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MONSTER ISLAND NEWS Nominated For 2010 RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARD

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Imagine my delight when I learned that Monster Island News had been nominated in the category of "Best Blog" for the 9th annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards!

I feel great pride knowing that something I created was selected by you, the fans, for such a nomination. The site was also nominated last year as well as 2008 and 2006, but alas we here at MIN have never taken home the trophy.

I feel this could be our year, though the competition is great and all the blogs nominated alongside us are excellent and well deserving of the coveted trophy that features the unmistakable mug of Rondo Hatton.

Here is the list:

BEST BLOG OF 2010

-- Cinema Suicide A celebration of cheap thrills
-- Cinema Dave A journal of horror and film.
-- Dollar Bin Horror For monster fans on a budget.
-- The Drunken Severed Head Impeccable sense of the outre, an essential stop for monster weirdness.
-- Final Girl Stacie Ponder survives to have the last, bloody but often essential word.
-- Frankensteinia Fun, smart and essential as it keeps the Monster alive.
-- From Midnight, With Love A cult movie reverie with an edge.
-- Gary J. Svehla: Midnight Marquee/Mad About Movies A founding fan on movies new and very old.
-- The Good, the Bad and the Godzilla August Ragone's G-blog is wise among giant monsters.
-- Groovy Age of Horror Fearless and unexpected.
-- The Horrors of it All When horror corrupted more than the comics.
-- Monster Island News Godzilla is just the start.
-- Monster Magazine World A digital home for monster magazines past, present and hopefully future.
-- Monstermoviemusic The soundtracks of our horror lives.
-- Obscure Hollow Gorgeous photos of sets and props show the look of classic horror,
-- Scared Silly The chills between the horror comedy laughs.
-- Secret Fun Blog Preserving the ephemera of your childhood.
-- Shloggs Horror Blog Modern horror talk, with a classic sensibility.
-- The Shock! and Son of Shock! Viewing Project Every film in the TV package viewed again.
-- The Spectral Realm Where monsters and religion find common ground.
-- Terror from Beyond the Daves An essential, home of the weekend horror host report.
-- A Thriller a Day Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri review all 67 episodes, with style.
-- Unimonster's Crypt Musings on the status of monstrous media.
-- Video Watchblog Scaled back, but Tim Lucas' musings are still worth the wait.
-- Zombos Closet All manners of horrors pour out.

Other friends of MIN to receive nominations:

BEST COMMENTARY

August Ragone, Jason Varney, GAMERA VS. BARUGON

BOOK OF THE YEAR

THE MONSTER MOVIE FAN'S GUIDE TO JAPAN, by Armand Vaquer

FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2010

KARLOS BORLOFF (Monster Madhouse, Washington, DC)
COUNT GORE DE VOL (Creature Feaures)
PENNY DREADFUL (Shilling Shockers, New England)

and ...

MR. LOBO (Cinema Insomnia, California)

BEST HORROR COMIC

BELA LUGOSI'S TALES FROM THE GRAVE (Monsterverse). Colorful and clever anthology features Bela as a very sinister host..

VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS (Bluewater). Anthology includes Witchfinder General tales.

Here is some more info and the rules on voting from the Rondo Hatton Awards website:

The Rondos, now in their ninth year, are fandom's only classic horror award, decided by fans, for fans, and dedicated to preserving the undying spirit of monsters past.

Every Rondo nominee below is being recognized for a significant achievement in the genre during the year of 2010. So please take a look at the ballot and let the nominees know how much we appreciate their work by voting.

HOW TO VOTE:

-- All voting is by e-mail only.

-- Simply copy this ballot and send an e-mail with your picks to me (David Colton), at taraco@aol.com by midnight, March 27, 2011.

-- Winners will be announced Monday night, March 28, 2011 here and at the Classic Horror Film Board.

THE RULES:

-- One vote per person, please.

-- Every e-mail must include your name to be counted. All votes are kept strictly confidential. No e-mail addresses or any personal information will ever be shared with anyone.

-- Important: Feel free to spread the word about Rondo. But please remember that organized voting campaigns (duplicated ballots, mass e-mailing efforts, getting strangers to vote), are prohibited and can result in a warning and even disqualification. Let's keep this a fun vote of monster fans.

-- And no, you do not have to vote in every category.

AGAIN HERE'S HOW TO VOTE: E-mail your selections from the ballot (cut-and-pasting the whole thing into an e-mail works fine), or you can type them into a separate list.

Simply send your choices to David Colton at taraco@aol.com. And please remember to include your name so your vote can be counted.

The official ballot with al the nominies can be found at - http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html

See Also: Rondo Awards: You Can Now Vote! / Voting Starts Sunday Night For 2009 Rondo Awards! / Seventh Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards / 2008 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards /

FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND Reveal Issue 255 Cover Art

Source: Famous Monsters Of Filmland

The ORIGINAL monster magazine, with a publishing legacy spanning more than 50 years continues BI-MONTHLY!

Dedicated to the world of horror, both classic and contemporary, Famous Monsters of Filmland #255 will be available at comic shops and newsstands April 5, 2011.

Bound by the striking Harry Potter cover art by Jason Edmiston (Vincent Price 254), or if you choose, giant monster maestro Bob Eggleton's At the Mountains of Madness cover art, FM #255 goes behind the scenes of the magic and mythos of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and celebrates all the Lovecraftian mayhem you can stomach with a retrospective look at the fiction and films of master horror hovelist, H.P. Lovecraft. Watch as the heroes of the comic book world unite in DC Universe; author Jim Butcher gives FM the scoop on the eponymous antihero of The Dresden Files; an original Imagi-Movies production of Pickman's Model, and much more!

Following tradition, Edmiston's Harry Potter cover will be available on newsstands, while Eggleton's At the Mountains of Madness cover will be available at comic shops near you. Both variants will be available at Famous Monsters' CaptainCo.com online retail store.



See Also: Famous Monsters of Filmland Continues To Expand Distribution / Famous Monsters #253 Cover Revealed / Famous Monsters Of Filmland Magazine Begins Subscriptions Starting With Issue #252 / A Limited Number Of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #251 Still Available! / Only One Week Until The Dead Walk In Indianapolis! / IN 11 DAYS, MONSTERS WILL ROAM INDIANAPOLIS / Halcyon International Pictures Teams Up With Famous Monsters Of Filmland To Reboot Classic Universal Horrors / Famous Monsters To Bring Back The Creature, The Mummy, Frankenstein And Others To The Silver Screen? / FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND ISSUE #251 COVER UNVEILED / The First Look At Famous Monsters Of Filmland #251 / Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention News /Famous Monsters Of Filmland Brings 'Downstream' To The Egyptian Theatre / Famous Monsters Of Filmland To Invade Indianapolis This Summer / Famous Monsters Of Filmland Magazine Returns! / Famous Monsters Of Filmland - Editor To Be Announced Soon - Magazine Being Pushed Back / Famous Monsters Of Filmland To Give Carla Laemmle A Grand 100th Birthday Bash / Famous Monsters Of Filmland Is Reborn On The World Wide Web / Dracula (1931) / "Famous Monsters" Trademark Injunction Won By Philip Kim / Forrest J. Ackerman, 1916 - 2008 / RIP Forrest J Ackerman (1916-2008) / Forrest Ackerman's Health Is Failing Now Is The Time For Fans To Contact Him / Mad Monster Party (1969)

Your Invited To Frankenstein's Wedding

Source: BBC

Lacey Turner, Being Human and former EastEnders star, takes up the role of Elizabeth Lavenza in BBC Three's forthcoming live TV spectacular Frankenstein's Wedding... Live In Leeds.

Lacey, who won the Best Serial Performance award at last month's National TV Awards, is joined on Saturday 19 March by Spotlight Prize winner and star of ITV's upcoming Monroe, Andrew Gower, appearing as Victor Frankenstein, and Mrs Mandela and Doctor Who star David Harewood as the Creature.

For one night only, Leeds' Kirkstall Abbey plays host to a one-of-a-kind live TV event – the marriage of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his bride-to-be, Elizabeth Lavenza.

Frankenstein's Wedding... Live In Leeds is a bold and ambitious project which explores Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece through live drama and contemporary music.

Nine thousand free tickets will be made available to the public to come and watch the live event and ticket application will open on Friday 18 February at bbc.co.uk/bbcthree.

Andrew Gower says: "The sheer scale and challenge of the project was very attractive and to play a character as renowned as Victor Frankenstein is so exciting."

David Harewood adds: "As soon as I saw the idea on paper, I knew I wanted to do it. Combining so many different elements, live acting, dance, drama and of course the large audience at home and at the performance, was just too dazzling to turn down."

Following on from the success of Manchester Passion (2006) and Liverpool Nativity (2008), which were both broadcast on BBC Three, Frankenstein's Wedding... Live In Leeds brings the passion, emotion and horror from the classic tale to a live audience of 12,000, in addition to the BBC Three viewers at home.

The event focuses on the lavish wedding of Victor Frankenstein and his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth Lavenza. While Elizabeth fusses over seating plans and the wedding band tune up for the reception, Victor broods on a dark secret – the murderous monster he has created.

Harry Lansdown, Acting Controller, BBC Three, says: "The story of Frankenstein is as relevant today as it ever was. I'm delighted to be telling its story on BBC Three through this live drama, which has a great cast and fantastically ambitious audience participation at its very heart."

In a unique take on audience participation, the live audience is invited to attend the event in their best wedding outfits and play a real role as wedding guests.

In the weeks leading up to the event, BBC Learning and Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre are set to help people find their dancing feet through a series of workshops to teach 2,000 locals a special wedding dance routine. This will culminate in a mass celebratory wedding dance live on the night by an audience of 12,000. For full dates and to book a workshop place, visit the Phoenix Dance Theatre website (booking opens at 12noon on Monday 14 February).

A range of exclusive online content to support the live event can be found at bbc.co.uk/bbcthree. Supported by BBC Learning, the site hosts specially created two-minute video diaries for Victor Frankenstein, the Creature, Victor's bride-to-be, Elizabeth Lavenza, and Justine Moritz, Elizabeth's firebrand maid of honour, all of which introduce the characters and set the scene for the dramatic story.

The page also supports the dance workshops, features a video tutorial and a performance of the dance that the public need to learn for the big dance moment at the event. There is also information about the event's dress code and over the next few weeks a behind-the-scenes film, hosted by Creative Director, Colin Teague, whose previous credits include Being Human and Doctor Who, will be added to the site.

The live event features spectacular light projections highlighting the grandeur of Kirkstall Abbey in a way that it has never been seen before. Audiences will be fully immersed in the emotion and horror of the classic tale, from witnessing the very moment Victor gives life to his creation in his laboratory and glimpses of Elizabeth planning her big day, to the Creature's harrowing and deteriorating journey as he seeks justice for his plight.

Frankenstein's Wedding... Live In Leeds is a collaboration between BBC Three, BBC North and BBC Cymru Wales and the event is being supported by key organisations within Leeds, including Leeds City Council, Welcome to Yorkshire, Marketing Leeds and Phoenix Dance Theatre.

See Also: The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #10 - #1 / Universal Monsters - Life Like Stretchable Figures - Complete Set Of Six / Universal Monsters - Action Figures - Frankenstein, Wolfman and Dracula - Jakks Pacific / Frankenstein - 1/8 Scale Model Kit - Universal Monsters - Moebius Models / The First Images From Jesse Cook's MONSTER BRAWL / Frankenstein As A Ruthless Killing Machine In FRANKENSTEIN 2011 / MONSTER BRAWL Update! - Teaser Art And Casting News / Del Toro Ready To Begin Makeup Tests For FRANKENSTEIN / Monster DVD Madness! DEMEKING, GAMERA And HOUSE OF THE WOLF MAN / Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy And Zombies - Let's Get Ready To Rumble! / Mark And Brian Gunn To Write MONSTER SQUAD Remake / Halcyon International Pictures Teams Up With Famous Monsters Of Filmland To Reboot Classic Universal Horrors / Famous Monsters To Bring Back The Creature, The Mummy, Frankenstein And Others To The Silver Screen? / Eric Swelstad Promises A More Violent Monster In "Frankenstein Rising" / The Top Ten Hottest Monsters Of 2009 / Universal's Monsters: Legacy / Robot-13 Returns For An Action Packed Second Issue / Boris Karloff Tales Of Mystery Hardcover Graphic Novel / Universal Monsters Frankenstein 1:8 Scale Model Kit / Behind-The-Scenes of "Bikini Frankenstein" / Gonzo Movie Trailers From Japan - Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl & Robo-Geisha / Scarlett Johansson As The Sexy Bride Of Frankenstein? / The First Look At Nishimura And Tomomatsu's Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl / A Modern Look A The Frankenstein Mythos In Blacklist Studios Robot-13 / Tatopoulos And Grevioux To Mix Classic Monsters With Film Noir In I, Frankenstein / 40th Anniversary of Boris Karloff's Passing / The Top Ten Hottest Monsters Of 2008 / RIP Forrest J Ackerman (1916-2008) / Universal Monsters Frankenstein Black and White Head Knocker / Mad Monster Party (1969) / Frankenstein Painting Finds Home At Rockwell Museum / The Royal Mail Pays Tribute To Hammer In Their Latest Stamp Collection / Frankenstein (1931)

The Twilight Zone - Talky Tina Doll Replica

Order Yours Here For Only $139.99!

Source: Entertainment Earth

If you like your collectibles big and a little creepy, the The Twilight Zone Talky Tina Doll Replica - EE Exclusive is just the thing for you! This giant talking doll is based on the designs from the original TV series, with a murderous gaze but minus the killer personality seen on the show. We still wouldn't suggest turning your back on her, but this limited edition collectible doll is well worth pre-ordering so you won't miss out!

The Twilight Zone Talky Tina Doll Replica - EE Exclusive:

"My name is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you."
Exclusive 18-inch talking-doll replica from the iconic The Twilight Zone TV series.
Based on the episode titled "Living Doll" that starred Telly Savalas.
Speaks 5 phrases and features eyes that open and close.
Talky Tina is back again… to stay!
The buzz of Comic-Con is now available!

Entertainment Earth Exclusive! One of the most talked about items revealed at San Diego Comic-Con is here, available to order for the first time ever! This authentically reproduced black-and-white Talky Tina Doll Replica from The Twilight Zone is a lifelike exclusive that stands 18-inches tall and features rotocast Vinyl head, arms, and legs; soft fabric body and fabric clothing; rooted hair; eyelids that open and close; and a talking mechanism. Don't miss this exclusive Talky Tina Doll!
Talky Tina comes with a certificate of authenticity and speaks the following memorable phrases:

"My name is Talky Tina, and I love you very much."
"My name is Talky Tina, and I don't think I like you."
"My name is Talky Tina, and you'd better be nice to me."
"My name is Talky Tina, and you'll be sorry."
"My name is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you."

Long before Chucky, there was Talky Tina, star of one of the most spine-chilling episodes of The Twilight Zone ever aired. In the show titled "Living Doll" that also starred Telly Savalas, Tina kept coming back and coming back, no matter what he did to try to destroy her. If you remember that frightening episode, you may think twice before ordering this item. But don't worry. After all, she's only an innocent talking replica… or is she?

"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead. Your next stop… the Twilight Zone." (Spoken by Rod Serling at the beginning of each The Twilight Zone episode.)

Age: 13+
Size: 18-inches tall
Batteries Included: Yes
Battery Type: 3 x AG13 (LR44)

See Also: A Tribute To Anne Francis (1930 - 2011)/ / The Twilight Zone - Talky Tina & Willie Figures - Comic Con Exclusives! / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #81 - #90

1993


Art Spiegelman

Well, that's it for Valentine's Day this year. Come back next V-Day when we'll post a dozen more. Hope your day was love-ly.

1991

Ronald Searle

1984

William Steig

1981

Charles Addams

1979

André François

1975

André François

1974

Robert Weber

Joanne Siegel, Widow of Superman Co-Creator, Dies At 93

by Armand Vaquer

Above, a group photo from the Superman Week ceremony with Joanne Siegel and her daughter Laura at far right. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Sad news today in the world of Superman.

Joanne Siegel, the widow of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and the model for Lois Lane (drawn by Joe Shuster) died today in California at the age of 93.

Daughter Laura Siegel Larson is currently making funeral arrangements.

It was my honor and privilege to meet Mrs. Siegel in July 2001 at the Superman Week ceremony at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. At that ceremony, Mrs. Siegel met actress Noel Neill for the first time. Neill played Lois Lane in to Sam Katzman Columbia serials and replaced Phyllis Coates in the role on the Adventures of Superman television show in 1953.

Mrs. Siegel later joined us for a luncheon at Cafe Pinot following the ceremony.

My condolences to the Siegel family.

1970

Pierre Le-Tan

1958

Anatole Kovarsky

Cuties For A Cause Blows The Elephant's Roof Off!

Photos/Story By: Ken Hulsey

Unless you missed my story from last week, or any of my numerous Facebook posts, you undoubtedly knew that my lovely wife April and I spent our Saturday night at the Hensley's Flyng Elephant pub in Carlsbad, Ca in support of Cuties for a Cause, a group of local San Diego pin-up models who do charitable work.

The Valentine's Day themed event was called "Cuties for a Cause SMOOCH-O-RAMA", which means, as you probably already guessed, that for a small donation to their cause the "cuties" would plant a smooch on you. Which they did, plus also pose for a photograph with you.

There was an amazing turn out and the ladies were able to raise a lot of money for their selected charities.

Though the event was a celebration of hot pin-up girls running around in their underwear it was also a celebration of ska music and let me tell you, the bands on Saturday night set the pace on fire. In fact they were so hot that right in the middle of the first set by "Ottly Mercer" I popped onto Facebook and posted "If you love ska? Get your ass down to Carlsbad .....NOW!". That however was just the start, the following two sets by both "The Amalgamated" and "Kingston a go-go" had the faithful at Hensley's ready to tear the place up.

If all the amazing looking women didn't get your heart rate up the thumping ska undoubtedly did the trick for sure!

Feel bad that ya missed it? Fear not, the "Cuties" will be putting on a special St. Patrick's Day show on at the Flying Elephant ..... more details on that soon!

For more on Cuties for a Cause please visit - http://www.moglesbyphotography.com/Default/CutiesforaCause.html

Oh, and on a side note, all the girls spent Sunday afternoon taking test shots for their upcoming 2011 calender shoot.

Don't believe the joint was smokin'? Check out the photographic evidence:





Disney Jessica Rabbit Mini Bust

Order Yours Here For Only $69.99!

Source: Entertainment Earth

Disney Jessica Rabbit Mini Bust:

She's not bad... she's just sculpted that way!
A striking mini bust featuring Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Almost 9-inches tall!

She's not bad... she's just sculpted that way! The star attraction at the Ink and Paint Club, Jessica Rabbit has a talent for turning heads and stealing hearts. Now the sultry torch singer has been captured in all her curvaceous splendor in this character-authentic polystone mini bust designed and sculpted by Disney animator Rubén Procopio. Presented on an art deco base inspired by the very stage on which she performs, Jessica stands 8 3/4-inches tall and comes fully hand painted, ready to display. Order yours today!


Age: 13+
Size: 8 3/4-inches tall

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Garners Rondo Nomination

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Miki Hayashi with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's that time of year again!

The Ninth Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards ballot is now up and ready for your votes!

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan has been nominated in the Best Book of The Year category. (Note: It was on last year's ballot, but since it didn't get published (or "go live") until January 2010, I requested that it be removed from the ballot so that people can fairly judge it a year later.) It is an honor just to have it nominated!

Also, Monster Island News has been nominated in the "Best Blog" category!

What is the Rondo Award? According to the official Rondo Awards website:

The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards were created by David Colton and Kerry Gammill at the Classic Horror Film Boards in 2002. The awards are fan-based, and have no connection to any commercial sponsor. Anyone in fandom can vote or propose nominees.





The 'Rondo' award itself, shown at right, features a bust sculpted by illustrator Kerry Gammill, and cast by modeler Tim Lindsey.

The statuette is a miniature version of the bust of Hatton seen in the Universal film, HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946). The Rondos have been praised by recipients for their quiet beauty and evocation of classic horror.

Nominees for the Rondo are selected from suggestions by horror fans, pros and enthusiasts offered all year at the CHFB. Each year's nominees are finalized by classic horror fan David Colton (taraco@aol.com), with the help of more than 20 classic horror fans from around the world, and with expertise in all parts of fandom.


Your votes for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and Monster Island News are very much appreciated, of course. But the most important thing for Japanese (and all) monster fans is to vote!

Just go here and copy and paste the ballot onto an email to taraco@aol.com with your votes.

After you've voted, then you can say...

1954

Perry Barlow

1953

Edna Eicke

1951

Charles Addams

Expression of the Artist's Soul

Sorry to be jumping backward here, but I overlooked one more important example of a Mucha poster and its reference photograph.

Mucha — poster for DeForest Phonofilm — 1927

Mucha himself and his daughter, Jaroslava
— reference for poster — 1926

Larry MacDougall put it well in his comment, when he said, "Of course the photographs are lovely, but you can really see how (Mucha) transfuses them with magic. And of course like all magic, only the magician knows how it is done."

And to put it further into perspective, here is a quote for an article about the subject:

Comparing Mucha's design with the photos from which he worked gives us useful insight into the artistic process. It is clear that no photograph was ever slavishly copied; it represented only a point of departure from which inspiration takes over. With his meticulous attention to detail, Mucha certainly used the pictures to check things such as the precise position of fingers on a hand holding something—often a stumbling block for even otherwise competent artists—as well as for a correct perspective and spatial relations between people and objects. Beyond that, the heart of every design is an expression of the artist's soul.

Not Without Charm

Andrew Lang was the go-to man for fairy tales in the early 1900s, and his spectrum of color fairy books are classic, not only for the tales gathered from around the world, but also for the beautiful fairy tale art by H.J. Ford, Lancelot Speed and others.

This is a 1930 edition of The Red Fairy Book with the cover and several illustrations by Frederick Richardson, who also did some beautiful work on Queen Zixi of Ix, which you can see over on Mr. Door Tree's blog site. Here, Richardson's illustrations are not as lush or rich as those by some of his contemporaries, but they are certainly not without charm, especially the cover. The rest of this edition was filled in with the original Ford and Speed pen drawings. I'm including one of Ford's at the bottom of this post.







Informative Comparative Look

To some followers of Mucha, these images won't be new. But to others, it could be an informative comparative look at Mucha's reference photos and the resulting works.

Mucha
— Poster for The Spring Festival of Song & Music in Prague —
1914


Mucha — Emerald — 1909


Mucha — Poster for The Regional Fair at Ivančice — 1912


Mucha — A plate from Documents Décoratifs — 1899


Mucha — study for the cover of Cloches de Noël et de Pâques —1900


Hey Larry!