BORN TODAY
1903: Jerome Pycha Jr., production designer of the movie in episode 109- PROJECT MOON BASE.
1903: Leon M. Leon, the sound man for the movie in episode 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS.
1904: Frankie Marvin, who played Salty in the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.
1913: Michael Ripper, who played a cardplayer in the movie in episode 111- MOON ZERO TWO and David Hawkins in the movie in episode 905- THE DEADLY BEES.
1917: Regis Parton, movie stuntman who was a moleman in the movie in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE and a Metalunan mutant in THIS ISLAND EARTH riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE.
1919: Richard Emory, who played a lieutenant in the movie in episode 517- BEGINNING OF THE END.
1934: Jaime Jesús Balcázar, producer/screenwriter for the movie in episode 323- CASTLE OF FU MANCHU.*
1946: Kim Gardner, member of The Birds who performed in the movie in episode 905- THE DEADLY BEES.
DIED TODAY
1959: Fred Frank (age 64), assistant director for the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE plus THIS ISLAND EARTH, riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE.
1972: David McMahon (age 61), who played a general in the movie in episode 311- IT CONQUERED THE WORLD and Capt. Frank Carver in the movie in episode 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS.
1994: Claude Akins (age 75), who played Jason Trumball in the movie in episode 322- MASTER NINJA I.
2000: Loretta Agar (age 77), who played a woman on a boat in the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE.
2005: Jonathan Welsh (age 57), who played Herman Stover in the movie in episode K16- CITY ON FIRE.
2011: Charlie Callas (age 86), the inspiration for the “Charlie Callas massager,” one of Joel’s inventions demonstrated in episode 320- THE UNEARTHLY.
2011: Joe Lanza (age 87), choreographer for the movie in episode 112- UNTAMED YOUTH.
EVENTS
1964: Henry Fonda, star of episode K16- CITY ON FIRE, celebrates the birth of his granddaughter, future actress Bridget Fonda.
1984: The NBC TV series “The Master” first broadcasts the episode entitled “Out-of-Time Step,” which would later be incorporated into episode 322- MASTER NINJA I.
Joel does a long and fascinating phone interview with Stephen Sajdak of the “We Hate Movies” podcast. I was aware this was coming but I think it slipped by me while I was in SF.
This is about a far afield as we go on this site, but it’s a good cause so…
Alert reader Tim has alerted us to a screening of a movie called “The Summer of Walter Hacks,” which is directed and co-written by George Woodard, who played J.K. Robertson (aka “Bob Evil”) in the movie in episode 821- TIME CHASERS.
George has been a busy dairy farmer/independent film maker in Vermont for quite a long time. This indie film he directed was filmed in and around Waterbury a couple years ago. They debuted it last year, but will be showing it again this weekend. Here’s the website to Woodard’s company with plenty of info on the film: http://www.pastureproductions.com. It’ll be showing at the Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5. All proceeds will go towards rebuilding Waterbury. Hurricane Irene flooded the whole downtown, destroying homes and businesses this past August. The town is hanging in the balance since the flooding decimated much of Vermont’s state office complex, so this fundraiser looks to help out those affected. I’m a resident of Waterbury and I can attest to things not having been the same since late August. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve heard good things. Hopefully it’s good and not MST3K ‘good’.”
Movie: (1962) A knight tries to save damsel from an evil sorcerer with the help of his magical foster mother.
First shown: 8/29/92 Opening: Joel fancies himself a caricature artist Invention exchange: J&tB demonstrate their Big Gulp berets; The Mads have created designer bio-hazard absorbent throw pillows and Frank performs a one-act play to explain them Host segment 1: J&tB present their commercial for Basil Rathbones for dogs Host segment 2: Joel, Gypsy and Crow, in medieval costumes, present a pageant on life in the middle ages, but Tom ruins things Host segment 3: Crow sings: “Estelle” End: J&tB discuss words you can’t say on TV, Joel reads a letter, TV’s Frank’s not looking good Stinger: Estelle’s two-headed assistant (115 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5) Loading ...
• I agree with Joel (in the theater) and Paul (in the ACEG): this movie is not that bad for a Bert I. Gordon movie, which makes the whole affair more watchable. The riffing is decent and the host segments are fun. This one may not be great, but it’s very good.
• In the opening bit, Trace and Kevin must have been crouching in front of the SOL set. Probably uncomfortable.
• Two notable names you might miss in their costumes: that’s Maili Nurma, aka Vampira, as the enchantress/hag who tempts the Frenchman. And Richard Kiel is among the various “pinhead” henchmen, the first of four appearances in msted movies. He later appears in “Human Duplicators,” “Eegah” and “Phantom Planet.”
• Nice cartoon sound effect as the needle is removed from Frank’s neck.
• I love the phrase “criminally-priced spring water.”
• One thing I’ll say for about this episode, it answers at last the question of who Merritt Stone is…he’s the guy who plays “King Grady.”
• Callbacks: “Hey, it’s the Undersea Kingdom…” “I say it’s foggy!” (The Crawling Eye), “Ya got me!” (Catalina Caper), Crow imitates Del Moore from Catalina Caper, “I’m so sleepy I can barely keep awake!” (The Hercmeister) and “…Happy king…” (Mr B Natural).
• Somebody mentions a “Jane Fonda video.” It’s been more than 20 years since she’s made one, so a lot of people may not remember that Fonda was once the queen of exercise and fitness videos.
• Joel does another overt religious riff: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
• As they head out of the theater toward segment 1, they start talking about the host segment they’re about to do. I like when they do that. Adds continuity.
• Great reference: “They’re packed with bits of Nigel Bruce!”
• Ga-nish!
• Note the LOTR reference before LOTR references were commonplace.
• My copy of this episode comes from 1995 (it features a “Batman Forever” commercial :::shudder::: This week’s annoying commercial: o/` “SAIL AWAY!” o/` for Becks beer.
• Crow’s song is easily a highlight, though I confess I like Tom’s list of people better looking than Estelle ever better.
• Alas, Crow’s love was not to be. Estelle died in 1984.
• Joel mentions Ashwebenon High, his alma mater.
• While reading the letter, Joel actually says “keep circulating the tapes.” I think it’s the only time he ever did on the show.
• Isn’t the end of the final segment pretty much where we were the last time we saw Dr. Erhardt?
• Cast and crew roundup: Of course We’ve already suffered through Bert I. Gordon’s “King Dinosaur,” “The Amazing Colossal Man,” “Earth Vs. The Spider” and “War of the Colossal Beast.” In the future we’ll get “Tormented,” “Beginning of the End” and “Village of the Giants. Scriptwriter Bernard Schoenfeld also wrote “The Space Children.” Cinematographer Paul Vogel also worked on “Village of the Giants.” Editor Harry Gerstad also worked on “Rocketship X-M.” Costume guy Oscar Rodriguez also worked on “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” and “The Phantom Planet.” Assistant director/production manager Herbert E. Mendelson also worked on “She Devil.” Art director Franz Bachelin worked on “Village of the Giants.” Set designer George R. Nelson worked on “Code Name: Diamond Head.” Score composer Richard Markowitz also worked on “Stranded in Space.” In front of the camera, Gary Lockwood has a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” role in “Kitten With A Whip.” Angelo Rossitto also appears in “The Corpse Vanishes.” And don’t get me started about Jack Kosslyn and Merritt Stone.
• CreditsWatch: Crist Ballas did the hair and makeup, the only episode he worked this season. “Ode on Estelle” was written and arranged by Michael and Paul.
• Fave riff: “Just came to freak you out, baby…” Honorable mention: Joel: Lighten up, they’re just puppets! Crow: Hey! Joel: Sorry.
Alert reader Corey strikes a serious note for a change:
I was watching the show this weekend and remembering a time about four years ago when my 18 month-old son developed a penicillin-resistant staph infection which put him in the hospital for over a week. It’s a potentially deadly infection and it was a unbelievably frightening and depressing time.
I stayed with him in the hospital during that time and at night when he fell asleep, I would turn on a mini-dvd player I had with me and watch MST3K episodes until I couldn’t keep my eyes open — it was the only thing that kept me from complete implosion while he was sick. I had always wanted to thank the cast for getting me through that time (and many other harsh moments) and I wondered if there were other people who had similar situations where the show helped them to heal from a tragedy or maybe just give them a 90-minute reprieve from some of life’s more nightmarish moments.
MST3K has cheered me up on any number of occasions, but the one that comes to mind is a while back when (it’s a long story) I found myself rather suddenly unemployed. I eventually landed on my feet, but MST3K definitely helped me keep a positive attitude.
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