First U.S. Hammer Dracula blu-ray set for September!

See link for details!

http://dailydead.com/dracula-prince-of-darkness-blu-ray-release-details-and-cover-art/dracula-prince-of-darkness-2/

Boris mp3's @ Amazon!

I had no idea that my all-time favorite childhood vinyl LP was re-issued and available as a downloadable mp3 file at Amazon.  As a kid in the early 70's, I wore out the original vinyl album on the Decca label.  I still have it and acquired a mint condition Japanese vinyl import about a decade ago.    Amazon offers the Decca pressing (with noticable vinyl hiss and pops) as well as a revised version re-created by Verne Langdon.  This version claims to be the original mix with Langdon's never-used organ score.  Whatever.  Nevertheless it sounds much cleaner and, of course, I purchased both versions.  Amazon also offers Karloff's TALES OF THE FRIGHTENED.  I haven't checked that one out yet.  The album's narration was written by Famous Monster Editor Forry Ackerman and Magic Castle founder Milt Larsen and features choice audio clips from the classic Universal monster movies!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=evening+with+boris+karloff

RIP Jim Kelly

Sadly, martial arts movie icon Jim Kelly has passed away at age 67, reportedly, due to cancer.  I met Mr. Kelly twice at Chiller Theatre and he seemed to really enjoy mingling with his fans.  He will be forever immortalized in Bruce Lee's ENTER THE DRAGON.

Jim Kelly reunites with ENTER co-star Bob Wall @ 2010 Chiller Theatre Expo, New Jersey.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/arts/jim-kelly-star-of-martial-arts-movies-dies-at-67.html?_r=0

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.