http://www.spannet.org/

http://www.spannet.org/

Happy Birthday, Phyllis Coates!

Above, Phyllis Coates at a Hollywood collectors' show in Burbank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today marks the 83rd birthday of televison's first Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates.

She was born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell on January 15, 1927.



She first portrayed Lois Lane in the theatrical feature, Superman and the Mole Men (1951) with George Reeves as Superman/Clark Kent and continued in the role during the first season of the Adventures of Superman in 1951.

Left, Lois is shocked to see creatures from the center of the Earth in "Superman and the Mole Men."


Following completion of the 1951 episodes, she decided to relinquish the role for another television series. She was replaced by Noel Neill, who originated the Lois Lane role in two serials.

Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in 2007. Photo by Carl Glass.

First Anniversary

Today marks one year since my mother passed away in Tarzana. The shock has worn away, but she is missed by her family.

Amber and I will be heading to Riverside National Cemetery this morning.

What An Odd Hallucination!

The "Tale of Two Zillas" (as Dread Central.com put it) continues.

Fiore Mastracci of the Pittsburgh Film Industry Examiner responded to a fan's question on where did he hear that Toho was planning to produce their own Godzilla movie concurrent with the Legendary Pictures/Warner Brothers one.

This is Mastracci's reply:

Look no further than my earlier posts on the official OUTTAKES WITH FIORE Facebook page. Back in March of 2010, Toho announced it would sells rights for another American Godzilla. Within the same week, they announced production had started on their own new version and that it would be released in December of 2012. This report was verified by my sources within Toho.

Admittedly, there was speculation that Toho made the announcement as a means of pressuring both Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures to ensure a true Godzilla translation, so as to avoid the conflicts and confrontations that resulted over the Emmerick and Devlin production.

When Godzilla fans heard the Big Guy was coming out of retirement two years earlier, the buzz was overwhelming. Some think Toho's hand is forced and they must finish their project. Personally, I think the new American version will hold off the Japanese version. Toho will make money on the American release and buy themselves more time, so that the decade forced retirement will see fruition.

Original plans by Toho were to release the new first Godzilla movie in March of 2014, on the 60th Anniversary of the original. The American version could serve as a decent gauge for that plan.

Well, some fans searched through Mastracci's Facebook archives for March 2010 and found nothing.

As Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) said in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein:

What an odd hallucination! Well, the human mind is subject to many strange complexes.

Superman Train Mystery Solved!

There was one "mystery" that Adventures of Superman fans have often wondered about: Where was the location of the locomotive in the opening titles of the 1951-53 seasons?

Finally, the mystery has been solved. Jim Nolt, founder of The Adventures Continue website posted this at Facebook:

This is for anyone interested in the b&w intro to the "Adventures of Superman." The train shown in that intro was taken from the movie "The Beginning Or The End" (MGM, 1947). But where was it filmed? Michael Tortorella of Burlington, Vermont, has the answer. Compare the intro with Michael's Google Earth view of 4703 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, CA.

(Click on image to see larger.)



As you can see, it's a match!

Looks like another location to add to a possible George Reeves/Superman tour for this year!

Congratulations to Michael Tortorella for solving the mystery! And, thanks to Jim Nolt for posting it!

Pittsburgh Film Industry Examiner Has It Wrong On Godzilla

There's an article that appeared in the Pittsburgh Film Industry Examiner website alleging that there may be two Godzilla movies in 2012, one from Toho and the other from Legendary Pictures/Warner Brothers.

This article came to me last night courtesy of Google.

It was written by Fiore Mastracci and it contains so many factual errors that I was just going to ignore it and not post anything here about it. I did post the link to a couple of Godzilla fan forums and the reaction was predictable: universally panned.

The article claimed that Toho "announced" their plan to end Godzilla's "forced retirement" early (i.e., 2012). There's been no such announcement, otherwise we'd have been discussing it for months. Believe me, if there were such an announcement, fans would have been on top of it immediately.

Toho and Legendary Pictures came to an agreement on a new American Godzilla film last year (they had been in negotiations at least since 2009), so Toho wouldn't even consider undercutting the American production with a movie of their own. It doesn't make any business or logical sense.

I am pretty close to some of the Toho executives, and none have given any indication of such a planned Japanese return of the Big G. A fan posted a comment on Mastracci's article asking for the source of this. It will be interesting to see Mastracci's reply.

He even got the good and bad guys wrong in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).

Mastracci seems to be a nice guy, but, unfortunately, his article is just erroneous.

Sorry, folks, there's nothing to see here. But if you insist, to read the article, go here.

Mike Ramirez On The Journalistically Challenged

Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez hit a slam-dunk with his cartoon on the media's handling of the massacre in Tucson (click on image to view larger):

Lunch Today With Peter H. Brothers

Above, here we are at Crazy Tokyo Sushi with me holding The Daily Yomuiri article and Pete with his book on Ishiro Honda during the "show & tell segment" of our lunch.

At lunchtime today, I met up with Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda author Peter H. Brothers at Crazy Tokyo Sushi in Tarzana.

We discussed my efforts in promoting his book as well as The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan during my December trip to Japan. An Italian free-lance writer living in Japan contacted me a week or so ago and wanted to do a write-on The Guide, but the publications he does write for have already been covered. I did direct him to Pete and they will be working on some articles on Pete's book for the Japanese media.

Apparently, Pete missed the "shameless plug" his book received in my interview with Japan Today.

I brought along the Metropolis magazine and The Daily Yomiuri articles on the travel guide for our "show & tell segment" during our lunch.

We also caught up on different things more local in the world of kaiju fandom.

Sarah Palin Fights Back; Invokes Reagan

After days of enduring smears by the political Left over the tragedy in Tucson, Arizona last weekend, Sarah Palin has issued a video and posted the text on her Facebook page in response:

Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy.

I agree with the sentiments shared yesterday at the beautiful Catholic mass held in honor of the victims. The mass will hopefully help begin a healing process for the families touched by this tragedy and for our country.

Our exceptional nation, so vibrant with ideas and the passionate exchange and debate of ideas, is a light to the rest of the world. Congresswoman Giffords and her constituents were exercising their right to exchange ideas that day, to celebrate our Republic’s core values and peacefully assemble to petition our government. It’s inexcusable and incomprehensible why a single evil man took the lives of peaceful citizens that day.

There is a bittersweet irony that the strength of the American spirit shines brightest in times of tragedy. We saw that in Arizona. We saw the tenacity of those clinging to life, the compassion of those who kept the victims alive, and the heroism of those who overpowered a deranged gunman.

Like many, I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on what happened and praying for guidance. After this shocking tragedy, I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event.

President Reagan said, “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state, not with those who listen to talk radio, not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle, not with law-abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their First Amendment rights at campaign rallies, not with those who proudly voted in the last election.

The last election was all about taking responsibility for our country’s future. President Obama and I may not agree on everything, but I know he would join me in affirming the health of our democratic process. Two years ago his party was victorious. Last November, the other party won. In both elections the will of the American people was heard, and the peaceful transition of power proved yet again the enduring strength of our Republic.

Vigorous and spirited public debates during elections are among our most cherished traditions. And after the election, we shake hands and get back to work, and often both sides find common ground back in D.C. and elsewhere. If you don’t like a person’s vision for the country, you’re free to debate that vision. If you don’t like their ideas, you’re free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.

There are those who claim political rhetoric is to blame for the despicable act of this deranged, apparently apolitical criminal. And they claim political debate has somehow gotten more heated just recently. But when was it less heated? Back in those “calm days” when political figures literally settled their differences with dueling pistols? In an ideal world all discourse would be civil and all disagreements cordial. But our Founding Fathers knew they weren’t designing a system for perfect men and women. If men and women were angels, there would be no need for government. Our Founders’ genius was to design a system that helped settle the inevitable conflicts caused by our imperfect passions in civil ways. So, we must condemn violence if our Republic is to endure.

As I said while campaigning for others last March in Arizona during a very heated primary race, “We know violence isn’t the answer. When we ‘take up our arms’, we’re talking about our vote.” Yes, our debates are full of passion, but we settle our political differences respectfully at the ballot box – as we did just two months ago, and as our Republic enables us to do again in the next election, and the next. That’s who we are as Americans and how we were meant to be. Public discourse and debate isn’t a sign of crisis, but of our enduring strength. It is part of why America is exceptional.

No one should be deterred from speaking up and speaking out in peaceful dissent, and we certainly must not be deterred by those who embrace evil and call it good. And we will not be stopped from celebrating the greatness of our country and our foundational freedoms by those who mock its greatness by being intolerant of differing opinion and seeking to muzzle dissent with shrill cries of imagined insults.

Just days before she was shot, Congresswoman Giffords read the First Amendment on the floor of the House. It was a beautiful moment and more than simply “symbolic,” as some claim, to have the Constitution read by our Congress. I am confident she knew that reading our sacred charter of liberty was more than just “symbolic.” But less than a week after Congresswoman Giffords reaffirmed our protected freedoms, another member of Congress announced that he would propose a law that would criminalize speech he found offensive.

It is in the hour when our values are challenged that we must remain resolved to protect those values. Recall how the events of 9-11 challenged our values and we had to fight the tendency to trade our freedoms for perceived security. And so it is today.

Let us honor those precious lives cut short in Tucson by praying for them and their families and by cherishing their memories. Let us pray for the full recovery of the wounded. And let us pray for our country. In times like this we need God’s guidance and the peace He provides. We need strength to not let the random acts of a criminal turn us against ourselves, or weaken our solid foundation, or provide a pretext to stifle debate.

America must be stronger than the evil we saw displayed last week. We are better than the mindless finger-pointing we endured in the wake of the tragedy. We will come out of this stronger and more united in our desire to peacefully engage in the great debates of our time, to respectfully embrace our differences in a positive manner, and to unite in the knowledge that, though our ideas may be different, we must all strive for a better future for our country. May God bless America.

- Sarah Palin

Incredibly, after Palin posted her video response and the text, ABC News said, "Sarah Palin, once again, has found a way to become part of the story." I wonder how ABC could state this with a straight face as Palin was the first one blamed by the Looney Left, and it went on for days following the murders. In the same article, ABC even stated that Palin's video was a "rebuttal" to all the smears by the Left. ABC News speaks out of both sides of its mouth.

James Bond Will Return, Next Year!

Above, Daniel Craig will return as 007 for his third outing.

Good news, Bond fans!

The Hollywood Reporter's "Heat Vision" is reporting that the next adventure of MI6's James Bond 007 will be released next year:

MGM and longtime James Bond stewards Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions have announced the date for the next installment of the franchise: November 9, 2012.

Currently just called Bond 23, the movie will go into production in late 2011.

To read the full article, go here.

Monster Japan Travel Guide "Metropolis" Layout 2nd Page

A few days ago, I posted the first page of the layout for the print edition of Metropolis magazine published last week in Japan about The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Here's the second page of the article, also shared with singer Christina Aguilera (click on image to view larger):



To see the Metropolis online version, go here.

Bizarre Sicko's Mugshot

This is the mugshot of the killer of several innocent people and would-be assassin of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords:

Above, Jared Loughner.

Absolutely bizarre sicko!

Following In Dad's Footsteps With A Kudos

Looks like a second member of my family is now "immortalized" in the hallowed pages of TripAdvisor.com.

My daughter Amber sent me a note last night containing a review posted at TripAdvisor.com. She was one singled out for a kudos:

I can't say enough good things about this hotel! Enjoyed a two night stay here after Christmas and the experience was fantastic from check in to check out. I've stayed at Ritz Carlton's and Four Seasons that could learn a few things from this place. The staff is very friendly..Amber provided a pleasant check in experience and almost seemed to know who I was before I walked in the door.

The 1-bedroom suite is a bit cramped due to the wall but spacious none the less and includes a table for eating and a kitchen. Bed is exceptionally comfortable and the living room area outside the bedroom was appreciated for providing a real "home" experience.

On Mondays thru Thursday is a manager's reception with dinner and drinks. I was surprised at the quality of the food and appreciated it as it saved me some money from having to go out and eat. The free breakfast was also very good and well stocked...very attentive hosts. Staying here is a bargain if you eat breakfast and dinner here. There is a cozy fire in the eating area that was nice to watch. The decor of the hotel was top notch and provided a lodge/cabin type feeling that felt very cozy.

A couple small glitches included a stopped up toilet and bedroom tv that wasn't properly connected, but overall, this was one of the nicest stays I've had in a hotel in a very long time. With free parking, internet, breakfast, and dinner (4 nights), it's quite a deal to stay at the Homewood Suites. Whenever I am in the Malibu/Calabasas/Thousand Oaks area I will not hesitate to stay here again!

Amber said: "My managers are actually happy with me." Hey, when a review comes in favorably for your business and one of your employees is a reason for the compliments, they have good reason to be pleased!

Giffords Shooting: The Looney Left's Blame Game

A deranged man shoots Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and several others, killing some, and the Looney Left tries to blame Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement for the act.

Sorry, folks! That "dawg won't hunt!"

Newsmax.com has the story on the assassin. It starts with:

Dems, Media Blame Tea Party, Palin for Shooting; Shooter Linked to Leftwing Politics

As U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fights for her life after a mad gunman shot her on Saturday, some Democrats and major media have moved to pin the blame for her attack on the tea party movement and conservatives like Sarah Palin, despite the fact that the shooter was both deranged and fascinated by leftwing politics.

Giffords' Democratic colleague, Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, told Mother Jones magazine within hours after the rampage that the “political tone and tenor” created by Palin and the tea party movement had set the stage for the shooting.

Grijalva said Palin's “apparatus” had put Giffords' and his own life at risk.

“Both Gabby and I were targeted in the apparatus in that cycle [saying] these people are ‘enemies.’” He added: “The Palin express better look at their tone and their tenor.”

The liberal New York Times was not far behind Grijalva, publishing a lead story headlined "Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics."

And, the article continues with:

Judson Phillips, the founder of Tea Party Nation, noted on his website that Giffords is “a liberal,” but added, “that does not matter now. No one should be a victim of violence because of their political beliefs.”

Indeed, the profile of the accused shooter, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, that continues to emerge is that of a deranged young man whose mind was deeply distubred, but who also tinkered with both anarchist ideas and leftwing politics.

To read the full Newsmax article, go here.

The only person to blame is the shooter himself, Jared Loughner.

The Left isn't so innocent when it comes to vitriolic rhetoric either, here's a stroll down "Memory Lane" courtesy of Michelle Malkin.

Monster Japan Travel Guide Interview Print Edition

Previously, I posted news and the link to Japan's Metropolis magazine's online version of the interview with me on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

As I also mentioned, I share the print edition's page with singer Christina Aguilera. The magazine is now out and many people wanted to see what the print edition's page looks like.

Here's the layout of the first page (click on image to view larger):



If you are currently in Japan, here's the magazine's distribution locations.

About Metropolis magazine:

(From Metropolis magazine's website)

Metropolis is Japan’s No 1 English magazine.

Metropolis is the only magazine that has its distribution of 30,000 copies independently verified by Japan’s Audit Bureau of Circulations. The magazine is read by over 70,000 readers from 1000 distribution points throughout Tokyo, Yokohama and Chiba. There are a further 30,000 regular internet readers.

Japan has the wealthiest international community in the world. Metropolis readers are 79% business professionals in Tokyo with an average income of ¥437,375/month. 52% pick up Metropolis every week. 59% keep copies for reference.

Metropolis has 250 clients in each issue, the largest of any English magazine. Most Metropolis advertisers are long-term clients that started with small sizes, received good results and have upgraded their ad sizes.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Reported Shot In Head

Breaking news this morning reports that Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-AZ, was shot in the head in an assassination attempt at a townhall meeting at a Safeway market in Tucson, Arizona.

As many as 13 people were also reportedly wounded by a lone gunman. It has been reported that the gunman was arrested.

According to the Tucson Citizen:

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords "shot point blank in the head ... No word on if she survived."

UPDATE: National Public Radio (NPR) reports that Giffords is dead.

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports:

----------------------------------------
Breaking News Alert: Reports: Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords killed at public event
January 8, 2011 2:25:07 PM
----------------------------------------

Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has died after being shot while hosting an event on Saturday morning outside a Tucson grocery store, according to National Public Radio and CNN.

NPR reported that Giffords, who in November narrowly won reelection to a third term, was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event when a gunman ran up and began shooting. Giffords and six others died, the Pima County Sheriff's Office confirmed to NPR.

UPDATE: According to the Bluegrass Pundit blog:

The Congresswoman was in favor of border enforcement and second amendment rights. She was also pro-life. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was very much outside the Democrat mainstream. Previously, Giffords was a Republican. Several other people were also shot. The gunman is reportedly in custody.

The gunman is reportly a male in his teens or 20s.

She leaves behind her husband, astronaut Mark Kelley and two children. Prayers go out to the victims and their families.

UPDATE: Despite earlier reports, Rep. Giffords is still alive and responded following surgery. Doctors are "optimistic." She is in intensive care and listed in "critical" condition.

Book: "The Day Elvis Met Nixon"

Source: Richard Nixon Foundation Press Release

YORBA LINDA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Day Elvis Met Nixon, a first hand account of Elvis Presley's historic meeting with President Nixon, has just been published by the Richard Nixon Foundation and is now available online (http://store.nixonfoundation.org).

Released on the eve of Elvis's 76th (January 8) and President Nixon's 98th (January 9) birthdays, the book is a trove of rare photos, original documents, and anecdotes from the December 21, 1970 encounter presented in a fun and interactive way for readers of all ages.

Told through the eyes of Egil "Bud" Krogh, White House aide and liaison to the Drug Enforcement Administration, The Day Elvis Met Nixon recounts the surprise of White House staffers when the King of Rock-n-Roll appeared at the front gates of the Executive Mansion to deliver a handwritten letter to the President.

For Elvis, the goal of the meeting was to receive a badge and credentials from the DEA as a "Federal Agent at Large," contending that he could use his popularity among the youth to curb the nation's narcotics epidemic.

Krogh tells how the Elvis meeting request moved up the White House chain of command, how it was approved, and how he arranged an agenda on such short notice.

At the meeting, Elvis presented the President with a gift, a silver-plated Colt 45 gun and bullets now on display at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. Later the same afternoon, he received his badge from the DEA.

Today, the Oval Office photo of President Nixon and Elvis Presley continues to be the most requested photo from the National Archives.

Above, the most-requested photo from the National Archives.

2 Japan Hotels

One of the most important things in planning a vacation trip to anywhere is to find accommodations that will fill your needs and your vacation budget.

With the advent of the Internet, this task is made much easier for vacationers. There are many resources at one's fingertips to research hotels and motels in the areas to be visited.

Here's the two hotels I stayed at during my recent Japan trip:

The Hotel Asia Center of Japan - Tokyo



I decided to confine my recent trip to Japan to Tokyo and Niigata. Fortunately for me, my choice for accommodations in Tokyo was easy as I have stayed at The Hotel Asia Center of Japan on two prior trips (2006 and 2007).

The Hotel Asia Center of Japan is a modern hotel centrally-located in Tokyo near the Aoyama-Itchome subway station. It is also located near one of my favorite coffee and snack establishments, Tully's Coffee (below).



Their single room rate is roughly $60-80 per night (depending on the current foreign exchange rate of the dollar and yen). They have a restaurant with reasonably-priced buffet-style food. I generally have breakfast there. I confine my choice to western style breakfast, although I've sampled some Japanese breakfast items. They also have fresh baked croissants! (That's a plus in my book!)

Their rooms are roughly the size of most business hotels in Japan, which are smaller than what you'd find in the U.S. But who travels over 5,000 miles to Japan to just sit in a room anyway? The rooms are clean and well-appointed. One drawback is that their Internet access outlets don't match the plugs from the U.S. An adaptor is needed. At least they have three coin-operated Internet machines in the lobby. The rooms also have a small refrigerator.

Should you forget to pack your brush or toothbrush, they have complimentary ones in the lobby along with complimentary bottled water.

They also have laundry facilities so roomers can wash their clothing. A yukata is provided with the room.

The hotel staff is reasonably proficient with English.

The Hotel Asia Center of Japan is my hotel of choice in Tokyo.

Dormy Inn - Niigata



As I mentioned above, I also visited the city of Niigata on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu.

I did come checking via JNTO's (Japan National Tourist Organization) website. I settled on the Dormy Inn in Niigata.

The Dormy Inn is one of a chain of hotels in Japan. It is an easy ten-minute walk from the JR Niigata Station (below). Their single room rate is roughly $55-75 per night.



I found the Dormy Inn a nice business hotel with single occupancy rooms a tad larger than The Hotel Asia Center of Japan's. The rooms also have a hotplate for heating up tea water and a refrigerator. Instead of a yukata, they provide Japanese-syle pajamas, which are very comfortable.

The Dormy Inn also has their own restaurant with reasonably priced meals buffet-style.

One big plus is that the hotel has two communal baths, one on the 2nd floor and one on the 10th floor that are nicely decorated. The baths are segregated by sex and there is a schedule for both baths for use by men and women. Both sexes are able to use both the 2nd floor and 10th floor baths with this schedule.

The same problem of incompatible plugs for room Internet access as with The Hotel Asia Center of Japan is also at the Dormy Inn. Fortunately, they have two computers in the lobby for use by guests. And, they're free!

The Dormy Inn has many restaurants nearby within easy walking distance. There's also a Tully's Coffee shop at the JR Niigata Station.

I found the staff to be friendly, but not as proficient at English as the staff of The Hotel Asia Center of Japan. If the Dormy Inn in Niigata is a good representation of their other hotels in Japan, I would definitely recommend them.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Featured In "Metropolis" Magazine

Metropolis magazine, the number one English-language magazine in Japan (circulation: 30,000), has posted the interview article on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at the magazine's website.



The article starts with:

Tell us about your book.

The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide To Japan is a travel guide with fans of Japanese science fiction and fantasy movies in mind. It describes locations and their history, what movie(s) they were in, where to stay, and what other attractions are nearby. The book can be used by vacationers or tour companies to tailor tours for monster fans.

The print edition has the article sharing two pages with singer Christina Aguilera. If you are currently in Japan, head out to your local newsstand and grab a copy!

To view the article, go here.

George Reeves's 97th Birthday

97 years ago today, actor George Reeves was born in Woolstock, Iowa.

His birthdate was January 5, 1914.

Reeves's first film role was in the 1939 classic Gone With The Wind as one of the Tarleton twins. He went on to become an icon of the baby-boomer generation as Clark Kent/Superman in the 1951-57 Adventures of Superman.

Reeves died on June 16, 1959 of an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his home in Benedict Canyon.

Gareth Edwards Named Godzilla Director

Legendary's "Godzilla" now has a director, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Godzilla has a director.

Gareth Edwards, the British filmmaker who wrote and directed indie sci-fi movie Monsters, is closing a deal to develop and direct the creature feature for Legendary Pictures, the company that co-produced blockbusters such as Inception and The Dark Knight.

Warner Bros. will co-produce, co-finance and distribute per its deal with Legendary. Legendary's Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing along with Dan Lin, Roy Lee, and Brian Rogers.

To read the full story, go here.

A Thank-You To My 2010 Models!

I would be remiss if I didn't post a big THANK YOU to my models Yuu Asakura and Ai for posing with The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan last year.

Both ladies are Japanese nationals and were easy to work with. Both have cheerful, cooperative personalities, which made their photo-shoots go smoothly and enjoyable.


Yuu Asakura, left, posed with The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley last March. We were going to do the shoot at the Japanese Gardens in Van Nuys, but a recent rainstorm made the place a big mudhole.

Luckily, Balboa Lake was nearby and we went there to do the shoot. It worked out nicely.










Ai, right, and I did our shoot within hours after my arrival in Japan in December. It was a cold night, but that didn't dissuade us from shooting pictures outside of the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo's Minato-ku section. Ai is originally from Hokkaido and now lives in Tokyo.


DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!

A Short Stack of Stuff

As mentioned yesterday, I worked on my first claim assignment for 2011. Hopefully, many, many more will be coming in soon.

Additional note, I was in the Chatsworth Superior Court yesterday morning for that claim assignment, and in a courtroom, an attorney was reading the Los Angeles Times' obituary page on Anne Francis. From where I was sitting, I couldn't tell who it was who died, so I walked over to see who it was. It was a surprise to see it was Anne Francis from the classic Forbidden Planet. It is weird that two stars from that movie (Leslie Nielsen) have passed away in such short order.



On The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, I am expecting the issue of Metropolis magazine to be out not too long from now. The layout on the article was received just before Christmas and I share the page (actually two of them as her article continutes to another page with mine) with Christina Aguilera.



Also, I have decided to repeat the advertisement (created by Archie Waugh) that appeared in Famous Monsters of Filmland #253 in the upcoming FM #254. Again, the issue will have variant covers and I am guessing that this one (above) of Vincent Price will be the subscriber cover. The Price cover and the others will be available at newsstands.

Off To A Good Start

The first claim assignment for 2011 had me up at the Chatsworth Superior Court for a Mandatory Settlement Conference this morning.

This was for a vehicle vs. vehicle accident that occurred in April 2008. The case didn't get settled and it is scheduled for trial on April 25.




While en route to the courthouse, I was surprised to see the Santa Susana Mountains on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley blanketed in snow. I took some pictures with my cell phone, but the pixelization is bad. Here's one of them. This was from a courthouse window (right).


I made more in two hours (plus drive time and mileage) than a full eight hour shift in my "parachute" job in security patrol.


So far, 2011 is off to a good start!

GatewayLAX Has Them Beat!

Global ticket sources aren't all created equal. Much of their pricing depends upon the contracts they enter into with the airlines. Yes, I posted about this topic back in November, but saving money on air fares is something that bears repeating.

I used to use Expedia, Travelocity or Priceline for finding lower prices on air fares to Japan. Not anymore.

None of them have been able to beat the prices I've obtained from GatewayLAX. GatewayLAX isn't a big ticket company, but I've received good service and, most importantly, great prices from them.

Air fares in general have shot up in recent years along with additional fees that have been tacked on by airline carriers. Thus far, I've been able to avoid the extra fees except for fuel service surcharge and taxes.

Last month, I flew to Japan aboard Korean Air. The round-trip base fare I received (LAX to Narita) was $565.00, which is great. If only it would be just that amount I had to pay. However, the fuel service fee surcharge and taxes came to $312.00, which made the grand total (for my round-trip flights to and from Japan) $877.00. If you request a printed ticket, it would cost you more. I go with electronic tickets. Korean Air didn't need to see my e-ticket print-out. All they needed to see was my passport and with it, they pulled up my booking information. Very simple!

If you are planning a trip to Japan on your own or planning to go on G-Tour this year, I would recommend giving GatewayLAX a try for your airline ticketing needs. I've saved a lot of money by using them!

Remember: airline ticket prices are much cheaper if you travel during the off-season!

GatewayLAX's website is www.gatewaylax.com.

"Thank You" From The Nakajimas

Above, Sonoe Nakajima.

Sonoe Nakajima sent the following message of thanks for the birthday greetings (please forgive her English):

Hi.Armand

Happy New Year.

Thank you for the message to father on the birthday.
I was very pleased. I hear that father must tell to you, "Thank you".
You must be good years.

Sonoe

Also, I sent her the greetings that came in after the initial ones were sent.

Along with her message, she sent this picture of Mt. Fuji:

Narita Express (N'EX)

Above, the arrival lobby in Terminal One of Narita Airport.

For the first travel blog post of the new year, this will focus on the Narita Express (N'EX) train service between Narita International Airport and Tokyo.

Along with the older Keisei Line, there's the new Keisei Narita Sky Access train service that was inaugurated last July to get travelers into Tokyo. Most visitors opt to go into Tokyo aboard the N'EX.

Most arriving tourists arrive at Narita Airport at Terminal One (depending on which airline is used). Once the arrival process of Immigration, Baggage and Customs are completed, new arrivals enter Terminal One's main arrival lobby after exiting Customs. After stepping into the arrival lobby, the tourist can make an immediate right turn to go to the foreign currency exchange window (or they can skip this and exchange their currency elsewhere, if that's what they prefer).

Above, the JR-East N'EX ticket counter in the arrival lobby.

If they want to take the N'EX into Tokyo, they can walk across the lobby to the JR-East ticket counter. If they have a JR Railpass voucher, they have to go down an escalator to the JR Ticket Office to exchange the voucher for the pass (the voucher can be exchanged at any JR ticket office at major stations). They may purchase their N'EX tickets there as well. If you do have a JR Railpass, and you want it to start the day you arrive in Japan, you will want to get the Railpass first as it is good for the N'EX, so you won't have to pay extra for the ride into Tokyo.

But, if they don't have a JR Railpass voucher to exchange, they can simply go to the JR-East counter in the main arrival lobby. The most ticket agents can speak English, so don't be worried about communicating your ticket purchase desires. If they cannot speak English, they will get someone who can to help you.

The Narita Express makes its first Tokyo stop at Tokyo station and then goes on to stop at Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yokohama. The ride from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station is 53 minutes. Trains stop at most of these stations every 30 minutes during most of the day.

After purchasing your N'EX train ticket(s), you go down the escalator or elevator to the train station one floor below. The N'EX trains have a distinctive color scheme of gray and red (below). There are reserved seats (that specify what car and seat the rider sits in) or non-reserved (where one sits anywhere in a marked non-reserved car).



After waiting for your train to arrive at the station and for the workers to prepare it for the ride into Tokyo (Terminal One is the end of the line, so the JR-East workers clean and prepare the train for the trip into Tokyo), you enter and stow your large luggage items in special compartments near the door into the car. Smaller items can be stowed in the overhead rack.

After everyone is seated, the doors close and the train starts rolling to take you into Tokyo. First, the train stops at Narita Airport's Terminal Two to pick up more passengers. After this, you're on your way into Tokyo.

Above, the N'EX cars are comfortable and have big windows for views of the passing countryside.

The N'EX makes its first Tokyo stop at Tokyo station and then goes on to stop at Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yokohama. The ride from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station is 53 minutes. Trains stop at most of these stations every 30 minutes during most of the day.

In case you want something to eat or drink, an attendant will walk the train car aisles with a cart selling food and drinks. There's no smoking aboard the N'EX trains.

Once you reach your station in Tokyo, you then exit the N'EX to take a taxi, bus, subway or other train to your destination.

For additional information on the Narita Express, including fares, go here.

A Japanese New Year Celebration 2011

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, the crowd at Little Tokyo's Weller Court within view of The Daily Planet Building (a.k.a. Los Angeles City Hall).

Three years ago, my mom, daughter and I went to Los Angeles' Little Tokyo for their New Years Day celebration. 2008 turned out to be the last really good year for me.

So, I decided that maybe attending the Japanese New Year Celebration (Oshogatsu) this year would bring better fortune for 2011. Well, I went and had a great time.

While there, I saw food booths, entertainers, beautiful Japanese girls in kimonos and I picked up a 2011 calendar (I prefer Japanese calendars as they are beautiful graphically and they have two months per page instead of one, which makes planning easier). I also picked up a nice sake set while in Little Tokyo's Japanese Village Plaza.

Also, I spoke with Saki Miata of JATV News, about The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Maybe that will lead to a feature story on the station. JATV is a Japanese television station in Los Angeles with programming and news feeds from Japan.

Most of the performances I watched were in Weller Court.

As I did in 2008, I brought along my camera and took some photos of the festivities (click on image to see larger):

Above, pretty girls in colorful kimonos.

Above, the taiko drum performance.

Above, a large audience watching the fan dance performance.

Above, the fan dance performance.

Above, more girls in kimonos.

Above, the line to get into Little Tokyo's Koyasan Buddhist Temple.

If you can't make it to Tokyo, Japan for New Years Day, going to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles is the next best thing!