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--Click here to see the news archive!-- If you have a news item you would like to see posted please e-mail it directly to me at almaric@usa.net/.
Well guys, it's taken me a while, but I've finally got the message boards up and running. Do me a favor, check them out and let me know what you think.
New at B-Independent.com
Interviews: TRANCERS 6 and DEMONICUS director Jay Woelfel
Distribution: Bent: Volume 1
Production: Four-Walling A Movie Theater
Articles: The Shinning: From Page to Screen
Reviews: Underground Films of the Year Announced!
Chapter Excerpt
January 21, 2003
DUDEZ PRODUCTIONS (The Feral Man) is holding a fundraiser party for its upcoming feature THE BONESETTER. It is being held in Ottawa, Canada March 6th. Tickets are five bucks. Entertainment is being provided by rock band, THE CLONES, Improv comedy by some of Ottawa's finest comedians and a stand up comedy act by Steve Patterson. Come one come all. E-mail dudezprod@hotmail.com for info.
***** RHONDA SHEAR- MARY WORONOV- LLYOD KAUFMAN
PRISON-A-GO-GO!
The teaser trailer for PRISON-A-GO-GO! the new 35mm women-in-prison movie filled with mutants! giant Snakes! Mud Wrastlin! Ninjas and multiple shower scenes is now available at www.wipstudios.com/prison
January 19, 2003
Shooting has begun on Timberwolf's new movie "When Shadows Fall", a thriller about a teenage girl and her visions of a deadly killer. 'Shadows' is Timberwolf's biggest movie to date and hopefully the fans will enjoy the change of pace as far as story and style.The movie stars Jillian Swanson (Killer Campout, Legend of Samhain 2, Cold Heart of Crystal Lake) as Jena, a young college freshman who is haunted by the memory of her long dead mother. When one of her friends disappears after a late night rendezvous Jill uses the visions from her mother to find out the truth.
Newcomer Leah Nigro plays Jena's best friend Ashely, and Catlin Sabins (Cannibal Taboo) takes on the role of Missy, Jena's ill-fated friend who turns up missing after a dangerous affair with a married man. Mike Defrancesco, Barry P. Cook, Jamie Fogarty, Tom Izzo and Tim Whitfield fill out the other major cast members, while Sarah Vernon plays Dr. Jillian Storm, Jena's aunt and career Psychologist who thinks she can find the answers in Jena's visions.
The screenplay was written by Tim Whitfield, Royce Freeman and Jonothon Mitchell from a story by Whitfield. The story is a very complex one for Timberwolf and is a real change of pace. Pretty much every character has an agenda and multiple levels in this movie. The audience and even the actors may second guess whats happening as the story plays out and secrets are revealed. The style of movies is a mix of genres as director Tim Whitfield wants the viewers to be on edge of their seat waiting for whats next, never getting too comfortable.
While 'Shadows ' is shooting at Timberwolf, the sequel to 'Summer's End' entitled 'In The Face of Evil' moves forward in post production.
Once the edit is done, Ted Lepore will score the movie.
***** And here's a nice note:
Allen, I thought you might be interested in getting it. A special edition dvd will be coming soon with out takes, commentary, and extra Debbie Rochon footage. If you have somewhere on the site you would like to post any of this info please feel free to. Also check out the poster. hahahahaha
Blood Cinema Entertainment (www.bloodcinema.com) is proud to announce that our feature B-Movie: The Shooting of Farmhouse Massacre is currently available at Crimson Cult Video (www.crimsoncultvideo.com)
B-Movie is a mockumentary of two incompetent film makers (Vito Trabucco and Mark Terry) and their pursuit in making "the best B-Movie ever." The movie includes such notable B Horror Movie names like scream queen Debbie Rochon, Jasi Cotton Lanier, and Suzi Shareaux.
The movie will premiere at the Tambay Film Fest in mid April which is held at the beautiful Channel Side Theater near the Port of Tampa.
January 17, 2003
LIVERPOOL, NY -- Sub Rosa Studios, a leading home video distributor of contemporary independent and international features, announces the U.S. DVD premiere of "Vampire Blues," the latest feature from the prolific Spanish cult filmmaker Jess Franco (creator of such underground classics as "The Awful Doctor Orloff," "Justine" and "Vampyros Lesbos"). "Vampire Blues" will be available beginning February 18 for $19.99; trade pre-booking is January 28."Vampire Blues" is the sultry tale of a pretty American teenager who goes on vacation to Spain's Costa del Sol. Her naive beauty and youthful enthusiasm attracts the attention of the vampire Countess Irina von Murnau, who begins a campaign to seduce her into the dark world of vampiric horror. The young girl's only salvation lies in Marga, a gypsy fortune teller whose white magic is the only weapon to fight the Countess's power. The struggle between good and evil is fought in a stunning climax, with the young girl's life hanging in the balance.
Having directed more than 175 feature films since 1959, Jess Franco is clearly the most prolific filmmaker in the world. "Vampire Blues" is rich in Franco's trademark touches: over-the-top horror, glamourous women in peril, and an infectious sense of absurd comedy. The DVD edition of "Vampire Blues" features both the American and European versions of this film, plus a photo gallery, music tracks, and a behind the scenes look at the film's production.
"Vampire Blues" is rated 17 by the IDRB and is not rated by the MPAA, but is recommended for mature audiences. It runs 155 minutes (between the two features).
January 16, 2003
A recent e-mail from Cinema Sky Productions:I just wanted to update everyone on CREEPY TALES: GIRLS NIGHT OUT. We're nearing the end of shooting our third and final segment and editing on the first two is moving along.
We've just updated the website with cast photos and production stills from the third segment. We've also added a few new links so when you get a chance go to CinemaSky.com check it out!
January 15, 2003
"DIABLO" wraps principal photography in Los Angeles.The supernatural thriller "DIABLO" recently wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles. The film moves into post-production with editor Alan Armes from Sonic Paint Inc. (Burbank, CA).
"DIABLO" was co-written and directed by Robert Napton and photographed by Los Angeles?based Director of Photography Neal L. Fredericks ("DREAMERS," "THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT," "KILLER ME").
The film's special make-up and zombie effects was designed and executed by Screaming Mad George (Sun Valley, CA).
The film was produced by Dark Lantern Pictures (Hollywood, CA) in association with Daniel Zirilli and Pop/Art Film Factory (Santa Monica, CA).
In "DIABLO," two daring sisters join forces with a veteran FBI man to battle supernatural forces in a remote California town. The film is being described as "X-FILES" meets "EL MARIACHI."
"DIABLO" will get a wide release on DVD and video and is expected to be released this summer.
BACKSTORY
For years, a malevolent entity named AZAR plagued old Mexico. Eventually, Alumbrados (the Illuminati) captured Azar, containing him in a wooden box charged with supernatural properties. Soon after, the box was taken to California. Eventually, the box was hidden in Santa Peligro, a church in the coastal city of Diablo.
***** I wanted to let you know that we are launching our new film "Sinister".....it stars Gunnar Hansen from "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and two other actors that are quite popular right now.....we shot a promotional Trailer on Widescreen 35mm film in New York City for $75,000 dollars (which starred Gunnar).....it is 4 and half minutes long....we were able to raise the money for the feature film by shopping this Trailer.....and of course what we did with "Nutbag" for only $42,000 dollars!.....we start shooting this April....."Sinister" is a psychological/horror film that will be shot on 35mm film.....it will be 2:35 Anamorphic.....please have a look at our re-vamped website.....where you can see images from the Trailer.....thanks again for the great review of "Nutbag".....I appreciate it.....BTW, I have a new distribution deal, so the "Nutbag" DVD will be availible everywhere in May through ITN Disribution.
January 10, 2003
ALTERNATIVE CINEMA MAGAZINE RE-LAUNCHESFans, connoisseurs, aficionados and lovers of underground and ‘B’ moviemaking magic – Rejoice!! Alternative Cinema Magazine is back! After three years of spotty release that saw the popular magazine less and less frequently upon the racks of major booksellers and newsstands nationwide, Alternative Cinema is once again rarin’ to go with one simple goal in mind - immerse readers and subscribers completely within the exciting, entertaining, eccentric and wildly diverse world of alternative filmmaking. Publisher Michael Raso has assembled the right talent and staff to make that a reality. Lisa Coduto and Lisa Tomczak, formerly long-time editors of Femme Fatales Magazine, have been brought on board to serve as Editor and Graphic Designer, respectively. Working out of AC’s Chicago office, this talented and passionate veteran team can be counted to deliver a bold, stylish and engaging publication that will be a lively read each and every time. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Kevin G. Shinnick has been tapped as Managing Editor. Kevin, too, is a veteran ‘B’ movie insider, having worked in film distribution as well as in front of and behind the camera of many genre productions, and as a contributing writer and ad director with Scarlet Street Magazine. AC is rounded out by an energetic and informed staff of scribes and contributing writers headed by journalist, filmmaker, film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck, writer and filmmaker Timothy O’Rawe and entertainment attorney Michael A. Weiss.
The long-anticipated 2003 re-launch will see Alternative Cinema Magazine being released on a quarterly schedule with issue #20 due to hit bookstand shelves in March. Beginning in 2004, however, readers will be able to count on six photo-laden and entertainment-packed issues annually. Also, AC will continue with the full-color, glossy printing first introduced in #19, and the magazine’s fresh, dynamic and distinctive new look and layout will compliment a wide array of fun and insightful articles, profiles, information, interviews, news and regular columns. Feature looks at ‘B’ movie personalities - legends, favorites and up-and-comers; technical articles on the nuts and bolts of film production; the low-down and behind-the-scenes on new and old genre films; helpful and informative legal views, advice and perspectives; enticing tidbits about the “biz” – all this and more will greet the reader with each new issue. And you can count on AC to carry on the tradition established by its former self, but with an even greater degree of commitment to bringing faithful readers a solid, one-of-a-kind publication…issue after issue...year after year. Look for it soon at a bookseller near you.
*****
January 9, 2003
Hudson Productions, co-winner of this year's B-Independent.com UNDERGROUND FILM OF THE YEAR award, will start production on a new psychological thrill once NECROPOLIS AWAKENED recieves its national release this spring.
***** J. Michael James of HUNTING FOR HERSCHELL met with Herschell Gordon Lewis on 12-26-2002 concerning a new project titled GRIM FAIRY TALE. James says Lewis "gave us the treatment to flesh into the scrrenplay, and gave us the green light. I will be contacting the studio this week to set up a meeting so I know what kind of budget we're going to need.
Jarrod Canepa, who wrote the screenplay for Hunting, will be the head writer for this project as well. Yours truly (J. Michael James) will be producing. Herschell will be directing. Joe Castro will be doing the effects.
I may be approaching Gene Simmons and Robert Englund since the "2001 Maniacs" project has collapsed and seems to be abandoned. Simmons in a big Lewis fan.
I would consider the project now in the pre-production phase. It will require a rather eloborate set, which I can have built while Jarrod and his team write the script.
***** From Mark Pirro:
Well, happy new year everybody. I know what some of you are saying: “Where are the Polish Vampire and Queerwolf DVDs?” All I can say is that you have no idea what happens when there isn’t anybody on quality control at a dvd authoring house. The films were in my complete control UNTIL I have the masters sent out to be encoded for DVD. Then, one is at the mercy of some video technician who couldn’t care less about your film. The journey goes like this: 1) I send digital masters to the authoring house 2) they encode it onto DVD 3) they send me a test disk for approval 4) I find problems with it and tell them what’s wrong 5) they make the corrections and 6) they send me another test copy. Well, this has been going on for the last couple of months. Each time I’d get a copy, I found things wrong. The first copies looked worse than old VHS copies I’ve seen. That was fixed. The next copy had sound drop outs 37 times throughout the film. Eventually that was fixed. I won’t bore you with all the details, but the bottom line was that many of the flaws have been fixed and the movies should be in the stores by the 2nd week in January. We’ve gotten them about 70% to my satisfaction (there’s still some sound drops outs in the Queerwolf commentary track, but at least the features are fine and we can’t push the release dates back any longer). Now I understand why James Cameron has been known to sit in on many of his laserdisc and DVD transfer sessions. Nobody is going to care as much as the filmmaker.
We still have about 7 or 8 more days to shoot on Rectuma. We didn’t get much filming done last month. This town shuts down during the month of December and it was relatively impossible to line up the actors needed for the remaining scenes. Some were out of town, others were too busy with the events of the holiday, so other than a couple of short blue screen days with actress Jean Black, December was a pretty light month. That gave me time to catch up on my editing. I’m a few scenes behind and the time off from shooting gave me the opportunity to catch up a bit.
***** Evan Katz say that his new film SOLACE "is going to be extremely gory, wierd, and violent. It's like an early 80's slasher on acid."
Synopsis:
A young girl returns to her small southern town for christmas break to deal with her past. When a crazed motivational speaker with a briefcase filled with razorblades crashes her "welcome back" party, things go to hell. Before the insane weekend is over, she will encounter a gun crazed right wing chili enthusiast, violence happy rednecks, a man who raped her a year back, and a demonic figure that tortures and kills everyone in his path.
With appearances by Bill Moseley, Jeff Dylan Graham
Special FX by Jonathan Thornton (Blood Feast 2)We are still searching for a scream queen for one of the roles, so if there is an SQ out there who wants to work with Mr. Choptop himself please email me. coffinjoey@hotmail.com
Sonic Monkey Films
January 6, 2003
John Bowker of Pipedreams Entertainment wants to remind everyone the ABOMINATION, aka. ABOMINATION: EVILMAKER 2, will hit Hollywood video on Feb. 4.Pipedreams Entertainment Brain Damage Films
***** MTI Home Video, a leading independent home entertainment studio, and Delta Entertainment, a top urban entertainment supplier, will release Jim Mendiola’s COME AND TAKE IT DAY on March 18, 2003. Starring Jesse Borrego (Con Air, Mi vida loca, Follow Me Home, Lone Star), Jacob Vargas (HBO’s upcoming series Kingpin, the current series Greetings from Tucson, Traffic, Mi Familia, Selena), Maria Candelaria and Rick Delgado, COME AND TAKE IT DAY is a fast-paced, stylish Tejano noir that explores San Antonio’s multi layered Latino community, while telling a fascinating story of obsession, betrayal and death.
COME AND TAKE IT DAY will debut on VHS and DVD March 18, 2003 (prebook: February 27, 2003). The film will be available on DVD (sellthrough priced at $24.95 SRP) and on VHS (priced for rental at $89.95 SRP). The VHS will be available in both English and English with Spanish Subtitles. Special DVD features include: Wide Screen Version, chapter selection, interactive menus, and optional Spanish subtitles.
Four Texans working in a Mexican restaurant on the San Antonio Riverwalk, Jesse (Jesse Borrego), a dishwasher; his younger cousin Miguel (Jacob Vargas), a heavy-metal loving cook; Carlos (Rick Delgado), a waiter, and Nena (Maria Candelaria), a brainy college student waitressing for the summer, believe they are on the verge of discovering the century old treasure of the legendary Tejano folk hero Gregorio Cortez. Convinced that he is a descendent of the noble Cortez, Jesse uncovers some old family papers and discovers a disturbing secret, as well as a map to the lost treasure. Jesse enlists his cousin Miguel in a plan to unearth the fortune. On the night of the treasure hunt old grudges and personal histories erupt, resulting in an explosive battle, leaving a trail of tragedy, death, and new stories for both sides of the border.
The filmmaker (writer/director), Jim Mendiola drew a lot of attention, and critical acclaim, when clips of this film ran as a special on PBS in September. This version being released on March 18, 2003 is the full feature film. Please let me know if you would like to speak with Jim Mendiola, or any of the cast members from this film, including: Jesse Borrego – he’s an accomplished actor with major film credits like Con Air, Mi vida loca, Follow Me Home, and Lone Star, and Jacob Vargas – he’s the star of the upcoming HBO series Kingpin, and is also currently seen in the series Greetings from Tucson. Vargas has also had major roles in Traffic, Mi Familia, and Selena.
January 2, 2003
From the Tempe Newsletter:Fans of J.R. Bookwalter's 1994 flick OZONE have reason to celebrate! The film, which was remastered over the past year, is getting a new lease on life on January 7th when it returns to home video under the new title STREET ZOMBIES. The low-budget wonder has exceeded all expectations, having shipped over 12,000 units to major retailers such as Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. In fact, STREET ZOMBIES has outsold its bigger-budgeted and more high-profile street date partner, the Tempe-produced William Shatner vehicle GROOM LAKE!
The Wizard Video DVD release of STREET ZOMBIES features the same remastered picture and sound we've been talking about all year, plus an exclusive director's commentary with J.R. Bookwalter that will not be featured on the pending OZONE Special Edition DVD (expected later in 2003).
Perhaps the most controversial (and biggest-budgeted) film in Tempe's 17-year history, William Shatner's GROOM LAKE also debuts on video on the same day. Starring Dan Gauthier, Amy Acker (ANGEL TV series), Tom Towles (HENRY, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 1990), Dick Van Patten (EIGHT IS ENOUGH), Brenda Bakke (DEMON KNIGHT) and Duane Whitaker (PULP FICTION), the film has been in post-production limbo since shooting wrapped over 2 years ago. J.R. Bookwalter produced the film, which features plenty of Tempe talent from the last few years including a cameo from actress Ariauna Albright (WITCHOUSE 2).
Coming in February:
SPECK
I'VE KILLED BEFORE (aka BLOODLETTING, Wizard Video version)All work on the Tempe DVD label has been suspended until mid-2003. Stay tuned for further updates on our previously-announced titles...
January 1, 2003 - Happy New Year!
From Danny Draven of Darkworld Pictures:
Earlier this year Darkworld Pictures announced a film called HOBB'S GROVE, which the company would be producing. Darkworld will not be producing or involved in the film, but will instead concentrate it's efforts on another film earlier in 2003, that will be shot in beautiful 35mm, and there's talk it will be an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation. Danny Draven will produce, write and direct it to launch his company with it's first film.
http://www.dannydraven.com
http://www.darkworldpictures.com
***** From Ben Cooper of Thunderhead Studios:
The first leg of photography is over for our supernatural ghost chiller, THE BRINK. We were hammered with bad weather and equipment malfunction, so we'll be back at it in a few weeks to finish shooting. We won't be on time for the AFM as I'd hoped, but on the upside the footage is great so far and I lucked into a terrific cast. Check our their pages. You'll be seeing more of these folks for sure.
http://www.thunderheadstudios.com
http://rachelbalzer.tripod.com
http://www.heatherashley.net
http://www.mrvino.net
***** From Mac Cerchi of Rounds Entertainment:
Now some news : I will distribute another "hard to find" video (same style of Heaven's gate) called US ARMY autopsy and embalming techniques training video
This video was NOT supposed to be view by civilians ! A MUST HAVE for the collectros of the "hard to find" videos !
Rounds Entertainment will be distribution "When Heaven Cames Down" starring Robert Z'dar and Jeff Dylan Graham
***** From Director of Photography Jessica Gallant:
Greg Morgan's follow up to "the Playaz Court" is abroad Latino comedy in the same vein as "House Party" or "American Pie" and will probably be released by Artisan. Looks like we'll be shooting it in February or early March.
Sharon Ferranti's "Make a Wish", the lesbian horror flick I shot in Texas this past summer, is about 50% completed, and should be be finished before Spring. Everyone who has seen the teaster and the uncompleted rough cut have been impressed. One rep who has seen it thinks it can get a theatrical release.
I'm also attached to four other features in development (i.e they're waiting on the money to come through), not including a lesbian vampire cowboy feature that Sharon wants to do as a follow up to "Make a Wish".
***** Random Foo Pictures is slated to have a huge 2003. With projects such as Absolute Precision ( http://www.randomfoo.com/rumors/ep4.htm), That Sun (http://www.thatsun.com/) and Eternal ( http://www.eternal-themovie.com ) being released in the first half of the year it should be damn cool.
Plus this year we're going to be hosting not one, but TWO Foo Fests!! All sort of details coming soon to www.FooFest.com
***** From Rick Owens of REO Productions:
REO Productions in Midland Texas has three independent DV movies in the works for 2003.
"THE MINDS EYE" is a thriller about a computer software developer that creates a way to record her dreams into her computer while she sleeps. Little does she know that she is about to meet the nicest serial killer in town, until she sees his dreams.
"JERREL" is the story of an aspiring rap artist that just can't seem to get the record deal that he wants. After trying and failing, he decides to call up his friend the videographer to do an interview. The video journalist has no idea that he is about to tape his friends on camera suicide.
"AND JUSTICE FOR ALL" is about a cop who decides to take the law into his own hands after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered and the killer gets off on a technicality. This suspenseful movie takes you on a wild ride as our cop friend decides to go after every killer he can find and kill them the exact same way that they killed their victims. After all, he is the law.
Rick Owens is an independent DV movie maker from West Texas. All of our movies will be shot using two of the new Panasonic AGDVX100 cameras. We are very excited about the new freedom for independent filmmakers and the opportunities that we all have to do our own films.
***** Obits from The Astounding B-Monster
Kenneth Tobey
Genre-film icon, Kenneth Tobey, renowned for his role as the two-fisted Captain Pat Hendry in the sci-fi classic "The Thing from Another World," has died. He was 85. Tobey specialized in roles as hard-nosed cops and stalwart military types and brought great authority to parts in such science-fiction films as "It Came From Beneath the Sea," "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" and "The Vampire." In supporting parts, Tobey also appeared in classic pictures including "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (as Bat Masterson, no less), and John Ford's "The Wings of Eagles," opposite John Wayne. He was Colonel Jim Bowie in Disney's "Davey Crockett" teleseries, which starred Fess Parker.
Born in Oakland, California, Tobey was headed for a law career when he first tried his hand at acting at the University of California Little Theater. That experience led to a year and a half of study at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse, where his classmates included Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach and Tony Randall. Throughout the 1940s, Tobey acted on Broadway and in stock. He made his film debut in a 1943 short, "The Man on the Ferry." Tobey made his Hollywood film bow in a Hopalong Cassidy Western, going on to appear in scores of features over the next four decades including "Cry Terror!," "The Search For Bridey Murphy," "Seven Ways From Sundown," "X-15," "Rage" and "Walking Tall." He also appeared in numerous TV series including "Gunsmoke," "The Lone Ranger," "Science Fiction Theater," "The Rebel," "Perry Mason," Sea Hunt," "Bonanza," "Night Gallery," "Mannix," "Cannon," "The Rockford Files" and "Star Trek: Deep Space 9." He even starred in his own show, the high-flying 1957 adventure series "The Whirlybirds."
One of Tobey's "Thing" co-stars, Robert Nichols, recalled that, "It took nineteen weeks to shoot, and an interesting nineteen weeks it was. Jim Young and I played Ken's buddies on the plane crew, and from the very first day of shooting we all got along great. There was some contention on the set, but never with us. Ken was a good actor, very easy and natural. He never looked like he was acting, which is the essence of good film acting. Ken also had success in the theatre, starring in several shows on Broadway. He had a career that any actor would be proud of." Robert Cornthwaite, who portrayed Dr. Carrington in the film, recalled for the L.A. Times that Tobey "had a wonderful, understated kind of [acting] style. He always played everything keyed way down, but he made a very effective thing out of it, I thought."
It was Sammy Davis Jr., a big fan of "The Thing," who was responsible for Tobey's return to the stage. Davis spotted Tobey at an L.A. jazz club and offered him a part in his 1964 Broadway show "Golden Boy." Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Tobey continued to work in supporting roles in such films as "MacArthur" (as Admiral William Halsey) and the comedy hit, "Ariplane," as an air traffic controller. Director Joe Dante cast Tobey in his hit films, "The Howling" "Gremlins" and "Innerspace." "My experience with Ken Tobey was everything I expected," said Dante. "He was a total pro, and after "The Howling" I always tried to find something for him. I had a scene in "Gremlins" where inventor Hoyt Axton was supposed to unload a "smokeless ashtray" on somebody -- I don't think it was in the script. So I called Ken and told him I didn't know exactly what I'd want him to do, but he would be a gas station attendant and that we'd make up something on the spot. He was game and we improvised a funny bit, much of which made it into the picture. With incredible economy Ken created a chainsmoking, taciturn character not unlike himself. I loved working with him.
He was fond of noting that the brief scene he has with Marty Short in "Innerspace" got the biggest laugh in the picture. I know he was miffed at me for not hiring him to play the General in the "Mant" section of "Matinee," but in truth when he came in I realized he was recovering from a stroke and it just wasn't going to work. Last time I saw him was at one of Ray Courts' shows at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood a few years ago and we parted amicably. I would never have told him, but I always thought he was criminally underrated as an actor and that he should have had a much more mainstream career. But he made a major impact nonetheless, and perhaps among a much more loyal and appreciative audience than he might have found elsewhere." "I've had a career," Tobey once told genre-film historian Tom Weaver. "Maybe not a great career, but what the hell. I won't retire, I'll just be found one morning, dead, with one shoe on and one shoe off. And with a script clutched in my hand!"
Adele Jergens
Actress, model Adele Jergens died at her home in Camarillo, Calif. The cause of death was not reported. She was 84. Jergens, a former Rockette, specialized in roles as earthy, wisecracking gun molls and streetwise showgirls. Beginning in the mid-1940s, she landed parts in such B pictures as "The Corpse Came C.O.D." "The Dark Past," "The Woman from Tangier," and "Ladies of the Chorus." The 1950s found her in such crime-dramas as "Armored Car Robbery" and "Side Street," directed by Richard Fleischer and Anthony Mann, respectively. She also appeared in comedies opposite Abbott & Costello, The Bowery Boys and others. She is perhaps best known to genre-film fans for her role as Ruby in the Alex Gordon-produced Roger Corman thriller "Day the World Ended." She appeared in several of Gordon's pictures including "Runaway Daughters" and "Girls in Prison," her final film in 1956. Jergens married B-movie leading man Glenn Langan in 1949. Langan is well known to sci-fi fans as "The Amazing Colossal Man." They remained married until his death in 1991.
Jerry Sohl
Science fiction author Jerry Sohl, whose works include "The Mars Monopoly" and "The Altered Ego," is dead at 88. The cause of death was not immediately known. In addition to such well-regarded books as "The Lemon Eaters," "The Resurrection of Frank Borchard" and "The Spun Sugar Hole," Sohl also wrote for science fiction and fantasy-related television programs including "Star Trek," "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Outer Limits" and "The Invaders." Prior to his success as an author of science fiction, Sohl had worked as a police reporter, a photographer and a critic for newspapers in the Midwest. Sohl occasionally used such pen names as Sean Mei Sullivan, Nathan Butler and Roberta Jean Mountjoy.
