NIGHTMARE GLOVES – THE BEST THERE IS!!!
One of the highlights of this year’s ROCK & SHOCK convention in Worcester, MA was meeting and getting to know the artist couple Asia and Anders Eriksen. Asia was covered not too long ago with her amazing creations known as WerePups (you can read all about it HERE). Anders, her husband and an amazing artist in his own right, is the creator of NIGHTMARE GLOVES, the VERY BEST Freddy Krueger gloves available on the market today! Being a collector of masks and props it takes a lot to impress me these days and I will say with all honesty that when it comes to these two, impressive is a perfect adjective! Not only are they amazing artists but they are also very friendly and personable and if you get the opportunity to meet them at a convention, please do not hesitate. You will not be disappointed!
HORROR HOST INTERVIEW: Roxsy Tyler
One thing the Daves have always had fun doing is interviewing as many of the great horror hosts as we can. The interviews have all been very popular on Terror From Beyond The Daves and we always try to ask questions that you don’t normally see in interviews. This time out, we present the one and only Roxsy Tyler, from Roxsy Tyler’s Carnival Of Horrors!
DAVID A: Were you a fan of horror movies growing up? If yes, what are some of your favorites?
ROXSY: Yes, I think 50 percent of the movies I watched as a child were all horror movies. I loved the HALLOWEEN movies, I couldn’t get enough of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, CHILD’S PLAY, and when I got a little bit older a lot of Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price films were added to the my mix of horror interest. My parents absolutely did not monitor the things I watched on television. They didn’t believe in doing that.
DAVID A: Did you have a local horror host when you were growing up? If yes, who was it?
ROXSY: I did, but I knew nothing about her at the time because I was a baby in diapers. We had Stella, the Maneater from Manayunk. I met Stella at MonsterMania in Cherry Hill, NJ last March and she’s one of the most wonderful people I ever had the pleasure of talking to. Her and Hives have been really supportive of me and my show. I want her to come back to TV so I can make up for lost time and actually watch her. Very wonderful woman and from what I have seen of her show Saturday Night Dead she was really talented and still is.
DAVID A: What made you become a horror host? Is it something you always wanted to do?
ROXSY: I actually decided at four years old that I wanted to be a writer. I went to three different writing schools, I published a book at 19, and I always intended to stay on course with that. I mean, you guys here at the Daves site know that because you let me write for your site sometimes (thank you!). I never intended to be a horror host. I flew out to Iowa to spend time and create some fun with Midnite Mausoleum and it took off from there. People started suggesting that I do my own show and I had the resources to do it so I gave it a try. Now it’s a big part of my life and it’s fun!
DAVID A: How did you come up with the character of Roxsy Tyler?
ROXSY: She’s been in my head since I was a little girl and then I wrote the three stories about her in my book. She’s a combination of my love of carnivals, top hats, rock and roll, super heroes and super villains. I combined every little thing I liked and Roxsy Tyler formed from it. Roxsy Tyler’s actual look is a different story. I’m a huge Aerosmith fan. In fact, I’m a third generation Aerosmith fan. I named my character after Steven Tyler and Aerosmith did a music video called “Sunshine” where Steven Tyler is dressed as the Mad Hatter. It’s a really cool video. Some people might think it’s weird but I think everything about that music video is so beautiful, including Steven Tyler’s clothes! I saw him in that video and said, “I really want to dress like that!” Other than that, I think of Roxsy as comparable to that clown at the dunk tank. The clown will antagonize you until you hit the bullseye and falls into the water. I wanted Roxsy to be that fun antagonist.
DAVID A: Using a carnival theme for the background of your show is pretty original. What made you decide to go with that?
ROXSY: My love of carnivals and my wanting something from my stories to carry on into the show. My second Roxsy Tyler story I wrote is called “House of Mirrors” and it takes place entirely at a carnival. Amongst the readers that second story was the favorite and it was my favorite as well. A carnival is the perfect combination of fun and fear. Some people are afraid of clowns whereas others find them joyful. Some people are scared of fast rides and upside down rides while others find thrill in them. The carnival is the perfect combo of fun and fear. I wanted that as a premise for my show.
DAVID A: If someone was unaware of ROXSY TYLER’S CARNIVAL OF HORRORS, what episode would you recommend as an introduction to your show?
ROXSY: Wow! What a great question! I would suggest starting with our very first episode but I think to get the best feel for our show the second episode is where you should start. We hosted BLUEBEARD and had a serial strangler on the carnival grounds whom we couldn’t identify. The writing was funny, the performances we gave were all top notch, it was the episode I had the most fun doing. I would even suggest for Carnival of Horrors fans who never saw our first four episodes to watch them. We had Tom Detrik and Bonnie Loev as part of our cast playing clowns. Tom and Bonnie are professional actors and they are actors that I very much look up to. Watch episode two and you’ll see why. For two people just doing it for fun they really brought it.
DAVID A: You have branched out into other acting avenues as of late, including Thomas Berdinski’s GIANT RUBBER MONSTER MOVIE, BOOLEY and the yet-to-be-released DEER CROSSING. Can we expect to see you in other similar projects in the future? If yes, is there anything you can share with us?
ROXSY: I really love acting. I really do. I hope to get more opportunities to be in more films. I’ll also be meeting up with the Zombie Hunters again to work on Season two of Zombie Hunters: City of the Dead with them. My character’s name is Cassandra Marx and they have me playing this character in my Roxsy Tyler garb which I think is very cool. I can’t say enough good things about those guys. I have a lot of love the group of people who make Zombie hunters possible. I’m also going to have a lead role next year in a movie called “White Balance”. I’ll be playing a demon. I’m very excited about it. If anyone else wants me in their movie… I’m available! Or I will make myself available! My entire cast love being involved in making movies.
DAVID A: Can you describe BOOLEY for us?
ROXSY: The story for BOOLEY is very fun. It stars Tom Detrik (who I previously mentioned played a clown on my show) as Angus Booley. He’s a normal guy who’s being pushed around in his life: He just got laid off, he suspects his wife (Raine Brown) is cheating on him, and his daughter is following in his passive footsteps as she is getting bullied by the most popular girl in school. He finds salvation in this motivational DVD but he starts taking its teachings way too far and starts killing people. The film is a very low budget. We had less resources than we do now but it’s a very entertaining film and the performances are great. I play Rose Booley, Angus’s daughter and I’m being bullied by Gina Lynn who’s actually an adult film star. Just to tell you right now… I’m not really acting in that film. I didn’t have to. I was Rose Booley back when I went to school. That’s why I don’t understand why some people who reviewed the film bashed my acting. The jokes on them because I wasn’t acting at all. It’s a fun film and you can really relate to Angus Booley. He’s doing what we only imagine we could do when life gets tough on us.
DAVID A: While filming DEER CROSSING, you got to work with Ernie Hudson (of THE CROW and GHOSTBUSTERS). What was that like?
ROXSY: Oh man. Michael Madsen was supposed to play Ernie’s role in DEER CROSSING but Madsen disappeared and didn’t honor his commitment to the film. We were supposed to go on Radio shows with him that weekend and appear with him at the MonsterMania convention. Mr. Potent asked me who we could approach about playing the part that would be at MonsterMania. I immediately said Ernie Hudson. He accepted the role that weekend because he liked the script and we shot his scenes a week later. I was really nervous before Ernie came into the picture and then when he did I was very excited. THE CROW is one of my all-time favorite films and I grew up on GHOSTBUSTERS. I introduced myself to him after he expressed interest in doing the film and to my surprise I was shaking the entire time because I was so star-struck. Ernie Hudson is a great, down to earth guy. He’s extremely comfortable to be around. He does not at all act like he’s Hollywood and at the same time he’s extremely professional. I got to share screen time with someone I’ve admired since I was a child. To have that happen so early in my acting career is just amazing.
DAVID A: Who are some of your favorite horror hosts of today?
ROXSY: There’s so many I like. I love Midnite Mausoleum. I think Penny Dreadful is the best thing since sliced bread. Victor Von Scary I really admire and enjoy watching. The hosts I boast about the most are the guys in Atomic Age Cinema. I wish they put out a lot more stuff because I can’t get enough of them. Their show is hilarious! I haven’t really come across a horror host I don’t like. I like and respect all of them. They’re my peers through and through. One of my goals is to work with the Bone Jangler. I think that would be epic and the guy is so damn smooth how can you not want to work with him?
DAVID A: I remember first seeing your character in pictures with Marlena Midnite from MIDNITE MAUSOLEUM. Were you on an actual episode? How did that come about and can we expect to see other host cross-overs with you in the future?
ROXSY: I was in episode #116 I believe it was. We hosted Carnival of Souls. I had been friends with Blake Powell for many years before he started producing the show with Marlena Midnite. Blake’s read my book and he was familiar with the Roxsy Tyler stories. I said to him one day that it would be funny to see Roxsy Tyler on the show and he thought that wasn’t a bad idea. So, I flew out to Iowa and I did the show. Plus, I finally got to meet Blake in person. Before that we were only myspace buddies. It was very cool. I think we all worked together very well. Blake, Marlena, and Robyn were all very good to me and I have much love and respect for them. Of course none of us, including myself, expected that I would start doing my own show. It’s really cool that a door opened for me when I least expected it to and it’s way cool to see how successful Midnite Mausoleum is getting as time goes on. I do have a crossover show coming up with Victor Von Scary from Fright Night Cinema. It should be out by early October.
DAVID A: It was great to finally meet you this past March at HorrorHound in Indianapolis. Do you have more convention appearances scheduled where fans can meet you?
ROXSY: None unfortunately. I’m so busy with the filming of Deer Crossing ad everything else that I don’t think I’ll be around until MonsterMania next March. I do love conventions though. If I had the time and money I would visit every horror convention in the country.
DAVID A: Since most modern horror hosts are limited to showing public domain films, is there on non PD film you would absolutely love to show on CARNIVAL OF HORRORS?
ROXSY: There’s so many I would love to host! TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THEATRE OF BLOOD, and I don’t know if it was considered a horror but I would love to host ERNEST SCARED STUPID!
I would like to thank Roxsy Tyler for taking time to participate in this interview. The Daves would also like to thank her for being a guest blogger here! Here most recent piece was “Three Horror Hosts and a Zombie Hunter Invade New Potent Media Flick!” and it can be seen HERE! Prior to that she contributed with “Roxsy’s Recap Of Monster Mania 17″. Check out part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE!
If you would like to check out Roxsy Tyler online there are many ways you can! Check her out on Facebook HERE! You can watch her videos via Vimeo HERE and their YouTube channel is HERE! The main website is HERE and their Livestream channel is HERE! You can watch episodes of Carnival Of Horrors HERE!
~David Albaugh
DAYS OF THE DEAD: SCREAM QUEENS PANEL!
During the first official DAYS OF THE DEAD convention, guests were treated to a panel of “Scream Queens” which included PJ Soles (HALLOWEEN & CARRIE), Linnea Quigley (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS, & NIGHT OF THE DEMONS), Mark Patton (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE), and Heather Langenkamp (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET parts 1, 3, and 7). The event was hosted by Nasty Neal from WITHOUT YOUR HEAD who encouraged guests to walk up to the stage and ask questions of this unique gathering of screamers. For those unable to attend, below is an overview….
QUESTION TO PANEL: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING CALLED A “SCREAM QUEEN?”
Heather Langenkamp: Considered herself more just an average screamer than “scream queen.” First saw the term used for her in a magazine and was “offended.” As the years went on she learned to embrace the title.
Linnea Quigley: Saw the term used for her in People Magazine and, having grown up with Creature Features and Vincent Price films, was honored!
Mark Patton: “I knew I was one when I was five!” (audience laughs). At first when he heard homosexual jabs at NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2 it “hurt a lot.” When Heather Langenkamp found him in exile while creating NIGHTMARE documentary he learned to embrace it. Discovered that there was a list of top film “screamers” in which Jamie Lee Curtis was number one. Mark motions to Heather and Linnea and states, “You’re looking at 2, 3, and 4 right here!” Would not elaborate on which ones were what number.
QUESTION TO PANEL: WERE YOU FANS OF HORROR PRIOR TO LANDING ROLES IN THE GENRE?
Linnea Quigley: Grew up watching Creature Features and loved films such as MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, and Alfred Hitchcock films, and Dario Argento’s DEEP RED. “So yes,” says Linnea. “I was a horror fan!”
Mark Patton: Father (against mom’s wishes) took him to a drive in and saw STRAW DOGS, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, and IN COLD BLOOD (which gave him nightmares). Mark said he was a fan of film in general and not exclusive to horror.
Heather Langenkamp: Had a “wholesome” upbringing and was not a horror fan. The scariest film she’d ever seen prior to NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET was BURNT OFFERINGS. Had never seen a bloody film before and thought NOES was over the top.
PJ Soles (arrives late due to being held up by fans): Had an International upbringing and did not arrive in The United States until she was a teenager. As a result she had very little exposure to TV or film and would later consider herself more a fan of Woody Allen style comedies.
Mark Patton: Recalls sitting outside of the first NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET auditions with Heather Langenkamp and remembers her contemplating whether she should even seek the part as opposed to returning to school.
QUESTION TO MARK PATTON: YOU HINTED AT A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PREQUEL. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
Mark Patton: Says that its not an official NOES prequel but more an “omage.” Signed on in Germany and was paid $50,000 (so its official). The story takes place 50 years ago and features a serial murderer (played by Patton). Filming begins this September in Europe.
QUESTION TO MARK PATTON: WHAT YOU HAVE CHANGED ABOUT YOUR NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET CHARACTER, JESSIE?
Mark Patton: Would have made the character darker and suicidal. See previous post where Mark elaborates on this HERE.
QUESTION TO THE PANEL: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE QUOTES FROM YOUR FILMS?
Linnea Quigley: “Do you ever fantasize about dying?” (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD)
Heather Langenkamp: “Screw Sleep!” (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET)
PJ Soles: “They’re all gonna laugh at you!” (CARRIE) PJ says that although the quote was not from her character she uses it all the time as a joke back at home.
Mark Patton: “He’s inside me!” (Audience laughs)
QUESTION TO PANEL: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ON-SCREEN MOMENT?
Mark Patton: The transformation scene in NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2 as well as the scene where the character Grady dies.
Heather Langenkamp: Filling the light bulb with gun powder in the original NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and rigging traps for Freddy. Enjoyed catching Freddy on fire, and sticking an eel in his eyeball during NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7. Says she enjoys doing things that would never happen in real life.
PJ Soles: Being made an honorary Ramone in ROCK N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL.
Linnea Quigley: The “Run Judy, Run” scene from NIGHT OF THE DEMONS.
QUESTION TO PANEL: IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY ROLE IN ANY MOVIE EVER MADE, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Linnea Quigley: I’d love to play Faye Wray’s character in the original KING KONG even though she, herself, was not a fan of the term “Scream Queen.”
Mark Patton: Says he’d play the lead character in the film CARRIE or her mother. Says he wouldn’t be adverse to playing a character that was a little of BOTH.
Heather Langenkamp: Would have loved to have worked with (or even observed the work of) Alfred Hitchcock. Said she’d love being in THE BIRDS or PSYCHO.
PJ Soles: Agrees with Heather and said she’d have loved to have done the shower scene in PSYCHO – provided her character could have fought back on Norman Bates by “grabbing the knife and flinging it back at him.” Says it has always been her dream to work with Quentin Tarantino whom she’s a big fan of. Says she wishes he would call her. Heather Langenkamp interjects, “He’s too afraid of us!” (audience laughs).
Attention Tarantino: Give PJ a call!
WOMAN DRESSED AS HEATHER LANGENKAMP’S CHARACTER FROM NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET APPROACHES THE PANEL. HANDS MARK PATTON A CELL PHONE WITH CALLER ON SPEAKER PHONE. CALLER ASKS MARK IF HE’LL BE INVOLVED WITH THE REMAKE OF NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2 CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION.
Super fan – Diandra a.k.a “Nancy Thompson of Elm Street”
Mark Patton: Says “no” and that all of the original cast members were bypassed for the new series. Stated that they are indeed making a new version of FREDDY’S REVENGE with the character of Jessie to be played by an English actor.
CALLER THANKS MARK AND ASKS TO SPEAK WITH HEATHER. MARK DRAMATICALLY HANGS UP ON CALLER AND HANDS PHONE BACK TO NANCY LOOK-ALIKE. AUDIENCE BREAKS INTO LAUGHTER.
QUESTION TO PANEL: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE, AND LEAST FAVORITE, SPFX MOMENTS IN YOUR FILMS?
Linnea Quigley: Doesn’t like any effects that requires her to have appliances on her face. She doesn’t like the smell of latex and during the filming of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and NIGHT OF THE DEMONS the make-up was water proof and she couldn’t get it off between the late nights when filming stopped and early mornings when they resumed. Did not mind having breast or body appliances but leave the face alone!
Mark Patton: Doesn’t like CGI. He did like the transformation scene in FREDDY’S REVENGE because he appreciated the creativity that was involved.
Heather Langenkamp: Likes the death scene of Tina in the original NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Without hesitation she said she disliked the “slithering tongue” scene in part 7. Said that effects guru, Greg Nicotero, was making inappropriate sexual “KY jelly” jokes during the filming which she not only found to be “unfunny” but the cause for an entire therapy session regarding it.
PJ Soles: Disliked her death scene in CARRIE where she is hit with a fire hose. Said that she was hit full force in the side of the her face and had her eardrum ruptured. The entire footage of her passing out was REAL and left in the final print. “It looks great,” she said, “But hurt like hell!” Her favorite effect was also from CARRIE in which she credits her Oscar winning co-star, Sissy Spacek, for showing her true devotion as an actress. Spacek was married (and still is) to the film’s effects director, Jack Fisk and insisted that it be her own hand that comes out of the earth during the films final climactic scene.
QUESTION TO PANEL: WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE COSTUMES?
Heather Langenkamp: Likes the pajamas that she wore in NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Says she still has them and tried them on recently for her new DVD cover I AM NANCY. Says Johnny Depp had a petite frame and the wardrobe department kept mixing up their blue jeans.
PJ Soles: Likes the clothes worn in ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL because she bought and wore all her own clothing for the film.
Linnea Quigley: The outfit she wore in RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD with the skull in the crotch.
Mark Patton: The Fred Segal wardrobe (in which he was allowed to keep) in FREDDY’S REVENGE. Also liked the overalls worn in COME BACK TO THE FIVE & DIME JIMMY DEAN. A scene in the film depicting his character’s rape, illustrates the importance of that outfit in creating effect (without showing a graphic depiction).
QUESTION TO THE PANEL: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GIFT FROM A FAN & TATTOO SHOWING THEIR FANDOM?
Linnea Quigley: A fan gave her his class ring and another made a moonstone necklace (worn during this panel). Says she is grateful for all the gifts created for her by the fans. Is always a bit shocked when she sees tattoos of her image but really likes the ones of her character “Trash” from RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD.
Mark Patton: Sees a lot of Freddy tattoos but was sort of “freaked out” when he saw one of himself (and what part of the body the fan tattooed himself). Says that any gift created for him by fans is made with love and he truly appreciates that. Recalled his first fan letter written by a woman in Japan.
Heather Langenkamp: Pointed to a member of the audience with a Nancy Thompson tattoo. Loved a gift given to her at DAYS OF THE DEAD from a fan who created a Nancy Thompson Teddy Bear. Says she found the gift both cute and sweet.
PJ Soles: Says she sees a lot of Michael Meyers tattoos but her favorite fan tattoo was of Joey Ramone singing (on a woman’s leg). Says she signed the tattoo and the fan returned to show her how she had tattooed the signature. Loves a 16×20 drawing given to her by a fan that depicted her in her various roles. Did NOT love having to carry the picture back on the plane home. Also recalls a family that pushed their baby up in a stroller and told her that they named her “Riff” after her character in ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL.
PJ Soles with a fan at DAYS OF THE DEAD
After the panel ended, the group of Scream Queens stood up and proved why they were worthy of their titles….
DAYS OF THE DEAD coverage continues with ” Meeting Ace Frehley!”
Dave F.
