Halloween Month is flying by! Here’s another seasonal post.
A BLACK MASS (1966) – This short horror/ mythological play was written by LeRoi Jones aka Amiri Baraka and has nothing to do with Satanism. The writer played on words, meaning “black” as in his skin color, not as in the Satanic masses enacted by larping geeks trying to be edgy. (Longtime readers may remember my contempt for the fools who call themselves Satanists.)
Whenever I review works by film director Jean Rollin I always point out that his creations run the gamut from brilliant to So Bad They’re Good. In the same spirit, I’m pointing out that Jones/ Baraka’s writings have been called racist, antisemitic, misogynistic ravings as well as artistic expositions on black thinking and culture.
In A Black Mass Baraka fused elements of the Frankenstein story and zombie lore with the Nation of Islam’s myth about the black mad scientist/ evil magician Yakub. Continue reading
THE RESURRECTED MONSTER (1953) – Directed and co-written by the trailblazing Chano Urueta, this film is regarded as Mexico’s first sci-fi/ horror blend. A plastic surgeon named Dr. Hermann Ling (Jose Maria Linares-Rivas) has been driven mad by a lifetime of scorn over his grotesque, misshapen (yet hilarious) appearance. He has spent years working in isolation at a remote castle. 
LIBERTY VS LYNX: GAME FIVE – The NEW YORK LIBERTY hosted the MINNESOTA LYNX as this series went the full five games. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division Two, the 11th ranked OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS played host to the nation’s number 1 team – the HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 13-10 Halftime edge for the Bison. After the break, the Tigers scored the only points of the 2nd Half to win the game 17-13. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division Three, the 16th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS took the field against the visiting number 6 WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS. The Pioneers were on top 10-3 by the break, but the 3rd Quarter ended in a 17-10 Titans lead. The 4th saw UW-Oshkosh triumph 24-17. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Back up in D2, the CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS welcomed the number 7 team in the land – the SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY ROCK. The Vulcans led 7-0 in the opening Quarter and 17-7 at the Half. From there Cal (PA) shut out the Rock while adding 11 more points for a 28-7 Upset win. 
LYNX VS LIBERTY: GAME FOUR – In this 4th game of the best of 5 series, the MINNESOTA LYNX welcomed the NEW YORK LIBERTY. 
DETECTIVE COMICS Vol 1 #400 (June 1970)
The anguished Langstrom realizes he must go into seclusion until he can devise a cure for his condition. That night he happens by as Batman interrupts the Blackout Gang’s attempt to rob a Gotham museum. 
As Halloween Month continues, here’s a look at my favorite Jean Rollin vampire films. Note that these are not my all-time favorite movies about vampires, just my favorites by Rollin. 
Toss in his eerie, haunting and beautiful movie 
THE SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRES (1970) – In my view this is the first real example of a Rollin vampire film. His Rape of the Vampire definitely showed how inexperienced he was at horror, while The Nude Vampire had those undertones of sci-fi that I mentioned above. 
LIBERTY VS LYNX: GAME THREE – The NEW YORK LIBERTY visited the MINNESOTA LYNX as this best of five series stood at 1 game apiece. 
THE WERWOLVES (1898) – Written by Honore Beaugrand, this story features fairly unique werewolf lore. The tale is not structured in a traditional way but instead expands upon accounts of lycanthropy in campfire tales as if they really, truly happened. 
NANCY (1970-1971) – With I Dream of Jeannie having finished its final season, creator Sidney Sheldon launched his new series Nancy, about the 21-year-old daughter of the incumbent U.S. President finding love with a small-town Iowa veterinarian. Would it complete a sitcom Hat Trick for Sidney and be as successful as his previous Patty Duke Show and the aforementioned I Dream of Jeannie? Not a chance. 
Renne Jarrett starred as First Daughter Nancy Smith, a pretty young lady living in Center City, IA. Nancy stayed with her guardian and chaperone Abby Townsend, played by the one and only Celeste Holm. 
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