Episodes
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Dana Gould, Fred Olen Ray, and Bob Blackburn join me to talk about one of the most misunderstood and unfairly maligned filmmakers of all time, Edward D. Wood, Jr. in celebration of what would have been Ed's 100th birthday. I could not have gotten a better group of people to talk to about this topic as Bob has compiled books of Ed's essays and short stories and has just released a book about his friendship with Kathy Wood, Ed's widow. Dana Gould has produced Ed's unproduced scripts and has staged readings of Plan 9 From Outer Space every year for some time now. A very young Fred Olen Ray commissioned an original screenplay from Ed when he first came to Hollywood.
Together, we talk about the movies, the writings, and the man, though we occasionally stray a little off topic. Listeners are bound to come away from this one with a completely different view of a man most people only know through the Tim Burton biopic. This episode was a complete joy for me and I think you will all feel the same.
Bob Blackburn runs the Ed Wood, Jr. Facebook group which can be found here. He also just released his memoir, Kathy Wood and I which you can order from one of the best bookstores around, Irvington Vinyl and Books.
Fred Olen Ray's new book, Hellbent for Hollywood: A Director's Journey, can be found here, and he also runs the incredibly deep catalogue of Retromedia.
Dana Gould can be found here where you can not only find merch, but also his fantastic podcast, The Dana Gould Hour. Also, be sure to check out Hangin' with Dr. Z.
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A Ben Evans Film is a short movie that my son and I worked on back in 2019. We met and became friends with many of the movie's crew and talent, including one of the directors, James Henry Hall, and the star, Sky Elobar. Tody, James and Sky join me to tell me about their work in trying to make a feture length version of the movie happen.
Based on a story by Josh Malerman (Birdbox), A Ben Evans Film follows an obsessed amateur filmmaker determined to fulfill his cinematic vision, even though his two main stars, his own parents, are now dead. Both horrifying and funny, the short movie brings viewers into the world of Ben's madness.
To contribute, reach out to Anthony DiMaria at, [email protected]
See the short:
Vimeo
YouTube
Find out more about James here.
Find out more about Sky here.
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Today I get to talk to one of my favorite artists and pop culture\sleaze encyclopedia, Mitch O'Connell. From a very early age, Mitch knew he wanted to be an artist, and his love of watching The Ghoul and Svenghoulie became his muse. From the utterly hilarious to the outright bizarre, if it's kitschy or cult, Mitch is likely going to draw it.
He tells me about being a teenager travelling alone to NYC to schlep his portfolio to comic book publishers, magazines, and anywhere else he thought might need art, all while taking time out to avoid the rats in the movie theaters of Time's Square. He tells me about dropping out of art school, because he had begun working professionally, which was way better. We talk Tor Johnson, John Waters, and the spritual joy and comfort we both find in the cheapest of B-movies. He also tells me about his wonderfully infamous Time's Square billboard mocking the then Presidential candidate Trump.
Find out more about Mitch here:
Mitch O'Connell
Etsy
Threadless
Instagram
You can also hit up my friend Elysia at Irvington Vinyl and Books. She can get you a copy of any of Mitch's books, and you'll be supporting one of the last independent book stores in Indiana.
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Part two of my chat with the great Michael J Weldon continues as it left off, with me acting like a complete fanboy, because I totally am! Michael tells me about founding the magazine and running a record store in prime era NYC. He tells me about what types of movies are even too tasteless for him, how watching everything being sent to him eventually became wearing, and the joys of Devo. Getting to finally spend time with him was a true delight.
If you don't have the Psychotronic Video Guide, what are you waiting for? Hit up my friend Elysia at Irvington Vinyl and Books and see if she can scrounge up a used copy for you. Support one of the last independent book stores in Indiana.
Find out more about what Michael is up to, check out his store in Augusta, GA here:
Psychotronic Augusta
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Psychotronic Magazine founder and all around cool guy, Michael J. Weldon has long been a wishlist guest for me and I finally got him! Michael joins me to talk about seeing The Cramps at a house party in 1978, watching b-horror movies as a kid, opening Psychotronic Video, and being one of the first vendors outside of Seattle to carry movies from Something Weird Video. (Now led by previous podcast guest, Lisa Petrucci.) We talk about the joys of nudie cuties, music, and I learn of the existence of an Orgy of the Dead paperback book. Michael is an encyclopedia of all the things we love and he's happy to share it with us all.
If you don't have the Psychotronic Video Guide, what are you waiting for? Hit up my friend Elysia at Irvington Vinyl and Books and see if she can scrounge up a used copy for you. Support one of the last independent book stores in Indiana.
Find out more about what Michael is up to, check out his store in Augusta, GA here:
Psychotronic Augusta
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It's the one and only Brue Vilanch! One of the most prolific and versatile comedy writers of his or any generation joins me to talk about his incredible career that began over five decades ago and is still going strong today. Bruce talks about his youth in Patterson, NJ, the joy of seeing his first Broadway show, writing for some of the most iconic voices of the times, and being the go to person when a joke needs to be punched up. He tells me about meeting Bette Midler, which led to their decades long working relationship and personal friendship. And of course, we talk about The Paul Lynde Halloween Special and the notorious, yet legendary, Star Wars Holiday Special. It was a true treat to get to talk to him and I am thrilled to finally share it with all of you!
Find more about Bruce here:
Bruce!: My Adventures in the Skin Trade and Other Essays
If you would prefer to support one of the last truly independent bookstores in Indiana, you can order directly from Irvington Vinyl and Books, or from Bookshop.org which will support the store, as well.
You can also follow Bruce on Facebook.
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I am back after a bit of an unplanned hiatus! (Sorry, gang. I started a new job and it has been an adjustment for me.) Today, Steve Stoliar and I continue our conversation picking up with him telling me how he got the job with Groucho. He tells me about his time in the house, his struggles with Erin Flemming, and his joys at meeting legends of old Hollywood. He also tells me about his life after Groucho, his freindships with Dick Cavett and Woody Allen, and his work as a writer and voiceover artist.
Find out more about Steve, and even order an autographed copy of his books here.
If you would prefer to support one of the last truly independent bookstores in Indiana, you can order directly from Irvington Vinyl and Books, or from Bookshop.org which will support the store, as well.
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Steve Stoliar is a man of many talents. He's a gifted mimic, voiceover artist, writer, and pop culture historian. At the age of 19, he was hired on as an assistant to the legendary Groucho Marx. Soon, he was working as the comedian's principal archivist and friend, spending evenings with the likes of Mae West, S.J. Perlman, and Zeppo. His book, Raised Eyebrows, My Years Inside Groucho's House, details his time with Groucho and is a compelling read.
In this episode, we tlak about Steve's youth in St. Louis, moving to Los Angeles at a young age, being terrified by The Shaggy Dog, and all things Marx Brothers. We also talk about the joys of discovering old things like movies and books.
Find out more about Steve, and even order an autographed copy of his books here.
If you would prefer to support one of the last truly independent bookstores in Indiana, you can order directly from Irvington Vinyl and Books, or from Bookshop.org which will support the store, as well.
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In this Very Special Episode I was asked to join the fun at the Days of the Dead Indianapolis Film Fest. Sadly, I was not able to get in as many interviews with filmmakers as I had hoped, because of computer issues (Which is also why this episode is getting out so late.), but I did get to talk to a couple of great folks. William Boothman is a Texas based filmmaker who has been hard at work on the episodic paranormal parody, Ghost Trippers. He and I talk about his Texas roots and how he got started. I also spent a good amount of time with Sean Haitz, writer and director of the new festival hit, Cannibal Comedian. He tells me about his early days of making movies with his friends all the way to where he is now. We also comisserate on the horrors of open mics, the joys of actors who give their all, and his upcoming projects.
Big thanks to the Days of the Dead Convention for inviting me in. I look forward to next year.
Find more about William and Sean here:
Ghost Trippers
Facebook
Instagram
Cannibal Comedian
Facebook
Instagram
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My conversation with Greg continues with more talk of being a jobbing actor, auditioning, and the pros and cons of typecasting. We also talk Brian Bostworth's choke holds, John Lithgow's prowess at playing bad guys, and hanging out in the mountains with Stallone. Of course, we get into It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia but more importantly, we talk Hunter.
Find out more about Greg here:
Official Website
IMDB
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Gregory Scott Cummins is a self-described blue collar actor who has been working in movies and television since the late 1980's. In today's episode we talk about his parent's careers with media mogul Howard Hughes, his youth in Orinda, CA, his sports career, and much more. Greg tells me about his experiences on the sets of the cult classics, Hack-O-Lantern, Dead End City, and Action USA. I finally find out what Hy Pyke was like as a person, and I was not disappointed. Greg also tells me about working with William Smith, Cameron Mitchell, and the legendary Robert Z'Dar.
Find out more about Greg here:
Official Website
IMDB
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John D. Hancock has directed everything from critically acclaimed theatrical productions, to award winning films, to made-for-TV movies, to producing his own movies in LaPorte, IN. His Academy Award nominated movies, Sticky My Fingers... Fleet My Feet and Bang the Drum Slowly both showcased his ability to ground the action in the reality of the film while humanizing even the vilest of characters. His 1971 cult classic horror pic, Let's Scare Jessica to Death continues to pull in new fans from all over the globe.
John talks to me about his life, his work in Off Broadway theaters in NYC, his stint in Hollywood, and why he came back to Indiana. We talk about how music and directing relate to one another. He tells me stories about Charles Durning, Tyne Daly, and Michael Moriarty. We talk about him being fired from Jaws 2 only to be brought in to take over on final production of Wolfen. We commiserate on the many pitfalls of widowhood and how directing his late wife, Dorothy Tristan, in her last, deeply autobiographical film, which she also wrote, The Looking Glass, helped them both come to terms with the inevitable.
Find out more about John and his Indiana-based production company here:
Filmacres
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Michael Francis Dailey is a young filmmaker who recently won the Audience Choice Award for his short movie, How Was Your Summer? at the Phantoscope High School Film Festival. He joins me to talk about his influences, his process, and his plans for the future. (It's not often that I get to talk Kurosawa with an 18 year old, so this was an especially satisfying conversation for me.) Check out Michael's photography and movies here. You can also follow him and his filmmaking progress on Instagram.
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Larry and I continue our conversation where we left off with his attendance at Lenny Bruce's last performance. We then get into what it's like for an actor in the trenches constantly hustling for work. He tells me about freaking out Jerry Paris, learning from James Garner, and working on Escape From Alcatraz. Bonus: Clint Eastwood recites limericks, Edie McClurg's comedic chops, and the surreal atmosphere of interviewing people at an orgy.
His new memoir, The Guy: A Cautionary Memoir, is available now and I can not recommend it enough. Find out more about Larry here:
IMDB
Patreon
The Guy: A Cautionary Memoir (If you don't want to support big companies like Amazon, check out Irvington Vinyl & Books. Elysia will happily get you a copy and send it your way, and you are supporting the last independent book store in Indianapolis, IN.)
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Larry Hankin has appeared in over 200 movies, television shows, and short films. He's an accomplished writer, Academy Award nominated filmmaker, founding member of the famed improv troupe The Committee, and all around raconteur. He joins me to talk about his life as a journeyman actor and artist, and what a great conversation it is. In this episode we talk his youth in Far Rockaway, Queens, his begrudging college career, and his time as a standup in Greenwich Village where he rubbed elbows with every cool person who came out of that scene in the 60's. He tells me about working with Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson, opening for The Loving Spoonful, and hanging out with the legendary Lenny Bruce.
His new memoir, The Guy: A Cautionary Memoir, is available now and I can not recommend it enough. Find out more about Larry here:
IMDB
Patreon
The Guy: A Cautionary Memoir (If you don't want to support big companies like Amazon, check out Irvington Vinyl & Books. Elysia will happily get you a copy and send it your way, and you are supporting the last independent book store in Indianapolis, IN.)
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Eddie and I pick up where we left off, talking about the late, great Dick Miller. We also discuss Eddie being an honorary Walter Paisley, himself. Eddie tells me who his favorite directors to work with are, stories of all the great character actors he's gotten to share the screen with, and why he loves voice work so much. We also talk Christmas movies, Shemp Howard's gift for memorization, and Ed Wood. Bonus: Kissing Morgan Fairchild!
Brought to you in partnership with Scarlet Lane Brewing, the Official Beer of Horror!
Find out more about Eddie here:
IMDB
Facebook
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Eddie Deezen has appeared or done voicework in almost 100 movies and tv shows, and he has worked with some of the most legendary actors of all time. He joins me to talk about his youth in Maryland, growing up watching TV, his first trip to NYC, and being fresh-faced, naive young lad in LA. He tells me about seeing Monkey Business on the big screen, how made Steven Spielberg laugh, and how a dollar changed the course of his life. And, of course, we talk about The Beatles.
Brought to you in partnership with Scarlet Lane Brewing, the Official Beer of Horror!
Find out more about Eddie here:
IMDB
Facebook
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We pick up where we left off, talking about the legendary Bill Weeden. We then get into the joys and headaches of distribution, what makes a film a cult movie, and also mention Indiana film folks like my old friend Scott Schirmer (Forbidden Films) and Josh Hull (Glorious). We also talk Hammer movies, convention culture, merkins, and dicks on screen.
Thank you to our partner sponsor, Scarlet Lane Brewery. With five Indianapolis locations, you can always find a place to enjoy the Official Beer of Horror.
Find out more about all of my guests here:
Sophia:
IMDB
Facebook
Launch Over Productions
Michael:
IMDB
Facebook
Launch Over Productions
Julie:
IMDB
Instagram
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Today I talk to two of the most prolific and busiest independent filmmakers working. Between them, Michael and Sophia have over 70 credits ranging from writing, directing, cinematography, acting, editing, and scoring. We are also joined by professional makeup artist, Julie Powers. We talk about how the pandemic affected the business and the things they did to continue working despite being locked down. We also talk about their influences, how they learned as they created, and why it's sometimes just best to make a movie about your dog being a vampire. We also discuss the cheesy joy of The Prisoner, making music, and why gore is always more fun that dialogue.
Find out more about all of my guests here:
Sophia:
IMDB
Facebook
Launch Over Productions
Michael:
IMDB
Facebook
Launch Over Productions
Julie:
IMDB
Instagram
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Amelia and I continue our conversation getting into more detail about her work with animals and wildlife protection. We also talk more Night of the Demons, of course. Amelia tells me about the surreality of seeing her face tattooed on people, the nurturing nature of horror fandom, and what her character, Angela, has come to represent over the years.
Find out more about Amelia's tireless work in helping to curb poaching in Africa here, Amelia's Ark Angel Society.
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