The Real-Life Horror Hotel of H.H. Holmes, America’s First Serial Killer

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Herman Mudgett took the name Henry Howard Holmes when he moved to Chicago to begin work as a pharmacist.  He took on the new identity because he was on the run from as a suspect in some unexplained murders.  Rather than start a new uneventful life, Holmes instead continued his killing spree, which earned him the title of America’s First Serial Killer.

Holmes famously built a rooming house that has been called a Horror Hotel and Murder Castle.  He hired workers and fired them after they completed sections of the building.  This was so none but Holmes would know the layout and the horrors hiding within.  There were secret passageways, spots to spy on unsuspecting guests and rooms designed for murder.

The year was 1893 and the World’s Fair was in Chicago.  Rooms were at a premium and Holmes had new potential victims arriving daily.  After he was caught Holmes confessed to 27 murders but some folks put the actual number closer to 200.

Cheish Merryweather at Listverse posted 10 Horrifying Facts About H. H. Holmes’ Hotel.  If you’ve read this far, you’ll probably want to click over.

I also recommend The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson.  It’s an award-winning novel chock full about facts about you know who and his horror hotel.

RIP: Robert Conrad

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Robert Conrad died today at age 84.  Conrad best known for acting was also a singer, writer and director.  Although he starred in feature films, it was Conrad’s television roles that made him a star.  First with Hawaiian Eye, then his biggest hit, The Wild, Wild West and later The D.A., Black Sheep Squadron, A Man Called Sloane and High Mountain Rangers.

But it was The Wild, Wild West that Conrad’s fans loved the most.  Perfectly cast as James West who partnered with Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin, also perfectly cast) as spies in the old west.  The show ran for four seasons and was still doing well in the ratings when it was cancelled by CBS in an effort to reduce network violence.  The Wild, Wild West was so popular in re-runs that two tv movies were made over a decade later.

Conrad was a member of the Stuntman’s Hall of Fame and winner of the Distinguished Service Award in Broadcasting.

On a personal note, the death of Robert Conrad is heartbreaking.   I can’t tell you how many times I pretended to be James West as a kid or how many times I’ve watched each episode of The Wild, Wild West.  It’s still set to be recorded daily on my dvr (and I own the complete series on dvd).  A huge piece of my childhood died with him.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Conrad’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: Kevin Conway

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Kevin Conway, the multi-talented actor who appeared in movies, on television and the stage died Wednesday, February 5th of a heart attack.

I first became aware of Mr. Conway when I saw him in back-to-back Sylvester Stallone films.  First up was FIST where Conway played Vince Doyle, a local mobster who provides Johnny Kovak (Stallone) with some “muscle” against the trucking company’s strike breakers.  A few months later Conway and Stallone appeared together again, this time in Paradise Alley.  Conway was a small town gangster but this time he and Stallone were adversaries.

What I didn’t know at the time was that Conway had already made appearances on Broadway, television and films!  Conway was still acting in movies and television as well as doing voice work for commercials, trailers and documentaries up until his death at age 77.   Some of Conway’s best known roles include his work in Mystic River, The Quick and the Dead, 13 Days and Gettysburg.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin Conway’s family, friends and fans.

“The Vast of Night” Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here’s the poster and trailer for The Vast of Night.  Looks interesting.  I wish the poster had more of a UFO or unexplained vibe to it.

In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young, winsome switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and charismatic radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) discover a strange audio frequency that could change their small town and the future forever. Dropped phone calls, AM radio signals, secret reels of tape forgotten in a library, switchboards, crossed patchlines and an anonymous phone call lead Fay and Everett on a scavenger hunt toward the unknown.

Written by James Montague and Craig W. Sanger, directed by Andrew Patterson. The Vast Of Night is coming soon to theaters and Prime Video.

The “2 Graves in the Desert” Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The 2 Graves in the Desert has both a drive-in movie and pulp novel feel to it and that’s a good thing.

When Eric wakes up, tied and gagged in the trunk of a truck, it’s instantly clear he’s been kidnapped. However soon he discovers he’s accompanied by a young woman, Blake, another hostage. Neither can recall how they ended up in this dire situation, and together they desperately try and get any help they can. With no helping coming, and as things become more and more hopeless, it soon becomes fearfully apparent that there is more going on than it first seems. The two kidnappers have their own agenda, and it’s not a pleasant one… Starring Michael Madsen and William Baldwin, 2 Graves In The Desert is a cold thriller set on the blazing road to Las Vegas, provoking the ultimate question – is there any way the hostages can escape alive?

“The Mothman Legacy” Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and the trailer is interesting.

Many believe the “Mothman” to be a 1960’s phenomenon, an omen only appearing before tragedy, and disappearing after a flap of sightings and the subsequent “Silver Bridge” collapse in 1967. But what if there’s more? What if the origins of this “omen” trace back much further and go much deeper than anyone realized? And, what if…the sightings never ended?

The Mothman Legacy is the direct sequel to 2017’s highly regarded, The Mothman of Point Pleasant. The new film will tell the story of dozens of sightings of a being that was simply said to be a part of folklore, but who, none-the-less continues to be seen around the area today. With nearly a dozen eyewitness interviews, the film promises to offer some of the most intense, and terrifying encounters ever recorded.

The Mothman Legacy is directed by Seth Breedlove, and produced by Adrienne Breedlove. Lyle Blackburn returns to narrate with cinematography by Zac Palmisano and an original score by Brandon Dalo. The Mothman Legacy is being funded through a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter which launches Thursday, February 6th. Rewards include copies of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, posters, t-shirts and more.

The Mothman Legacy is the 10th feature film from indie film production company, Small Town Monsters. The new trailer gives audiences a glimpse into some of the dark, haunting landscapes captured around West Virginia, along with sound clips from witnesses interviewed for the new film. The trailer is also accompanied by a new one-sheet from acclaimed artist, Christopher Shy (Mandy, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) which gives a haunting look at the titular creature.

The Mothman Legacy will debut on September 18th, 2020 and will have a big screen premiere as part of the kickoff for the annual Mothman Festival held in Point Pleasant, WV the same weekend as the release.

RIP – Kirk Douglas

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Kirk Douglas died today at the age of 103.  His son, Michael Douglas posted (in part):

“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103,” son Michael Douglas wrote on his Instagram account. “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the Golden Age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.”

Kirk Douglas was an actor, a director, a producer and writer.  He was always the coolest guy in the room.  Douglas made movies that he believed in, not always taking the roles that paid the most or had the best chance for box-office appeal.  It didn’t matter if Douglas played a hero or villain, he had audience appeal.  Douglas was a three-time Oscar nominee for Best Actor and received an Honorary Oscar in 1996.

Some of my favorite Kirk Douglas movies include: Spartacus; Out of the Past; Detective Story; Along the Great Divide; The War Wagon (thanks to memories of watching it with my Grandpa) and Oscar (with Sly Stallone.  Years earlier, Douglas was set to star as Col. Troutman in First Blood but it didn’t work out.).

Kirk Douglas was indeed a living legend.  103 years is a long life and Douglas lived it to the fullest.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his friends and his fans.

“The French Connection” Trivia!

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Matthew Jackson at Mental Floss posted 14 Fascinating Facts About The French Connection.  Reading some of these facts it becomes clear that The French Connection was a longshot to be made let alone win five Academy Awards including Best Picture.  Here are three of my favorite facts and my thoughts.  Check ’em out and then click over for all the facts and details!

THE FRENCH CONNECTION WAS TURNED DOWN BY ALMOST EVERY STUDIO.  (Dick Zanuck at 20th Century Fox said he’d bankroll the film if it could be done for 1.5 million. Luckily for film fans, it could be. – Craig)

GENE HACKMAN WAS NOT THE FIRST CHOICE FOR POPEYE DOYLE.  (The film’s director, William Friedkin, wanted Jackie Gleason (?) or Jimmy Breslin (??) for the lead.  Another star considered was Rod Taylor.  Ultimately it came down to take Hackman as the lead or risk losing the movie.  Friedkin agreed to Hackman. – Craig)

FERNANDO REY WAS CAST BECAUSE OF A MIXUP. (Friedkin told the casting director  “let’s get that French guy that was in Belle de Jour…”  The casting director thought Friedkin was talking about Fernando Rey — but he wasn’t!  Friedkin signed Rey, sight unseen and it wasn’t until they met on the set that Friedkin realized the mistake and it was too late to make a change! – Craig)

The Best of the All-Time “Worst” Movies

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Megan Summers at ScreenRant posted The 10 Best Razzie Winning Movies (According To IMDb).  I thought this was an interesting idea especially after I found three movies on the list that I really like.

Rocky IV won five Razzies for Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst New Star, and Worst Musical Score.  When R4 was released it was my least favorite of the Rocky films.  Over the years my affection for it has grown, especially since R4 played such an important part in making it possible for Creed.

Con Air won  won a special Razzie for Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property.  I loved Con Air.  It was over the top fun and yeah, the ending did involve a plane crash landing in Vegas but did that deserve a special Razzie?  Oh, why not?  

Interview with a Vampire tied for a Razzie in the category for Worst Screen Couple.  The IwaV couple was Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.  Who did they tie with?  Sly Stallone and Sharon Stone from The Specialist.  Interview with a Vampire is a movie that I have liked more with each viewing.  I’m not alone in that opinion – the movie was a box-office success and earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. 

The Expendables Go to Hell by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon with Art by Graham Nolan & Others!

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The Expendables Go To Hell is a full color graphic novel with a story by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon and art by Graham Nolan, Kelsey Shannon, Jason Johnson, Butch Guice and Daniel Brown.  The idea is that The Expendables are killed in combat and awaken in hell. There they find fallen comrades, famous and infamous folks from history and more than a few surprises.

Graham Nolan will handle the art chores on the 50 page main story with three side stories adding to the graphic novel’s page count.  Here’s how they break down:

  • THE BRIDGE- Barney Ross is stunned to find the soul of his still-living friend Tool, trapped in Hell! Art by Jason Johnson (TEAM 7).

  • CHRISTMAS IN HELL- Lee Christmas is lured away from the team just when they need him most! Art by Kelsey Shannon (NORAH’S SAGA)

  • BARBARIAN’S HOLIDAY- Gunner Jensen makes the most of a bad situation! Art by Butch Guice (DOCTOR STRANGE).

The Main Cover will feature art by Kelsey Shannon. In addition, there will be Variant Covers by…

  • Billy Tucci (SHI)

  • Richard C. Meyer (JAWBREAKERS, IRON SIGHTS)

  • Jason Johnson (TEAM 7)

  • Renzo Rodriguez (DESOLATION WAVE)

  • And possibly MORE!

The Expendables Go To Hell is being crowd-funded on Indiegogo.  As the campaign grows, STRETCH GOALS will be unlocked which will add more value to each perk with no additional cost! Pin-ups, bookmarks, decals and more and projected.

Since the initial goal was $10,000 and The Expendables Go To Hell is now over $36,000.00 we should start seeing quite a few stretch goals soon.  This is going to be a fun project.  I’m on board (for the Kelsey Shannon cover!) and look forward to watching the project grow.  Click over and join in!

The “Queen Sono” Trailer is Here!

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Queen Sono looks interesting.  I’ll check it out for sure.

Fierce. Deadly. Defiant. Get ready for Queen Sono.
An African Netflix Original Series
Coming February 28. Only on Netflix.

After the assassination of her mother, Queen Sono grows up to become a kick- ass yet unconventional spy devoted to protecting the people of Africa. During a dangerous field assignment, Queen unknowingly uncovers shocking details about her mother’s death, sparking her own truth-finding mission.