Prolific Author/Screenwriter Richard Matheson Passes Away

Richard Matheson provided me with half a lifetime of fiction and screenplays that remain among my favorites and most influential.  From 50's sci-fi to Hammer and classic TV, Matheson provided classic originals and masterful adaptations.  He was a giant in the genre.  Here's a sample of my RM collection...

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/richard-matheson-i-am-legend-and-twilight-zone-author-dies-at-87-1200501399/

RIP EDDIE ROMERO

http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2013/05/30/948070/pack-time-eddie-romero-88

VC is starting to look like an obituary page lately.  As a baby boomer, all my favorite filmmakers and artists are starting to demise in a steady succession as they hit their 80s and 90s.  Thankfully, Sir Christopher Lee seems to be hanging in there and just cut his 91st birthday cake a week or so ago!  Which brings us to another obituary- ultra-proflific Filipino filmmaker Eddie Romero.  When fans talk about the name 'Romero' in the context of the horror genre, I always thought first of Eddie as opposed to George of Pittsburgh.  Forever a towering figure in the b-movie pantheon, Eddie has directed and produced so many cool action/horror/exploitation titles over the decades that he is surely the Roger Corman of Southeast Asia (maybe neck and neck with Cirio Santiago?).  In fact, he supplied Corman with a steady stream of classic drive-in titles throughout the 70s.  For me, Romero's coolest contribution was the Blood Island trilogy starring John Ashley.  He also assisted on Coppola's APOCALYPSE NOW!  So long, Eddie, you will not be forgotten!

RIP Ray Harryhausen

The legendary creator of epic cinema dreams has passed away but generations will celebrate his legacy for centuries to come.

Just Got Mine! Like Him! Lick Him!

I just received my Peter Cushing centennial stamp and envelope postmarked on the first day issued.  It's #90 out of 100 issued.

more Jess Franco @ Cannes 5/16/92

Welles' uncompleted film finished by Jess Franco!

Jess

Jess and Orson Welle's companion, Oja Kodar

Jess and Oja

More Memories Of Jess...

Jess Franco and Lina Romay at the press conference for Orson Welles' DON QUIXOTE @ the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.  Quentin Tarantino was there for RESEVOIR DOGS and wanted to meet Jess but couldn't make it.

Jess & Lina (aka Candy Coster) @ Chiller Theatre '96 with their favorite fanzine!

Remembering Jess Franco (1930-2013)

 (photo credit: Lina Romay)

Jess Franco, one of the most (if not THE most) prolific and eclectic filmmakers in cinematic history, has passed away.  I only met him two times but we had mutual friends and kept in touch over the years through them.  Thankfully, I'm confident that generation after generation of new fans will discover his wide range of work (as well as the wildly wide range of quality!) and be entertained, thrilled, shocked and revulsed by it for centuries to come.  Franco's work lives on!  That's a fact.