Sunday, September 27, 2015

WES CRAVEN

WES CRAVEN - With Wes Craven’s recent death, I thought it would be a good time, for a retrospective. He worked as a professor, got his start in X rated film and growing up, movies were banned at his house. He grew up, moved away and turned his imagination toward scary monsters. He wrote books (Fountain Society) and was involved in television (Castle).
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street
  • Scream
  • The Last House on the Left
  • The Hills Have Eyes
  • Vampire in Brooklyn
  • The People Under the Stairs
  • Shocker
  • Swamp Thing 











Wednesday, September 23, 2015

THREE SKELETON KEY ON ESCAPE

SCARIEST OLD TIME RADIO EPISODES? - Before internet, cable and satellite--the network television channels we think of today--began as broadcast radio. The same way good writing employs zero narrative distance, there is something about sitting in a dark room, listening to a scary old time radio play. The following are arguably the best-of-the-best tales of the supernatural from yesteryear. 



Sunday, September 20, 2015

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - This is a series of posts on the ongoing theme of my favorite musical, Phantom of the Opera. The material remains the same: with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, all based on LeFantome de L’opera by Gaston Leroux circa 1909. This is the story of Christine--reunited with her long-lost love Raul, thrust into a leading role--at the hand of her saboteur and vocal coach. It’s not the first time I’ve seen the musical at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. What’s different, you might ask? It really comes down to advancement in set design and technological innovation. Thanks to producer Cameron Mackintosh with well-known hits such as Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Cats. He has made the Paris Opera House and its subterranean labyrinth the star of this production (when it really should have been the Phantom or at least Christine). I don’t feel this Phantom was as strong as the previous version. There was a production glitch, which caused the house lights to come up with a 5 minute pause, between the theme and Music of the Night. The stall derailed the momentum. Still worth seeing? Yes! It is Phantom, after all.












  
   

LOVE NEVER DIES

LOVE NEVER DIES - Recently, I watched a City Center movie theater presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, titled Love Never Dies. Webber's new work is a follow up to an all-time classic and personal favorite; a sequel to ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. The pros of seeing the film version: larger-than-life, movie screen sized performers singing music that's been recorded live. While it's obviously not shot in one take, it's clear that this performance is not a lip-sync. The cons are; ‘Love’ will never match the elegant brilliance of ‘Phantom’, along with the film's static nature that isn't as exciting as live theater. While I don't think ‘Love’ is still in theaters, it will be released on DVD in May, according to the Playbill website. On a related topic, the 25th anniversary performance of ‘Phantom’ continues on PBS this week, as well as being currently available on DVD. My love affair and deep admiration for Phantom began in orchestra section seats at the Orpheum in San Francisco. The phantom's anguish over an opera singer, amidst the subterranean opera house catacombs, is beautifully conveyed in concise lyrics and soaring musical arrangements. 


THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1925 full movie

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

GHOST HUNT ON SUSPENSE

SCARIEST OLD TIME RADIO EPISODES? - Before internet, cable and satellite--the network television channels we think of today--began as broadcast radio. The same way good writing employs zero narrative distance, there is something about sitting in a dark room, listening to a scary old time radio play. The following are arguably the best-of-the-best tales of the supernatural from yesteryear. 


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

THE THING ON THE FOURBLE BOARD ON QUIET, PLEASE

SCARIEST OLD TIME RADIO EPISODES? - Before internet, cable and satellite--the network television channels we think of today--began as broadcast radio. The same way good writing employs zero narrative distance, there is something about sitting in a dark room, listening to a scary old time radio play. The following are arguably the best-of-the-best tales of the supernatural from yesteryear. 


Sunday, September 6, 2015

I AM FRIDA

I AM FRIDA - Photos from the ‘I Am Frida’ art show at Alley Cat Books & Gallery on 24th Street in San Francisco. Part of Fiestas Fridas a month-long celebration (during the month of July) of the life of Frida Kahlo. 


















Wednesday, September 2, 2015

THE GOOD DIE YOUNG ON THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER

SCARIEST OLD TIME RADIO EPISODES? - Before internet, cable and satellite--the network television channels we think of today--began as broadcast radio. The same way good writing employs zero narrative distance, there is something about sitting in a dark room, listening to a scary old time radio play. The following are arguably the best-of-the-best tales of the supernatural from yesteryear.