann Drake - Vampire's Ball

7)  Movie Trailer - The Return of Count Yorga

8)  The Hamburger Brothers - Omar The Vampire

9)  The Zanies - The Mad Scientist

10)  The Cool Ghoul - You Can't Ghoul Me

11)  Ted Cassidy - The Lurch

12)  The Detergents - Igor's Cellar

13)  The Milton the Monster Show - Theme Song

14)  Movie Trailer - Graveyard Tramps

15)  Cathy Mills - Monster Hop

16)  Glen Ryle - Wolf Gal

17)  Movie Trailer - Dr. Jeckyl and Sister Hyde

18)  Ralph Marterie and His Marlboro Men -  Alfred Hitchcock Presents

19)  Lois Prante Ellis and Mary Ann Parker - Troll At The General Meeting

20)  Jimmy Cross - I Want My Baby Back

21)  Count Baltes & The Egors - Opening The Coffin

22)  Sounds of Terror! - The Exorcism

23)  Al Zanino - The Vampire Speaks

And here is the link:   http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XB3JJYVJ  

  See you again soon!

from October 1964

My copy of this magazine has no cover any more, but I found an image of it somewhere.  Here it is, along with a seasonal song.

Trick-or-Treat Twins and a Poem

From the October 1965 Golden Magazine:

Even if she had help from Mom and Dad, that's still a fine effort for a nine-year-old.

Frankenstein Is Colorized!

...courtesy of my daughter Melissa, who was about 8 at the time.

Universal Monster Stamps

In 1997, the USPS issued these stamps featuring some of our favorite guys.

Ghouls with Attitude, Volume 1

The Oddio Overplay website no longer seems to carry this anthology of fun and “scary” music.  Glad I found it first to share with you!

This is Volume 1.  Next Monday will bring Volume 2.

Here are the tracks:

1 Tarantula Ghoul and the Gravediggers - Graveyard Rock   

2 Don Hinson and the Rigamorticians - Riboflavin-Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Polyunsatured Blood   

3 Movie Trailer - Vampire Playgirls   

4 Bobby Bare - Vampira   

5 The Crewnecks - Rockin' Zombie   

6 Griz Green - Jam at the Mortuary   

7 Movie Trailer - Monsters Crash the Pajama Party   

8 The MSR Singers - Monster Man   

9 The Abominable Surfers - Monster Surfer   

10 Bobby 'Boris' Jones - Surfer Smash   

11 Jupiter Jones - The Spook Spoke   

12 Bob McFadden and Dor - I Dig You Baby   

13 Movie Trailer - The Mind of Mr. Soames   

14 Albert DeSalvo - Strangler in the Night   

15 Kenny and the Fiends - House on Haunted Hill   

16 Winchell's Donut House Halloween Record - Hear the Monsters (Spooky Sounds and a Spooky Tale)   

17 Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra - The Raven   

18 The Modernaires - The Rockin' Ghost   

19 Bob Rosengarden & Phil Kraus - Satan Takes a Holiday   

20 Boris Karloff and Friends - Ha Ha Ha / The Bride of Frankenstein   

21 Movie Trailer - Brain Eaters   

22 Groovie Goolies - Goolie Garden   

23 Hap Palmer - Haunted House   

24 Bruce Haack and Norman Bridwell - The Witch's Vacation   

25 Sounds of Terror! - Burned at the Stake    

26 Louise Huebner - Intro Orgies, a Tool of Witchcraft   

27 Marty Manning and His Orchestra - Night on Bald Mountain   

28 Criswell (The Legendary) - Someone Walked Over My Grave  

and here is the link:     http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WVXUPCF2

A Halloween Mix-Up

More from the October 1964 Jack and Jill. 

See you Monday with some high-voltage music!  Until then, may all your music be mixed-up.

Color a Monster

Here are the first few pages from the Universal Monsters Coloring Book.

What happens when the lightning strikes (as if you didn't know)?  Stay tuned!

October 1965 Golden Magazine - Dora Gives a Party

See yooouuu tooomorrow!