TALES FROM HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: Smitten with Ms Mittens!
When Cinema Insomnia launched its ambitious holiday telethon during the holiday season of 2010, we Daves wanted to contribute. I, however, was less interested in the various perks & gifts Mr. Lobo was offering in favor of something a bit more unique. I contacted Lobo and asked that if we sent (an amount we agreed to) would he be willing to add to the booty, something a little different. I was delighted when he agreed!
TALES FROM HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: The Mr. Lobo Roast!
Horrorhound Weekend always has a special place in the hearts of we Daves. It was the 2010 convention in Indianapolis and its magnificent Vampira Tribute that inspired us to start this site and feature horror hosts as its cornerstone. By 2011, I would be joined by the “other” Dave, David Albaugh, for optimum coverage. We are both excited to be reuniting again for the upcoming Horrorhound Weekend in Columbus, Ohio and covering even more avenues of horror and, of course, its hosts!
Mr. Lobo and Dixie’s Excellent Adventure!
I was happily surprised to run into Mr. Lobo and Dixie at the annual FRIGHT NIGHT FILM FEST in Kentucky! As mentioned in our recent Atomic Age Cinema piece, horror hosts were slated to appear at this event but Mr. Lobo wasn’t one of them. Needless to say, the sight of the spectacled host wearing his signature suit & green/black striped tie was a welcomed one at that! I found the mastermind of Cinema Insomnia chatting with Blake Powell, the guru behind Midnite Mausoleum, and wasted no time interrupting the two late night TV mavericks.
Blake Powell & Mr. Lobo at FRIGHT NIGHT 2011
Despite my intrusion, Lobo was as warm and friendly as he had been when the other Dave and I first met him this past March. Ironically, I had another opportunity to chat with him just the previous week via “Dr Destruction’s Big Top Radio Show.” I joined the Kenosha host and his co-host, Charlotte, in the WLIP studio during its debut broadcast – an event that featured phone interviews with Lobo, Stella Desire, and A. Ghastlee Ghoul. Despite my best efforts, however, I was unable to get a word in edge-wise! One thing about Mr. Lobo, he does not fumble for words and busily recited “on-air” all the work that he and Dixie had been up to this past summer. I made a couple of awkward attempts to chime in (particularly regarding his newest “Elvira” issue of HORROR HOSTS magazine) but, as it turns out, Lobo didn’t even know I was in the station. Fate, however, was prepared to give me a second chance.
Trying to get a word in on The Big Top Radio show ain’t easy!
Mr. Lobo was embarking on a cross-country journey back to his native California when he and his fiance’/business partner, Dixie Dellamorte, decided to make a pit stop at FRIGHT NIGHT. We stood in an entryway that connected the main dealer room to a hallway that featured the hosts – Midnite Mausoleum, Horror Dungeon, and the host friendly Thomas Berdinsky from THE ITALIAN ZOMBIE MOVIE and had a nice conversation.
Mr Lobo & Dave Fuentes – FRIGHT NIGHT 2011
Lobo reiterated what he’d stated on Destruction’s radio show; he had just wrapped up work in Virginia on a film spin-off of PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, worked with film-maker, Sean Kotz, on a documentary featuring classic Virginia host – The Bowman Body (see story HERE), and spent some time hanging out with fellow host pal - the incomparable Karlos Borloff from MONSTER MADHOUSE!
Karlos Borloff & Mr. Lobo – Indy Horrorhound Weekend 2011
Both David and I are great admirers of Cinema Insomnia and I mentioned to Lobo some of my favorite CI moments. Moments such as the racially ambiguous jokes from his presentation of MONSTER FROM A PREHISTORIC PLANET, his disgust of Peter Graves participating in BIGFOOT: MYSTERIOUS MONSTER, and the awkward yet hilarious exchanges between himself and his idol, the late Bob Wilkins, during a past Halloween Special to name but a few.
I also made a point to tell him how much I enjoyed his music. Cinema Insomnia’s anthem – “I’m Watching TV” successfully captures the 1970′s “Banana Splits/Creature Feature” era I grew up in and receives year-round play in my household.
Another favorite Lobo song, “Halloween Candy,” is performed by the man himself and, despite being packed with lots of tricks, is a definite musical treat! This irreverent, seasonal favorite of mine has been featured on The Dr. Demento Halloween Show and highlights the signature, dry sense of humor that makes Lobo so “laugh out loud” funny. I was happy to have an opportunity to convey this to him personally – while encouraging him to create his own novelty CD. Lobo stated he is currently working on a seasonal music collection featuring scary sounds ala’ vintage Walt Disney.
Dr. Demento
Even more exciting is the highly anticipated next issue of the aforementioned HORROR HOSTS Magazine featuring The Mistress of the Dark! Glimpses of its cover show a skillfully crafted Elvira/mummy whose bandages in NO way detract from the physical attributes that helped make her famous. This cover, like last issue’s amazing Al Lewis portrait, was created by both Lobo and Dixie – a clear indication that this is one artistic couple who knows how to harmonize their skills. The actual painting will be given to Elvira (who participated in this issue) after the magazine’s printing. For those of us who can’t get enough of the “gal in black, who works on her back,” this will definitely be a must read!
HORROR HOSTS Magazine is prepared to go deeper than a mere expose’ by seeking the origins of Elvira’s famous look. While many will be quick to site Vampira as her direct influence (which of course she was) and Vampira’s to Morticia Addams – HORROR HOSTS Magazine will take us even further back! I was shocked to discover that our culture’s image of the archetype sinister female (svelte, macabre woman wearing a black dress) actually pre-dates The Adams Family and am eager to get my hands on the next issue to learn more!
Morticia Addams
This is the very essence as to why Mr. Lobo’s Cinema Insomnia works so well for me as an adult fan. Lobo manages to keep a respectful eye on classic horror hosts & their history, while forging ahead as a unique, modern one. This was illustrated last March at the Horror Host Hall of Fame Ceremony (conducted at Horrorhound) where Lobo gave an emotional explanation for why fans who grew up with a commercial host (such as myself) have such a deep/admiration for them as adults. “He was your guy.” said Lobo. (MORE QUOTES FROM INDUCTION). At the same time, he shows no obvious influences from previous hosts; portraying himself as both snarky and self-depreciating – a contradiction Lobo balances well. Whether the joke is on him, the viewer, the movie, or one of his guests it is almost always funny and has me quickly seeking out another episode. And, in that regard, the future is bright…
As mandated by his recent successful telethon, Mr. Lobo will soon be filming his next full season of Cinema Insomnia in which he promises to continue his quest in presenting films less common in the hosting realm. This is a challenge to most horror hosts operating today but Mr. Lobo has already established himself as one who has no trouble overcoming odds. This was never more evident than his recent triumphant fund-raising campaign which saw him reach his goal of $10,000 despite being conducted during an economic crises and amid the holidays! It was a risky gamble but, in the end, his devoted Cinsomniacs would not let him down and we can now all look forward to new episodes.
The next day we met up again in the dealer’s room and said our goodbyes. Just like I did when we parted at Horrorhound, I always give Dixie a big hug while singing a slow, acapella version of “Watching TV.” Sort of like having an end “theme song” like the old Carol Burnett Show or Donnie and Marie Osmond. It’s humorous and more than a bit odd I must admit.
What can I say? Being around Mr. Lobo and Dixie somehow makes me feel nostalgic….and that’s a feeling we horror host fans live for!
Dave F.
NOTE: For a more in-depth look at Mr. Lobo’s Cinema Insomnia see the other Dave’s post from last year, HERE! Also, his great 10 question interview with Mr. Lobo, HERE!
Mr. Lobo’s Cinema Insomnia
For a lot of people, when they think of horror hosts, they think of characters such as vampires, ghouls, werewolves or even mistresses of the dark. They don’t think of horror hosts as being someone basically dressed in a suit and being themselves, a fan of monster movies. This actually doesn’t happen very often…in the past we had Bob Wilkins and John Stanley. Today we have Mr. Lobo!
Being a fan of horror hosts I initially just didn’t know what to make of Mr. Lobo. I was used to hosts such as Zomboo, Svengoolie, Elvira, Penny Dreadful and Wolfman Mac. I always felt a horror host should be a ghoulish character of some kind…not some guy in a suit. I will be honest, it took alot for me to put one of his DVD’s in…I just wasn’t feeling it. C’mon – how good could a horror host be whose co-host was a houseplant named Miss Mittens? Thankfully I was wrong! In my blog on Zomboo I mentioned that some hosts are a step above the rest…Mr. Lobo is one of these hosts!
From the moment the opening credits started I loved this show and his catchphrase of “They’re not bad movies – just misunderstood” really hit home. I have been a fan on monster/horror/sci-fi films since I was a kid and I always enjoyed cheesy movies such as INVASION OF THE SAUCER-MEN (1957) as much as the classics, like John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN (1978). Alot of friends and family didn’t understand how I could spend an afternoon watching Godzilla films, loving every minute of it. It was obvious from the start that Mr. Lobo was my kind of guy and that he has the same appreciation for z-grade films as I do.
“Invasion Of The Saucer-Men” (1957)
I love the whole premise of the show. On those sleepless nights what are you going to do? Watch cheesy movies…that’s what! And what better way to do it then with Mr. Lobo who is staying up watching the movie with you?!? He talks to you, the viewer, like he is right there with you, providing insights into the movie, regardless of how ridiculous the movie is. He doesn’t insert himself into the movies and he doesn’t add sound effects but he doesn’t have to…what he does during commercial breaks is all the show needs. Sometimes he provides phony commercials, sometimes he talks about how bad the movie is and sometimes he will do little skits. Then, halfway through the movie, one of my favorite things happens…it’s intermission time!
Mr. Lobo with fellow horror hosts Karlos Borloff and Count Gore DeVol.
Intermission time brings me back to the days of the drive-in movie…with commercials for food at the snack bar and coming attractions. This is a really nice touch. At times Mr. Lobo also includes interviews that he has done at various conventions across the United States. All in all Cinema Insomnia is a very entertaining show and highly recommended by this viewer! Unfortunately his nationally syndicated show is not available on my cable system but I do get to enjoy his shows on DVD, thanks to his website (http://cinemainsomnia.com/). So, if you were hesitant in any way to watch this show my advice to you is: don’t be. Mr Lobo is just like us…a fan and a great person to have around late at night.
Please stay tuned for part 2 of this article: 10 Questions With Mr. Lobo!
David A.
