Thanks To My Parents For My Movie Fandom

Above, yours truly with actor David Hedison at the 2010
Monsterpalooza. He was billed as "Al Hedison" in The Fly.

The Fly (1958) was released on July 16, 1958. As far as I can remember, that was the first horror/science-fiction movie my parents took me to see in the theater. I was four years old at the time. That movie left a big impression on me, particularly the movie's spider web scene near the end. I later interviewed the star David Hedison for G-FAN and then met him at the 2010 Monsterpalooza in Burbank. He autographed the book, The Fly At Fifty at the show.

Above, The Fly At Fifty with David Hedison's autograph.

The only other horror movie I can remember going to see in the theater way back then was the 1959 House On Haunted Hill.

One may ask, Didn't those movies give me nightmares at such a young age? Actually, no. My parents were movie-goers and I generally was brought along. Thanks to my mom in particular, those movies (and others) made me the horror/science-fiction fan I am today. 

The first giant monster movie I remember seeing in the theater was Gorgo (1961) at the age of seven. It was on a double-bill with the Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon Babes In Toyland. My mom told me in later years that they took me to see Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956). I was too young to remember it. I finally got to see it (which got me hooked on Godzilla movies) in 1962 on television.

Two years before my mom passed away, I did reciprocate and took her to see Cloverfield. She enjoyed it. That same year (2008), I think I took her to see Quantum of Solace at the theater. Either that, or I loaned her my DVD. She remarked about the fight scenes of actress Olga Kurylenko near the end of the movie. 

I also was introduced to James Bond when my parents took me to see a double-bill of Dr. No and From Russia With Love. Those, plus Goldfinger in 1964, got me hooked on Bond movies. 

Thanks to my parents, I became a movie fan at a young age, which endures in my geezerhood.

Rio Theater In Los Angeles

Above, the Rio Theater circa 1970. The Gospel Records shop once
 was a novelty shop with magic tricks, masks, jokes and other items.

Back around December 1961, Walt Disney's Babes In Toyland with Annette Funicello and Tommy Sands was released. 

Earlier that year (March),  Eugène Lourié's giant monster in London flick, Gorgo was released by MGM. 

I saw both movies on a double-bill at the Rio Theater in Los Angeles on Western Avenue near Imperial Highway with my parents and an aunt and cousins. I don't remember much of Babes In Toyland, but Gorgo is one of my favorite monster movies.

The Rio Theater opened on December 25, 1948 with Red River starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. 

The theater closed in 1971 as the neighborhood deteriorated due to gang activity. It was demolished in the 1990s.

G-FAN #140

Since I have been holed up due to our season of biting gnats (it seems to be subsiding), seeing G-FAN (issue #140) arrive in today's mail was a welcome sight. Now I have something new to read.

First, the cover by Chris Scalf is quite beautiful. It reminds me of a Godzilla cover in Famous Monsters of Filmland of decades ago. It portrays an imaginary battle between Godzilla and Gorgo (or is it Gorgo's mother?).

Inside, there is an article with a comparison of the abilities of Godzilla and Gorgo by Allen Debus and the likelihood of a battle between the two, if one should ever take place. 

This issue is the final issue just before next month's G-FEST. I would be going except my ex-roommate is coming over for a two-week visit and the dates weren't firmed up until last week. She's coming in August. It is probably too late to get a hotel room or airfare at reasonable rates now, so I'll have to put it off to next year.

Above, Yokosuka's Godzilla slide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My contribution to the issue is a look back (2014, to be exact) at my visit to the Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka, Japan to see the famous Godzilla slide (page 52). (The Monster Movie Fan's Guide to Japan provides directions on getting there.)

For more information on G-FAN and G-FEST, go here.

Annette Funicello Dies At 70

The death of former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello does and does not come as a surprise.

She had battled multiple sclerosis for years and recently fell into a coma.  Despite her ailments, she always managed to project a brave and sunny disposition.  That made her passing at age 70 somewhat a surprise to me.  At least she made it to 70.

I had wondered about her lately when news of the release of the Gorgo Blu-ray came out.  I originally saw Gorgo as the second feature to Annette's (and Frankie Avalon's) version of Babes In Toyland.  I also remember watching the Mickey Mouse Club during its initial run in the 1950s.

At least now her suffering is over.  R.I.P.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2013/04/08/annette-funicello-dead-dies-mouseketeer-dead-at-70/#ixzz2PtlRbQie

Visit the TMZ Store: http://tmzstore.com

"Gorgo" Blu-ray

VCI Entertainment now is advertising the upcoming Gorgo (1961) Blu-ray.

The story:

A volcanic eruption in the North Atlantic brings to the surface a 65-foot prehistoric monster. Two treasure divers capture the creature and take him to London where he made the star attraction at a circus. A scientist is thoughtful enough to point out that the sailors’ bonanza is only an infant, and that a full-grown specimen would be over 200 feet in height. Sure enough, Gorgo’s mama comes thundering ashore, reclaims her offspring and heads back to sea — but not before, she trashes a generous portion of London.

I saw Gorgo in 1961 during its release at the Rio Theater in Los Angeles (Western Ave. at Imperial Highway).  It was paired with Babes In Toyland.

The Blu-ray is scheduled to be released on March 19.

For more on the Blu-ray release, go here.

"Gorgo" Blu-ray Coming March 19, VCI Says

A friend checked with VCI Entertainment and was told that the Blu-ray edition of Gorgo is slated to be released on March 19.

It is my understanding that the Blu-ray will be made from a new HD 1080P transfer from either the 35mm negative, or master positive.  If so, then this is great news!

"Gorgo" Film Music Medley (Remastered)

A friend sent me the link to this.  It is remastered Gorgo (1960) music.

UPDATE (1/16/13):

I received this email this morning:

Please immediately remove the link to the GORGO youtube video, or I will
take actions against you for aiding and abetting copyright
infringement. I own these recordings and the youtube poster is being
notified of copyright infringement as I type...
I will monitor your site and if I discover other links to my music that
are not legal, I will pursue legal action.

David Schecter
Owner, Monstrous Movie Music

His actions should be directed to YouTube and the person who posted it there.  It is interesting that he is now complaining about the YouTube post as it has been up since September 2, 2012.

Legally, I doubt that posting a link is problematic, but since he claims to be the copyright holder and this isn't really a big deal, I removed the link.  As several photographic sites have posted my photo of actress Phyllis Coates without permission (possibly for profit), I can relate to his concerns.

"Gorgo" Coming To Blu-ray

A classic giant monster movie will be seeing a Blu-ray release from VCI in the not-too-distant future.

Gorgo!

According to a source connected with VCI, they will be making the Gorgo Blu-ray from a new HD 1080P transfer from either the 35mm negative or master positive, supposedly found in a "salt mine" storage facility in Kansas.

The 1961 movie was directed by Eugène Lourié and starred William Sylvester (who appeared seven years later as Dr. Heywood Floyd in 2001: A Space Odyssey) and Bill Travers.

The movie is about a prehistoric monster that was captured in Ireland and brought to London to be put on display at a circus. Much to the dismay of everyone, the monster was a baby and its angry mom is in hot pursuit, destroying everything in her path.

I have a DVD of Gorgo, but having a near-pristine print on Blu-ray would be terrific. I first saw Gorgo during its initial theatrical run in a double-feature with Babes In Toyland.

VCI is looking to release Gorgo just before Halloween.

"Gorgo" Released 50 Years Ago

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. release of the giant monster movie, Gorgo.

It was on March 29, 1961 that "England's answer to Godzilla" was put into general release around the country.

The story: A giant dinosaur-like monster is captured off the coast of Ireland. It is taken to Piccadilly Circus in London, England for exhibition as "Gorgo."

What people weren't aware of, until it was too late, the monster was a baby. Gorgo's mother appears in Ireland and then follows its scent and attacks London to retrieve her offspring in superb Japanese-style suitmation and miniature work.



Gorgo starred William Sylvester and Bill Travers. It was directed by Eugene Lourie.

I remember seeing Gorgo at the Rio Theater (located at Western Ave. and Imperial Highway in Los Angeles) with my cousins. It was paired with Babes In Toyland (the Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon version, not the classic Laurel and Hardy one).