"The Black Cat" At Grauman's Chinese Theater

Above, Sara Karloff at Monsterpalooza.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hollywood was my destination last night for "Kirk Hammett and Mad Monster Party Present The Black Cat" at Grauman's Chinese Theater.  It featured Hammett, Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr.

It was an enjoyable event as this marked the first time I set foot into the main auditorium of the theater since I attended the world premiere of Godzilla Final Wars in 2004.

The program began with a screening of a film of Metallica's Kirk Hammett's monster collection hobby.  When I saw the huge painting of a young and dapper Bela Lugosi (the portrait was once owned by Lugosi) in Hammett's collection, I wondered what might have been going though Bela Lugosi Jr.'s mind.  The portrait ended up with Hope Lugosi after Bela Sr. died and Bela Jr. wanted it.  After he had allegedly hounded her to help pay for litigation over his father's image over a span of several years, she was determined that he never got the portrait.  At least, that's how the story goes.

Following Hammett's film, a talk on The Black Cat and the careers of Karloff and Lugosi began, featuring their children and Hammett.  Unfortunately, we couldn't hear too much of Lugosi Jr. and Ms. Karloff as they either spoke too softly or the sound system was off-kilter.  This was finished off with a video of Sara Karloff's home movies which featured the only known color footage of Boris Karloff as the Monster in Son of Frankenstein.

After this, The Black Cat was shown.  It was interesting seeing this movie on the big screen.  I never noticed tears on Bela Lugosi's face as he gazed at the embalmed body of his wife before.

Mad Monster Party magazine and Kirk Hammett did a great job in putting the event together.  My grade: A.

Haruo Nakajima Meets Metallica's Kirk Hammett

Here's Haruo Nakajma with Metallica's guitarist Kirk Hammett yesterday at Mad Monster Party:

Photo by Re Evolution Mgmt.

Mad Monster Party Day Two: I Acted With Haruo Nakajima

Above, Godzilla poses with "Godzilla."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Day Two of Mad Monster Party started out with a movie shoot outside in the light rain.  I did my second bit of "acting" with Haruo Nakajima (the first was a couple of years ago in Malibu).  This might have been the first acting work Mr. Nakajima has done in quite a while.  He proved that he still has his acting "chops" at age 84.  It was for a video that will be shown later this year.

Above, Haruo Nakajima and I during our movie shoot.

The convention itself was busy with many fans lined up to get Mr. Nakajima's autograph and to have their picture taken with him.  Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett sought out and met Mr. Nakajima while Nakajima was returning from a break in the V.I.P. room.

Above, Haruo Nakajima approaches "Godzilla."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One fan was dressed in a homemade Godzilla costume and they posed together for several photographs.

Above, Haruo Nakajima signs a rare Mattel Shogun Warrior Godzilla toy.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow will begin with my Q & A session with Mr. Nakajima that will begin at 11:11 a.m.  Later, he will be posing for photographs (at 2:00 P.M.) in front of the green screen with fans.

Above, Haruo Nakajima signs a M1 Godzilla toy of himself.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima and I during our scene.

A funny thing happened to me this evening as I was about to enter the bar that was holding the "Scaraoke" event.  A Charlotte police officer was standing guard at the entrance and asked to see my i.d.  I just grinned and said, "Thanks for the compliment!"  He laughed.  This was the first time in 37 years I've been carded!