October 21, 2025 · 8:12 pm

WAXWORK (1988) HALLOWEEN MOVIE

WAXWORK (1988) – I’m often surprised at how comparatively overlooked Waxwork is when it comes to 1980s horror films. It’s played straight, packs in a variety of menaces, fun Easter Eggs and sufficient scares and gore for that decade of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Pinhead. A sequel followed in 1992.

The cast includes Zach Galligan, Deborah Foreman, David Warner, Michelle Johnson, Clare Carey, Eric Brown, Dana Ashbrook, John Rhys-Davies, Patrick Macnee and Miles O’Keefe. As the title indicates, this movie involves a wax museum with deadly exhibits, but far more elaborate ones than similar films feature.

Virtually overnight, a nearly completed Wax Museum appears in a midwestern town. It’s still being prepared and won’t officially open for a few weeks, but David Lincoln, the smooth-talking owner played by the great David Warner, offers several curious teens special free passes to a preview the next night. Continue reading →

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October 21, 2025 · 8:52 am

COOL NAMED SPORTS TEAM: CARTERET COLLEGE

Here’s the latest educational institution to launch sports teams with a nickname much more creative than the overused Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs and Wildcats.

CARTERET COLLEGE Continue reading →

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October 20, 2025 · 6:08 pm

BAD MOVIE: DEAFULA (1975) FOR HALLOWEEN SEASON

Deafula BalladeerFrom 2011, this is one of my most popular Bad Movie reviews, so here it is again, 14 years later. Deafula is yet another of those bad movies that has such a bizarre premise that many used to believe the film to be an urban legend, like the turkey-monster flick Blood Freak. Get ready for a deaf vampire, a very odd witch and the most joyously goofy hunchback in cinematic history.  

Deafula 2DEAFULA (1975) – Category: A neglected bad movie classic that deserves a Plan 9-sized cult following

Good intentions go horribly wrong in this film. Much like with Blood Freak, there were people who insisted this film was just an urban legend and that it didn’t really exist. Those people were wrong. This horror film is in black and white and, as the title suggests, the vampire as well as everyone else in this movie’s world are deaf and communicate through sign language, billed as “Signscope” in the movie posters and in the opening credits, as if this was a pioneering technical gimmick on a par with Sensurround. (Although considering how lame Sensurround was there may be something to that)

Never fear, though, there is also voice-over narration provided by different people for each actor so that people who don’t know sign language can follow the story. Obviously this is all very noble, and in fact Peter Wechsburg, who produced this film and stars as Deafula, was responsible for an all-sign language newscast for the hearing impaired. That newscast originated in Portland, OR which is also where Deafula was filmed. Continue reading →

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October 20, 2025 · 10:03 am

OCTOBER TWENTIETH NEWS ROUNDUP

Here’s a Monday current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

MINNESOTA IS THE LATEST STATE EXPOSED FOR ALLOWING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO VOTE. Democrat Governor Tim Walz first okayed driver’s licenses for illegals, then let driver’s licenses be enough to vote. As we’ve all seen, Democrats rely on illegals voting which is why they are so upset about enforcing immigration laws.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK IN DALLAS SAYS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLICIES ARE LEADING TO HIGHER WAGES FOR WORKERS AND MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. I believe I’ve mentioned before that Donald Trump is the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

DEMOCRAT ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER CLAIMS HE WON ONE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS PLAYING BLACKJACK IN LAS VEGAS. That’s how he’s explaining this windfall. Uh. Yeah. And I’m sure Jabba Pritzker would believe that from President Trump, right?

DEMOCRAT “SANCTUARY STATE” ILLINOIS SPENT MORE TAX MONEY ON FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAN IT SPENT ON THE ELDERLY, FOSTER CHILDREN, ROADS AND THE ARTS COMBINED. It’s still “Illegal immigrants uber alles” with Democrats.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN ILLINOIS CAUGHT EMPLOYED BY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A COP. 

KAROLINE LEAVITT OUTMANEUVERS DEMOCRAT HAKIM JEFFRIES AND HIS CALLS FOR VIOLENCE.

DHS ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO OFFERED TO PAY $10,000 FOR ANYONE KILLING AN ICE AGENT.

VIDEO: WHITE DEMOCRAT SHOUTS RACIST SLURS AT BLACK FEMALE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR WINSOME SEARS AT JMU FOOTBALL GAME. Repulsive hypocrites.  Continue reading →

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October 19, 2025 · 9:27 pm

FLASHBACK: “RESISTANCE, INC.” BECOMES THE EQUALLY MORONIC “NO KINGS, INC.”

Electoral map showing Trump’s 2024 victory.

The fascistic imbeciles of the idiotic “No Kings, Inc.” playacting this weekend apparently mean “No elections!” because President Donald Trump was REELECTED for a second term last November. Democrats and other anti-Trumpers are pretending once again to do something rebellious while actually making a threatening show because they hate other people for voting differently than they did.

Elderly, decrepit 1960s generation Democrats and equally shallow youngsters like to engage in performative “resistance” at one of their endless, ENDLESS protest parties where they pretend to be edgy but are in absolutely no danger. If President Trump was the “king” they pretend he is then these protests would not be permitted, and he would not pause when courts rule against him while he appeals to higher courts.

No Kings, Inc. can be described the same way I described Resistance, Inc. back in 2017 during Trump’s first term in an old blog post. – “A collection of bloated rich pigs, brainless celebrities, privileged children of the left, international corporate interests and establishment politicians who’ve been in office for DECADES in many cases.” 

“REAL Resistance movements throughout history have been composed of the poor, the working class and courageous nonconformists of all stripes. Those REAL Resistance movements are composed of people who are taking actual RISKS because of the stands they take, unlike the Anti-Trump fascists.” 

“HELPFUL HINTS: Continue reading →

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October 19, 2025 · 1:43 pm

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS: OCTOBER NINETEENTH

HEADLINES

NAIA BEATS NCAA DIVISION TWO – Once again an NAIA team – in this case the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – has defeated a team from the higher Division Two of the NCAA – in this case the CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS. The Knights parlayed their 7-0 1st Quarter lead into a 28-14 advantage at Halftime. From there, they consummated the Upset 35-27.

NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Staying in the NAIA for the moment, this game pitted the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS against the visiting number 4 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the Half. After the break, the Red Raiders toppled Morningside 14-13.

AND ANOTHER NUMBER FOUR FALLS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 13th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 4 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES. A 21-14 Pioneers edge to end the 1st Half became a 28-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, UW-Platteville put away the Eagles 38-21. Continue reading →

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October 18, 2025 · 7:47 pm

HORROR HOST: MAD MARVIN (1957-1959)

Halloween Month continues with this look at a Movie Host from the 1950s – Mad Marvin. For several more Movie Hosts from the 1950s to the 1980s click HERE. You’ll find Moona Lisa, Svengoolie and Son of Svengoolie, Stella from Saturday Night Dead and, of course, The Texas 27 Film Vault.

Chicago’s own Mad Marvin (Terry Bennett) was part of the First Wave of B-Movie Hosts and Hostesses of the 1950s. From 1957 to 1959 Terry (joined by his wife Joy soon after the show launched) entertained the Windy City late on Saturday nights with that metropolis’ version of Shock Theater.

Described as a “Mad Beatnik” and a “Mad Hipster”, Bennett’s Mad Marvin character had a macabre sense of humor that has made him a legend with Movie Host fans. In fact, television station management in Chicago and from around the country soon realized that, as with the likes of Vampira and Zacherley the Cool Ghoul, audiences were tuning in just as much (if not more) to watch the antics of Mad Marvin as they were to watch the movies. Continue reading →

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October 18, 2025 · 12:00 am

HALLOWEEN HEROES AND ANTI-HEROES FROM MARVEL

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog looks at Halloween-themed characters from Marvel during the 1970s.  

GHOST RIDER – Daredevil biker Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the devil: Johnny’s soul in exchange for Satan curing the cancer in the body of Blaze’s mentor “Crash” Simpson. We all know how deals with the devil go, and not only does Crash die anyway, but Johnny Blaze is cursed to periodically transform into the flame-headed monster called Ghost Rider.

This horror figure outlasted all of the other 1970s Marvel horror characters, lasting until June of 1983 in his initial run. Along the way he and Roxanne faced Satan himself, a long line of demons, a Native American witch-woman, the eyeball-helmeted biker called the Orb and even other Marvel figures like Son of Satan, Hulk, Black Widow and Dr. Druid.

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Spotlight Vol 1 #5 (Aug 1972) Continue reading →

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October 17, 2025 · 5:18 pm

THE WORLD’S A STAGE (2014) WITH ALEC BALDWIN

With Alec Baldwin back in the news after driving into a tree, here’s an appropriate item.

Would ALEC BALDWIN find the plot of this movie a little too close to reality?

The World’s a Stage (2014 – Glitternight Productions) – This independent film, though set here in the 21st Century, is reminiscent of ancient Greek political satires like the ones penned by Aristophanes, Eupolis and Cratinus as well as the parathespian comedies of Strattis.

A traveling troupe of actors visit an unnamed town and are a huge hit in a play dramatizing the heroics of a group of honest politicians. The citizens are bowled over by their performances and elect the men and women of the theatre troupe to actually govern their town.

Naturally the shallow and vain thespians are in way over their heads when it comes to dealing with real-world responsibilities and problems. Their egotistical need for applause and approval also makes them unfit for office, especially when it comes to complex political problems. Continue reading →

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October 17, 2025 · 7:33 am

NEWS ROUNDUP: OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog does another Friday current events roundup.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, APPARENTLY FORGETTING THAT THE DEMOCRATS LOST THE CIVIL WAR, KEEPS PRETENDING HE CAN OVERRULE THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL LAW. Last time the Democrats warred to protect their “peculiar institution” of slavery, now the Party wants to war over enforcing immigration laws. Pritzker keeps promoting violence against ICE agents as if they’re his personal Fort Sumter that he wants to fire upon.

IN OCTOBER OF 2023 HYPOCRITE JABBA PRITZKER URGED JOE BIDEN TO INTERVENE OVER WHAT PRITZKER CALLED THE “UNTENABLE PACE” OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT INCREASE IN ILLINOIS. The usual monumental hypocrisy of Democrats.

TERRORISM CHARGES AGAINST ANTIFA/ KLANTIFA THUGS.

DEMOCRAT STUDENT GROUP THAT BACKS HAMAS TERRORISTS PRAISES THEIR EXECUTIONS OF ALLEGED “COLLABORATORS.” Bloodthirsty animals.

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE MAMDANI HATEMONGERS BY TELLING ALL PRO-ISRAEL VOTERS – INCLUDING FELLOW DEMOCRATS – THEY ARE NOT WELCOME IN HIS MOVEMENT.     MAMDANI ALSO VOWS TO ARREST FOREIGN LEADER IF HE BECOMES MAYOR OF NEW YORK. Insanity.

FIRST ARRESTS MADE IN DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S ONGOING SCANDAL REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE HOMELESS IN CALIFORNIA.

COVERUP EXPOSED: HUNDREDS OF WISCONSIN “TEACHERS” INVESTIGATED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND GROOMING OF STUDENTS. Democrat teachers long ago replaced Catholic priests in the public consciousness when it comes to molesting and grooming children.

DEMOCRATS STILL USING THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN TO BLACKMAIL THE NATION INTO REVERSING THEIR LEGISLATIVE DEFEATS. Latest threat to democracy from the Democrats – now if you lose elections and therefore get outvoted in legislation going through Congress, just shut down the government to try undoing what was already passed.  Continue reading →

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