Back to the FLICKS!

Saturday afternoons meant only one thing when I was a child: Monster Movies.

They were a HUGE part of my life growing up, so much so that I seem to remember being in kindergarten and the teachers were going around the room asking us what we were thankful for. When it came around to me, sitting 3 spaces from the end of our alphabetically arranged seating chart, I cheerfully answered "Monster Movies!" the response evoked a certain controversy in this group of Post-Preschoolers, some of whom thought I was being flippant (or they would have had they been aware of the word 'flippant' at age 5.) On the other hand,the next two people in the class echoed my response, and the teachers backed our answers against the tiny mob. It genuinely WAS something I was thankful for.

I feel no shame in declaring Cleveland to be THE home of the horror movie host, given the sheer number that we have had over the years, and their longevity. From one of the great pioneers, Ghoulardi, we can trace a path through Big Chuck and Houlihan, and later still Big Chuck and Li'l John, through The Ghoul, Superhost, Son of the Ghoul..... all of them remarkably long lasting, even as the era of the horror host faded, they remained with strong and faithful audiences.

As the opening credits of Saturday Mad Theater would roll, in occasionally snowy glory (the was a UHF channel in the days before cable), they would declare "Superhost brings you: Saturday Afternoon!" And it was true. We'd start out at noon, with shorts by the Three Stooges, or Laurel & Hardy, or the Little Rascals... then at 1 PM was Saturday Mad Theater 1, followed by Saturday Mad Theater 2, which introduced me to my lifelong love of monsters, horror and science fiction. (as a side note, this was usually followed up by reruns of Kung Fu, The Wild Wild West, the original Star Trek, Space 1999, and then ANOTHER monster movie at 8 or 9 PM. I could  (and often DID) spend entire days, sitting in front of the TV without changing the channel... a feat no other channel has really managed to duplicate since). Scattered through out there were childish, jokey skits (personal favorites were The Moronic Woman, a parody of The Bionic Woman, and of course Supe's early music video for 'Convoy'.) It was bliss.

Through Saturday Mad Theater, I was introduced to Godzilla, Gamera, Rodan, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Blob. I discovered Hammer Horror on Mad Theater, and a hero in Cushing's Van Helsing. I learned about director styles without realizing it, and by age 12, I could distinguish the styles of Roger Corman, Jimmy Sangster, Ishiro Honda, William Castle, and others simply by watching a clip.

And that's what this blog is going to be all about... all those great movies, all those magic memories. I hope to present movie reviews, maybe a synopsis or two (or three), maybe some insight, and hopefully a little humor too... I might not be able to host a movie show, but by god, I can sure TALK about 'em!

And its dedicated with affection and respect to: Marty Sullivan, Ron Sweed, Ernie Anderson, Chuck Schadowski, John Rinadli, and Bob Wells. Thanks for a great childhood guys.

And to Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Vincent Price. For obvious reasons.

And now...  as Supes would say: Back to the Flicks!