I remember when going to the moon was all that seemed to matter.
I remember when the Six Million Dollar Man met Bigfoot. It was a seriously big event!
I remember swinging on the swing in our backyard. My mom calling that the mail had arrived and my first issue of Sports Illustrated was there. It had Muhammed Ali on the cover.
I remember when Young and The Restless debuted.
I remember watching Hank Aaron hit the home run off the Dodgers to set the record.
I remember watching Skylab at night.
I remember when Mt. St. Helens erupted.
I remember when Jim Jones and his followers met their demise in Guyana.
I remember my first pack of football cards. I got Bob Griese of the Dolphins, who became my favorite player and favorite team.
I remember reading Grit Newspaper, Popular Mechanics, National Enquirerer, my moms Family Circle and Woman's Day.
I remember getting a subscription to the XMen when Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and John Byrne worked on the book. What a classic time.
I remember sitting in the backyard at my friends house in the blazing summer reading stacks of comics. Batman, Flash, Legion of Super Heroes, and those old spooky Dark Shadows, Tales of The Unexpected, and House of Mystery.
I remember being in kindergarten and kicking a 5th grade bully in the nuts so hard he fell on the ground and cried for his mommy.
I remember Bruce Jenner when he was an olympic hero instead of a pitiful joke.
I remember when Kevin Bacon was on the Guiding Light.
I remember when Kevin Bacon was in Friday the 13th.
I remember watching Halloween at the theater.
I remember watching Friday the 13th 3d in the theater. 3d seemed so amazing.
i remember watching the Patterson Gimlin Bigfoot film in the theater as like a 15 minute documentary before the movie started. I was immediately pulled in to the mystery of Cryptozoology.
I remember as a child in the 70's just how mysterious the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, UFO's, and the Loch Ness Monster were.
I remember setting up hot wheel track in the yard and having tournaments to find which one of my cars was the fastest.
I remember when TV Dinners were a real treat and seemed fancy to me.
I remember eating cereal on a TV tray in the living room on Saturday mornings watching cartoons for hours.
I remember the Space Kidettes.
I remember the Kids From C.A.P.E.R.
I remember the Herculoids.
I remember watching the Kolchak the Night Stalker episode about the headless motorcycle rider with a sword riding around decapitating people. The next day I was riding my bike and when a motorcycle came down the street I pedaled hard for the house.
I remember Jason Newsted before he was in Metallica.
I remember when Ozzy left Black Sabbath the first time and when Ronnie James Dio joined.
I remember when everyone wanted to know what KISS looked like without their makeup.
I remember when people actually thought KISS was evil. Haha.
I remember when Led Zeppelin was going strong.
I remember when a kid at school brought in the first Aerosmith album. They were a new band.
I remember buying ice cream from the ice cream truck on a hot summer day.
I remember walking barefoot in the yard after a rainstorm and the mud oozing up between my toes.
I remember the first time I saw a chicken running around with its head cut off.
I remember Bill Cosby doing Picture Pages.
I remember Captain Kangaroo.
I remember Tiger Beat and all the teen idols.
I remember hurrying home from school to watch Match Game, and Big Valley, and Wild Wild West.
I remember watching Star Trek the Animated Series on Saturday Mornings. There was an episode about Spock when he was a boy that was a game changer.
I remember going to flea markets, auction sales, and garage sales all the time.
I remember playing in the yard in the summer and my mom coming outside with a book, a glass of Pepsi, and her cigarettes. The book she was reading was starting to scare her so she sat in the sun in a lawn chair to read for a while.
I remember cold war propaganda.
I remember sitting on the front porch in the evening, watching the world go by.
I remember GI Joe and Big Jim.
I remember how scared I was spending the night in the hospital to get my tonsils out.
I remember stopping at the Dime Store on the way home from the hospital and getting a Geronimo figure to go with my Johnny West toys.
I remember my Easter basket in 1975. I got a see thru pack of Topps baseball cards and Sandy Alomar was on the front.
I remember when we had tornados a lot.
I remember throwing a tennis ball off the garage and playing entire baseball games in my mind. I had the lineups and batting orders of every team in the league memorized.
I remember Snap Baseball.
I remember going to the drive in movies all the time.
I remember when the Planet of The Apes movies were the bomb.
I remember playing Electric Football. It never worked quite like it was suppose to.
I remember watching OJ Simpson break the 2000 yard rushing mark in a season.
I remember when Stephen King was just starting out.
I remember my old cat Tippy and my old dog Rags. Rags loved popcorn.
I remember many things from my life. Many more than I have mentioned here. I will list more of my memories when I have the time.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
TV TALES OF TERROR - Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated
Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated finished its 52 episode run this past spring on Cartoon Network. It was a somewhat controversial entry into the Scooby Doo series. Many people hated it, but I liked it a lot.
The setup for this series was that rather than the gang being out in some random location, like visiting an old uncle in a swamp somewhere when they stumble onto a mystery,the story is set in their hometown of Crystal Cove. The Paranormal tourist capitol of the world. This allowed for the inclusion of a supporting cast that added quite a bit of flavor. The parents for all the gang were included, and played important roles in the overall story.
Another aspect that was different in this incarnation than all previous ones was the ongoing relationship dramas of the main characters. Freddy and Daphne were on again off again romancing, as were Shaggy and Velma, which of course caused serious problems with the Shaggy and Scooby friendship.The romance is the part that everybody really hated. It did get to be a little much at times, but whatever. I can appreciate the fact that at least they tried to keep the main overall feeling of the original series but updated it. I can dig it
Scooby Doo Mystery Inc followed the X Files style of storytelling by having monster of the week episodes with an overall story arc weaving its way throughout. Very cool! The show was also crammed full of references to movies and shows and things that an old fart like me would spot that many wouldn't notice. Homages and a tip of the hat to such cult favorites as War of The Gargantuas and Humanoids From The Deep, as well as more well known films like Carrie, Saw, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. How about the episode featuring "HP Hatecraft" as voiced by legendary Lovecraftian actor Jeffrey Combs? That same episode featured sci fi writer Harlan Ellison portraying himself. This is some killer stuff for a "kids" cartoon. The voice casting was amazing all the way with many other great choices, Gary Cole as Freddy's dad, Patrick Warburton as the sheriff, Lewis Black as Mister E, Vivica Fox as a very Pam Grier styled character named Angel Dynamite. This stuff is right in my wheelhouse.
Snippets of awesomeness are sprinkled throughout the series. Fred and Daphne come across a statue of Scrappy Doo in a museum, to which Fred says, "we were told never to speak of him again," or something along those lines. Believe me Fred, you speak for all of us. There is a great episode that spotlights "sidekicks" and guest stars Captain Caveman, the Funky Phantom, Jabberjaw, and Speed Buggy. It was live traveling back to my childhood in the 70's. Thanks again Scooby writers!
Later on in the series the Scooby gang starts talking about Zecharia Stichin, the Annunaki, and the planet Nibiru. WHAT? It's like an episode of Ancient Aliens. Are you kidding me? Ancient Sumerian civilizations and Scooby Snacks. Quite a combo. This even continues as an ongoing story in the second season. Totally bizarre. Giorgio Tsoukalos should have joined the cast.
Scooby Doo Mystery Inc is not a perfect show, and I'm not even sure right now where I would place this in the history of Scooby Doo shows. I'm thinking probably near the top. Maybe in the future I will write about my thoughts on the various Scooby shows from the 60's to the present. I have a long history with the Scooby Doo gang, as do most people in my demographic. I just wish this series had continued on with more episodes and more seasons. Oh well, now it's time for me to go watch a Vincent Van Ghoul movie marathon.
In closing, just remember the famous last words, "and I'd have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those meddling kids and that dog of theirs."
The setup for this series was that rather than the gang being out in some random location, like visiting an old uncle in a swamp somewhere when they stumble onto a mystery,the story is set in their hometown of Crystal Cove. The Paranormal tourist capitol of the world. This allowed for the inclusion of a supporting cast that added quite a bit of flavor. The parents for all the gang were included, and played important roles in the overall story.
Another aspect that was different in this incarnation than all previous ones was the ongoing relationship dramas of the main characters. Freddy and Daphne were on again off again romancing, as were Shaggy and Velma, which of course caused serious problems with the Shaggy and Scooby friendship.The romance is the part that everybody really hated. It did get to be a little much at times, but whatever. I can appreciate the fact that at least they tried to keep the main overall feeling of the original series but updated it. I can dig it
Scooby Doo Mystery Inc followed the X Files style of storytelling by having monster of the week episodes with an overall story arc weaving its way throughout. Very cool! The show was also crammed full of references to movies and shows and things that an old fart like me would spot that many wouldn't notice. Homages and a tip of the hat to such cult favorites as War of The Gargantuas and Humanoids From The Deep, as well as more well known films like Carrie, Saw, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. How about the episode featuring "HP Hatecraft" as voiced by legendary Lovecraftian actor Jeffrey Combs? That same episode featured sci fi writer Harlan Ellison portraying himself. This is some killer stuff for a "kids" cartoon. The voice casting was amazing all the way with many other great choices, Gary Cole as Freddy's dad, Patrick Warburton as the sheriff, Lewis Black as Mister E, Vivica Fox as a very Pam Grier styled character named Angel Dynamite. This stuff is right in my wheelhouse.
Snippets of awesomeness are sprinkled throughout the series. Fred and Daphne come across a statue of Scrappy Doo in a museum, to which Fred says, "we were told never to speak of him again," or something along those lines. Believe me Fred, you speak for all of us. There is a great episode that spotlights "sidekicks" and guest stars Captain Caveman, the Funky Phantom, Jabberjaw, and Speed Buggy. It was live traveling back to my childhood in the 70's. Thanks again Scooby writers!
Later on in the series the Scooby gang starts talking about Zecharia Stichin, the Annunaki, and the planet Nibiru. WHAT? It's like an episode of Ancient Aliens. Are you kidding me? Ancient Sumerian civilizations and Scooby Snacks. Quite a combo. This even continues as an ongoing story in the second season. Totally bizarre. Giorgio Tsoukalos should have joined the cast.
Scooby Doo Mystery Inc is not a perfect show, and I'm not even sure right now where I would place this in the history of Scooby Doo shows. I'm thinking probably near the top. Maybe in the future I will write about my thoughts on the various Scooby shows from the 60's to the present. I have a long history with the Scooby Doo gang, as do most people in my demographic. I just wish this series had continued on with more episodes and more seasons. Oh well, now it's time for me to go watch a Vincent Van Ghoul movie marathon.
In closing, just remember the famous last words, "and I'd have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those meddling kids and that dog of theirs."
Friday, July 19, 2013
FORTEAN FILES - When Sleepy Time Becomes Creepy Time
Sleep can be a pretty strange thing if you think about it.It's just that most of us never actually do think about it. Must be nice. You know for a guy like Captain Creepy it's hard to not think about strange stuff. It's how I do.
I am not a scientist. I don't know the physics and hard science behind a lot of the stuff I think about. I just think about stuff. That's really fine anyway because I do believe that much we have been taught about the world we live in may not be entirely true. Red pill or blue pill? Which will you choose? Well, that's a story to write at another time, and not what I am focusing on today. Today is Creepy Sleep day.
Growing up we never learn much about sleeping, or are taught much on the subject. It just comes naturally. Most little kids cry and fuss when they have to go to bed, but that's because they don't wanna miss out on something, or they wanna keep playing, or just cuz they are kids and that's what they do. It really isn't that they have anything in particular against sleep. Maybe they should. Maybe we all should cry and fuss when it's time for the Sandman to come.
I mean really, step out of what we do on an everyday basis and think about how weird this looks. Every night we close our eyes, lay still, and basically shut down for several hours. Kind of like a robot or a phone on a charger. Almost as if we go into somewhat of a temporary death like state for a period of time. That's a pretty damn odd concept to me.That idea seems to fit into the theory that we live in a Matrix like world in which we are actually in a sort of computer simulated world that doesn't even exist in the way that we think. Probably not, but it makes me sometimes wonder. Do we have to plug ourselves into our own version of a charger every night?
Another weird thing about sleeping is those funky ass dreams. I have had dreams about some of the most unusual things imaginable. Everyone has. Scientists give us all these reasons for crazy things that happen when we dream, but do they know, or are they just guessing like everyone else? Ever have a dream where you are at your workplace except the people you work with are not who you work with, then you go through a door and are in your old high school? I'm sure most people have. Then I'm on a river in a little boat that looks like the glider that was attached to my swing set when I was in elementary school. Of course the river is filled with poisonous snakes. Then the recurring dream that I have had since childhood where a Manson Family like group is in my house and I am hiding like a bitch hoping they don't find me. I have woke up with my heart pounding extremely fast from that one more than once. I've been chased from town to town by Nazi's in my dreams. I've been in struggles with Aliens and Demonic forces. Haven't we all? Then there is the whole lucid dreaming thing, where you know you are dreaming and have some control over what happens in your dream. Been there done that. Strange.
Dreams aren't the only creepy thing that is going on while we sleep. Tales of Succubus and Incubus throughout history. Old Hag Syndrome. Visitors coming in the night. Alien abductions from your bed. Black shadow figures standing over you. I may go deeper into some of these things in the future but I am running out of time right now. Do some research on these things and be amazed at how many strange experiences people have reported while they were supposedly asleep. Sleep paralysis accounts for some things for sure, but that in and of itself is pretty weird.
There are more creepy bedtime things going on than these things I have mentioned. How about the mind blowing concept of Astral Projection while sleeping. Some people supposedly have perfected the ability to leave their bodies while they are sleeping and literally fly around. Many say that most of us have probably done this throughout our lives and just don't remember. I'm not sure what to think about that whole thing but it is freaking wild.There are techniques you can use as you are falling asleep that will help you to leave your body. That's right, the old night time out of body experience. I will delve into some of these things in my writings in the future when I have the proper time to devote to them.
Are all of these things phony? Is everything just how we were taught?
Many people believe there are a lot of things that happen that most of us never even notice.
Sometimes because we are sleeping. Goodnight.
I am not a scientist. I don't know the physics and hard science behind a lot of the stuff I think about. I just think about stuff. That's really fine anyway because I do believe that much we have been taught about the world we live in may not be entirely true. Red pill or blue pill? Which will you choose? Well, that's a story to write at another time, and not what I am focusing on today. Today is Creepy Sleep day.
Growing up we never learn much about sleeping, or are taught much on the subject. It just comes naturally. Most little kids cry and fuss when they have to go to bed, but that's because they don't wanna miss out on something, or they wanna keep playing, or just cuz they are kids and that's what they do. It really isn't that they have anything in particular against sleep. Maybe they should. Maybe we all should cry and fuss when it's time for the Sandman to come.
I mean really, step out of what we do on an everyday basis and think about how weird this looks. Every night we close our eyes, lay still, and basically shut down for several hours. Kind of like a robot or a phone on a charger. Almost as if we go into somewhat of a temporary death like state for a period of time. That's a pretty damn odd concept to me.That idea seems to fit into the theory that we live in a Matrix like world in which we are actually in a sort of computer simulated world that doesn't even exist in the way that we think. Probably not, but it makes me sometimes wonder. Do we have to plug ourselves into our own version of a charger every night?
Another weird thing about sleeping is those funky ass dreams. I have had dreams about some of the most unusual things imaginable. Everyone has. Scientists give us all these reasons for crazy things that happen when we dream, but do they know, or are they just guessing like everyone else? Ever have a dream where you are at your workplace except the people you work with are not who you work with, then you go through a door and are in your old high school? I'm sure most people have. Then I'm on a river in a little boat that looks like the glider that was attached to my swing set when I was in elementary school. Of course the river is filled with poisonous snakes. Then the recurring dream that I have had since childhood where a Manson Family like group is in my house and I am hiding like a bitch hoping they don't find me. I have woke up with my heart pounding extremely fast from that one more than once. I've been chased from town to town by Nazi's in my dreams. I've been in struggles with Aliens and Demonic forces. Haven't we all? Then there is the whole lucid dreaming thing, where you know you are dreaming and have some control over what happens in your dream. Been there done that. Strange.
Dreams aren't the only creepy thing that is going on while we sleep. Tales of Succubus and Incubus throughout history. Old Hag Syndrome. Visitors coming in the night. Alien abductions from your bed. Black shadow figures standing over you. I may go deeper into some of these things in the future but I am running out of time right now. Do some research on these things and be amazed at how many strange experiences people have reported while they were supposedly asleep. Sleep paralysis accounts for some things for sure, but that in and of itself is pretty weird.
There are more creepy bedtime things going on than these things I have mentioned. How about the mind blowing concept of Astral Projection while sleeping. Some people supposedly have perfected the ability to leave their bodies while they are sleeping and literally fly around. Many say that most of us have probably done this throughout our lives and just don't remember. I'm not sure what to think about that whole thing but it is freaking wild.There are techniques you can use as you are falling asleep that will help you to leave your body. That's right, the old night time out of body experience. I will delve into some of these things in my writings in the future when I have the proper time to devote to them.
Are all of these things phony? Is everything just how we were taught?
Many people believe there are a lot of things that happen that most of us never even notice.
Sometimes because we are sleeping. Goodnight.
Monday, July 15, 2013
MOVIE MUSINGS - Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim is exactly the movie that it claims to be. It is a movie that is full of action, drama, bright colors, loud explosions, giant monsters, and giant robots. Giant monsters and giant robots standing toe to toe and beating the living piss out of each other. This is not a chick flick. This is not a feel good movie. This is a summer time grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the next two hours type of movie. Imagine Power Rangers with a gigantic budget that is directed by Guillermo del Toro. Pure eye candy.
The cast is well put together. Idris Elba is very good as the boss man of the Jaegers (giant robots). Ron Perlman plays a character named Hannibal Chau, a dealer of body parts taken from dead Kaiju (giant monsters). Perlman is an amazing actor that seems to steal every scene he appears in. Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia also stands out with an excellent performance as a wacky scientist with an affinity for the Kaiju.
There is obviously a heavy Japanese influence in this movie, and that is totally the right thing. For those of us that have spent many hours in our lives watching old Godzilla movies. and consider War of the Gargantuas an all time classic, Pacific Rim will hit the spot.
There are also nods to other movies sprinkled throughout. Elba, as the commander that hasn't piloted a Jaeger in years, but has to step up and do so once again, but first makes a profound speech to rally the troops, is a clear homage to Bill Pullman in Independence /Day. Near the end of the movie there is another scene that is a clear wink to Independence Day, and a scene with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
Obviously this movie isn't going to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but maybe it should. For a change, a movie that actually lives up to what it claims to be. Fun! Captain Creepy says check it out.
The cast is well put together. Idris Elba is very good as the boss man of the Jaegers (giant robots). Ron Perlman plays a character named Hannibal Chau, a dealer of body parts taken from dead Kaiju (giant monsters). Perlman is an amazing actor that seems to steal every scene he appears in. Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia also stands out with an excellent performance as a wacky scientist with an affinity for the Kaiju.
There is obviously a heavy Japanese influence in this movie, and that is totally the right thing. For those of us that have spent many hours in our lives watching old Godzilla movies. and consider War of the Gargantuas an all time classic, Pacific Rim will hit the spot.
There are also nods to other movies sprinkled throughout. Elba, as the commander that hasn't piloted a Jaeger in years, but has to step up and do so once again, but first makes a profound speech to rally the troops, is a clear homage to Bill Pullman in Independence /Day. Near the end of the movie there is another scene that is a clear wink to Independence Day, and a scene with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
Obviously this movie isn't going to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but maybe it should. For a change, a movie that actually lives up to what it claims to be. Fun! Captain Creepy says check it out.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
MOVIE MUSINGS - Lords of Salem
Rob Zombie's new film The Lords of Salem is not for everyone. Actually, it's not for very many at all. I enjoyed this movie, as did the other two people in the theater with me. I talked to them in the lobby on the way out. This is a throwback to those late 60's, early 70's Satanic Grindhouse Exploitation movies that kind of followed up Rosemary's Baby. Films like Daughters of Satan, Satan's School For Girls, Mark of The Beast, remember those? Well Rob Zombie does. The Lords of Salem actually came off to me more as a love letter to the old school than an actual movie of its own. Sherri Moon is quite effective as the lead and Ken Foree is pure magic his entire career. Dee Wallace was a great choice for her role as well. Although the execution falters in many places and the ending didn't do much for me, I do appreciate Rob Zombie's passion for the genre and his willingness to try things that others are not doing. So I guess I liked the movie, but couldn't really recommend it to anyone. The Lords of Salem was made for very few of us, and for that I am grateful.
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