Snow Creature (1954): Classic B Movies

      During the Sci-Fi movie heydays of the 1950s, many films were produced using the same formula, harking back to the old monster movie/King Kong story lines. Snow Creature (1954) is one such film, from the father/son team of W. Lee and Myles Wilder.

     The story begins in the Himalayas, where a botanist and his photographer companion are on an expedition led by Sherpa guides. The wife of one of the Sherpas is kidnapped by a Yeti. 

    When the scientists refuse to believe such tales, the Sherpas form a mutiny and force the scientists to accompany them on a search to kill the Yeti and rescue the woman. 

     The Yeti's cave is located and he is captured, but his Yeti family is killed in a rock collapse during the 

melee.

     Regaining control of the vigilante group, the scientists save the Yeti on the presumption that it is worth more alive. 

     The creature is placed in a big refrigerator (that looks like a telephone booth) and transported to Los Angeles, CA. There is a delay in immigration, however, because they cannot determine if the Yeti is man or beast. During the delay, the creature escapes and goes on a rampage among the women in the City, using the cool city storm drains as a hideout. 

    The natural climax occurs...

    

A short scene from Snow Creature

     Overall, the story is enjoyable. Not entirely original... Much of it was taken from King Kong, but at least they borrowed from the best. The creature is wisely kept in deep shadow for most of the movie, keeping glimpses of the ridiculous costume to a minimum. Snow Creature in a good example of the genre, restrained but attention-grabbing.

Raj Sivaraman: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Raj Sivaraman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     On Quiet Desperation, Raj Sivaraman plays a stand-up comedian who often finds himself on the receiving end of Tom Dustin's relentless, ill-willed heckling. He also had an ill-fated partnership with Tetra, who got rid of him as soon as she started to gain notoriety.

Quiet D- The Comedy Studio and heckling

The WBCN Rumble and "Tetra"

     In real life, Raj Sivaraman is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor based in Boston. Rooftop Comedy states, Raj Sivaraman is a "writer/comedian who likes to make people laugh and possibly teach them a lesson or two. He is a co-founder of the sketch über-group Lightning Hawx. He has performed in festivals all over the country for standup and sketch comedy, and was one of the main writers of Boston News Net."

Read more here on his Rooftop Comedy profile: http://www.rooftopcomedy.com/comics/RajSivaraman

Raj performing stand-up at The Comedy Studio

Interviewed by Steve Katsos

Raj Sivaraman's Holiday Address

Quiet Desperation #8, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

The Shadow Strikes (1937): Classic Films from Pulp Magazines

     Those cheap dime store novels and pulp magazines sure had some great, entertaining yarns... the stories are kitschy and memorable. The film versions of those stories can be hit or miss. The Shadow Strikes (1937) comes from the higher end of the spectrum and is well made and still enjoyable 75 years later.

     Lamont Granston is operating as his alter-ego "The Shadow" breaking up a late night burglary in a lawyer's office. 

     He succeeds in thwarting the crooks, but the police arrival gums up the works. Granston is forced to pretend to be the lawyer whose office was being robbed, so as not to give away or have to explain why he was there. While being questioned, the phone rings. Granston answers it as the lawyer, and must make a strange late night call to a client. He goes, so not to arouse suspicion. The client who summoned him feels his life is in danger, and wants to re-write his will. He needs the lawyer's assistance. In the process of doing so, the client is shot and killed. Granston is now stuck in the middle. He cannot reveal his true identity, and feels impelled to solve the crime. He combs through the list of suspects, including the dead man's family. 

     His half-wit nephew...

      And his pompous nephew...

      Even the Mafia is suspected... 

     Can the Shadow solve the case?

The Shadow Strikes- teaser trailer

New Illustration: Hank Williams III and Joe Buck

Hank Williams III and Joe Buck, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     Although not necessarily the first two faces that come to mind when one thinks of Country music, Shelton Hank Williams III (Hank 3) and his bass player, Joe Buck, have truly earned themselves a place in the history of the genre, if for no other reason than the much needed kick in the ass that they delivered to it. It is both a tradition and a passion for them, with Hank being the son of Hank Williams Jr. and the grandson of the legendary Country icon, Hank Williams.

   

Hank 3- It Must've Been Those Pills I Took

     Empowered by multi-influences, both men do not conform to the norm, nor can they be pidgeon-holed. They both have side projects in other areas, namely Metal and Punk music. Hank 3 has a Metal band, Assjack, as well as other projects. Joe Buck has the pretty much solo Metal/Punk band, Joe Buck Yourself.

Joe Buck Yourself- Evil Motherf*#@er from Tennessee

Assjack- Tennessee Driver

For more info on Hank Williams III, visit: http://www.hank3.com/

For more info on Joe Buck, visit: joebuckyourself.com

Hank Williams III, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Joe Buck, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Deer Tick: Art and Music (Songs that Inspired the Illustrations)

John McCauley, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Art Isn't Real

Main Street

Baltimore Blues No. 1

Houston, TX

Miss K.

Deer Tick, 2010. By Travis Simpkins

John McCauley of Deer Tick, 2010. By Travis Simpkins

Aaron the King Wizard: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Aaron the King Wizard, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     On Quiet Desperation, Aaron the King Wizard has been moving up the ladder in terms of employment. He started out as a janitor at the jam space, then was hired as Robby's bodyguard, and now in an entrepreneurial turn, he has started his own record label... simply called, "The Label."

Aaron as the janitor at New Alliance

Aaron as Robby's bodyguard

Aaron starts "The Label"

     In real life, Aaron the King Wizard is a comedian and actor who has been working alongside Rob Potylo pretty much from the beginning. In early webisodes, Aaron and Robby did a great series where it's just the two of them playing and reacting to vintage video games. Another standout video, is Aaron doing very awkward stand-up comedy at a church to an unreceptive audience.

See all of Aaron's videos on youtube here: aaron the king wizard on youtube

Aaron the King Wizard doing comedy at a Church

 Tecmo Bowl

Aaron the King Wizard- "Let me Put the Tip In" music video

The Legend of Zelda

Quiet Desperation #6, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962): Classic B Movies

     The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) has been slammed and lampooned a lot over the years, but one aspects of the film that is usually respected is the fact that it has creative, original ideas behind it. Plus, it's an enjoyable story and still fun to watch.

     The story centers on a doctor, who has been experimenting in transplanting limbs and animating dead tissue. His father (also a doctor) disapproves of his methods, but can't argue when his son uses that knowledge to bring a dead patient back to life. 

     The doctor is called away on urgent business to his country house, and he brings his lovely fiancee with him. Rushing to get there, the doctor crashes the car and his fiancee is decapitated. He grabs her head and runs it up to his laboratory inside his country house. He and his assistant rig up an apparatus that will keep the head alive. 

     After a while, she awakens, but it is immediately apparent that a new body must be found. 

     The fiancee is bitter and angry that the doctor would be so unethical as to leave her a body-less freak. She asks repeatedly to die, but her voice falls on deaf ears. Her only communication is with a mutated freak (who is an assemblage of failed experiments) that resides behind a locked door nearby.

     Meanwhile, the doctor is out in search of a new sexy body for his fiancee. He goes to a dance hall and watches a girl disrobe. 

     Liking what he sees, he converses with her and plans to kill her for her body. They are interrupted and he is forced to abandon the plan. 

     Still in need of a body, he finds an artist's model with a body that really turns him on. 

     He lures her back to his lab, drugs her and plans the removal of her head. 

     The fiancee is not happy about this, so he tries to shut her up. 

     Can she persuade the horrible freak in the closet to put a stop to this madness?

The Brain That Wouldn't Die- movie trailer

The Gold Rush (1925): Classic Charlie Chaplin (Films for Winter)

     Of all the films that take place during Winter, perhaps none are as memorable or charming as The Gold Rush (1925), written, directed, scored and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film is a "classic" is every sense of the word.

     Chaplin appears as his signature "Tramp" character. The film is packed with unforgettable moments.

     Out to prospect gold in the Klondike, he traverses many obstacles, both environmental and personal.

      His cabin is refuge for some unsavory characters.

     Hunger is a problem, and in one scene he is forced to eat his shoe.

      In characteristic Chaplin style, he yearns for the unobtainable woman.

     In a charming fantasy sequence he delivers the legendary "roll dance".

      Calamity is around every turn.

The Gold Rush- movie trailer

     After more than 85 years, this beloved film is still known and appreciated worldwide. And another 85 years years from now, it is sure to still be a perennial classic.