Fright Night on Channel 9

Fright Night on Channel 9
Author: James Arena
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2011-12-22
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0786488913

From 1973 to 1987, Fright Night was a fixture of the late Saturday evening schedule on independent New York television station WOR-TV. A genre fan's nightmare come true, the modestly produced showcase featured horror films both classic and obscure, from Universal's Frankenstein series to such lesser-known delights as Beast of Blood and The Living Coffin. Fright Night suffered no delusions of grandeur and never claimed to be anything more than what it was: great entertainment on a Saturday night. This thorough if affectionate tribute to Fright Night's glory days includes a complete listing of all films shown on the series, as well as discussion of WOR-TV's other horror movie programs from the 1970s and 1980s. Also featured are interviews with the major surviving players, including Fright Night creator Lawrence P. Casey.

Hosted Horror on Television

Hosted Horror on Television
Author: Bruce Markusen
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2021-07-16
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1476684618

In October 1957, Screen Gems made numerous horror movies available to local television stations around the country as part of a package of films called Shock Theater. These movies became a huge sensation with TV viewers, as did the horror hosts who introduced the films and offered insight--often humorous--into the plots, the actors, and the directors. This history of hosted horror walks readers through the best TV horror films, beginning with the 1930s black-and-white classics from Universal Studios and ending with the grislier color films of the early 1970s. It also covers and explores the horror hosts who presented them, some of whom faded into obscurity while others became iconic within the genre.

Kids of New York

Kids of New York
Author: Anthony Colon
Publisher: Page Publishing Inc
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2023-11-21
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
ISBN:

The author was born in the South Bronx in 1970, a time when chaos and despair wreaked havoc on the community, in a place where crime ruled the streets, where hope and poverty lived on the same side of the block. A young mother decided to take her baby boy and ran. She packed up and moved to a better place, a town called Springfield. It was a new home, where the butterflies hummed and the hummingbirds chirped to a new melody. The young boy lived his younger years in a state of bliss, that is until the dark clouds rolled in. The family fell on hard times. The author's biggest worries were where was the next meal coming from or how to stay warm in a frigid apartment. Times were tough, but the young boy kept his resolve and was undeterred by all the misery around him. He found a better place, a place inside himself. Even though everything around him was falling apart--including his family life, school, and friendships--he never faltered and kept his chin up. When you hit rock bottom, there is only one way to go: up. Like the saying goes, "Seven times down, eight times up." Throughout the years, the author was able to overcome great adversity and make a better life for himself. He has owned and operated several martial arts schools in the New York City area. The author also founded the Kids of New York, an organization which holds free events for city youth including breaking (breakdance) and martial arts. Hope is what gives us direction. Passion is the wings beneath are feet. Anything is possible despite the obstacles we may face. Just keep moving forward, and you will surely reach a better place. Karate, Anthony.

American International Pictures

American International Pictures
Author: Rob Craig
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 452
Release: 2019-02-15
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1476635226

American International Pictures was in many ways the "missing link" between big-budget Hollywood studios, "poverty-row" B-movie factories and low-rent exploitation movie distributors. AIP first targeted teen audiences with science fiction, horror and fantasy, but soon grew to encompass many genres and demographics--at times, it was indistinguishable from many of the "major" studios. From Abby to Zontar, this filmography lists more than 800 feature films, television series and TV specials by AIP and its partners and subsidiaries. Special attention is given to American International Television (the TV arm of AIP) and an appendix lists the complete AITV catalog. The author also discusses films produced by founders James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff after they left the company.

Vampira and Her Daughters

Vampira and Her Daughters
Author: Robert Michael “Bobb” Cotter
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 173
Release: 2017-01-25
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1476626561

From Vampira to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, female horror movie hosts have long been a staple of late-night television. Broadcast on local stations and cable access channels, characters such as Moona Lisa, Stella, Crematia Mortem and Tarantula Ghoul brought an entertaining blend of macabre camp and after-prime-time sexuality to American living rooms in the 1950s through 1990s. Despite a near total lack of local programming today, the tradition continues on the Internet and Roku and other modern media. Featuring exclusive interviews and rare photographs, this book covers dozens of "dream ghouls" with alphabetical entries, from Aunt Gertie to Veronique Von Venom.

Stars of '90s Dance Pop

Stars of '90s Dance Pop
Author: James Arena
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2016-12-18
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1476626618

The 1990s produced some of the greatest artists and hits in dance music history. And the decade was among the genre's most successful in terms of energy, sales and global popularity. In this retrospective, 29 singers, songwriters, producers, DJs and industry professionals who enjoyed stardom on the club circuit and on pop radio candidly discuss their careers. Interviewed artists include Richard and Fred Fairbrass of Right Said Fred ("I'm Too Sexy"), Nicki French ("Total Eclipse of the Heart"), Haddaway ("What Is Love"), Lane McCray of La Bouche ("Be My Lover"), Martha Wash, vocalist of C+C Music Factory ("Gonna Make You Sweat [Everybody Dance Now]"), Robin S ("Show Me Love"), Frank Peterson, formerly of Enigma ("Sadeness, Part I"), CeCe Peniston ("Finally"), Dr. Alban ("It's My Life"), Thea Austin, formerly of Snap! ("Rhythm Is a Dancer") and many more. Commentaries are provided by former Billboard dance music editor Larry Flick, renowned producers/songwriters The Berman Brothers (Real McCoy's "Another Night") and acclaimed DJ Susan Morabito.

Stars of 21st Century Dance Pop and EDM

Stars of 21st Century Dance Pop and EDM
Author: James Arena
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 253
Release: 2017-06-02
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1476670226

Dance music has seen an unprecedented explosion in the 21st century as a stampede of subgenres, such as dance pop and EDM (electronic dance music), have come to define the pop music scene worldwide. In this collection of original interviews, 33 hitmakers from 11 countries discuss their lives and careers in this still-unfolding new age--including Alcazar's Andreas Lundstedt, Dave Aude, Bart & Baker, Bimbo Jones, Chris Cox, Darude, Inaya Day, Deepend, Freemasons, D.O.N.S./Warp Brothers' Oliver Goedicke, Xenia Ghali, Gryffin, Harrison, In-Grid, Kimberley Locke, Paul Oakenfold, Suzanne Palmer, Ralphi Rosario, Sak Noel, Richard Vission and more. Special commentary provided by Moto Blanco's Danny Harrison and clubland queen Martha Wash.

Legends of Disco

Legends of Disco
Author: James Arena
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2016-04-06
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1476624577

In this candid retrospective of the disco era, 40 men and women who reigned over the dance music industry of the 1970s and 1980s recall their lives and careers before, during and after the genre's explosion. Artists interviewed include Alfa Anderson, formerly of Chic ("Good Times"); Ed Cermanski and Robert Upchurch of The Trammps ("Disco Inferno"); Sarah Dash ("Sinner Man"); producer John Davis ("Ain't That Enough for You"); Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey ("Boogie Oogie Oogie"); France Joli ("Come to Me"); Denis LePage of Lime ("Babe, We're Gonna Love Tonite"); Randy Jones of the Village People ("Y.M.C.A."); Rob Parissi of Wild Cherry ("Play That Funky Music"); producer Warren Schatz ("Turn the Beat Around"); Debbie, Joni and Kim Sledge of Sister Sledge ("We Are Family"); and many more.

Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop

Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop
Author: James Arena
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2017-07-21
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1476671427

Beginning early in the 1980s, a dance music revolution swept across Europe and Britain, merging rock, new wave, disco and worldbeat sounds. The resulting explosion of high-energy, increasingly electronic dance-pop caused a sensation worldwide. In this book of original interviews, 32 of the era's most celebrated artists, producers and industry professionals discuss their lives and careers: Thomas Anders (Modern Talking's "You're My Heart, You're My Soul"), Pete Burns (Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"), Desireless ("Voyage Voyage"), Phil Harding (PWL Mixmaster), Junior ("Mama Used to Say"), Leee John (Imagination's "Just an Illusion"), Liz Mitchell (Boney M.'s 1988 "Megamix"), Fab Morvan (Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True"), Taco ("Putting On the Ritz"), Jennifer Rush ("The Power of Love"), Sabrina ("Boys"), Spagna ("Call Me"), Amii Stewart ("Knock on Wood"), Yazz ("The Only Way Is Up") and many more. Includes special commentary by Academy Award winner Mel Brooks and Audrey Landers, star of Dallas.