2013 Horrorhound Weekend Pt. 8: Tom Savini cracks a smile…
I met Tom Savini for the first time twice during my first Horrorhound Weekend back in 2010. Although it would be my last pre-Terror Dave event, I walked in harboring lots of goals concerning the horror hosts and the celebrities that were attending. Of course the main plan was to have a great time and I was joined by my friend, Jason. I remember us being particularly excited about having the opportunity to meet some of the folks behind one of our favorite zombie films; Dawn of the Dead. Tom Savini, Ken Foree, and the godfather of zombies himself, George Romero, would all be there and we couldn’t wait.
2013 Horrorhound Weekend Part 3: The Costume Contest!
It was after 8pm when I walked out of Horrorhound Weekend’s main convention hall during its opening Friday night. While maneuvering past the immense line of patrons (still looking to gain access) I walked across the street to The Crown Plaza hoping to catch a screening of The Profane Exhibit. It’s a new Italian film written and directed by Ruggero Deodato whom I’d met a couple of years back in Massachusetts. As the previous film was still playing, I took a seat in a comfy, lounge chair located outside the room. I was in the process of checking my phone messages when I heard a familiar voice call, “Hey Dave!”
The Zombie Apocalypse Show!
It’s another episode of Terror on Tequila featuring Terror Dave Fuentes and Jason Lucas…Bartender of the Dead! Today we’ll be doing our first show dedicated to ZOMBIES! Yes, these undead flesh-eaters have contaminated virtually every facet of our popular culture with little sign of slowing down! Today we’ll delve into three zombie films that couldn’t be more different from one another.
WARM BODIES: Zombie “Chick Flick” Inevitable!
Well, it was bound to happen…
MISS ZOMBIE 2012 and SVENGOOLIE’S NEW COFFIN: Nightmare on Chicago Street Finale!
Alex and I quickly navigated through crowds of monsters and maniacs as we made our way from Svengoolie’s signing to the The Nightmare on Chicago Street’s main stage. I’d forgotten my map but one needed only a pair of working ears to determine which way to go. Echoing throughout the event was the featured band, “Hairbanger’s Ball” performing 1980′s rock hits. It wasn’t long until I was reunited with my friends amid a cover of Warrant’s “Cherry Pie.”
A Fan Fix for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD’s Evans City Cemetery Chapel!
While Zombies can trace their cinematic roots as far back as 1929, there is little doubt that the birth of the “modern” Zombie took place in the tumultuous year of 1968. Though I was still a couple years away from being born myself, I can not imagine what must have been going through the average American’s mind during that time. The Viet Nam War was raging, violent protests sparked throughout the nation, Martin Luther King & Bobby Kennedy were assassinated, Elvis staged a comeback, while The Beatles released their infamous WHITE album. What better time for the dead to return and devour the living?
TALES FROM HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: Charles Craig from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD!
DR. GANGRENE’S HORROR HOOTENANNY!
By Dr. Gangrene…
The 8th annual Dr. Gangrene’s Horror Hootenanny was held Saturday October 8th 2011 at THE MUSE in Nashville, TN. This year’s event was a huge success, and a ton of fun. The Daves asked me to give a report on this year’s event, which I was happy to do!
UNEARTHING THE MONROEVILLE ZOMBIE MUSEUM
TERROR FROM BEYOND THE DAVES is pleased to introduce our very FIRST guest writer to the site, Brian Maze! While this may be his first appearance as a “writer” on the blog, he is far from a stranger. Mr. Maze is the talented artist whose “Horror Hosts pogs” have not only been a regular feature of our weekly reports, they’ve completely enhanced them. His generosity and support can not be overstated and we are VERY fortunate to count him as not only an amazing contributor but good friend as well. Brian, like both Daves, is a big fan not only of the genre but the world of horror hosting too! His Virginia locale places him in an area rich in horror host history, both past & present. Dr. Sarcofiguy, Count Gore de Vol, and Karlos Borloff’s Monster Madhouse all herald from this region. We look forward to future field report from Brian regarding those characters, as well as meeting him in person this March at Horrorhound. Today, however, it is not Horror Hosts but Zombies who prompt Brian’s contribution. So, without further adieu….
Brian Maze & The Mistress of the Dark
Since World War II suburban living has been on the rise, individuals wanting a slower pace than the hustle & bustle of the city moved to “the burbs” for the American Dream of the white picket fence, front lawn & the two car garage. But Suburbanites needed somewhere to shop, and a central part of “the Burbs” is the Shopping Mall, with its Anchor stores, cell phone kiosks, coffee bar, & food court. The mall plays a central part in the fabric of suburban society.
The underbelly of this society is the Zombie. Zombies are more than merely undead versions of us; they represent chaos and the breakdown of the norm. This, in turn, plays on our own fears of losing the security of our daily routines, something we often resent and take for granted. George Romero knew this all too well, when he filmed DAWN OF THE DEAD, the classic zombie film which showed us what could happen when chaos reaches our last safe haven, the shopping Mall! Filmed at the Monroeville Mall, located just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, the mall is now permanently engraved with the rotting image of the zombie.
One store in the mall, Time and Space Toys has embraced the zombie by featuring an in-store museum called “Monroeville Zombies” that is based on the history of zombies in popular culture, including television and film.
The museum contains life size replicas of such notable zombies as Tor Johnson (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE), the German Super Soldier (SHOCKWAVES), Michael Jackson (THRILLER), as well as many more.
The museum also displays movie artifacts, memorabilia, as well as an amazing DAWN OF THE DEAD scale model of the mall as depicted in the film. If you are a die-hard horror fan and are in the Pittsburgh area, Monroeville Zombies Museum is a must see.
THE NEW ENGLAND DIARIES PART 6: The Walking Dead & George Romero
Yesterday (Halloween) was more than just a horror fan’s favorite holiday. It also marked the premiere of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” a series dedicated to one of horror’s favored sub genres – zombies!
After the curfew of trick-or-treating had arrived, I eagerly set to the task of gathering up the kids’ costumes, straightening up the house, and sending the children to bed. By 9pm CST, Halloween’s “adult swim” had commenced at Fuentes house and I was ready to partake in this monumental occasion.
I was not to be disappointed. The show’s main character, Officer Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) is shot in the line of duty and sent into a coma. Similar to the film 28 DAYS LATER, Grimes awakens in his hospital room only to discover that the entire world has been turned upside down. Instead of infected madmen, however, the planet has been overrun by members of the “walking dead.”
I have to say that, judging by the show’s first episode, this has the potential for being a GREAT series! I really enjoyed it and thought that the actors were credible and the zombie effects well done. Since I have become disgruntled with TV’s “Supernatural” of late, it is nice to see another television series “arise” for us genre enthusiasts.
“The Walking Dead” was not without representation at the 2010 “Rock & Shock” convention. Signing photos while meeting potential fans was Melissa Cowan. Those who watched last night’s show will remember her as an unnamed member of the walking dead or, as in her case, crawling. Cowan’s zombie was seen dragging her dismembered torso across the grass, much to the horror of the now sufficiently traumatized, Officer Grimes.
Cowan, herself, was quiet yet pleasant. I believe it is safe to say that she is a genre fan as well since moments before our meeting she had visited the table of THE EXORCIST’s Eileen Dietz for a fan photo. For those scratching their heads, Dietz supplied the visage of the demon, caught in brief increments during the iconic film.
Come on Eileen: Show us “Captain Howdy”
There is little doubt that Dietz’s unique features led to the choice of her casting. In this, Cowan may have found a kindred spirit. Though I applaud “The Walking Dead’s” special effects, creating an emaciated zombie from her bony frame was far from an achievement.
Melissa Cowan & David Albaugh: His brain ain’t much but, in this case, every little bit can help!
A world overrun by the undead is a motif we can all credit to the “Godfather of Zombies” himself, George Romero! Therefore it was fitting that we had met Cowan soon after communing with him. Having accomplished the majority of our set goals at “Rock & Shock,” there was no longer any excuse in evading his consistently long line.
Eager Romero fans wrapped the length of the convention hall entrance, breaking only to allow guests to enter the washrooms we were glued in front of. These would include on occasion celebrities looking for quick “relief” including, at one point, Romero and actor David Hess – who joked with us as we suggested he use the “last stall on the left.”
Standing in line over two hours afforded us plenty of opportunity to “people watch.” David and I spent lots of time commenting back and forth about some of the fan costumes, tattoos, and overall appearances. None, however, were more fascinating to us than a vendor from The Gemini Company, inc. who looked like a horror host in desperate need of his own show!
I would love to see this guy’s version of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD!
Romero, as always, was extremely personable to his legion of fans. I had him sign a photo capturing my first meeting with him back in March at the Indianapolis Horrorhound Convention. “How long did you stand in line for this one?” Romero asked. After I told him that it was over four hours he threw up his hands and said, “Oh God! I am so sorry! NOBODY should ever wait that long just to see me!”
Dave Fuentes, George Romero, and Jason Lucas at Horrorhound: March 27th, 2010.
I assured Romero that he was WELL worth the wait while again telling him how big a fan I am of his work. I posed for another photo, this time utilizing a “brain” I had purchased from our friend at The Gemini Company.
Bon Apetite!
This was David’s first meeting with Romero and, while the line had taken its toll on his bad back, he was thrilled to be in his presence. David talked with Romero a bit but, due to the unceasing line now behind us, had to keep it brief. Both of us were under the impression that, had time allowed, Romero would have had no trouble talking about his films a great deal more.
David Albaugh & George Romero 2010
As we parted from Romero he continued issuing apologies to me about the time I spent in line to see him at Horrorhound. As if! Romero has more than deserved his following and, although the premiere of “The Walking Dead” beat out many of his latest zombie entries, one can not appreciate one without the other!
Dave F.
2010 Indianapolis Horrorhound Convention Part 1 – The Celebrities
Official Program Guide
Last March, I attended my first (but definitely not last) Horrorhound Convention. As mentioned in my previous post, Horrorhound Magazine definitely ranks as one of my favorites. Like FANGORIA, they sponsor their own conventions too - attracting some very impressive guests! For the past few years, Horrorhound has done two conventions annually; one in Indianapolis (March) and another in Cincinnati (November).
I had planned to attend the Ohio show last fall, intent on meeting Tom Savini and Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. I ended up canceling these plans, telling myself that I would attend the March show, come hell or high water! I’m very happy that I did. This convention, without question, was one of the BEST.
Joining me on this trip was my old pal, Jason. Although neither of us were sure of what to expect, we did have very specific goals about what we hoped to accomplish. Jason (a musician) wanted to acquire some rare horror music – particularly the scores to some Italian, gore classics. I, on the other hand, was thrilled at the prospect of meeting a number of the horror hosts who would be attending (more on that next time).
Both of us wanted to add new reference books, along with some rare 1980′s slasher films, to our collections. We were also anxious to meet some of the featured celebrity guests. These would include George Romero, Tom Savini, David Hess, and Elvira – to name but a few. I am happy to report that we not only met, but surpassed, ALL of our objectives!
We belted KISS parody songs all the way to Indianapolis, making the trip seem MUCH quicker (though it’s a wonder I could still speak after growling like Gene Simmons for four hours). When we pulled into the parking lot of the Marriott hotel, we saw horror host, Karlos Borloff (obviously, another fan of Simmons) outside enjoying a cigarette. There was no doubt, we had come to the right place.
Horror Host: Karlos Borloff
- First meeting with Tom Savani
Tom Savini was the next celebrity we met. He was sitting at a table with an interesting statue of a zombie eating Cheerios out of George Romero’s head. I found Savini to be a bit of a cold fish during this first encounter. I’ve been a huge fan of Savini for over twenty years and was anxious to have an opportunity to meet and talk with him. I started by telling him how much I loved THE GRINDHOUSE films and how happy I was that they had made a feature film of one of its faux trailers, MACHETE. He didn’t give eye contact and responded with a deadpan, “yeah.” He was slightly more communicative when I asked him about the Blu-Ray release date for his version of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990), stating that it should be at the end of this year after they add in some lost footage (cool!). Jason was gushing compliments left and right and he still barely cracked a smile. That initial meeting left me disappointed but, fortunately, the next meeting would be much better.
Jason meets Savini
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Book I purchased from Savini's booth
Our next celebrity encounter was with actor, David Hess. Hess starred in the original LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT as well as the 1980 Italian alternative, THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK. He also starred in HITCH-HIKE, SWAMP THING, and the rare Italian slasher BODY COUNT.
67 year old Hess was quite animated!
Hess’ co-star in THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK was Italian actor, Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Despite not being a fan of horror (particularly gore) movies, Radice has the distinction of starring in some of the gruesomest films ever made. These include Lucio Fulci’s CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD as well as Umberto Lenzi’s highly controversial, CANNIBAL FEROX. Hess was selling numerous photos at his table but the one that quickly caught my eye featured Radice and Hess together. It was more expensive than the other photos but was pre-signed by Radice himself. I was happy to add both autographs to my collection.
The 2010 Horrorhound Indianapolis Convention was a definite zombie paradise! On hand were plenty of representatives from Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD and DAY OF THE DEAD films. There was only one in attendance from his original, 1968 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and that was Charles Craig. Mr. Craig played the radio announcer in the horror classic (as well as a zombie extra) and was happy to pose with us using an actual microphone as a prop. He was a very nice guy and seemed genuinely surprised at the attention he received. I just felt bad that he was stuck handling money transactions while his “assistant” snoozed away!
Charles Craig from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD's Charles Craig
"Where's my damn assistant!?"
Hey Jackass, maybe after your nap, you can have Mr. Craig fetch you a drink!
I thought it was great that the original DAWN OF THE DEAD’s, Mike Christopher, appeared at the convention wearing his Hare Krishna zombie costume. I couldn’t believe that after 30 years he looked exactly the same as he did in that movie! We grabbed a beer off of the table (belonging to his irked assistant) and handed it to him for the shot. I hope I can meet him again so he can sign this photo! Jason returned to his booth on Sunday and we snapped a shot of him without the make up too.
In Heaven there is no beer...
Mike Christopher - in "living" color
On Saturday, we stood in line for about four hours to meet George Romero. It was well worth the wait. Mr. Romero is every bit as warm and ingratiating to his fans as we had heard. He signed a DAWN OF THE DEAD poster for Jason and a DAY OF DEAD one for me (I prefer DAWN to DAY also but Jason was lucky to snag his last available poster). We asked Romero if he wouldn’t mind doing an intro for our home made video. He said he would but kept flubbing the lines. It was actually pretty comical. Each time he’d mess up, he’d insist on being given another chance to get it right. So we not only received a video plug from Romero, but also plenty of bloopers!
George Romero
- Ken Foree – DAWN OF THE DEAD
- Definitely a DAY OF THE DEAD with Terry Alexander & Michael Gornick
- DAY OF THE DEAD’s Jarlath Conroy
Great book added to my horror library
The convention was very crowded and I heard a lot of complaints from fellow participants. I’m not sure if it was our careful planning or just blind luck, but we wouldn’t have changed a thing. We drove home constantly uttering the phrase, “I can’t believe we did it!” It was just an amazing experience and one we’ll never forget. Believe it or not, you’ve only heard ”half” the story. This convention also featured a special tribute to the late Maila Nurmi - Vampira. It would see the largest gathering of horror hosts from across the country. Little did I know at the time, my Svengoolie-centric world was about to bust wide open!
Dave F.
