THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) – Lon Chaney Senior’s makeup and performance as the title character were envelope-pushing for 1925 audiences. To me this is the ULTIMATE silent horror film. It may sound odd, but in my opinion this movie is the very best cinematic adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel.
Nearly every frame of this masterpiece is like a painting and it’s a rare viewer who can take their eyes off the screen at all as the movie plays. Lon Chaney’s iconic portrayal of Erik, the hideously deformed Phantom of the Paris Opera House, is magnificent in every way. Continue reading
Balladeer’s Blog remains the only site on the web that equally criticizes both elected Democrats and elected Republicans, depending on which party has been committing greater offenses at the moment.
RIPLEY and the other humans in the Alien films are American VOTERS. As we struggle to survive in this dangerous setting we need to stand together against the common threats. And that applies whether a voter considers themselves Independent or Democrat or Republican. Political labels have become meaningless for US as the Neo-Feudalists view all of us as peasants and cannon fodder, anyway. 
Halloween Season is underway here at Balladeer’s Blog! This time around I have so many new readers that I’ll start out with this look at some VERY old horror stories that are basically Halloween versions of the Ancient Science Fiction reviews I write. 
CONCORDIA CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s CONCORDIA (MI) UNIVERSITY CARDINALS traveled to face the upper-level WAYNE STATE WARRIORS from NCAA Division Two. The Cardinals joined so many other NAIA teams who toppled D2 teams this year in a 24-23 Instant Classic.
HILLSDALE AT HOME – NCAA Division Two’s storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS played host to the NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY TIMBER WOLVES. The Chargers proved their determination to right this disappointing season, leading the Timber Wolves 17-7 at Halftime before winning it in a 40-18 blowout. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TEN – Staying in D2 for a moment, the MISSOURI WESTERN STATE GRIFFONS welcomed the number 10 team in the nation – the EMPORIA STATE HORNETS. This was a tale of two Halves, as the Griffons led 24-6 by the midpoint, but then had to hold on by their fingertips to pull off the Upset 34-31. 
ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #58 (February 1976)
Synopsis: Dr. Fate, Flash, Hawkman, Robin, Wildcat, Green Lantern and Dr. Mid-Nite are joined by the Justice Society’s newest members – Power Girl, Earth-Two’s equivalent of Supergirl, and 
AGZCEAZIGULS – Pronounced “Agzceaziguls”, this was a fictional country between Chile and Bolivia. 
I repeat, this grotesque judge UNILATERALLY IMPOSED THIS JUDGMENT WITHOUT ANY TRIAL, JURY OR VERDICT. America’s cesspool of political corruption has stopped caring about even the pretense of legality. More 
NUMBER THIRTEEN (1922) – This film marked the first time that Hitchcock worked as a director on a movie, but was the thirteenth film project he had worked on in some capacity, hence the title. The production went unfinished from lack of funds and the original title may have been Mrs. Peabody but even that is uncertain. 
ALWAYS TELL YOUR WIFE (1923) – Hitchcock started out as a co-director of this 20-minute comedy short but had to step into the top spot when the original director quit over creative differences with the studio. Though Alfred’s previous directing effort had gone unfinished, this comedy short was completed but he was not credited since he had not directed the entire film. 
THE PLEASURE GARDEN (1925) – The third time was almost the charm as this 75-minute movie was not only completed, but Hitchcock was credited as the director! 
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes was a 1971-1973 British television series about London by Gaslight detectives from both the Victorian and Edwardian Ages. 
Episode: FIVE HUNDRED CARATS (February 5th, 1973) 
For the first time in this series we have a story set outside Great Britain, which I found to be a welcome change of pace. Leo Lipinzki (Barry Keegan) works as a Detective Inspector for the Cape Police, but technically the already wealthy and powerful De Beers Diamond Corporation is who he really answers to. 
Balladeer's Blog 