This weekend's Drive-In previews

Well gang, after a bout of the stomach flu that left me feeling like a cross between Regan from The Exorcist and one of George Romero's zombies, I am back with the preview of this weekend's Frankenstein double feature.

First up, Lon Cheney Jr. and Bela Lugosi star in Universal's Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man. This was Bela's only role as the monster and Lon Cheney Jr. IS the Wolfman in my book. This was released in 1943 and it was the first of Universal's ensamble monster films. Monster gold in my book! Let's take a peek at the trailer...




25 years later, a studio out of England did what Universal had done and reinvented horror with the first of it's Hammer Horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein. It paired Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as The Monster. Hammer was awesome and I'm sure more of their features will be seen here. The Curse is set in the 1800s and has a very gothic feel of it. I loved watching these on Saturday afternoons. Here's our 2nd trailer...



So, there you go. I hope you find some time to check out these great classics! Or join me in your own drive-in tomorrow night, hope to see you there. Bring some extra money for the chili dogs.

This Weekend's (2/28) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Hello all!
It must be Tuesday. Hope your week is off to a good start. Here's what's playing at the drive-in this weekend. We'll be paying homage to Universal and Hammer horrors with two movies featuring The Frankenstein monsters: Universal's Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman and Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein! Should be a SHOCKING good time!!

Tomorrow, check back for the trailer for out first feature. Till then, watch the skies!

From The Vaults #2: Superman Gumball Dispenser

Welcome to another edition from the vaults! This time around we're dealing a place to hold your candy! And Superman is guarding it. This thing is sweet. Apparently, you just pop the top off and pour some gumdrops in the top and just turn the knob and you have a new bite of krypton goodness each time!
Superman is the kick ass enforcer of the DC Universe and I can't think of a better person to watch over my gum. It would be like a mini candy fortress of solitude.

Of Vampires and Ghosts

Had a pretty good time at the CDF drive-in yesterday! Watched two films I have not seen before.

Dracula's Daughter was decent. I can see why the critics have been torn with this movie over the years. I couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a comedy or horror. Maybe Horedy? Is that even a word?

It literally picks up minutes after Edward Van Sloan killed Dracula at the end of the first film. We even a pretty bad looking wax (?) figure of Bela witha stake through his heart.

We soon meet Dracula's daughter and she spirits her father's body away to burn. She only wants to be free of this curse. What kind of father turns their daughter into a vampire? She tries to not be evil but she cannot escape her heritage in the end.
I love the universal era of Monsters, the golden age. This along with the Hammer horror movies shaped my love of this genre. And I will be paying homage to both again this week.

Onto the second feature, I had no idea that the Fog was a Halloween reunion. I counted at least three faces from John Carpenter's original feature. Good stuff. I loved the use of darkness and green lights in this.

I think it's much scarier when they build to you seeing what the horror is, and even then we never get a really good look at what lurks in the fog.

I've got to go looking for some John Carpenter music scores because they are so good! he must have a greatest hits album?

I'm looking forward to watching the making of this movie, as I am interested into what kind of problems they ran into filming with smoke.

So, there's this week's features. Will be looking forward to next weekend.
Before I go, just wanted to give some background onto the why of all this. When I was a kid, we got channel 55 on the weekend, and it aired Creature Double Feature. They some great monsters on there, all the classics were represented. It was a good childhood.

In my adult life, I ofton wonder what it would be like to run a drive-in and be able to share these horror movies with a new audience, and some of the same audience too. So, I guess I'm doing this to maybe put a smile on at least one other face. For someone else, to get the pleasure out of these movies that I did.

And maybe that person is out there reading right now, and will go pick up one of these movies. Ahh, maybe I'm getting too sentimental in my later 30s. If this is the extent of a midlife crisis, enjoying the films of before....not too bad.

What draws us to these movies and the love of this genre? A post for another day I think. Until the vault opens back up tomorrow, watch the skies, my friends. Watch the skies...

I'll be watching!

Getting ready for tonight's double feature. It's going to be a chilly night in upstate NY. So, bundle up before you head to the drive-in.

I'll post my reviews tomorrow, and hopefully in the coming weeks, we'll have lots more good monster stuff to talk about!

John Carpenter's The Fog

For our second feature this week, John Carpenter goodness! I have seen the remake of The Fog and thought it was pretty good. I am doing things in reverse, as I will be viewing the original for the first time.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, and John Carpenter. How can you go wrong?
This one came out in 1980 with Carpenter directing, writing the screenplay, and composing the music (which you can hear on the main page here). I am looking forward to it, as it always looked scary. And I love a good ghost story.
Antonio Bay is a quiet fishing town until the fog rolls in! Bring your flashlight and I will save you a seat at the drive-in!

Dracula's Daughter

The first feature at the drive-in this week, I honestly don't know much about. I know it was the 1936 follow-up to Dracula starring Bela Lugosi from 1931.Universal has started laying the groundwork for the Universal Monsters at this point. Edward Van Sloan is the only cast member to return and his playing the role of Van Helsing.The tale is bases loosely on Dracula's Guest, a short story written by original Dracula scribe, Bram Stoker.I don't think it did so well at the box office, and that may have to do with the lack of star power. At one time, Colin Clive, Ceaser Romaro, and Boris Karloff were all rumored to have roles in this film.I'm looking forward to the screening, and will be wearing a turtleneck that night.Until next time, watch the skies!

Creature Double Feature this saturday night!

It's that time again, the drive-in will be opening up this Saturday and it looks like quite the double feature.

Come back tomorrow when we'll focus on Dracula's Daughter, the first two horror classics!

From The Vaults #1: Anakin Skywalker Outland Peasant Disguise Figure

Welcome to the first edition of From The Vaults. We're featuring a kinda cool action figure from The Star Wars universe. This nifty Anakin figure doesn't come with an accordian, it's actually a force sensative canister! Apparently, when you move Anakin's hand over it, the lip opens and his weapon jumps into his hand or something.Ok, The Star Wars toys of today are pretty. cool. I'm not sure of the material they're made from. I think the faces on the older Kenner figures were better. Through I try to get any of the Skywalker family related figures when I find them.For some reason, I love the "With Force Action!" on the front of the plastic. Oh well, we'll see what I can pull out from the vaults for next week.Until next time, may the force be with you, and remember to watch the skies

The Drive-In is open!

Hello everyone!
This is going to be my little pop culture, horror, sci-fi place to hang.
Every week, two movies will be playing at the drive-in. Look for reviews and facts and other cool stuff.
Also, once a week, we'll open the vaults and see what cool toy or whatnot I can find to share. I hope you all enjoy, and comments are welcome.

More on the why as the week goes on!

Until next time, watch the skies!