Dark Corners and Little Windows
Jackson C. Frank has one of the most tragic backstories of any 60s folksingers. At the age of eight, he was at choir rehearsal in his school's attic annex, when a fire broke out. Jackson was one of the few that survived the flames, with burns over 80% of his body. How he survived such injuries, no one really knows.
Read MoreIn 1977, DC Comics was undergoing seismic changes. The year before Carmine Infantino, Editorial Director, then Publisher, a man that had set the look and direction of DC for almost ten years, was unceremoniously shown the door at Lexington Ave by the higher-ups at Warner Communications.
Read MoreI worked at a Burger King in Pasco WA for three years, putting myself through community college. I started out running the broiler (yes, those burgers ARE 'flame broiled') and worked up to production leader (running the kitchen) and part-time assistant manager. When not performing in shows at the college, I would go to school full time and work 37-39 hours a week (under the 'full time' limit). When I left, I was their highest-paid employee; at $3.58 an hour.
Read MoreI have loved 60's Mustangs since I was a kid. I was never sure why until my brother told me the neighbors had a couple of Mustangs that we used to ride in as kids. Maybe that was it, maybe I remember seeing them around and thinking how cool-looking they were.
Read MoreWill Eisner, comic book pioneer, after a few years of slaving away in the newly-birth comic book mine finally, had his dream come true: his own comic strip in an actual newspaper. “The Spirit” was a comic-book style insert inside the Sunday paper featuring young Denny Colt, a criminology student who is supposedly murdered within the first few pages of the first adventure.
Read MoreThe Twilight Zone premiered in 1959, and while an intelligent, well-written, and acted show, it was never a huge rating hit (it was canceled twice during its five seasons) but is still one of the best-loved, remembered, respected, and influential series in television history.
Read MoreI love this story.
My first (known) encounter with the work of Alex Toth was this story. It was only later I learned that Toth had been one of the major character designers at Hanna-Barbera from the 60s through the 70s, designing on Space Ghost, the Heculoids, the 3 Musketeers, Scooby Doo, The Super Friends, and hundreds of others. He is one of the few worthy of the title 'genius'.
Read MoreNobody's a hero at home. In Europe, early rock and Rockabilly is very popular and has been, well, since it was new. Acts ignored over here get attention and crowds overseas where they're not just one of many but unique, with an authenticity that the European acts don't have (some of those German boys in their slicked back hair and prison-bound Johnny Cash voices are pretty close though). When you're a Rockabilly fan and you've worn out your Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly records, where do you go?
Read MoreCaptain Action was frankly, the world’s coolest action figure of the ‘60s, even with all the competition. He was a comics lover dream who could change into Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Aquaman, the Phantom, The Lone Ranger (and Tonto, but you need two Caps to have the set!), Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Sgt Fury, Steve Canyon and the Green Hornet (whew!).
Read MoreWhether you like spooky things or spooky movies, there are great Halloween podcasts to inform you or send a shiver up your spine. Some horror podcasts have great short horror stories, in-depth film discussions, true supernatural stories, or use an everything approach and touch on all things horror-related.
Read MoreMaking a movie, any movie, can be a gamble. The higher the budget, the bigger the bet on that movie, and the more it has to succeed to avoid bankrupting the studio. As seen with such notorious historical Hollywood flops as Cleopatra (1963) and Heaven’s Gate (1980), a big enough flop can take down careers, studios, and threaten the industry.
Read MoreIn 1973, Bruce Lee was the coolest man on the face of the earth. He had the look, the style, the ability, the genius, and the fans. Lots of fans. He became a one-man industry of posters, books, t-shirts (you could get your very own iron-on through the comics! That and a ‘Mickey the Rat’ or ‘Keep On Truckin’ would make you the king of the playground), velvet posters, black light posters, and of course, movies.
Read MoreI’ve got a thing. Kinda had it for years. I like bad movies. Not like, ‘bad’ bad movies. A bad movie is a boring movie, regardless of budget, stars, directors, or screenwriters. It’s just… terrible, with no redeemable features.
Read MoreThe Hound of the Baskervilles is an odd novel. As usual with the Doyle Sherlock Holmes novels, it’s really a Holmes short story, divided in half, with a completely different novella sandwiched in-between. Every Holmes novel is like this, but 'Hound' is somewhat different.
Read MoreEliot Ness was untouchable. He earned that name both the hard and the easy way; by taking on the Mob of Al Capone in Chicago during Prohibition, and by being incorruptible in a world of corruption. He was offered money, baited with women, power and fame; but he was Untouchable. He hired a squad of Ness’s, also untouchable… mostly. When graft refused to take hold, bullets were flung his way, and the way of his team, costing Ness one Untouchable.
Read MoreI fix things, it’s what I do to relax (and sometimes practice my swearing). I fix old guitars, repair books, do the building and maintenance around the house. If it breaks, I figure out what’s wrong, and if I can fix it. You might think I do this because I’m cheap. Nope, just poor.
Read MoreBobbie, where are you? Come back, all is forgiven.
Read MoreIt was Freedom Summer, a time of civil activism in the South. 55 years ago, 3 men came together because they thought the black people of Mississippi should be afforded basic human rights…
Read MoreHe was late again. His job was field secretary of the NAACP, a tough job in any circumstances, but this was 1963, and Jackson Mississippi. There had already been two attempts on his life in just the last month and constant death threats, both by mail and delivered over the phone by people trying to disguise their voices. Some didn't even bother to try.
Read MoreFifty two years ago today, a man running an outsider campaign for President won the California primary. He was trying to convince the powers that be in the Democratic party that he was the best candidate to win the 1968 Presidential campaign and move the country away from war, from poverty, from division and injustice.
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