Tag Archives: blogging

March 4, 2018 · 4:44 pm

FILM MAG: THE FANTASTIC FIFTIES

Fantastic FiftiesFrom the U.K. it’s the latest issue of The Fantastic Fifties: Filmland’s Most Fabulous Decade.

The Spring 2018 edition is now available, featuring articles on Screen Goddesses of the 1950s, Alfred Hitchcock’s output for that decade, plus robots from Forbidden Planet, the neglected psychotronic flick Gog  and The Colossus of New York – which I like to call They Saved Ross Martin’s Brain.

There have been four regular issues and an Annual Special dedicated to Peplums. Each issue is approximately 64 pages and they sell for just shy of ten Pounds in the U.K. and around $15 for U.S. customers plus international shipping.

Here are the covers for the other four issues that are available PLUS the info for buying copies:  Continue reading →

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March 3, 2018 · 11:41 pm

BASKETBALL: BIBLE COLLEGE NIT AND USCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

BIBLE COLLEGE NIT

Mid-Atlantic Christian U MustangsDAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 4 seeds – the MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS – took the court against the 5th seeded DAYSPRING BIBLE COLLEGE EAGLES (I told you there are too many teams called Eagles).

This was a tight game at the break, as the Mustangs held a slim 34-30 edge over the Eagles. In the 2nd Half Mid-Atlantic Christian University asserted themselves, getting more and more separation from Dayspring Bible College, ultimately winning the game by a score of 74-55. DaQuon Copeland tossed in 15 points to lead the Mustangs.   Continue reading →

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March 3, 2018 · 5:33 pm

PANTHER’S RAGE THREE: MALICE BY CRIMSON MOONLIGHT

Malice By Crimson MoonlightFOR PART ONE CLICK HERE 

JUNGLE ACTION Volume 2, Number 8 (January 1974)

III. MALICE BY CRIMSON MOONLIGHT

Synopsis: In an opening layout of brilliantly drawn panels that even Will Eisner could have envied, in the first few pages of this issue we readers are shown multiple events going on in one night:

*** The Black Panther is undergoing various physical ordeals as part of the periodic rituals he must endure to prove he is still deserving of the Panther Herbs that give him his superhuman abilities.

*** Malice, a beautiful, super-strong and super-fast woman who wields a vibranium spear, makes her stealthy way out of the surrounding jungle, through the nighttime streets of Wakanda’s capital city and penetrates the Panther Palace itself. 

Presently we join one lone event – Malice’s further infiltration of the Panther Palace. She overcomes Zatama, one of T’Challa’s (The Black Panther’s) Tribal Advisors, and threatens him until he reveals the location of the cell where her fellow villain Venomm is held prisoner. (Last issue the Black Panther captured Venomm and shut down the secret operations of Killmonger’s Death Regiments in the mines behind Warrior Falls. )

Once she has the info she needs, Malice knocks out Zatama and conceals his body. Then she resumes her ninja-like advance to the Palace’s prison cells.

Back outside the palace walls, the Panther Herb ritual has advanced to the point where T’Challa is lying face-up on the ground while the High Priest Mendinao and his subordinates have begun to coat the Black Panther’s body with liquid versions of the herbs.

American singing star Monica Lynne, T’Challa’s Royal Consort, happens to stumble upon the scene and mistakenly believes that the prone Black Panther is in danger. She interrupts the ongoing ritual, hurling accusations at W’Kabi and Mendinao that they’ve been bribed by Killmonger to assassinate T’Challa. Continue reading →

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March 2, 2018 · 11:39 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: USCAA TOURNAMENT CONTINUES

USCAA DIVISION ONE

Oakwood AmbassadorsFIRST SEMIFINAL – The 6th seeded OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY AMBASSADORS kept their Upset Mojo rolling, this time against the 2 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENT BENGALS.

The Bengals took a 37-32 lead into the locker room at the Half only to see the Ambassadors overtake them after the break. By game’s end Oakwood University was still alive in the tournament, having defeated UM-Fort Kent by a final score of 77-72. Talik Talton led the Ambassadors with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Continue reading →

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March 2, 2018 · 10:00 am

THE GIANT CLAW (1957) ON THE TEXAS 27 FILM VAULT

The Secret of the Bermuda Triangle Revealed

The Secret of the Bermuda Triangle Revealed

Before MST3K there was … The Texas 27 Film Vault!

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of this neglected cult show from the mid-1980s. Thanks to my research through VERY old newspapers, interviews with Randy Clower and emails from fellow fans of T27FV here is another in a series where original broadcast dates of episodes can be determined.

Episode originally aired: Saturday April 6th, 1985 from 10:30pm to 1:00am. 

Serial: Before the movie our machine-gun toting “Film Vault Technicians First Class” Randy Clower and Richard Malmos showed an episode of The Lost City, the legendarily campy and bizarre sci-fi serial from 1935.

Film Vault Lore: Thank you to my fellow T27FV fan Dolores for this episode’s date, the serial and for this quote about Ken Miller, who played “Tex” on the show: “I loved the random bits of madness added by the gung ho Tex each episode! He always reminded me of Robert Duvall’s character Kilgore from Apocalypse Now. My favorite catch-phrase from Tex was when he would say “Commies don’t watch bad movies!” the way Duvall said “Charley don’t surf!” in Apocalypse Now.”  

The Movie: The Giant Claw is another of those staples of bad movie shows. It’s been presented by just about every Movie Host program at one time or another. Because of the film’s familiarity I will keep this review short. Continue reading →

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March 1, 2018 · 11:54 pm

USCAA NATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS UNDERWAY IN BOTH DIVISIONS

USCAA DIVISION ONE

Florida National University ConquistadorsDAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 2018 Tournament in Division One of the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) tipped off with the top seeded FLORIDA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONQUISTADORS taking on the 8 seeds – the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG B’s.

The Conquistadors were well and truly manhandling the Big B’s, leading them 41-28 by Halftime. After the break Florida National University kept Bluefield State at arm’s length the rest of the way, ultimately defeating them 82-68. Terence Johnson led the way for the Conquistadors with his Double Double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. 

Oakwood AmbassadorsDAY ONE, GAME TWO – Up next the 6 seeds – the OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY AMBASSADORS – surprised the 3rd seeded FLORIDA COLLEGE FALCONS.

The Ambassadors officially put the Falcons on Upset Alert by the break as they led them by a count of 40-34. Though Florida College outscored Oakwood University 37-32 in the 2nd Half the Ambassadors emerged with a 72-71 triumph. Ollie Felps’ 14 points led Oakwood U, reflecting what a true Team Effort this upset was. 

Maine Fort Kent BengalsDAY ONE, GAME THREE – This game pitted the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENT BENGALS against the 7 seeds – the DEAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS.

The 1st Half ended with the Bengals holding a commanding 37-26 advantage over the Bulldogs. From there the pursuing Dean College nibbled a tiny bit out of the University of Maine at Fort Kent lead but still lost to them 80-71. The Bengals were led by Anthony Knight with his 24 points. Continue reading →

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February 28, 2018 · 11:55 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON: THE LATEST

With the National Tournament about to start in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) let’s take a look at some more Conference Tournaments.  

CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE 

college of idaho coyoteCHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This Conference tourney was almost all-chalk, all the time and even came down to the top two seeds duking it out for the title. The top seeded COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES squared off against the 2 seeds – the WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE KNIGHTS. 

The Coyotes seemed in charge and held a 33-27 advantage at Halftime. From there the Knights came roaring back, outscoring the College of Idaho 46-42 in the 2nd Half. The Coyotes held on for a 75-73 triumph, led by Nate Bruneel with 16 points.  * THE COYOTES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE 2018 CCC TOURNAMENT *

RIVER STATES CONFERENCE 

Indiana East Red WolvesCHAMPIONSHIP GAME – A pair of One Seeds went at each other in this game, as the INDIANA UNIVERSITY EAST RED WOLVES – the top seeds in the River States East Division – played the INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST GRENADIERS – the top seeds in the River States West Division. 

The storied Grenadiers were on top 36-33 by the break, but in the 2nd Half the Red Wolves came from behind for a 79-75 victory. Nineteen points from Kendall Rollins led the way for the win for Indiana University East.  * THE RED WOLVES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE 2018 RSC TOURNAMENT * Continue reading →

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February 28, 2018 · 10:27 pm

BLACK PANTHER: PANTHER’S RAGE OVERVIEW

Black PantherMarvel’s Black Panther movie has prompted a lot of Balladeer’s Blog’s readers to ask for more and more items on the figure. My favorite was one from just today which said “I don’t like actually reading comic books but I like the way you describe them and review the stuff so could you do Panther’s Rage?”

Since many of the characters in the Wakanda vs Atlantis War made their first appearance during Panther’s Rage (1973-1975) I figured why not.

Panther's RageJUNGLE ACTION Volume 2 Number 6 (September 1973)

PANTHER’S RAGE

This 13-part story dealt with a rebellion aimed at overthrowing T’Challa – the Black Panther – as the ruler of Wakanda and replacing him with N’Jadaka/ Erik Killmonger. This was the rebellion that caused T’Challa to take a leave of absence from the Avengers in our previous Black Panther article.

Synopsis: The Black Panther has been agilely making his way through the jungle like Douglas Fairbanks, Sr in the Silent Movie The Gaucho. He’s freshly returned to Wakanda and is trying to recapture the rhythms of the kingdom he has spent far too much time away from in his adventures.   

Erik Killmonger

“Memes … memes, everywhere.”

He comes across Tayette and Kazibe, two of Killmonger’s men, torturing an old man in a makeshift cage. It’s part of the rebels’ ongoing campaign of terror against all Wakandan villages and citizens who are still loyal to T’Challa (The Black Panther).

Our hero attacks and drives away Tayette and Kazibe, then frees their victim from the cage. The dying old man reaffirms his loyalty to T’Challa and says he never doubted that he would return to Wakanda to help his troubled people. Continue reading →

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February 28, 2018 · 1:10 am

TOP ODDLY-NAMED BANDS OF THE PAST

Mascot new lookIf I ever formed a rock band of my own I would, needless to say, base the name on something from Bad Movie Lore. Something like Renegade Belgian Cardinals – based on a line of dialogue from the Serial-Killer Priest flick The Confessional.

Putting that aside here’s a quick Balladeer’s Blog list of Oddly-Named Bands of the Past. It’s strictly for people who sometimes wake up at 3am and wonder if Gene was only pretending to love Jezebel.

Trash Can SinatrasTHE TRASH CAN SINATRAS

When you hear the name Sinatra you immediately think of … Scotland? Well, no you don’t, but that’s where this band hailed from.

Used in a Sentence: “The Trash Can Sinatras is a hell of a mean-spirited way of referring to Nancy and Tina!”

FRONT 242

For decades this band was known as THE influence in Belgian Industrial Rock, complete with all the massive cultural firepower that implies. (Oh, sure, Balladeer, pick on the Belgians!)

Used in a Sentence: “You fight the front 242 … I’ll handle the 243rd guy back there.” Continue reading →

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February 27, 2018 · 10:31 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MORE TICKETS PUNCHED TO THE NAIA TOURNAMENT

CHICAGOLAND COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Governors State University JaguarsCHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeds – the GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS – took on the 2nd seeded ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS for the CCAC crown yesterday.

By Halftime the Jaguars had shot out to a 39-29 advantage and that turned out to be the difference in the game. The 2nd Half was spent keeping the Lakers at arm’s length and in the end Governors State won the title by a final tally of 78-68. Jalen Miller notched 22 points to lead the victors. * THE JAGUARS ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCAC TOURNAMENT *  Continue reading →

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