WELCOME TO “WARLORDS OF CINEMATIC IMAGINATION”. Before you enter this Time Tunnel I give you fair warning Will Robinson that this is not a “fan boy, or girl” page for a specific character or film, but is dedicated to all forms of Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller and Fantasy. More importantly to those known and unknown behind them which I call “Warlords”. Such as William Cameron Menzies, Ralph Bakshi, Rick Baker, Jack Pierce, H.P. Lovecraft and Koushun Takami. Any member of this group may post articles and other posts about related topics. Along with writing their own reviews of films, books, animie etc they would like to share. With the one exception that a film review cannot contain any spoilers unless it is over a week since the film’s opening. Also I prohibit “what if” style questions which belong on a ‘fan boy/ girl” page and not here. Again unless it is critical to make your point in an article. The purpose of this page is to share our love for those who make Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller and Fantasy films come alive for each of us and have what I hope are some very good discussions and maybe friendly disagreements. All the time expanding our own knowledge with perhaps an admitted I was wrong on some subject, or point. I have attached, for your enjoyment, a link to Thomas Edison’s, the inventor of the American Movie Camera, 1910 film “Frankenstein” which runs 12 minutes and 41 seconds in its entirety. He truly was a “Warlord of Cinematic Imagination” and a dreamer beyond his time. I have a three rules to follow for using my page: 1. Foul Language and Personal Politics do not belong on this page. Should you violate this simple rule not only will you be blocked, but your body will be turned over to “Pinhead”. 2. Should you have a different point of view than that of another member! By all means state your argument, but respect the other member as they should respect you. Any out of hand arguments will be settled by “Caltiki, the Immortal Monster” and it won’t be fun. 3. It’s more fun on this “E-Ticket Ride” if you contribute. So I look forward to your comments and don’t just sit on a fence at a Kansas Farm wondering what’s over that rainbow. I hope you will not just become a name on a list, but share something about yourself so we better get to know and understand you. So let me introduce myself with two small vignettes from my youth and today: The first Science Fiction film I truly remember seeing was 1950’s “Destination Moon” Produced by George Pal and based upon a short story by Robert A. Heinlein. Another film that sticks out in my mind was also by Pal “The Naked Jungle” from 1954. It was based upon a short story I would read years later in Junior High School “Leiningen Versus the Ants” by Carl Stephenson. The Marabunta solider ants which ate everything in their path including people were frightening to my 7 year old mind and their small size was a strong counterpoint to the giant ants in the same year’s film “THEM!” Of note is that I actually played in that same sewer system, located in Burbank, California behind the Warner Brothers studio, used at the film’s climax and that fact added to the impression “THEM” made on my psyche. When I was between five and eight years of age most Science Fiction television programs where live. (I will be making a post about this topic so look for it.) One of the most popular was on the ABC Network from 1950 to 1955 entitled “Space Patrol” headed by Buzz Corey the Commander and Chief. (Front row third from left played by Ed Kemmer). It was the first West Coast Live Television Program broadcast to the East Coast. When their Space Ship “The Terra” took off in the 30th Century. The cast had to lean back in their chairs to make believe the ship was moving upwards. It was obvious, but to 1950’s kids who cared. Another television program at the time was “Tom Corbett, Space Cadet”. The ex-German Rocket Scientist and co-founder of NASA Wiley Ley, who co-authored the film “Destination Moon”, was a writer for the program and used a non de plume for the series of books that came out from 1950 to 1957. I just re-read them last month on my E-reader and although dated they are still fun. So the science in Tom Corbett was actually top notch for that time, if you can buy single stage long range space cruisers, plastic moving sidewalks and living on Venus. Both this show and “Space Patrol” made attempts at early 3-D television broadcasts. Flash Gordon was a short lived television series from 1954 to 1955. What was interesting is that this series was filmed in West Berlin where they used the bombed out city for backgrounds. The cast would be flown in from West Germany over the Russian occupied East to film with a group of English speaking West Germans. The series was used to improve American and German relations and I still wonder what the East Germans and especially the Russians thought of this arrangement. That’s just a little glimpse into how I became a Movie Nerd and to bring things up to date. I now live in Newhall, California 30 minutes outside of Downtown Los Angeles. 12 minutes North-East of my home is a park known as Vazquez Rocks Park in Acton, California. Don’t recognize the name? If you’ve watched any Western movie, or television show from 1930 through 1960 you’ve seen those rocks. In 1994 they were the town of Bedrock in “The Flintstones” movie. Although located in the Los Angeles suburb of Studio City. Republic Studios, who gave that L.A. suburb that name, made all their Chapter Serials from such standards as 1939’s “Zorro’s Fighting Legion” and 1941’s “Captain Marvel” to 1952’s “Zombies of the Stratosphere” and 1953’s “Commando Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe” at Vasquez Rocks. Both Rocket Man’s and the Martian invaders Space Ships flew in and out of the same rock formations. 15 minutes South-West of my home is the suburb of Chatsworth. Where at one time 1940’s Cowboy actor Ray Crash Corrigan’s (he played “It, the Terror from Beyond Space in 1958) had a ranch that was used as a Western movie location. It carried his name: “Corriganville”. Before he purchased the property it was the site of “Radio Ranch” aka: “Melody Ranch” owned by Gene Autry. Autry first appeared in the movies playing himself in a 12 Chapter Serial from 1935 filmed there entitled “The Phantom Empire”. A typical serial where Gene had to do his radio program daily at 2 PM, or loose the deed to the ranch. While he also maintained a working Ranch for homeless children, dealt with an evil scientist trying to steal Radium from a mine on the property and under the ranch was located the Lost Mu Empire plotting to take over the Earth’s surface. “Phantom Empire” even had robots wearing Cowboy hats, but they were left over from a movie musical and not made for the Mu Empire scenes. Just five minutes from my house is Eternal Valley Cemetery which is the resting place for one of Ed Wood’s favorite actor’s the very large ex-wrestler Tor Johnson of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”. So my home is centrally located for a film buff as the City of Newhall is also part of the old ranch property owned by Silent film Cowboy star William S. Hart and his home is a tourist attraction and park. One last comment about where I live. Located outside my gated community is a street named Sierra Highway and not five minutes West is a large property owned by the Walt Disney Company. Anyone who ever saw any of the Davy Crockett shows or films, Westward Ho the Wagons, Old Yeller and many other films such as “Spin and Marty” on the original “Mickey Mouse Club” were all filmed at that location. Disney has now gotten permission to expand and reactivate this property by building a large 12 Sound Stage complex and employing over 3,000 people from my area. So that’s a quick look at who I am and once more welcome to “Warlords of Cinematic Imagination” and “May the Schwartz Be With You”. Lloyd May 27, 2014 bing/videos/search?q=thomas+edisons+frankenstein&qpvt=thomas+edisons+frankenstein&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=22CE2D929D8D270A103022CE2D929D8D270A1030
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 12:56:24 +0000
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