The New Adventures of Desdinova the Super Villain of the Ozarks

Billy Strange Dead At 81 - AllAccess.com

2012-02-24T03:19:00.000-06:00

BEST OF DESDINOVA: THE MOD SQUAD WAS COOLER THAN 21 JUMP STREET (Sorry Johnny Depp)

2012-02-22T03:14:00.000-06:00

I realize many people of my generation will hate this post. There will even be some Baby Boomers that will hate this post.

In TV history, there were two cops shows that featured young people going undercover to investigate crimes involving other youth. These shows were the Mod Squad, which ran from 1968 to 1973. The other was 21 Jump Street, which ran from 1987 to 1991.

I remember watching an episode of 21 Jump Street when it first air on the then-new Fox Network and thinking, "This show sucks. I hope they come up with a better show than this or this network with go the way of Dumont and Overmyer Networks." The show not only ran longer than I expected, but Fox has survived, thanks to several great shows like the Simpsons, Family Guy and In Living Color.

It was about this time that a purchased a book called The Best of Crime and Detective TV: The Critics Choice by John Javna and Max Allan Collins. In this book, they list the TV show, Mod Squad, as one of the worst cop shows ever. They practically trash the show (They also slam Charlie's Angels, which makes me wonder about these guys).

I had only seen the Mod Squad reunion movie from the late 70's, but I still thought it probably had to be better than 21 Jump Street for the simple reason it was made in the late 60s/early 70s. As many of you readers know I have always had a special place for the psychedelic era.

I bought a VHS tape a few years ago that featured two episodes of the Mod Squad. I liked it quite a bit and wanted to buy another, but they were taken off the market for some reason. A year ago, I bought a DVD of the first season of the Mod Squad. It featured a longer version of the pilot episode which was on the VHS tape I had earlier. I have enjoyed it very much and plan to buy another DVD set of the show.

A few nights ago, I found the entire first season of 21 Jump Street on DVD at Wal-Mart for $5. I wondered if my opinion of 21 Jump Street would have changed after seeing more than one episode of the Mod Squad. Maybe I would be blown away by the show which gave us Johnny Depp. It turns out, I was right the first time I saw the show. It still sucks.

While people often malign the Mod Squad for being dated, 21 Jump Street is a product of it's time too. It comes with the things of the 80s that I hated. Bad part is some of those attitudes are still with us, thanks to the Fox News Network. As a matter of fact, I suspect that Bill O'Reilly wrote a few of these scripts under an alias. I bet Sarah Palin was a Jump Street fan.

The Mod Squad was from the age of peace, love and "Do Your Own Thing," while 21 Jump Street was from the age of "Just Say No," "Positive Peer Pressure," "overachieving" and "Vigilante Justice." Also, the characters on 21 Jump Street wear the clothes of that era that my mom forced me to wear. When I moved out and went to SMSU, I started dressing more like the Mod Squad.

First off, let's discuss the theme song and opening credits. The theme song of the Mod Squad was composed by Earl Hagen. Hagen created a tough and fast pasted cops show theme, augmented by a psychedelic/garage band organ. The visual was the main characters running through a dark warehouse.

The 21 Jump Street open featured a theme song sung by the cast that sounded like a bad Debbie Gibson song ("You're gonna learn something when we meet you after school" GAG!). The visuals were goofy clips of the cast from episodes. This gives you the impression you are watching a bad sitcom.

The overall plot of the shows are different in that Peter, Linc and Julie ("One White, One Black and One Blonde") were juvenile delinquents paying their debt to society by becoming undercover detectives. They did carry guns or badges. They often questioned the ethics of what they were doing. Yes, they do use quite a bit of the slang of that era. Pete seems to use the word "heavy" a lot, Julie says "groovy" quite a bit and Linc made the phrase, "Solid, Brother" a part of TV history.

On 21 Jump Street, Hanson, Penhall, Hoffs and Loki are cops who look young enough to infiltrate high schools. They carry guns and badges. When the Jump Street cops aren't whining about lawyers and judges "letting off" the people they bust, they insult each other.

The villains on Mod Squad are never the kids, but old, white guys trying to make a money by selling drugs or killing young people. One villain, played by Dabney Colman (Who else?) tells his sister, "Your hippie friends are driving down the value of my real estate." One villain is a Bill O'Reilly-ish talk show who tries to rape Julie. Yes, the message of the Mod Squad could be "No such thing as a bad kid" and "Don't trust anyone over 30."

On the other hand, 21 Jump Street embedded with the 80's idea of "young-people-are-evil." The criminal is always young. Everything from gun toting gang members taking a school hostage to a group of cocaine pushing, preppy-boys who gang-rape/murder a girl to sexually-repressed, pyromaniac Catholic school girls (No, I didn't make this last one up).

Jump Street episodes usually end with a PSA/lecture from the cast about under-age drinking, drug abuse or abstenence. Mod Squad ended with a crane shot of the characters and somber jazz music as the characters contemplate what just happened. Truth is the Mod Squad has a more expensive look to it than Jump Street.

Yes, this has probably been a useless rant, but I had to get this out of my system. I'm sorry Johnny Depp could have been like Clint Eastwood, John Travolta or Bruce Lee and gotten his start on a good show. As a matter of fact, he has said he hated the show.

Just remember, the Maharishi says never drink campaign from a paper cup. Solid, Brother!

Producer Al DeLory Passes Away At The Age Of 82 - AllAccess.com

2012-02-20T20:11:00.000-06:00

Producer Al DeLory Passes Away At The Age Of 82 | AllAccess.com

NOTE: Not mentioned in this article is that Al DeLory had the hit single version of the theme from M*A*S*H.

DESDINOVA'S VALENTINE'S DAY IPOD PLAYLIST

2012-02-14T04:30:00.000-06:00

These are the songs I'm listening to in my Ipod today.

Never My Love-Association
If Tomorrow Never Comes-Joose
The Air That I Breath-the Hollies
You Made Me Believe In Magic-Bay City Rollers
You Can Do Magic-America
One Fine Day- the Chiffons
Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
All My Loving-the Beatles
For Love-Pousette Dart Band
Miracles-Jefferson Starship
More Than Yesterday-Spiral Staircase
Come Softly To Me-Jane Olivor
Heaven-Bryan Adams
Heatbeat Its a Love Beat-DeFranco Family
I'll Be There-Jackson 5
(Your Love Keeps Lifting me) Higher & Higher-Jackie Wilson
Words-F.R. David
Love Will Keep Us Together-Captain & Tennielle
Total Eclipse of the Heart-Bonnie Tyler
This Magic Moment-Jay & the Americans
Together-the Intruders
Best of My Love-The Eagles
Just Like Heaven-The Cure
Shining Star-the Manhattans
You Are Everything-the Stylistics
True Love Ways-Buddy Holly
All I Really Want To Do-The Byrds
Take My Breath Away-Berlin
I Love You-Climax Blues Band
So Much In Love-The Tymes
I Would Die 4 U-Prince
Something-the Beatles
Kiss On My List-Hall & Oats
Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time-The Spinners
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight-England Dan & John Ford Coley
Soul Coaxing-Raymond LeFevre
There Is-the Dells
Do You Believe In Magic?-Lovin Spoonful
(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice-Amen Corner
Strange Magic-ELO
Touch Me-the Doors
I'm Believer-the Monkees
I Can Dream About You-Dan Hartman
Your Song-Elton John
I'm Your Puppet-James & Bobby Purify
Love Is Blue-Paul Mauriat
Cool Night-Paul Davis
Can't Fight This Feeling-REO Speedwagon
Like to Get to Know You-Spanky & Our Gang
Oh How Happy-Shades of Blue
Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper
You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration-Teddy Pendergrass
Happy Together-the Turtles
If I Had Words-Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keely
La La Means I Love You - the Delfonics
Always on My Mind-Pet Shop Boys
Love So Fine-Roger Nichols & Small Circle of Friends
We've Got Tonight-Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton
Because-Dave Clark 5
You Are the Sunshine of My Life-Stevie Wonder
Mind, Body & Soul-Flaming Ember
Lost in Love-Air Supply
Nights in White Satin-Moody Blues
The Look of Love-Dusty Springfield
Just You n Me-Chicago
When Doves Cry-Prince
Fallin In Love-Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds
Best Thing That Ever Happened-Gladys Knight and the Pips
Can't Help Falling In Love-Elvis
I Will Always Think About-New Colony Six
I think I love You-Partridge Family
Just Between You & Me-April Wine
Still-the Commodores
The Best of Times-Styx
Nice to Be With You-Gallery
If You Leave-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
Tonights the Night-Rod Stewart
Love's Theme-Love Unlimited Orchestra
You've Made Me So Very Happy-Blood Sweat & Tears
When Will I See You Again-Three Degrees
An Old Fashion Love Song-3 Dog Night
I Saw The Light-Todd Rundgren
Love Is All Around-the Troggs
You Showed Me-the Turtles
You're the One-the Vogues
Magnet & Steel-Walter Egan
The Promise-When In Rome
See Me, Feel Me-the WhoFor Your Love-the Yardbirds
Working on a Groovy Thing-5th Dimmenson
Afterglow-Small Faces
Make Me You Baby-Barbara Lewis
You’re the First, My Last, My Everything-Barry White
Wouldn’t It Be Nice-the Beach Boys
God Only Knows-the Beach Boys
Softly Whispering I Love You- The Congregation
No Matter What-Badfinger
Everytime I Think of You-The Babys
Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Bob Dylan
Masterpiece-Atlantic Star
I Second That Emotion-Smokey Robinson & the miracles
Going Out of My Head-Little Anthony & the Imperials
Thinking of You-Loggins & Messinia
More Than I Can Say-Leo Sayer
Precious and Few-Climax

MY OBLIGATORY "WHITNEY HOUSTON DIED" POST

2012-02-12T18:43:00.002-06:00

As you know, I usually post links to death notices of some celebrities, especially of a "retro" nature. However, the magnitude of news coverage of Whitney Houston's passing, I don't feel a need to give you a link. If that upsets you, just wait because I'm sure I'll offend you much more.

I'm going to some thing that will really upset people. I never liked Whitney Houston's music. It was bland, boring and lifeless. To make matters worse for me, it cluttered up the radio. However, I am NOT going to say disrespectful things about Whitney Houston.

I'm going to instead slam the people, who made me hate Whitney Houston's music - adults. Whitney Houston made her debut during the era of the heavy metal hair bands, new wave/punk, the emerging rap/hip hop sounds and the rest was Prince or Madonna. You also had several anti-rock-music-advocacy groups cropping up (at least two were based here in Missouri). This was also the "Just Say No" and "Positive Role Model" years. Ugh.

Of course, I liked most of the popular music of the day along with the music of the 60s and 70s, however what I really liked was the heavy metal. Naturally, I was the object of hatred from the oh-so self-righteous adults in Lebanon. They would say things like "You should like Whitney Houston instead of that satanic, drug music you like." Apparently, this was a general thought at the time. As I was getting ready to start writing this I noticed this post from "Go Retro!." Whitney Houston was really bland easy listening/adult contemporary music that was getting played on Top-40/rock stations and the adults were going to ram it down the throats us kids even though some of us didn't like it. It is part of the reason I have never liked the adult contemporary format. It had that smug, self-righteous "We-are-proud-to-be-square" attitude (although it is changing from what it was in the 70s, 80s and 90s) that I despise. Whitney Houston's music was much like The Waltons, people told me that it was better for me than what I liked and America would be a better place if every kid listened to Whitney Houston instead of heavy metal or something good. I should also point out that I was also told I should listen to country music instead what I liked. (Adults are just stupid).

This attitude and harassment by adults caused me to hate just about anything Whitney Houston did. I hated The Bodyguard, even though many people thought was the greatest movie ever made. I really made them mad when I said I liked Roseanne Barr's version of The Star Spangle Banner better than Whitney Houston's version. I also liked Jimi Hendrix's better too, that makes people mad too. I've always kind of considered Whitney Houston part of a Republican plot to brainwash people.

I'm also finding it interesting that people who complained when people mourned Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain are grieving all over the place over Whitney Houston. They are asking on Facebook, "What is you favorite Whitney Houston song?" I DON'T HAVE ONE!

Even though I didn't like Whitney Houston's music, may she rest in peace and not be judged by her life but her music. I leave that to the talk radio scumbags and those scumbags on Fox News. They enjoy being disrespectful to dead entertainers (and live ones as well). It was her fans and cranky adults of the 80s that deserve the scorn.
BTW, when Merle Haggard kicks the bucket, I'm not going to be so nice. Same for Hank Williams Junior.

Opinions, like this, are why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

'Big Valley' star Peter Breck dead at age 82 - KansasCity.com

2012-02-11T00:06:00.000-06:00

'Big Valley' star Peter Breck dead at age 82 - KansasCity.com

MST3K fans will remember Peter Breck for The Beatniks and the Crawling Hand.

Ben Gazzara Dead at 81

2012-02-03T21:40:00.001-06:00

Here is the obit from E!Online. I thought I would show you the opening to the 60s TV series Ben Gazzara stared in Run For Your Life.

Don Cornelius dies at 75; creator of 'Soul Train'

2012-02-02T03:43:00.000-06:00

Don Cornelius dies at 75; creator of 'Soul Train' from the L.A. Times.

DESDINOVA'S LIST OF TV GREATEST WESTERNS

2012-02-02T02:56:00.001-06:00

Recently, Salon had a list of what they considered TV's Greatest Western. It was a Top Ten list with some entries that I felt didn't belong because they didn't take place in the old West (McCloud and Firefly). Also, I feel that the list should have only included regular series and left out the mini-series, Lonesome Dove. They could have also included Centennial, The Sacktetts or those Kenny Rogers' Gambler movies.
So after reading that, I feel inclined to give you my list of my 15 favorite TV Westerns of the past. I'm going to include the shows I have watched thanks to DVD or reruns, so some of the more recent shows will not be included. Besides this is a "retro" sight (for the most part).

1. Gunsmoke (1955-1975): The king of the adult TV Westerns came from radio and went on to be one of TV longest running shows. Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty and Doc, along with Quint, Dooley and Festus became icons of the TV Western.

2. The Virginian (1962-1971): Based on the Owen Wister novel, The Virginian was the closest thing to a big screen "Big Sky"-style Western on TV every week. In color with great on-location scenery, good scripts, a big orchestral theme song by Percy Faith and 90 minutes long, The Virginian was actually the third most successful TV Western behind Bonanza, yet I place it second for its effort. The last season, renamed The Men from Shilo, left the "Big Sky" Western-style behind for a "spaghetti Western"-style complete with facial hair, dusters, wide brimmed hats, an animated title sequence and Ennio Morricone music.

3. Bonanza (1959-1973): First color Western and the second most successful TV Western.

4. The Wild Wild West (1965-1969): If Paladin was the Western version of the literary James Bond, James T. West (played by Robert Conrad) was the Western version of the movie James Bond. He had exploding buttons, hidden Derringer in his sleeve and megalomaniac enemies. Paved the way for the steampunk literary genre movement of the 1990s.

5. Have Gun-Will Travel (1957-1963): If Matt Dillon was the Phillip Marlow of the Old West, Paladin was the first James Bond of the Old West. Based on the Ian Fleming novel description of Bond, Sam Rolfe and Herb Meadow created a Western hero that was different than other TV Western heroes of the day. Paladin was dressed in all black while working and wore a tux at his home in the San Fransisco Hotel Carlton. He was a West Point grad who quoted Shakespeare, Socrates, Keats and Shelley. He carried business cards and charged a fee for his services. The business cards and his holster both had a chess knight on them. He saved Oscar Wilde's life, hunted a sasquatch in Colorado, man-eating tigers in India and fought ninjas. The opening music was by Bernard Hermann and the closing theme was by country singer Johnny Western.

6. Rawhide (1959-1966): Besides featuring the first African-American cowboy, played by Raymond St. Jacques, this show is best known for a great theme song by Frankie Laine and Clint Eastwood as ramrod Rowdy Yates.

7. Kung Fu (1972-1975): With Alias Smith & Jones, Kung Fu was the last successful show of the original wave TV Westerns. David Carradine played Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin monk searching the Old West for his half brother Danny Cain. Caine didn't need a gun because he was a master of martial arts. First Asian hero of a Western.

8. Alias Smith & Jones (1971-1973): A hip comedy Western about two Kansas long-haired outlaws trying to achieve amnesty while still being wanted from the law. Inspired by the success of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Love that country-rock incidental music and the film edit that made Kid Curry/Thad Jones (Ben Murphy) look like the fastest gun in the West.

9. Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958-1961): Steve McQueen played a bounty hunter. Nuff said!

10. Maverick (1957-1962): One of the first "comedy" Westerns featuring an anti-Western hero. Lazy, cowardly, smart-mouthed gambler played by James Garner. His brother, Jack Kelly, and Southern cousin, played Roger Moore, were just as bad. The show even poked fun at other Westerns like Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

11. The Lone Ranger (1949-1958): The "Masked Man" and "his faithful Indian companion" rode from radio to TV to become the first Western produced for TV. A syndication effort in the 70s and a toy line by Gabriel introduced The Lone Ranger to Generation X.

12. Big Valley (1965-1969): Other than Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Big Valley is the only Western to feature promanent female characters getting involved in the action. Many have dismissed Big Valley as a Bonanza knock-off, however, Big Valley seems to be more mature. Victoria Barkely (Barbara Stanwick) lives on a big ranch with her three sons, preppy lawyer Jared (Richard Long), hot-headed ranch foreman Nick (Peter Breck), baby Eugene (Charles Briles, who disappeared after the first season) and sexy daughter, Audra (Linda Evans). Add to this group Heath (Lee Majors), "the Bastard" son of Victoria's husband, who spends much of the show fighting with half-brother Nick or coming very close to making out with half-sister Audra or beating up the bad guy who tore Audra's blouse. I'm not sure but I bet this was the first TV show to feature the use of the word "bastard." Victoria is probably the only TV to be handy with a gun.

13. Wagon Train (1957-1965): The only TV Western than can claim a connection to legendary Western movie director John Ford. Wagon Train was inspired by a film called The Wagonmaster, which like Wagon Train, starred Ward Bond. Ford also directed one episode. The show even managed to continue with on after Ward Bond's death and Robert Horton left in a dispute with producers, with John McIntyre and Robert Fuller taking over. The real focus of the shows were rarely Bond or Horton (pictured), but the major guest star of the week.

14. Cheyenne (1955-1963): This was the first hour long dramatic TV series, as well as the first hour long Western. Clint Walker played Cheyenne Bodie, "a tall, handsome stranger" who traveled from town to town helping others. There was an obvious sexual undercurrent to this early entry into the "adult" Western boom of the late 50s. Cheyenne had a knack for attracting two women per show, probably because he was also the first man on TV to be shirtless most of the time.

15. The Rifleman (1958-1963): Chuck Conners plays Lucas McCain, the fastest man with a rifle in the West, who prefers to raise his young son and tend to his ranch. The Rifleman helped pave the way for the "family-oriented" Westerns such as Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which focused more on a moral or message than action. The interesting thing is that The Rifleman was created by Sam Peckinpah, best known for violent "cutting edge" Westerns of the late 60s and 70s. Conners character was the first single parent on TV.

Some thing I wanted to point out with this list is that while many older people frequently lament the disappearance of the Western from TV as "good family entertainment," many of the "adult" Westerns broke ground as dramatic television as to what could be shown and themes that could be presented. Many of these shows featured stories that tackled such subjects as tolerance, domestic violence and poverty, which when tackled on current TV shows "upset' the people who are usually bemoaning the loss of the Westerns.

Now, let's see KYTV's Ethan Forhetz come up with his list of great TV Westerns. In the words of Gil Favor from Rawhide, "Head'em up - Move'em out!"

LOOKING BACK ON FIVE YEARS OF BLOGGING

2012-01-31T05:07:00.001-06:00

As many of you know, I have decided not to continue updating the original blog, Desdinova the Super Villain of the Ozarks, because it is too much trouble to work on two blogs at once. Also I deleted some of the post because they were either irrelevant, outdated or contained broken links to articles that are no longer available. I also deleted some that could keep me from further employment in the local media.

When I started this blog, I was one of the most hated people on the Internet in the Ozarks. It started off with my comments on the Missouri Radio Message Board and Ron Davis' Chatter blog. I decided to create a "voice" for my persona. I based it part on the character of Ronnie the Z-Man from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (top) and Stewie from Family Guy (bottom). I used the name Desdinova the Eternal Light at first.

My legend began after several skirmishes with someone calling himself Talk Radio Guy. I also believe this person was making anonymous comments on Chatter blog. This Talk Radio Guy would get mad when I made jokes about a local talk radio show host.

I had been considering setting up my own blog, but I decided to go ahead with it after I made a comment on Ron's blog about a photo of this talk radio show host that was in the News Leader. I'll admit the comment was rather mean and nasty, but I will go to my grave feeling absolutely no remorse for posting that, because this talk radio show host (as well as some of the scummy ones I've been forced to work with) was known for saying rather heartless things about people. He supposedly cried on the air about this. The bad part some of my co-workers (They didn't know it was me) were angry that someone would do such a thing. Many people were for some reason upset with Ron over this. I think some thought that Ron was Desdinova also. They also thought I was a rival talk show host (He isn't as funny as me).

So I created a blog of my own where I created a persona of a hip, liberal, megalomaniacal, mad scientist. A scary but fun person much like British rocker/political activist Screaming Lord Sutch (above).

I was going to delete all of the earlier post until I reread the post that people hated the most and realized that not only are they great satirical humor, but anyone who was offended by this stuff would have to be STUPID.

The infamous face of Desdinova was something I originally designed for a character based on the Italian super-criminal-hero Diabolik (above). It is a altered photo from a site that sells bondage clothes. The model doesn't realize he is the face of most hated blogger in the Ozarks.

The "voice" of Desdinova was a mix of famous movie actors, who played villains, as well as cartoon villains. Apparently, the talk radio crowd here in the Ozarks didn't grown up watching Saturday morning cartoons, old movie serials or horror films like I did, or they would have realized that I wasn't a mad scientist with a giant robot and zombie soldiers that lived under Park Central Square. I was told by a friend who works at Springfield Police Department that there were people calling them asking why "they hadn't arrested Desdinova yet."

I would like to pay tribute to those who I channeled while writing my post on the old blog. The first two inspired my "evil" laugh (Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!)

Count Von Count from Sesame Street

Krankor from Prince of Space

Boris Karloff as Fu Manchu

Claude Rains as the Invisible Man

Christopher Lee as Fu Manchu

Dr. No

Dr. Evil from Austin Powers

The Crimson Ghost

Alex from Clockwork Orange

Freddy Kruger

Lex Luthor from Superman

Simon Bar Sinister from Underdog

Vincent Price

Coffin Joe

Victor Buono

Peter Cook as Lucifer/Mr. Spiggot in Bedazzled

Blofeld from James Bond

Darth Vader

Dr. Strangelove

Dr. Smith from Lost In Space

Skeletor from He-Man

Dr. Meirshultz from Maniac

Some people ask, "Shouldn't you apologize to some people. I still maintain that most of my targets deserved it. There is only one person deserving an apology. Her name is Melinda and I used a school photo she gave me in 9th grade to illustrate some of my post. I have since switched the photo with a photo of a pretty girl from a 50's yearbook I found on-line. There is only one photo of Melinda left on the blog, because the post wouldn't make sense with the other photo (Someone on a message board linked to the photo thinking it was childhood photo of Paris Hilton-there is a slight resemblance). That post also mentions people thinking I was "the rival talk radio show host" of that "talk radio show host" I poked fun at. That could get me a visit from the FBI.

Robert Hegyes, Epstein of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Fame, Dead at 60

2012-01-26T20:00:00.001-06:00

Robert Hegyes, Epstein of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Fame, Dead at 60: Robert “Bobby” Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on “Welcome Back Kotter,” died in his Metuchen, N.J. home today. He was 60. Courtesy of ABC News. I always thought that it would fun to go to school with the Sweathogs. Unfortunately, I went to school with rednecks and Republican kids that hated me. "Dear Mr. Kotter: Please excuse, my son, Juan. He has passed away."

James Farentino dies at 73; prolific TV actor

2012-01-25T21:03:00.000-06:00

James Farentino dies at 73; prolific TV actor

BEST OF DESDINOVA: I HAVE MY OWN BLOG!!! AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!!!

2012-01-25T03:00:00.001-06:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: I HAVE MY OWN BLOG!!! AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!!!

This is how I started my blog five years ago today, amid the aftermath of the ice storm.

Dick Tufeld dies at 85 - Variety

2012-01-25T00:28:00.000-06:00

Dick Tufeld dies at 85 - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety

THE BEST OF DESDINOVA: DESDINOVA PRESENTS 50's TEENAGE REBEL THEATER

2012-01-24T13:55:00.001-06:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: DESDINOVA PRESENTS 50's TEENAGE REBEL THEATER

Johnny Otis dies at 90; R&B singer wrote 'Willie and the Hand Jive'- LA Times

2012-01-19T18:25:00.001-06:00

Johnny Otis dies at 90; R&B singer wrote 'Willie and the Hand Jive'

Jimmy Castor Passes - AllAccess.com

2012-01-18T15:51:00.000-06:00

Jimmy Castor Passes AllAccess.com

Dion - Abraham, Martin And John (from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour)

2012-01-15T13:52:00.000-06:00

WHAT HAPPENED TO POKING FUN AT SQUARES?

2012-01-14T01:26:00.001-06:00

Over time the portrayals of certain groups of people have changed over the years. You can see many horrible politically incorrect images in old movies and cartoons. I feel that our nation is better off because we now frown on this type entertainment, yet I feel have no problem with TCM or DVD's showing this in the historical context.

However, I have noticed an odd paradigm shift of sorts that I do not think is healthy for our pop culture. It is also hard to understand. When I was growing up, there were "nerds" and there were "squares." Yes, we poked fun at nerds in their horn-rimmed glasses with the tape on them, high-water pants, two-toned shoes and walrus laugh. They were clumsy around girls and were not very hip, but they were harmless. If given a chance, they could hang with the really cool people and be quite a bit of fun. They long to be cool too. Truth is: WE ALL ALL NERDS IN SOMEWAY. To give you an example, Eddie Deezen (above) is the perfect example of a nerd. Other examples would be the late Wally Cox and Thom Bray of Riptide.

On the other hand, there were the "squares." These people are never any fun. They never smile. They have an axe to grind with the modern society. Unlike the nerd, who longs to be cool, the square does want to be cool. They feel that feel that it is wrong to be cool. They also work to destroy anything that is fun or cool. Squares like to get on a soapbox and give a big speech about how much better they are than you. Of course, us hipsters would blow a raspberry, thumb our nose or make a sarcastic comment about them. It was actually more acceptable to make fun of a "square" than a "nerd," because, as I mentioned earlier, most people feel that they themselves are nerds, yet a square is pompous, arrogant and put themselves above everyone else. The squares typically were in authority or the overachievers in school that the adults liked (This included jocks). The Muppet Show's Sam the Eagle (above) is a perfect example of a square. Other examples, of a more villainous nature, would be John Vernon, who played Dean Wormer in Animal House, Paul Gleason, who played Principal Vernon in Breakfast Club, and J.T. Walsh, who played Sgt. Dickerson in Good Morning, Vietnam and Big Bob in Pleasantville.

Yes, it was a wonderful time in this country. You could make jokes about Lawrence Welk, Pat Boone, Dan Quayle or The Waltons, and people would laugh. Nobody tried to get you fired from your job. We showed nerds to be lovable goofs and it made feel good about ourselves. If the squares made us feel bad about ourselves, thumbed our noses at them and went on having fun. Life was good.

Now, things have sadly changed. Now if you make fun of a square, like Tim Tebow or Sarah Palin, you are considered a "terrorist." Every talk radio show host will start throwing a big fit, Fox News will lead every hour with wall-to-wall coverage and Facebook will suddenly have a bunch of hate sights about you. Yes, making fun or disrespecting "squares" doesn't get laughs now. Instead of laughs, Megan Kelly will scream and whine about this every hour, Eric Bolling will call you bad names and then they will have Bill O'Reilly will finish you off. A bunch of stay-at-home moms (with nothing better to do) will try to have you unfriended and removed from Facebook. You see, "squares" are now our heroes and they are saving America from dangerous threats, like "nerds."

Yes, the big thing among some talk radio show host is to blame "nerds" for our problems. One host claims that "nerds use their brains to hurt us." They are to blame for science, technology, education and liberal journalism. Another host claims that most of the "immoral" entertainment was developed by "nerds" in Hollywood to try to empress women. These guys also claim that "nerds" want to be liked by women, so they let them be in authority and run things. It is all because they "worship" fictional strong women like Wonder Woman, Lara Croft and Xena. When the "nerds" aren't worshiping Wonder Woman, making dirty movies and music, or hurting us with their brains, "nerds" are committing murder, rape, child molestation and other crimes. However, these talk radio guys always point out that the worst thing "nerds" do "is to plot revenge on the popular kids who made fun of them in school." It is hard to believe these talk radio guys make more money than anyone else in the radio industry.

Of course, this makes sense that talk radio people and goons on Fox News take up for "squares" because THEY ARE THE "SQUARES." On the other hand, nerds are another group of "outsiders" that they can tell us to hate and blame all of our problems on.

This part of the problem in radio. Once upon a time, a Top-40 or rock DJ would have poked fun at "squares," but now the "squares" in talk radio work for the same company as that owns the rock/T40 station. The corporate management people are all "squares" too (Have you ever met a business person that WASN'T a "square"?), so they don't allow the rock/T40 people to make fun of "squares." As a matter of fact, the DJs on rock/T40 station sound as "square" as the talk radio "squares." They also don't want to hire a "nerd," because that would contribute to their evil plot to get revenge on the popular kids in school (who were "squares").

That is the opposite of Bill Drake's philosophy that most listeners want to be told what is cool and hip, so they want to be cool and hip. Of course, that was the days when being cool and hip was better than being "square." Now "cool and hip" is an act of terrorism.

I say we should make fun of the "squares," because how else will a "nerd" like myself ever look "cool and hip" to empress women and get revenge on those popular kids who made fun of me in school.

Opinions, like these, are why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

DESDINOVA'S TOP TWENTY JAZZ-HORN ROCK SONGS

2012-01-07T14:18:00.001-06:00

1. "One Fine Morning" - Lighthouse
2. "Lucretia MacEvil" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
3. "25 Or 6 To 4" - Chicago
4. "Vehicle" - Ides of March
5. "Spinning Wheel" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
6. "Get It On" - Chase
7. "K-Jee" - The Nite-Liters
8. "Saturday In the Park" - Chicago
9. "Groovin Is Easy" - Electric Flag
10. "Beginnings" - Chicago
11. "Morning Will Come" - Spirit
12. "Glad" - Traffic
13. "Make Me Smile" - Chicago
14. "Them Changes" - Buddy Miles Express
15. "Found a Child" - Ballin Jack (The source of the guitar riff in Young MC's "Bust a Move")
16. "Drinking Wine" - Electric Flag
17. "Just You and Me" - Chicago
18. "You've Made Me So Very Happy" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
19. "Killing Floor" - Electric Flag
20. "Pretty Lady" - Lighthouse

WHO REALLY KILLED JAZZ-HORN ROCK? NOT PRESIDENT NIXON

2012-01-06T07:33:00.002-06:00

This post may shock some of you who read the old blog, but I am going to let a Republican off hook for something he often gets blamed for. First, a little rock and roll history.

In 1967, by a group called the "American Music Band" recorded the music for the Roger Corman/Peter Fonda film The Trip. They soon renamed themselves The Electric Flag, after being signed to Columbia Records. They released their first LP in 1968. This group featured a jazz-influenced horn section.

Also in 1967, Al Kooper of the Blues Project and former Mother of Invention member Jim Fielder decided to create a "rock and roll Big Band" sound based on 40's Big Bands, Maynard Ferguson's band and producer James William Guerico's use of brass backing for the pop group the Buckinghams. They called this group Blood, Sweat & Tears. They also released an LP on Columbia in 1968.

Also, in 1968, producer James Willaim Guerico began working with another Chicago group called The Big Thing. They signed to Columbia and released an LP under the name Chicago Transit Authority in 1969. After that first LP they shortened their name to Chicago.

Soon there was a Canadian jazz-horn rock band on the GRT label named Lighthouse. Over on Capitol Records, a jazz-horn band called Ides of March debuted. Columbia added another jazz-horn band in 1970 with Chase. In 1971, Warner Brothers brought out Tower of Power and RCA gave us the Nite-Lighters. I should also mention two more jazz-piano rock bands, Spirit on Columbia (Surprise!) since 1968, and Steely Dan, who first appeared on ABC in 1972.

However, by 1973, the jazz-horn bands were not as popular as they had been in their 1969-1970 heyday. Only, Chicago, Tower of Power and Steely Dan managed to stay around to the 80s. Ides of March later dropped the horns and reformed as Survivor. Many rock historians and radio DJs have claimed what hurt the jazz-horn bands was Blood, Sweat & Tears performing at the White House during Richard Nixon's presidency. This supposedly made these groups "uncool." While this sounds good, I think it was two other factors.

Like many fads, jazz-horn rock suffered from overkill. Jazz-horn rock was radio friendly for both the heavy FM album rock stations and AM Top-40. Since it was popular, the record companies wanted to cash in on it. The problem was one record company did the most cashing in: Columbia. As I mentioned Electric Flag, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Spirit and Chase were all on Columbia, not to mention about four or five other jazz-horn bands, as well as Ramsey Lewis and Miles Davis, who released critically acclaimed "rock albums." (Let's face it, after Miles Davis did Bitches Brew, there really wasn't any point in some of these bands trying to do jazz rock.) Columbia had put all their eggs in one basket. The story goes that a jazz-horn band called Soft White Underbelly sent a tape to Columbia. When they asked why they hadn't been signed, someone at Columbia said, "We're sick of bands with horns. We're now looking for the next Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple or Black Sabbath." The group submitted at new tape with a more heavy metal sound under the name Blue Oyster Cult and the rest is history.

If we want to blame some person, lets blame this kid from Awkward Family Photos and all others like him. Lets face it, we have all heard garage bands do horrible covers of the Beatles, the Stones and the Who songs or country bands, who think they can do songs by CCR, the Eagles, Skynard or the Band. It gets worse when bands try to do Led Zep, Sabbath, Kiss or Van Halen. No band should even consider covers of prog rock bands like Jethro Tull, Yes, or the Moody Blues.

However, just about any good junior high/high school/college pep or marching band can do great version or "Spinning Wheel," "25 or 6 to 4," or "One Fine Morning." I recently heard a MSU Bears Basketball road game on KTXR and while Art Hains was recapping the first half of the game, the home team's pep band was playing Chase's "Get It On" behind him. The school band doing a killer version of your song, hurts your rock and roll street cred more than playing for Tricia Nixon and Tricky Dicky.

The late 70s saw a short boom in jazz fusion groups like Weather Report, Spyro Gyra, Return To Forever and Pat Metheny Group. The closest thing to the jazz-horn bands of the late 60s/early 70s in recent years would be the Dave Mathews Band, which was popular in the 90s with radio programmers. However, many of the big hits of the jazz-horn boom are still heard on radio and still downloaded to MP3 players.

I'll provide you with a list of my favorite jazz-horn hits. Meanwhile, check out this website, Horn Rock Heaven.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WELCOME 2012!

2012-01-03T01:57:00.000-06:00

THE MUSIC MACHINE'S SEAN BONNIWELL DEAD AT 71

2011-12-28T01:33:00.001-06:00

According to a website called Rock Edition, Sean Bonniwell, lead singer of the influential 60s garage band The Music Machine, has died at age 71. This is about the only article on Boniwell's death on the Internet. Apparently, the mainstream media is more interested in unimportant people like Tim Tebow and Sarah Palin.

The Music Machine had one major Top 40 hit in 1966 with "Talk Talk," followed by "People In Me," which made it to #66 in 1967. They also had two singles in 1967 that became cult favorites, "Double Yellow Line" and "The Eagle Never Hunts the Fly." When they moved to Warner Brothers in late 1967, they became known as The Bonniwell Music Machine, which was more sunshine pop than early punk/metal.

With Sean Bonniwell and Michael Jackson both deceased (as well as Slappy White), we will probably be forced to listen to some doofus country singer who wears two gloves (probably those Wells Lamont gloves because Paul Harvey advertised them).

The video is of the Music Machine performing "Talk Talk" on Where The Action Is. Along with "Pushin Too Hard" by the The Seeds, "Talk Talk" could be the story of my life.

UPDATE (12/29/2011): The Los Angeles Times has an article on the death of Sean Bonniwell. Kudos to them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF DESDINOVA!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.001-06:00

That is me, Christmas 1978.

If you are looking for something to read until Santa arrives, here is a Slate article, by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, on writer and radio host Jean Shepherd. His book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, was the basis for the movie, Christmas Story. Also found a piece on Vince Guaraldi, who composed the music for A Charlie Brown Christmas and other the Peanuts cartoons of the 60s and 70s.

INTERESTING NEWSPAPER ADS FROM 1959

2011-12-24T00:53:00.001-06:00

I featured these in 2008 on the old blog. The two liquor ads come from a 1959 Lebanon Daily Record. The ads for Cranks Drug Store and Woolworths are from 1959 Springfield News Leader. As with anything I did at that time, it upset some people here in Springfield. Lebanon has always had a better sense of humor about this stuff.
Here are somethings I find funny about this:

Mr. Magoo pitching beer.
Woolworths is having a "gay Xmas."
Cranks is also celebrating "Xmas."
Cranks and other retail stores in the 50s seem to always have a sale on Milk of Magnesia and women's underpants (3-for-1) the same week. Is there a correlation?

If you need to make the images larger, right click on them and select "Open in new window." Then click on them again.

BY REQUEST: RETRO SANTA CLAUS COCA COLA AD (1960)

2011-12-24T00:13:00.001-06:00

I noticed on FeedJit this morning that someone had landed on this blog after Googling "santa claus retro coca cola." I assume they were looking for one of the many Santa Claus ads for Coca Cola from the past. I found this one on a 1960 Life magazine. Unfortunately, my scanner is small, but I hope it gives you an idea of what great artwork was involved in this ad campaign.

SANTA CLAUS MEETS BATMAN

2011-12-20T20:28:00.000-06:00

Santa Claus is played by Western actor Andy Devine. It is appropriate that he play Santa Claus, since the character he played on The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok was named Jingles.

K Gordon Murray Presents SANTA CLAUS in EASTMAN COLORSCOPE

2011-12-20T20:13:00.001-06:00

I remember Aunt Norma on Children's Hour promoting that you could take a canned food item to the Tower Theater, here in Springfield, to see this movie for free. It is more fun to watch it with the MST3K gang.

March of the Wooden Soldiers(Babes in Toyland) Trailer

2011-12-20T02:14:00.000-06:00

REAGAN GIVES CHESTERFIELDS FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-19T01:10:00.001-06:00

Peace On Earth. Classic Christmas cartoon. MGM 1939.

2011-12-18T00:00:00.001-06:00

The poignant Hugh Harman cartoon was nominated for both a Oscar and Nobel Peace Prize. I do believe there will come a day when squirrels take over the world.

The Snow Man 1940

2011-12-16T23:44:00.000-06:00

Produced by Terrytoons, the company that gave us Mighty Mouse, Heckle & Jeckle and Deputy Dawg. This was supposed to be a parody of such popular films of the day as Frankenstein and King Kong.

Toyland Premiere (1934) Walter Lantz "Cartune Classic" Vintage Christmas...

2011-12-16T00:00:00.001-06:00

A fun Walter Lantz cartoon featuring Oswald the Rabbit, Bing Crosby, Laurel & Hardy, Frankenstein, Eddie Cantor (in black face, for some reason), Shirley Temple, Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan, of course) and his then wife, Lupe Velez.

Santa In Animal Land (1948) Vintage Christmas Puppet Show

2011-12-15T00:00:00.001-06:00

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE RESPOSIBLE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS, ABUSE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL OR SUICIDE CAUSED BY VIEWING THIS CLIP.

Santa Claus, Punch and Judy (1948) Violent Christmas Puppet Show

2011-12-14T03:27:00.000-06:00

Dobie Gray Dies At 71

2011-12-08T02:12:00.001-06:00

Dobie Gray Dies At 71 AllAccess.com

Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies

2011-12-08T02:11:00.001-06:00

Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies AllAccess.com

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's MAS*H, Dragnet & Pete & Gladys

2011-12-08T01:58:00.000-06:00

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's 'MASH'

This article is from the L.A. Times. Here is a sample of an early TV show starring Harry Morgan, Pete & Gladys.

Coca-Cola Coke commercial Christmas 1980 "I'd like to teach the world ...

2011-12-08T00:22:00.000-06:00

Classic Coca Cola Christmas 1977

2011-12-07T03:19:00.000-06:00

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES LUCKY STRIKE

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-06:00

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES CAMELS

2011-12-06T02:56:00.000-06:00

Laugh-In star Alan Sues dies at 85

2011-12-03T01:41:00.000-06:00

’Laugh-In’ player Alan Sues dies at 85

Forgive the strange link above, it is from MSNBC. It is an obit for comedy actor Alan Sues, from the 60s and 70s TV show Laugh-In. Here is Alan Sues as Peter Pan in a 1972 Peter Pan Peanut Butter commercial.

WHO SHOULD REPLACE CHRISTIAN BALE AS BATMAN?

2011-12-02T02:05:00.001-06:00

Actor Christian Bale has announced he will not play Batman again. I didn't like his Batman movies. I even said on my old blog that that The Dark Knight would suck before it even hit the theaters. Some little dork got upset about it and even had other comic book geeks posting nasty things about me on IMDB. I should note that if you Google "the dark knight sucks" you will find that many people agreed with me. There is even a Facebook sight for people who feel the same as me about the film.

I've decided to give you my idea of what the next Batman movie, after The Dark Knight Rising, should be like and who should be in it. First off, it needs to be a hip, satirical comedy version of the 60's TV series, much like the Brady Bunch movies of the 90s. As for stars, Batman should be played by Patrick Warburton, who played The Tick in the TV show (Top photo). Robin the Boy Wonder should be played by Justin Bieber (Bottom photo). Alfred should be played by John Cleese and Aunt Harriet by Jean Stapleton (Edith from All In the Family and the movie featured in my last post, Cold Turkey). Rounding out the cast would be Robbie Coltrane as Chief O'Hara and as Adam West as Commissioner Gordon.

Of course, an opinion, like this one, is why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL EAT TODAY: Cold Turkey (1971)

2011-11-25T02:39:00.007-06:00

YOU CAN WATCH THE WKRP "Turkeys Away" EPISODE ON HULU

2011-11-23T20:56:00.001-06:00

I was going to post a video clip that was on You Tube. It was a intro by Gary Sandy for a repeat of the WKRP In Cincinnati episode "Turkeys Away" during the fourth season. In the old days, the first season of a TV show was not put on DVD and sold in stores during the second or third season. In order to see shows again, you had to wait until the show was placed in syndicated reruns or the network reran an episode from a previous season.

In the clip, Sandy, who played Andy Travis, explains that CBS had received a large number of letters from viewers asking for the "Turkeys Away" episode to be shown again. This is what he said (according to IMDB):
"Hi! I'm Gary Sandy. You know, of all the shows we've done on WKRP in the first three seasons, not one show ever generated the amount of mail, the amount of interest, as a show we did our very first season. It was called "Turkeys Away". So we kinda thought you might like to see it again. It's about Thanksgiving... so naturally we've chosen the Christmas season to show it. Happy Holidays. Drums, please."

You noticed I said the WAS on You Tube. Of course, someone has removed that video from You Tube. However, the whole episode in on Hulu. I placed it at the bottom of the post. It should be noted that TV Guide listed this episode as number in the "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" list a few years ago.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM DESDINOVA!!!
WKRP IN CINCINNATI: "TURKEYS AWAY"

70's CHEESECAKE

2011-11-23T03:46:00.001-06:00

This is from Good Housekeeping October 1977. If you are looking for the other kind of 70s cheesecake, go to Retrospace.

NOTE: To make this picture larger, right click on the image, then select "Open in new window," then click on the image to magnify.

THE TIMELORDS / KLF - Doctorin' The Tardis

2011-11-23T03:37:00.001-06:00

Doctor Who Original: Episode One, The Unearthly Child Part 3

2011-11-23T03:32:00.001-06:00

DOCTOR WHO: An Unearthly Child Part 2

2011-11-23T03:32:00.000-06:00

DOCTOR WHO IS 48 YEARS OLD

2011-11-23T03:05:00.001-06:00

TASTE OF HONEY WRITER DIES

2011-11-23T03:01:00.002-06:00

Shelagh Delaney, Morrissey muse and playwright, dies at 71 - MSN Music News

ANDREA TRUE DEAD AT 68

2011-11-23T02:58:00.001-06:00

'More, More, More' singer Andrea True dies at 68 - MSN Music News

JELL-O STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN & RAINBOW CAKE

2011-11-21T22:51:00.002-06:00

Jell-O is good any time of year. This is from a Jell-O ad June 1959 Good Housekeeping. I have a DVD of a 1950's sitcom, that was sponsored by Jell-O. The commercials were left in the show as part of the DVD. Jell-O had several flavors and products during the 50's that apparent didn't survive, or at least I've never heard of them.
If you love Jell-O check out the blog, The Joys of Jello.

NOTE: To make the photo larger, right click on it, select "Open in New Window," then click on the picture to magnify.

PILLSBURY DESERTS

2011-11-19T00:17:00.004-06:00

From Good Housekeeping October 1977. If you are questioning the tastiness of pie made from Hungry jack biscuits, check out the stuff Gilligan over at Retrospace found.

NOTE: If you are having trouble reading the recipes, right click on the picture, select "Open In a New Window" and then click on the picture to magnify.

BAKING WITH HELLMANN'S MAYONNAISE

2011-11-17T01:19:00.002-06:00

And speaking of Munchkins, here is a recipe for a chocolate munchkin cake (Doesn't mention if they scream while they are in the oven). I know my mother used mayonnaise in some baked goods, so it probably taste better than it sounds. From Good Housekeeping October 1977.

NOTE: If you need to see this large, right click, select "Open in New Window" and then magnify.

Meinhardt Raabe dies at 94; one of the Munchkins in 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times

2011-11-17T01:17:00.000-06:00

Meinhardt Raabe dies at 94; one of the Munchkins in 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE FROM CAMPBELL'S SOUP

2011-11-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

From Good Housekeeping October 1977. The slogan used in this Campbell Soup ad was "You have a way with Campbell's.

MUSHROOM RICE FROM THE RICE COUNCIL OF AMERICA

2011-11-16T03:16:00.002-06:00

From an October 1977 Good Housekeeping.

EASY DEVILED EGGS FROM HEINZ

2011-11-16T03:04:00.002-06:00

From a June 1959 Good Housekeeping.

HAPPY 11-11-11!

2011-11-11T18:03:00.001-06:00

My favorite Spinal Tap song (other than "Big Bottom").

THREE MORE THANKSGIVING RECIPES

2011-11-07T21:36:00.000-06:00

I would like to thank Cheeky for these recipes.
SAGE SAUSAGE DRESSING

2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
8 slices day old white bread, cubed
2 16 oz pkgs sage sausage
1 c. onion, diced
1 c. celery, sliced
3-5 c. chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp ground sage

Prepare cornbread according to package directions, set aside to cool. While cornbread is cooling, chop celery and onions and cut bread into cubes, set aside. Cook sausage until well crumbled and no longer pink. Remove sausage from pan and set aside, leaving 2 tbsp of drippings in pan. Add vegetables and seasoning, saute until crisp tender. Remove from heat. Add sausage and bread cubes to vegetables, toss to mix well. Crumble cooled cornbread into large bowl. Add sausage mixture and toss. Add chicken broth 1 cup at a time until desired moistness is achieved. Spoon into 13x9 glass baking dish and bake at 350 degrees 50 - 60 minutes, or until done.

LEMONY TURKEY GRAVY:

4 Tbsp butter
1/4 c. flour
1 carrot
1 rib of celery
1 small onion, halved
3 c. chicken broth
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Pulse veggies in food processor until finely chopped. Melt butter over med-high heat, add veggies and cook 7 mins. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 4 mins. Lower heat to medium, whisk in broth, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Simmer for 13 minutes, strain and serve.

HERB BUTTER RUB FOR POULTRY:

1 stick salted butter (or margarine), softened
poultry seasoning
red pepper
fresh ground black pepper
onion powder
garlic powder
dried sage
dried basil

Place butter in bowl, add seasoning and mix well.
Form back into basic stick shape, rewrap and place in refrigerator until firm again.

LEONARD STONE DIES AT 87

2011-11-05T00:05:00.000-05:00

This is an obit from a website called All Voices for character actor Leonard Stone (photo above). Most of the obits mention that his most famous role was as Violet's father in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Am I the only one who remembers Stone from a series of 70's Alka Seltzer commercials. He and another actor portrayed characters named Conk and Bonk. They wore derby hats and pinstriped suits. One had a large mallet and the other wore boxing gloves. They would give people "the old one-two." I could not find one of these on You Tube. I do know they inspired villains in Spider Man comic books.

SID MELTON DIES AT 94

2011-11-04T23:50:00.000-05:00

Here is the story from The Hollywood Reporter. He played Icky Mudd on Captain Midnight/Jet Jackson, Charlie Halper on Make Room For Daddy, and Alf Monroe on Green Acres (Would his brother, Ralph, be considered a transgender person today?). The guys on Mystery Science Theater 3000 nicknamed Melton "Monkeyboy" in one episode.

MINIME'S CHERRY FLUFF RECIPE

2011-11-04T02:20:00.000-05:00

Minime is a friend of mine from Lebanon, Mo. She thought that readers of this blog would enjoy this desert recipe.

Ingredients:

1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed.
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained.
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling.
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk.
1 cup miniature marshmallows.
1/2 cup flaked coconut.
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

Directions Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Chill overnight. Yield: 12-16 servings.
Sounds yummy!!!

IDEAS FOR THANKSGIVING

2011-11-02T02:27:00.001-05:00

I know that people see me as a rebel, who doesn’t take orders or opinions from anyone. True, but I’m thinking of asking for help. After the success of the Countdown to Halloween, I’m looking toward the next big holiday which is Thanksgiving. I have an idea. I have a large collection of women’s fashion, “nesting” and Life magazines. These magazines have plenty of recipes and food related articles in them. I have decided to feature them, along with my usual pop culture retrospective.

Here is where the response, feedback, audience-driven, media major goes to work. I would like for you, as a reader to contact me, Desdinova-the Super Villain of the Ozarks, with a recipe for a dish suitable for Thanksgiving dinner, desert or snack. This way we also keep the blog content localized.

Use the following e-mail addresses: d4windsbar@yahoo.com or lhs1987@socket.net. Address them as “Desdinova Thanksgiving Recipe.” This way I know who is reading this blog.

NOTE: I have been diagnosed as a “borderline diabetic,” so diabetic recipes will probably take precedent.

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN IS OVER

2011-11-01T22:30:00.000-05:00

This was my first year of participating in the Countdown To Halloween. I really enjoyed this blogging event. It was a shot in the arm to this new blog. The only draw back is not enough time to post about everything I wanted to. I'll admit I got some ideas late in the game. I also may have posted too much from You Tube. I realize that this was my first experience and will know what to do differently next year.

UNIVERSAL MONSTER JIGGLY TOYS ON MY SCANNER

2011-10-31T03:42:00.003-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

ZACHELEY'S TV DANCE PARTY WITH THE BOX TOPS

2011-10-31T02:17:00.001-05:00

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper

2011-10-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper (live 1964)

2011-10-30T00:26:00.000-05:00

NOTE: This is from a British TV news program that was broadcast several years ago. Screaming Lord Sutch has since died. I love the reaction of the girls in the audience.

Mad Monster Party? - Trailer (c. 1967)

2011-10-30T00:13:00.000-05:00

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Halloween Movie Ideas

2011-10-29T02:10:00.000-05:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Halloween Movie Ideas

BEST OF DESDINOVA: HALLOWEEN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

2011-10-29T02:05:00.000-05:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: HALLOWEEN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Halloween Top 50 Songs

2011-10-29T01:53:00.000-05:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Halloween Top 50 Songs

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Why Does Radio Hate Halloween?

2011-10-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Why Does Radio Hate Halloween?

NOTE: This was before I started ending these kind of post with "Opinions, like this one, is why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Scaredy Cat - Looney Tunes - Porky Pig & Sylvester the Cat 1948

2011-10-26T03:10:00.000-05:00

Spooks-1930-Oswald the Rabbit

2011-10-26T03:04:00.000-05:00

CARRY ON SCREAMING: A REVIEW

2011-10-25T02:20:00.000-05:00

The Carry On comedies were produced in Great Britain from 1958 to 1978. It is interesting to see ads for these in the old Springfield Daily News and Springfield Leader & Press, which is a testament to their minor popularity in this country. I'll get into another example of their following in this country later on. I became familiar with the Carry On films when they were part of a syndicated movie package called "The Movie Greats Network." It was there that I first saw Carry On Screaming.
The Carry On films satirized various British institutions such as the military, hospitals, public transportation, temp agencies, public schools, cruise ships and law enforcement. Along the way, they began poked fun at movies too. Starting first with James Bond, then Cleopatra, pirate films, and American Westerns. It would only make sense for the Carry On gang to take on Britain's most popular film studio, Hammer Studios and horror films in general.
The film revolves around the search for a missing girl (Angela Douglas). The only clue left at scene of the crime was a large, hairy finger with a sharp, black claw. The finger belongs to a reanimated neanderthal named Oddbod.
The girl's boyfriend, Albert Potter (Jim Dale), goes to the police with the hairy finger. Sergeant Bung (Harry H. Corbett) and Constable Slobotham (Peter Butterworth) decide to investigate, since she is the sixth woman to disappear from that area. After Slobotham has a chance meeting with the monster, Bung decides to visit a near by Gothic manor, known as the Bide-a-Wee Rest Home. They are greeted by a stoic zombie-like butler named Sockett (Bernard Bresslaw), who tells them that the master of the house has been dead for fifteen years, "but if you come in, I'll ask him if he can see you."
Next, they meet Valeria (Fenella Fielding), a slinky Goth chick in a tight scarlet dress. She says that she will have to "wake" her brother, Dr. Orlando Watt. Dr. Watt is played by Carry On regular Kenneth Williams. The best way to explain Kenneth Williams to a person who isn't familiar with him would be a British version Paul Lynde.
We later find out that Oddbod kidnaps women, brings them to Dr. Watt, who then covers them with wax and sells them as mannequins to clothing stores.
A public men's room attendant (Charlie Hawtrey) attempts to inform Bung and Slobotham about the women being turned into mannequins, but Oddbod gives him a fatal swirly (off screen, of course).
A police scientist (Jon Pertwee) tries a galvanic experiment with the severed monster finger and accidentally creates causes another monster to grow at the end of the finger. The monster shows up at the manor and Dr.Watt names him Junior.
Add to this, a mummy named King Rubatitti, Valeria turning Bung into a werewolf and more than enough double-entendres and bad puns to make this one of the best horror film parodies of all-time.

Some other interesting trivia to note about this film.

I mentioned that contrary to what some have suggested, the Carry On films did have a modest following in America. As a matter of fact, the American distributors asked that nerdy Charlie Hawtrey be included, because he tended to be very popular with the American audiences.
Jim Dale's character is named Albert Potter. These days Jim Dale records audio books of the Harry Potter series.
There is a tip of the hat to Abbot and Costello when Williams introduces himself. Slobotham says "Doctor who?" Williams replies "Not Who, Watt! Dr. Who is my uncle." Jon Pertwee, who plays the police scientist, later played Dr. Who in the early 70s.
Actor Frank Thornton plays the manager of a clothing store in this film, later played the manager of a clothing store on the TV show Are You Being Served?

Check out Carry On Screaming. It is great ghoulish fun.

Carry On Screaming (1966) - Trailer

2011-10-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

REMEMBER KY 3's "NIGHT DIARY" SPECIAL

2011-10-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

On Halloween 1990, KYTV aired a great TV special called "Night Diary." It was hosted by the late Fred Schweitzer. For those who don't remember Fred Schweitzer, he was a commercial producer at KYTV. He also was an actor and writer. Many remember his portrayal of Wild Bill Hickok on the Park Central Square. His other famous character was a vampire named Robert Barlow. It was this persona that he used when hosting "Night Diary." Sadly, Schweitzer died suddenly in 1996. "Night Diary" was a collection of spooky legends and ghost stories from the Ozarks. It was apparently quite popular, because KY 3 rerun the special in October of 1993 and October of 1995. According to this website, there was a "Night Diary 2" that aired on Halloween 1994. I wish KYTV would either rerun these TV specials or post them on You Tube. It would be great if another generation could see these superb local productions.

PS: For those of you who don't remember Fred Schweitzer, there is a photo of him and his oddly decorated office on the KY3 Website.

DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN: A REVIEW

2011-10-20T00:00:00.005-05:00

There are two kinds of bad movies. One features a cast of unknowns, who are struggling to make it, and then there are the movies, which famous people on the way down. Al Adamson was a master of the second kind of film and Dracula vs Frankenstein is the one of the latter. This movie was J. Carol Nash and Lon Chaney Jr. last movie roles. It also features Freaks star Alberto Rossitto, Hawaiian Eye star Anthony Eisley, Famous Monster editor Forrest Akerman and MGM musical star Russ Tamblyn. The only person who became a bigger star after this movie was Jim Davis, who went on to be Jock Ewing on Dallas, and future director Greydon Clark.

This movie features a Dracula that looks like a cross between Frank Zappa and Jerry Seinfield and speaks with an echo effect on his voice, a Frankenstein monster with a face made of Bisquick, a gang of bikers on minibikes and J. Carol Nash’s clicking false teeth. Other than some violent murders and a glimpse of a bare breast, this film seems like it might have been made for children. It was even rated PG (GP back in those days).

This is one of those bad movies that is fun to watch. What makes it fun is that it keeps moving at a brisk pace and the people in it are a mixture of good actors on the way down and incredibly bad actors. The slowest this film gets is when Anthony Eisley and actress Regina Carrol make out to some generic 70s soft rock song. It is actually less of a movie and more like a living horror comic book.

Dracula vs Frankenstein is crap, but it is good, fun crap.

DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN (1971) Trailer

2011-10-19T15:49:00.003-05:00

PEANUTS GREAT PUMPKIN CAROLS

2011-10-19T02:26:00.002-05:00

My sister, Villanova, gave me this when I was in Kindergarten. I loved the It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown TV special when I was small. I thought this card was wonderful. I'm sure there will be some nitwit here in Springfield and the Ozarks that will be offended by this because this is a take-off on Christmas carols, but I don't care.I prefer Halloween to Christmas.

WHY YOU NEED TO SEE SPIDER BABY AT LEAST ONCE

2011-10-18T23:13:00.000-05:00

I have been planning to write a review of the 1964/68 cult film Spider Baby for quite some time. What better time to do it than Halloween.

My first exposure to this film was in some clips that were incorporated into a Goodtimes home video compilation Horrible Horror, hosted by Zacherley. Those scenes are taken out of context make this film look like a bad proto-slasher film with goofy characters. The complete film is an underrated classic, which has only become popular in the last few years thanks to cable TV and home video.

It is interesting that this film was made in 1964, when the three most popular TV sitcoms featured Halloweenish subject manner. Spider Baby was sort of a darker and more warped cousin of Bewitched, The Addams Family and The Munsters. One of the few comedy horror films that isn't a parody or send up of other horror films.

Unfortunately, it was not released to theaters until 1968, due to the distributor filing for bankruptcy. It changed hands (and titles a few times). Originally it was called The Maddest Story Ever Told, as a parody of The Greatest Story Ever Told. At one point the film also went by Cannibal Orgy and The Liver Eaters.

The film is built around the concept of a fictional condition called Merrye Syndrome, which inflected the Merrye family. The Merrye family was rich and powerful at one point but liked to inbreed. The condition caused the members of the family to regress into childlike behavior before reverting into violent inhuman cannibals.

The last surviving members of the Merrye family are contacted by the Howes, two long lost cousins and their sleazy lawyer, Mr. Schlocker (Karl Schanzer). The cousins include Peter (Quinn Redeker), who acts like he might also by the long lost cousin of Dick Van Dyke, and Emily (Carol Ohmart), a greedy, blonde bitch. Peter also provides an introduction to the film.

The Merryes are three young adults that behave like small children. Elizabeth (Beverly Washburn) is a bratty older sister who wears a party dress, Virginia (Jill Banner) pretends she is a spider and Ralph (Sid Haig) is a large, bald toddler. They are all cared for by a soft-hearted caretaker Bruno, played by Lon Chaney Junior.

The family learns of the impending visit by Emily and Peter, after Virginia kills a messenger, played by African-American comedian Mantan Moreland, while pretending to be a spider. Emily and the lawyer insist on staying the night, even though Bruno tries to persuade them to go to the inn at the nearby village. Peter, not rally wanting to be involved with Emily's effort to commit the "children" and take control of the Merrye fortune, says he will stay in town with the lawyer's attractive young secretary (Mary Mitchell).

The lawyer insist on Bruno serving dinner for Emily, Peter, the secretary and himself. Virginia gathers mushrooms and greens for a salad and Ralph kills a cat, which is roasted and served (although Bruno never tells the guest what it is).

The "children" overhear Emily and Schlocker plotting to institutionalize them and get her hands on the Merrye family fortune. Elizabeth talks Virginia into getting back at the "bad people" with a little help from the some of the other remaining Merrye relatives, who live in a boarded up room in the basement.

Spider Baby was directed and written by Jack Hill, who later directed Switchblade Sisters, Coffy and Foxy Brown. It was filmed in seven days at a mansion once owned by a former judge who wrote occult books. Whoever is responsible for the lighting, should get some recognition (I couldn't find it on IMDB). The dark and light contrast add to the atmosphere of the film. This film features a great cast. This would have to be the last great role Lon Chaney Jr. had. He appeared in other films but was not very good, due to his poor health. As Bruno, he plays a kindhearted father figure, trying to instill in the children morals and protect them from the people on the outside who would harm them.

Washburn, Banner and Haig are great as the three children. I have come to see Haig's role as Ralph in a different light recently, after watching my eighteen month old great-nephew. Haig has the mannerisms of a toddler down and incorporates them into the role. Beverly Washburn gives us this great switch toward the end of the film. She goes from being the pretty, tattletale bratty to raving psycho. I love when she screams "KILL HIM!" at the sight of the weaselly lawyer Schlocker.

Jill Banner, as Virginia, pretty much steals the show from the moment she hacks off Mantan Moreland's ear with a butcher knife. She gives Virginia both childlike and erotic qualities. She and Washburn are great in the scene where they overhear Emily's and Schlocker's plans. The way Banner answers Washburn with the phrase "I know" is creepy and humorous.

This is a movie that you have to see at least once. It is a fun experience. Some people would hate this movie, but remember what Bruno says "Children, we shouldn't hate."

Spider Baby Trailer

2011-10-17T00:36:00.001-05:00

MONSTERS: BEFORE THEY BECAME FAMOUS

2011-10-16T00:47:00.000-05:00

Do you recognize the monster in this 1969 Munchos Potato Chip ad before he became a star?

Der Wienerschnitzel commercial with Dracula

2011-10-15T02:04:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure the exact year on this ad, but it is probably from around the same time Der Wienerschitzel had locations here in Springfield, Mo (Early 70s?). Notice the picture of Der Wienerschitzel's building shown at the end of the commercial. When Der Wienerschitzel closed, those buildings became cashew chicken restaurants.

I wish some someone would find a good copy of that commercial. They always look fuzzy.

A Spook Show Trailer

2011-10-14T17:26:00.001-05:00

Someone should put one of these on at the Moxie or Giloiz. Maybe the money could go to help Joplin tornado victims or something.

HOW I WOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THE SPRINGLAWN/ ALBINO FARM (Andy Milligan Style)

2011-10-12T19:27:00.000-05:00

For those who have been longing for the good old days of my more vitriolic rants, you are in luck-to some degree. As you read in my last post, I feel that legend of Springlawn Farm and the Albino hatchet-man should be exploited in some way. It think it would be fun to have some spooky legend to drawn visitors to the Ozarks.

Sadly, in my research about the film and the variations on the legend, I found that there was a self-righteous attitude toward people who were interested in the Springlawn Farm-Albino Hatchet Man legend. Many of the writers have the same attitude as Sarah Overstreet. People should be ashamed of spreading the legend of Springlawn Farm because the families that owned the Springlawn Farm “were hard working people.” Ozarkers feel it would be okay to tell this horrific story about people who are unemployed. Ozarkers have a sick and twisted fetish about people with money, work and owning property. The more money and land you own, the better
you are than everyone else. Nobody should be allowed to say that there is something wrong with you family (even if you do have an axe-murdered on the payroll). I think this is what is refereed to in the Bible as covetousness. Of course, the same people that feel we shouldn’t spread the Springlawn Farm are the same people who call greedy, dishonest business people “job creators.” I suspect that the family that owned Springlawn Farm must have been Republican if the Ozarkers
feel we shouldn’t make fun of them.

The other one I came across in many of the anti-Springlawn/Albino Farm information is “This was urban legend was started by teenagers at Parkview High School.” Ozarkers always return to their hatred of young people over and over. How dare “teenagers” make fun of “hard working people!” If it is part of the youth culture, Ozarkers always brand it as “evil” and try to have a lawmaker pass a law against it. I’m surprised Billy Long hasn’t made some big speech “aginst that thar Albino Farm legend.”

I watched the movie Albino Farm, which was filmed in this area and brought this idiotic
controversy to the forefront. It is actually a very good, well-made horror film, however, it is not the version of the Springlawn legend that I prefer. The version I like is the one in Joan Gilbert’s Missouri Ghost books. It is a more Gothic story that involves a suicide by hanging, spinster sisters and, of course, the hatchet-wielding Albino caretaker.

I would make this film a homage to legendary bad horror film director/writer/costume designer Andy Milligan. The Springlawn Farm legend sounds like the plot of Milligan’s The GhastlyOnes. Also, there is always a hunchback or mentally challenged caretaker/henchman in an Andy Milligan film. The Albino head-chopping caretaker is a perfect character to pay homage to Milligan’s proto-slasher films since Milligan’s costumer/dress making alter-ego, Raffinine, dressed many actor’s in bleached blonde wigs and chalky white make-up, as you can see in the
photos above (Andy Milligan made dresses, while Ed Wood wore dresses). Hal Borske (top picture) would be perfect for the role of the Albino caretaker.

First off, it needs to be filmed with a 16 mm camera and enlarged for theaters or filmed on an Ipod or cell phone. That way it is grainy with bad sound like Milligan’s films. It should focus on two spinster sisters, who want to pass on the Springlawn Farm to their young cousins with the help of the crooked family lawyer, even though they believe the house is haunted by the ghost of their brother, who hung himself. They have hired a mute Albino caretaker with violent tendencies. The sisters take turns tying him up and beating him when he gets out of control, even
though they say it “turns him on” (Milligan’s movies usually mention bondage and whipping since he was into S&M).

The young cousins show up for a weekend stay. They include three sisters, their effeminate husbands and a brother/priest, who brags about taking nude photos of alter boys. We also find out he has been having affairs with each of his sister’s husbands.

At one point the youngest and brattiest sister, throws a fit exclaiming that she should be the one who gets Springlawn Farm. “Springlawn should be mine! Mine! Mine! I was daddy’s little princess, so I should be the queen of Springlawn!” The brother/priest, who wears a red and gold satin robe and velvet covered wastebasket on his head (Kind of like Guru the Mad Monk in the bottom photo), tells his sister “You may get to be the queen of Springlawn, but remember, I’M THE BIGGEST QUEEN IN THIS FAMILY.”

The husbands and sisters are murdered and everyone blames it on the Albino caretaker. Hands are cut off, eyes are poked out with knitting needles, stabbed with a pitch fork and decapitated in a very cheap and unconvincing style. You’ll get to see rubber hands bouncing, hard boiled eyes with large dots drawn on them to represent gouged out eyeballs and people sticking their heads through holes in tables I should note here that The Ghastly Ones has the most realistic looking decapitated head in any Andy Milligan film. The other decapitation victims in his movies tend to wiggle and have a bored look on their face like they are about echo the animal appliances from the Flintstones and say "It's a living."

It is just how I believe this should be done. Of course, opinions and ideas like this are why I’m considered the Super Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Sarah Overstreet Needs to Get a Life!

2011-10-11T22:59:00.001-05:00

NOTE: Before you read this post from May of 2007, I want to point out that while I often did not agree with former Springfield News Leader columnist Sarah Overstreet, I was not a Sarah Overstreet-hater. I later had a post in which I agreed with her on a need for improving the storm drainage system in Springfield. I also slammed the News Leader when the fired her. They basically replaced her and other journalist with a bunch of right-leaning simpletons, who get weekly rants on the editorial page. Unfortunately, when you Google Sarah Overstreet's name this article comes up.

I also want to mention that one of the articles I mention in the post was removed by the News Leader. I found someone named Jim Nasium (Now that's funny) copied and pasted it on this KC Chief's fan forum.

I fixed the photo of the poster of Andy Milligan's The Ghastly Ones. I also attached it to this post. Tomorrow, I will give you my opinion (Shock! Desdinova has an opinion!) on how a movie about this legend of the Springlawn Farm should be made.

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Sarah Overstreet Needs to Get a Life!

Orange Shasta Frankenstein Commercial 1971

2011-10-11T02:45:00.000-05:00

Betty Boop's Halloween Party 1933

2011-10-10T00:46:00.003-05:00

More Betty Boop Halloween fun. Maybe this will make you Monday easier to tolerate.

Betty Boop-Minnie The Moocher [1932]-restored titles

2011-10-09T16:51:00.000-05:00

"Minnie the Moocher" isn't a Halloween song, but this 1932 Betty Boop cartoon has ghost, goblins, monsters and Cab Calloway.

Silly Symphony - The Skeleton Dance - 1929

2011-10-09T01:03:00.000-05:00

Barnabas Collins Dark Shadows Game commercial

2011-10-08T02:51:00.000-05:00

COUNT NORLOCK NOW

2011-10-07T00:15:00.001-05:00

Here is a new Count Norlock episode. This one was made for folks in Colorado and features some great ghost stories.

A GARGOYLE SUBSTITUTES FOR COUNT NORLOCK

2011-10-06T00:57:00.002-05:00

Count Norlock is out of town, so a gargoyle on the wall becomes the substitute host. Elvis shows up again. The only complication is an angry Russian farmer and his sexy sister show up too. I like the Gargoyle. I think he has a lot of talent. That gun-crazy Russian is a real problem for the gargoyle. I would give his problems to a monkey on a rock.

COUNT NORLOCK MEETS ELVIS

2011-10-05T15:53:00.001-05:00

In this episode of the Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock, Count Norlock's castle is invaded by Elvis impersonators. Watch for the head of Ray Jordan to appear.

REMEMBER COUNT NORLOCK ON KSPR-33

2011-10-04T22:16:00.000-05:00

The New Adventures of Desdinova the Super Villain of the Ozarks

Billy Strange Dead At 81 - AllAccess.com

BEST OF DESDINOVA: THE MOD SQUAD WAS COOLER THAN 21 JUMP STREET (Sorry Johnny Depp)

Producer Al DeLory Passes Away At The Age Of 82 - AllAccess.com

DESDINOVA'S VALENTINE'S DAY IPOD PLAYLIST

MY OBLIGATORY "WHITNEY HOUSTON DIED" POST

'Big Valley' star Peter Breck dead at age 82 - KansasCity.com

Ben Gazzara Dead at 81

Don Cornelius dies at 75; creator of 'Soul Train'

DESDINOVA'S LIST OF TV GREATEST WESTERNS

LOOKING BACK ON FIVE YEARS OF BLOGGING

Robert Hegyes, Epstein of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Fame, Dead at 60

James Farentino dies at 73; prolific TV actor

BEST OF DESDINOVA: I HAVE MY OWN BLOG!!! AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!!!

Dick Tufeld dies at 85 - Variety

THE BEST OF DESDINOVA: DESDINOVA PRESENTS 50's TEENAGE REBEL THEATER

Johnny Otis dies at 90; R&B singer wrote 'Willie and the Hand Jive'- LA Times

Jimmy Castor Passes - AllAccess.com

Dion - Abraham, Martin And John (from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour)

WHAT HAPPENED TO POKING FUN AT SQUARES?

DESDINOVA'S TOP TWENTY JAZZ-HORN ROCK SONGS

WHO REALLY KILLED JAZZ-HORN ROCK? NOT PRESIDENT NIXON

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WELCOME 2012!

THE MUSIC MACHINE'S SEAN BONNIWELL DEAD AT 71

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF DESDINOVA!

INTERESTING NEWSPAPER ADS FROM 1959

BY REQUEST: RETRO SANTA CLAUS COCA COLA AD (1960)

SANTA CLAUS MEETS BATMAN

K Gordon Murray Presents SANTA CLAUS in EASTMAN COLORSCOPE

March of the Wooden Soldiers(Babes in Toyland) Trailer

REAGAN GIVES CHESTERFIELDS FOR CHRISTMAS

Peace On Earth. Classic Christmas cartoon. MGM 1939.

The Snow Man 1940

Toyland Premiere (1934) Walter Lantz "Cartune Classic" Vintage Christmas...

Santa In Animal Land (1948) Vintage Christmas Puppet Show

Santa Claus, Punch and Judy (1948) Violent Christmas Puppet Show

Dobie Gray Dies At 71

Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's M*A*S*H, Dragnet & Pete & Gladys

Coca-Cola Coke commercial Christmas 1980 "I'd like to teach the world ...

Classic Coca Cola Christmas 1977

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES LUCKY STRIKE

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES CAMELS

Laugh-In star Alan Sues dies at 85

WHO SHOULD REPLACE CHRISTIAN BALE AS BATMAN?

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL EAT TODAY: Cold Turkey (1971)

YOU CAN WATCH THE WKRP "Turkeys Away" EPISODE ON HULU

70's CHEESECAKE

THE TIMELORDS / KLF - Doctorin' The Tardis

Doctor Who Original: Episode One, The Unearthly Child Part 3

DOCTOR WHO: An Unearthly Child Part 2

DOCTOR WHO IS 48 YEARS OLD

TASTE OF HONEY WRITER DIES

ANDREA TRUE DEAD AT 68

JELL-O STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN & RAINBOW CAKE

PILLSBURY DESERTS

BAKING WITH HELLMANN'S MAYONNAISE

Meinhardt Raabe dies at 94; one of the Munchkins in 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE FROM CAMPBELL'S SOUP

MUSHROOM RICE FROM THE RICE COUNCIL OF AMERICA

EASY DEVILED EGGS FROM HEINZ

HAPPY 11-11-11!

THREE MORE THANKSGIVING RECIPES

LEONARD STONE DIES AT 87

SID MELTON DIES AT 94

MINIME'S CHERRY FLUFF RECIPE

IDEAS FOR THANKSGIVING

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN IS OVER

UNIVERSAL MONSTER JIGGLY TOYS ON MY SCANNER

ZACHELEY'S TV DANCE PARTY WITH THE BOX TOPS

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper (live 1964)

Mad Monster Party? - Trailer (c. 1967)

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Halloween Movie Ideas

BEST OF DESDINOVA: HALLOWEEN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Halloween Top 50 Songs

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Why Does Radio Hate Halloween?

Scaredy Cat - Looney Tunes - Porky Pig & Sylvester the Cat 1948

Spooks-1930-Oswald the Rabbit

CARRY ON SCREAMING: A REVIEW

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's MAS*H, Dragnet & Pete & Gladys