Happy Halloween

What late-1950's B-movie trailer could I post (on blog entry #333) that includes the essential elements of the Frankenstein genre, mixed with breathtakingly lame-brained grindhouse exploitation and both inept and indefensible horror? While I considered coming detractions from the mind-numbingly bad B-film The Brain That Wouldn't Die, this trailer for Atom Age Vampire takes the cake and makes Edward D. Wood, Jr. look like Orson Welles.



Since Halloween actually falls on a Saturday, there are tons of events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area tonight.

Oddball Film offers a Terror Noir screening, local Jazz Mafia luminaries meet at Coda for the 7th annual Mobster's Ball jam session, while Dragula and Tran Helsing host the Midnight Mass/Trannyshack Horror Show, featuring uber-ghastly horror movie clips and a special performance by guest star Jackie Beat.

And, alas, if you are a parent and/or hold a job that (drat) requires getting up early, check out the kid-friendly 4:00 matinee or the 7:30 screening of Paul Leni's Gothic ghost story/mystery The Last Warning at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum's Edison Theatre.

Halloween Movies In San Francisco Bay Area

Halloween-related movie events are happening all over the San Francisco Bay Area this week. Since these shows overlap, it isn't possible to attend all of them, but do your best, classic movie mavens and late show insomniacs!

Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27 and 28 at 7:00 p.m. Shock It To Me presents a Vincent Price Double Bill featuring The Last Man On Earth and The Tomb Of Ligeia, directed by Roger Corman. Clay Theatre, 2261 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.

Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. Bay Area Film Events presents Creature Features Live; host of KTVU's Creature Features from 1979-1984, John Stanley, will preside over two fright nights, the first family-friendly and featuring Son Of Godzilla with Frankenstein Vs. the Wolfman, the second not-so-family friendly and co-billing Motel Hell with The Howling. Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. Thrillville presents Halloween Gore n' Snorefest co-bills Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers with Zontar, The Thing From Venus. Live in person: special guests The Deadlies and Lady Monster. Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa (at 38th Avenue), San Francisco.


Thursday, October 29, at 9:00 p.m. The Cosmic Hex presents Werewolves On Wheels (1971) and Simon, King Of The Witches (1971), with ORDNUNGSAMT (from Germany) performing LIVE between features. Vortex Room, 1082 Howard (at 7th Street), San Francisco

Friday, October 30, 8:00 PM
Paramount Movie Classics presents Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein. Box Office opens @ 6:00pm Doors open @ 7:00 Curtain rises @ 8:00pm. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland.

Burt Bacharach Day

And here's yet another amazing collaboration between two guys who know a thing or two about pop songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, from the 1998 Sessions At West 54th concert.

Joe Frisco, 1931

Bert Lahr, 1938

This Friday In Sacramento: Lobo-tronic Spookshow Extravaganza

This Friday evening at Sacramento's LDV Auditorium, a good portion of the footage-crazed rapscallions who bring late show insomniacs the notorious KFJC Psychotronix Film Festival will proudly present:



Friday evening's Spookshow will star an unspecified and never-to-be-repeated amalgam of goofy Halloween-related footage, with "your horror host", Mr. Lobo from Cinema Insomnia presiding over the festivities as m.c. and ringmaster.

That said, my purpose upon this earth today will be rummaging through reels of 16mm film, seeking anything involving actors in ridiculous monster, skeleton, robot, ghoul, Frankenstein, Dracula and "thunder lizard" costumes. I would add that if you're in the Sacramento/Fair Oaks area and you have kids, bring' em over for the fun, as this is very likely as family-friendly a show as we will ever do.

The event: Mr. Lobo's Not-Very-Scary Spookshow
The date: Friday, October 9, 2009
The time: 6:30 p.m.
The place: Leonardo DaVinci School Auditorium
4701 Joaquin Way
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 277-6496

For The Love Of Funk, New Orleans Style

I attended the "For The Love Of Funk" concert aforementioned here, in which George Porter, Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste, two founding members of New Orlean's legendary groove gurus The Meters tore the roof off San Francisco's DNA Lounge and proved that, yes, Poncé, there is a fountain of youth. This was the hardest rockin' group I've witnessed since a late 1980's concert of Ornette Coleman's Prime Time, which funked it up like mad (two electric guitarists, two electric bassists and two drummers drove that beat) while also exploring the far frontiers of Coleman's distinctive harmolodic universe in a most deliciously dangerous way.

For just a taste of this New Orleans treat, jambalaya served hot to one nation under a groove, enjoy this clip of 3/4 of the original members of The Meters rocking out at the 2009 New Orleans Jazzfest.



Psychotronic Paul says: don't miss this motherfunkin' band if they play in your town (U.S.A. or elsewhere). They rock - and embody the highest level of spiritual expression.

Happy Birthday, Groucho Marx and Bud Abbott