Pete Roleum And His Cousins

In an election year and time of global energy crisis, it's weirdly appropriate to post a stop-motion animation film about oil. Produced for the 1939 World's Fair by Joseph Losey, Pete Roleum And His Cousins features the pixilated puppets and delightfully warped imagination of stop-motion innovator Charley Bowers.

The Lullaby Of Old Broadway

Here's another mind-numbing Busby Berkeley masterpiece, more reminiscent of Fritz Lang and G.W. Pabst netherworlds than the jaunty world of musicals. Berkeley's magnum opus, The Lullaby Of Broadway, requires two YouTube segments and starts with the longest transition from long shot to close-up in the history of movies.



The striking lead vocalist is Wini Shaw. She's in several mid-1930's Warners musicals, the 1934 Technicolor comedy short, What, No Men! - and later turns up in Soundies.



I'm dumbfounded by the sheer filmmaking brilliance of it all.

Busby Berkeley, American Surrealist

In my book, nothing says dada and surrealism quite like a musical number from the wondrously deranged mind of Busby Berkeley. This is just one of the delirious production numbers from Dames (1934).



And besides, we know that while André Breton and Salvador Dali didn't agree on much, both, no doubt, would have given anything to present, as part and parcel of the artistic statement, a camera track through the spread legs of smiling showgirls.

Friday's Truly Absurd Musical Number

For that special blend of 1960's-style cheesiness, absurdism, both winsome and subtle-as-a-sledgehammer sexiness, AquaNet-drenched hairdos, bouncy tunes, inexplicable dance moves and one gas-guzzlin' SUV full of WTF, you can't beat Scopitones.



Big thanks to Tré Taylor of Really Weird Stuff.com radio (and numerous other musical/artistic endeavors) for bringing this Scopitone to my attention.

More Absurd Musical Numbers

In a quest for a musical clip even more absurd than the last one I posted, here's larger-than-life vaudeville comedienne Winnie Lightner, a bunch of goofy-looking guys in drag and silent movie heavy "Bull" Montana (singing): from The Show Of Shows, a revue style early talkie released in December 1929.





We thank Aaron Neathery of The Third Banana blog for posting this.

Vernon Dent Sings

Yes, that's comedians' nemesis Vernon Dent singing the lead in this 1934 toga party musical number, which is among many notable extras on the Busby Berkeley 6-DVD box set. And, please, get me whatever cologne Leon Errol is using in this clip. Maybe it'll work 74 years later!

Burt Bacharach Day

I really like the Burt n' Elvis (Costello) collaborations.



Like The White Stripes, too.

Marion, Harold and the 13th San Francisco Silent Film Festival

The 13th Annual San Francisco Film Festival, another amazing weekend of classic movies in archival 35mm prints, accompanied by world-class musicians, closed with a hilarious Marion Davies comedy last night.

I'm still collecting my thoughts, such as they are, after this splendid moviegoing experience - and vowing to, next time, remember to save up for a Festival Pass! Again, I extend big time bravos, kudos, etc. to all those involved in producing and presenting the festival.

A few observations:

• Marion Davies, based on her performances in The Patsy (last night's piece-de-resistance) and Show People (the "closer" from the 2007 SFSFF) is, hands down, the most underrated comedienne in the history of motion pictures.



• Harold Lloyd, remembered as the indefatigable go-getter who epitomized the spirit of the 1920's, remains an unparalleled master of comedy construction and strikes me as a tad underrated.
  
  Perhaps Lloyd is underrated because his style and approach differ than his counterparts and friends from "The Big Three", Keaton and Chaplin. Harold's great silent pictures from 1923-1928 remind me more of Doug Fairbanks, even though he undeniably shares a stunt-filled physicality and ability to seamlessly blend comedy and action/adventure elements with Keaton. Fairbanks, at his best, made rousing adventure flicks spiced with humor, while Lloyd produced comedies packed with thrills and swashbuckling action.
  
  The Kid Brother, enhanced last Friday night by the superb score by the Mont Alto Picture Orchestra, represents the apex of his approach to screen comedy. He starts with short comic scenes that introduce the characters, follows them with longer, more intense sequences (all the while advancing the storyline) - and skillfully builds the pacing to the crescendo, a breathless finale. The centrifugal force behind everything is Harold's character, who could be summed up thusly: "you may be brawnier and more powerful than me, but I'm smarter, faster and more resourceful than you - and since I'm also a sweet guy who appreciates women, I'll get the girl!"
  
  You could make a successful comedy film, right now in the 21st century, using the structural principles of Lloyd's silent features.
  
  

This Weekend

The 13th Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival starts tomorrow night at the Castro Theatre. I'll be there, and hopefully capable of collecting my thoughts about another fascinating trip to the way-back machine a few days from now.

Thrill-O-Tronic Film Show This Saturday

The producers of the most excellent Thrillville series present The Thrill-O-Tronic Film Show, a Saturday matinee spotlighting wild and crazy content by 'found footage mad scientists' Sci Fi Bob and Psychotronic Paul from the KFJC Psychotronix Film Festival, on July 5 at the Cerrito Speakeasy Theatre.

We will serve up a steaming slice of Psychotronix with high-fat whipped cream blasted from a nifty aerosol can - and a side of Kitschy Americana. After screening way too many miscellaneous film clips and 1950's commercials for my own good, I've concluded that Kitschy Americana is generally used to sell the following: cigarettes, cars, beer and political ideologies.

What: Thrill-O-Tronic Film Show
When: Saturday July 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: The Cerrito Speakeasy Theatre
10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA
Who: Thrillville's 'hosts with the most', Will The Thrill and Monica The Tiki Goddess. And special guests:

• Filmmaker Ernie Fosselius



• Direct from TV's Cinema Insomnia, Mr. Lobo and The Queen Of Trash
  

Broncho Billy Film Festival At Niles

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Northern California treasure, mecca for historians, culture vultures and film geeks alike, will present The 11th Annual Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival all weekend, starting this evening.

History, particularly when it involves cross-eyed Ben Turpin falling on his butt, can be fun.

Mr. Lobo's Surreality Check

Mr. Lobo, "your horror host", wrote this excellent rant as a response to a despairing posting on the Mr. Lobo's Sleepless Knights Of Insomnia message board that decried the noxious effects of Big Media and Big $$$ on culture, and how things have gotten 1000 times worse in the past 15 years.

The major media outlets are never going to put anything ahead of money. We need to let those dinosaurs die and discover and praise those who are making entertainment for the highest rather than the lowest common denominator.

Negativity only turns people off. . . I was unhappy with what I saw on late night TV; I made my own show. There are a lot of us that are part of the solution that doing great culturally positive work that needs support to break through to the mainstream. So often I hear people say..."they don't do it like that anymore" and I want to say--"Well, I do! And a bunch of other artists and producers are, too" They don't want to see what I'm doing because it doesn't fit in with their negative rants and ravings!

Let's take the tip of one iceberg...Last Saturday's Psychotronix Film Fest--a packed house enjoyed tons of classic entertainment for all audiences provided by SciFi Bob, Psychotronic Paul, Scott Moon (publisher of Planet X magazine and the musical mastermind behind Cinema Insomnia music video "Watching TV"), Rob Emmett of KFJC's wonderful "Norman Bates Memorial Soundtrack show" and soundman Austin Space.

• Ernie "Hardware Wars" Fossellius was there with his DVDs


• The Queen and I represented Cinema Insomnia


• Cult Radio A Go-Go covered the event


• Bill Devers, president of the Indy Film Co-Op and organizer of The B-Movie Celebration was there, as was. . .


• Will "The Thrill" Viharo, who does Thrillville revival shows at theaters up and down the state


• Tom Wyrsch, who made the Creature Features documentary


• KTEH programmer Ken Patterson, who brought endless British Sci-Fi and even groundbreaking Anime to Bay Area TV


• Filmmakers, musicians, and artists galore who were there who are doing good stuff right now!

We are in a B-cult underground renaissance! I'm tired of hearing everything sucks...everyone I hang out with is doing something super special!

Here with your Surreality Check, now bend over and say ahhh...Mr. Lobo

George Carlin, Standup Philosopher (1937-2008)

I loathe serving as an R.I.P. blog! This week, that most wonderful of satiric shit disturbers, George Carlin, passed away at 71.

Hope George left at least a screed or two of unpublished social criticism, as ferociously scathing as Mark Twain's last writings, behind. Until then, you can rent or - if you're fortunate enough to not have your home in foreclosure during an election year - buy the DVD box set of his standup comedy specials.

In tribute, enjoy this prime clip of George at his razor-sharp and fearless best.

Carlin was certainly among the best of, to steal a term from Mel Brooks, the "standup philosophers". For an example of pure linguistic prowess:




Last week: the greatest, coolest, sexiest female dancer in the history of movies, Cyd Charisse, shuffled off the mortal coil at 86. Here she is, kicking ass in Vincente Minnelli's 1953 film The Band Wagon. I've watched this more times than countless fanboys have seen Star Wars or Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan.


Both, fortunately for us still wandering around on this planet, left ample evidence of their artistry. . . evidence that can definitely help a person get through some of the rough spots in this earthly trip we share.

I'm toasting both of 'em tonight, baby.

Now Playing!

The Psychotronix Film Festival Returns Yet Again, Against Our Better Judgment

For over 15 years, the KFJC Psychotronix Film Festival has presented a film archivist jam session.



The visual music (cacophony?) draws from a wide range of oddly tuned instruments: unintentionally hilarious 1950's commercials and "educational" films, the most bizarre obscure classic cartoons, trailers from the worst movies, double-entendre packed Pre-Code goodies, the cheapest international monster movies, the campiest musical shorts, the most surreal silent movie clips and TV programs that aired once or should never have aired. We don't know what riff we'll play until the show is underway.



We'll be back with another freewheeling improvised program of questionable entertainment on Saturday, June 21.



If you are between the South Bay Area and just south of San Francisco, you can hear us jabber about the festival (A.K.A. attempt to explain something than defies rational explanation), on KFJC 89.7 FM at 6:00 p.m. this very Monday evening, June 16.

Radio personality Robert Emmett of "The Norman Bates Memorial Soundtrack Show" hosts the festivities. Our special guests: direct from TV's Cinema Insomnia, horror host Mr. Lobo and The Queen Of Trash.

Alas, the fabled Room 5015 is slated for major remodeling shortly, so it may be a little while before our next fundraiser for KFJC. We'll give 5015, site of 35 Psychotronix Film Festivals, a fitting sendoff.



What? The KFJC Psychotronix Film Festival
Where? Room 5015, Foothill College campus, Los Altos Hills, CA (El Monte exit off of Highway 280)
When? Saturday June 21, 7:00 to 11:30 PM
Why? We give away a menagerie of cheap door prizes at intermission!



While showtime is 7:00 p.m., get there early - these shows sell out.

The Next Philosopher Guru by Paul F. Etcheverry

Found scribbled on lined stationery in the back of a cab in Trenton, New Jersey, the wise words of Al Confucius Johnson, philosopher, beer drinker.

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, make a sandwich."

"I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge. I am one who is in possession of a 1971 Archie, Jughead and Veronica comic."

"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night involving more than six tall boys of Mickey's Big Mouth."

"I hear and I forget. I see and I forget. I do and I forget. I go to the bathroom and I forget. I forget and I forget."

"If you find your place in the world, make sure there's a bathroom nearby."

"Respect yourself and others will still tell you to commit physically impossible sexual acts."

"He who exercises government by means of his virtue will not get any campaign contributions."

"He who wears his heart on his sleeve will end up with bloody shirt-sleeves and some explaining to do at the dry cleaners."

"He who feels connected to all beings must always remember to wear pants."

Good Advice by Paul F. Etcheverry

In a moment of sleep deprivation and, admittedly, bad habits-induced insecurity a couple of weeks back, I perused the Internet for 'advice'. My quick reaction: DON'T EVER DOOOOOOO THAT (in the immortal words of mid-1930's radio comic Joe Penner).

The relationship advice was the worst - and I fled the computer in complete disgust before even getting to the men's and women's magazines of the world. The gist of the online drivel was:

• "Conceal who you really are - never speak openly and candidly about anything - to get what you want."


• "Be somebody else to get what you want."


• "Dumb down - be a stupid shit to get what you want."


• "Do - or don't do - these specific things to manipulate that next person into having a mindless, drooling, brain-dead crush on you (A.K.A. play these games to get what you want)."


• "Give us your credit card number, and those of all your family members and business associates - and we'll give you the secret to attracting what you want in forty-six easy-to-digest lessons."


• "Make that person jealous to get what you want. Say you're wildly, insanely attracted to somebody else and keep rubbing it in, over and over, until you see the hurt bleeding from their eyes."


• "Become anorexic or get liposuction so you'll get what you want".


• "Break into an understaffed morgue, steal a handsome head and get it surgically attached. Or find an unattended extra-large mammal and whack its member off. . . or better yet, determine exactly where the pickled preserved penis of John Dillinger is located - and have it surgically attached, so you'll get what you want."


• "Guys, get a French maid outfit, wear it with pumps, apply Day-Glo ultramarine shadow, dance your best version of 'The Macarena' and sing 'There's No Business Like Show Business'. She'll go nuts and give you what you want."


• "Hollow out a pumpkin, carve a face resembling Nikita Khrushchev or Tor Johnson on it, put it on your head, then pull your trousers or capris down to your ankles so you don't walk very well - and get what you want."


• "Cut your losses and bail if you don't get what you want all the time."


• "Hire someone to help you cope with crushing guilt over getting what you want."

Private Snafu

For Memorial Day, here are some classic WWII propaganda-toons, starring the hapless Private Snafu. These cartoons were produced for The Army-Navy Screen Magazine by the Warner Brothers gang, joined by future children's book icons Ted "Dr. Suess" Geisel and Phil Eastman.

Burt Bacharach Day

Finally, clips from the Burt Bacharach - Elvis Costello collaboration have made it to youtube. It's a good combination: Burt's melodies and harmonies with pungent, hard-hitting lyrics by Elvis.


Costello's lyrics, for me personally, are right on; I have difficulty relating to the more sentimental (and also at times masochistic) lyrics of Hal David. Anyone who has lived through the experience of this tune, "The House Is Empty Now", can certainly relate.

Clip Of The Day: Reg Kehoe And His Marimba Queens

Watch the bass player in this Soundie - and wonder if these could be transgender marimba queens. . .