Let’s assume that someone is creating an MST3k Movie Character Hall of Fame. Who would be inducted to the charter class? We should choose one director/producer, five actors, and one movie each from the Mike and Joel eras. And what memorbilia (both props from the show and from the movies) should be on display?
My choices:
Director: Coleman Francis.
Actors: Joe Don Baker, Mamie Van Doren, Tor Johnson, Bruno Vestota and Peter Graves.
Movies: “Manos” and “Horror of Party Beach.”
Displays: Megaweapon’s tire, the button and Digger Smolkin’s robe.
What would be your pick?
Also, keep those suggestions coming by email to msampo at a-o-l dot com. Don’t post it in the comments here, I might not see it. And I had a little hard drive trouble recently so if I haven’t used one you suggested in the past, (and if I haven’t sent you an email as to why) if you can resend it, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
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Director Roger Corman
Actress Allison Hayes
Actor Bela Lugosi/Peter Graves
SX Creeping Terror
Musical Direction Albert Glazer
Producer Bert I Gordan
My Picks:
Director: Ray Kellogg (“The Giant Gila Monster” and “The Killer Shrews”)
Actors: Timothy Van Patten (as Max Keller), Richard Crane (as Rocky Jones), Richard Kiel (in “Eegah”), Betty Luster (as Mr. B Natural), and John Call (“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”)
Movies: “Pod People” and “Prince of Space”
Displays: Timothy Van Patten’s hamster in “Master Ninja”; the head in the pan in “The Brain/Head That Wouldn’t Die”; and the “Squaremaster” from “Warrior of the Lost World”
Those initial choices sound good, but I’d go with Manos’ robe rather than Smolken’s and “Invasion of the Neptune Men” over “Horror of Party Beach”.
As for where the Hall of Fame could be located, the obvious choice would be some space in an industrial park in Eden Prairie. Failing that, somewhere in El Paso.
As for directors/producers Ed Wood, Coleman Francis, Roger Corman, Bert I. Gorden, Sandy Frank.
Actors, Bela Lugosi, Donald Plesance, the “Mikey didn’t steal no bike neither” kid.
Movies…….ALL OF THEM.
Displays: Any surviving Invention Exchange Items, set pieces, Torgo’s costume, Mr. B’s costume, the jumpsuits, Tom, Crow, Gypsy, Cambot and a giant model of the SOL
Director: David Giancola (What can I say. I like the movie the director and
plucky cast made—with the help of the citizens and officials of Rutland, Vermont).
Actors: Colman Francis, any graduate from the University of Minnesota whose
Biography is sufficiently known, Barbara Valentin (Babs), KLINE! , and
(for Tom Servo) Creepy Girl
Movie: What else but Manos?
Displays: Aaron Fingols chicken soup, The Crawling Eye, The Crawling Hand,
the picture of Richard Basehart watching over us all, the container (correct one)
holding the art work in Catalina Caper
Nice one!
Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Producer: Sandy Frank…although I suppose technically he’s more of a distributor, but hey, he made Gamera happen for us all.
Movies: Gamera, Alien from LA
Actors: Alan Hale Jr., Bela (natch), Timothy Van Patten, Peter Breck and the hefty older guy from Daddy-O and Attack of the Giant Leeches.
Manos Priest’s “Hand” robe, Commando Cody’s Flying Suit (so EVERYONE can tweak those nipples!)
Oh, this is a good one!!! Some choices are obvious, though, so I might repeat someone…sorry.
Director/Producer: Sandy Frank (Oh Season 3, how you hurt and amused me, ha ha!!!)
Actors: Lee Van Cleef, Peter Graves, Beverly Garland, Joe Don Baker, and John Reynolds (Torgo!)
Movies: “Manos” The Hands Of Fate (can’t top that for the first year of the hall of fame!) and Giant Spider Invasion
Props: Ms. Garland’s “jackboots” from Gunslinger, any surviving bridge set from the SOL, any surviving “movie sign tunnel sequence” miniature sets, any Joel or Mike jumpsuits, also Clayton Forrester and TV’s Frank outfits, Joe Don’s hat from Final Justice, that goofy-ass giant carrot from the end of It Conquered The World, the Master’s robe from Manos, Joel’s “Master Robe” with the feet, and I could go on and on with this one.
Director: Alexandr Ptushko
Actors: John Reynolds (Torgo), Betty Luster (Mr. B), Beverly Garland, Emby “Bad Scrabble Hand” Mellay and Miles O’Keeffe.
Movies: The Creeping Terror, Manos, Pod People, Cave Dwellers, Jack Frost
Props: Ivanushka’s bear head mask from “Jack Frost”, the hub cap breast plate from “Cave Dwellers”, Torgo’s knees, the “I’m A Virgin” shirt from “Pod People” and……. Chip Hitler.
Happy New Year!
Director: Charles B. Pierce
Actors: Lon Chaney, Jr.; Beverly Garland; Miles O’Keefe; Anthony Cardoza; and Peggy Weber.
Movies: “Teenagers From Outer Space” and “Prince of Space”.
Displays: The robot from “The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy”, and one of the Enforcer go-carts from “Space Mutiny”.
Oh Lordy, I forgot Ross Hagen! He has to be in there.
There are 3 extremely important actors that deserve to be in the HoF. To figure out who those 3 are, take a look at my screen name.
Ditto look at my screen name – Criswell, Joe Don Baker and Beverly get acting kudos. Ed Wood directorial lifetime achievement award.
My choices (deliberately trying not to duplicate too much from other good suggestions above for the sake of variety)
Director: Bert I. Gordon
Actors: Allison Hayes, Tor Johnson, Bela Lugosi, Peter Graves, Whit Bissell
Movies: “Rocketship X-M” and “Outlaw.”
Displays: Torgo’s pants and hat from Manos, a go-cart type transport from Space Mutiny
Love this topic!
I propose we add one more category: best short from Joel era and Mike era.
Director: Robert Lippert
Actors: Joe Don Baker, John Reynolds (Torgo), Betty Luster, Tim Van Patten, Lee Van Cleef
Film, Joel era: Manos
Film, Mike era: Santa Claus
Short, Joel era: Mr. B. Natural
Short, Mike era: the electric kitchen short from The Violent Years
Props: not to be too obvious…but, all the robots, Joel and Mike jumpsuits, SOL, buttons, SOL doors, box of hamdingers
I like the short idea!!
My nominees are Here Comes The Circus and Design For Living.
Short: “Mr. B Natural” (runnerup: “A Case of Spring Fever”
No Springs!
Based on some of the nominations, I guess this Hall of Fame has no morals clause, huh? :-)
Director: Coleman Francis
Actors: Beverly Garland, Lee Van Cleef, Joe Don Baker, Mamie Van Doren, Bela Lugosi
Movies: “The Giant Gila Monster” and “Red Zone Cuba”
Shorts: “Mr. B. Natural” and “Design for Dreaming”
Displays: Tragic Moments figurines(!!), The Master’s costume from Manos
Can I just point out that Criswell was never in an MST3K movie?
My choices would be…
Director/Producer: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Actors: Bela Lugosi, Arch Hall Jr., Angelika jager, Joe Don Baker and Ross Hagen.
Films: Eegah! (Joel) and Girl in Gold Boots (Mike)
Display props: Mike’s “Torgo” costume, BGC-1.9 Drum Machine, the “Nanites” and Kevins “Bobo” makeup.
Good point about the shorts. I’ll throw in “Last Clear Chance” as my short.
Is this a movie characters’ props only Hall of Fame? I know people have already had good suggestions from the show.
Director: For first year, would have to go to King of Pain, Coleman Francis.
Actors: Joe Don Baker, Tor Johnson, Beverly Garland, Allison Hayes, and Merritt Stone. (Should be six actors, so you can have three guys and three gals – I’ll add Mamie Van Doren, though we might run out of gals quicker). Maybe first year there would be a tie between Tor Johnson and Bela Legosi.
Movies:
Joel era: First year would just have to go to Manos.
Mike era: Hmm. This one’s tough. Maybe Laserblast, which was the end of an era, and the one before the beginning of a new one.
Shorts:
Joel era: Mr. B, ‘natch.
Mike era: Maybe Last Clear Chance, which gave us the immortal, “Why don’t they look?”.
Props: The Master’s hands robe, the arm laser from Laserblast, a Killer Shrew costume, a bottle of food pills from SCCTM, the death ray from Danger, Death Ray, Batwoman’s costume, Megaweapon, The Crawling Hand, Trumpy, Ator’s hang glider, Jan in the pan (perhaps a wax model of her anyway), next to another model of Vi’s head, that triangle thingee from Being From Another Planet, the Magic Sword – I guess we can’t go too crazy for the first year, gotta save some for subsequent years.
If we are using props from the show as well as the movies: Joel’s and Mike’s jumpsuits, the Mad’s costumes, the bots, Nummy.
Oh, yeah – and the MST3K spaghetti ball and a model of the SOL.
Director: Roger Corman’s too good (yes, the Poe movies), but…we must establish the memorial Warren Wing:
Hal for the Joel Era, and Jerry (Wild World of Batwoman) for the Mike Era.
Lifetime Achievement recognition: K. Gordon Murray, Bert I. Gordon (including King Dinosaur)
Shorts: Mr. B (natural), Last Clear Chance, Using Your Voice: Speaking, and the first short to end the serials…”X Marks the Spot”!
As for props, props to the Master’s Robe, the Martian outfits (“We can’t all be the Honey Nut Cheerios bee!”), Trumpy, Commando Cody’s flying suit, and…Devil dogs, of course.
One more prop: To go with The Crawling Hand and the Crawling Eye,
Gypsies Foot.
Director: Edward Wood Jr.
Actors: John Reynolds, Beverly Garland, Joe Don Baker, John Agar, Arch Hall Jr.
Joel Era Film: ‘Bride Of The Monster’
Mike Era Film: ‘Hobgoblins’
Props: The cool thing (Mexican stoplight candy), the BGC-19, and Krankor’s uniform.
Lifetime Acheivement Award: Coleman Francis
Irving Thalberg Award: Bert I. Gordon
National Film Registry Inductees: ‘Manos: The Hands Of Fate’, ‘The Creeping Terror’, ‘Monster A Go-Go’, ‘Invasion Of The Neptune Men’, ‘Cave Dwellers’.
Director: Coleman Francis (does any other director owe more of his fame to MST3K?)
Producer: Sandy Frank (or whichever of his flunkies edited & assembled the Japanese films)
Actors: Steve Reeves, Joe Don Baker, Tommy Kirk, Don Sullivan, Richard Kiel
Actresses: Marisa Mell, Mary Beth Hughes, June Kenney, Jean Fontaine, Emby Mellay
Movies: “Manos” and “The Starfighters”
Shorts: “X Marks The Spot” and “Assignment: Venezuela”
Displays: A group of Japanese children, Bronson Canyon, Jaguar E-Type from “Diabolik”, Giant Spider from “The Giant Spider Invasion” (as a representative of all the giant bug movies), a live-action Gamera costume
How about non-human, non-monster characters? Trumpy, Puma,
Director: Ed Wood Jr.
Actors: Tor Johnson, Tony Cordoza, Joe Don Baker, Joe Estevez, and John Phillip Law
Movies: Manos the Hands of Fate and Final Sacrifice
Props: the reniance(sp?) fair punching bags, the Enforcer from Space Mutiny, Megaweapon
Director: Bert I. Gordon
Actors: Beverly Garland, John Phillip Law, John Humphreys, Lupita Quezadas and Ross Hagen
Movies: “Santa Claus Conquors the Martians” and “Final Sacrifice”
Props: The pinball machine from “Girl In Lovers Lane” and the leather jacket from “Teenage Strangler”
Short: “Progress Island USA”
Ok. I’m going with everything and everyone involved in “The Legend of Boggy Creek 2”. Charles B. Pierce for both director and actor. I’ll even throw in his buff (yeah right)shirtless son as one of the best worst actors. Love the two girls mud WRESTLING in he middle of a swamp! Just fantastic! The deer with the zippered neck in the beginning was just priceless. A great prop. I’ll end with “Knees bent, butt protruded, stomach pooched out. Good! Good!”
Speaking of TLoBC… for props how about
Crenshaw’s one button overalls and the outhouse.
Director: Ed Wood Producer:Roger Corman Actors: Peter Graves,Beverly Garland,Richard Kiel,Joe Don Baker and Jack Palance. Movie: “Manos” and “Werewolf” Displays: Torgo’s staff and The Breakfast Bazooka from “WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST”.
Just had to thank Mr. Igoe for a grand topic. I’m enjoying reading and contributing, mightily!
Agreed, good topic to begin the new year. We/Sampo should seriously consider adding this “Hall of Fame” as a feature to the site. Would help all to navigate the many years of MST greatness. Collate the votes here and do another one next year. Could become a grand tradition. Of course, my hat will be the grandest of all…
Are we going to induct Steve Reeves or is there an HGH issue?
Actually, Mr. Reeves achieved most of his grand physique through relatively natural means. Compared to the steroid pumped freaks of today he is an amazing specimen.
And for Props, we must ask one question: Who’s that fella with the BIG head?..
you must have Sampo on display if you find out what it is.
Most of the great suggestions are taken but I’ll try to have a fresh take on things:
Director: Greydon Clark
Producer: Jamsion Handy
Actors: Gene Roth, Gene Haze, Harvey B. Dunn, Adrianna Miles (for the speech alone..fascinating..) and Reb Brown
Creatures: Godzilla, Gamera and a giant spider.
Movies: just two, huh????? Let’s see. Violent Years and Catalina Caper.
Shorts: Case of Spring Fever, Snow Thrills, Are You Ready for Marriage? Johnny at the Fair and Undersea Kingdom.
Displays: A picture of Richard Basehart (for Gypsy,) a motorcycle with a sidehacker, Krakor’s nose, the Laserblast weapon, Wanda Sakmussen’s glasses, the fossils of Guiron, Zigra, Baragon and or Gaos, Eegah’s club, Tom’s underwear collection and The Hexfield Viewscope (to name a few….)
Director: Coleman Francis (if you can call him a director)
Actors: Arch Hall Jr., Joe Don Baker, John Reynolds, Tor Johnson, and Reb Brown
Joel Movie: Mitchell
Mike Movie: Space Mutiny
Joel Short: Posture Pals
Mike Short: Assignment: Venezuela
Props: The Hubble, the HUGE hat worn by the bad guy in Cave Dwellers, any “hard pill to swallow”.
Director: Coleman Francis
Actor/Actress: Mamie Van Doren, Tor Johnson, John Reynolds, Beverly Garland, Robert Easton
Movie: “Manos” The Hands of Fate, Outlaw
Displays: The Master’s Robe, along with Joel’s footie robe; Bot Slot Cars; Hard Pills to Swallow; Johnny Long-Torso (the man who comes in pieces); Clay and Lar’s Flesh Barn
Have to add this for sale in the lobby; TV’s Frank wigs.
Producer/Director: Sandy Frank
Actors: Joe Don Baker, Beverly Garland, Clu Gulager, Raul Julia, and Torgo (not the actor, actually Torgo).
Movies: First class should be Mitchel and Soul Taker, the only two movie where both hosts were present (in character).
Displays: Timmy (Crow’s evil twin), Giant Tom Servo, Mirror Universe Mike’s costume.
Props: picture of Mike in Janeway costume.
Director: Bert I. Gordon
Actors: Little Richard (I know he doesn’t play anyone but he was hopped up on goofballs).
Joel movie: The Amazing Colossal Man
Mike movie: The Creeping Terror (probably my favorite Mike episode)
Props: Hypno Helio Static Stasis (now with X4!) and Joel’s smoking jacket.
Forgot more actors: Michael Landon, and The Paper Chase guy.
Director: Ed Wood, Jr.
Actor: Peter Graves, Gregory Peck
Actress: Beverly Garland, Coleen Gray (Leech Woman)
Movie – Joel: Bride of the Monster
Movie – Mike: The Creeping Terror
Short – Joel: The Home Economics Story
Short – Mike: As much as I detest it, A case of Spring Fever just has to be in this category.
Song – Joel: Will there be Clowns in the Sky
Song – Mike: Where, oh Werewolf
Song – Tom Servo: The Canadian Song
Song – Crow: Ode to Estelle
Props: Another vote for the BGC-19, the SOL, Pearl Forester’s Doomsday device complete with the thing, Da bomb (Mike Dodge’s costume), and the neighbor’s bomb from Bobo’s time.
Hey!
Someone’s post just reminded me….
Does anyone remember The ‘Cool Thing’ and what did they ever decide it was…if they did.
Help.
What is BGC-19?
Shorts
From the “Joel-era”: “Circus on Ice” and “The Truck Farmer”.
From the “Mike-era”: “Cheating” and “What About Juvenile Delinquency?”.
Critter-the Cool Thing was Mexican Stoplight Candy. ck-the BGC-19 was the ALIENS-inspired walking drum kit Joel did as an invention exchange in a season 2 episode…which one escapes me. You see it in the opening from season 2 till Joel left the show, I think, so it’s a great idea for a prop exhibit. And I don’t know if anyone’s said these yet, but all of the bot’s drawings of their idealized families from I Accuse My Parents would be great, maybe hang them behind the ‘bots themselves in the displays? And we MUST have the multiple Tom Servo groups, the madrigal group from Quest Of The Delta Knights and, natch, The United Servo Academy Men’s Chorus.