Cinema Wasteland Movie & Memorabilia Expo
October 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2010
This October 1-3, 2010, the Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo will round out its first Decade with a 10th Anniversary Celebration.
Running eighteen shows in ten years is something we’re extremely proud of. Running all eighteen shows the Cinema Wasteland way, without ever compromising what we stood for since our very first convention, is priceless.
This October, we’ll round out a Decade of Convention Domination by continuing to bring Fans the best of what the Drive-In’s and Grindhouses had to offer.
At our last two shows, we invited attending fans to fill out a ballot and choose who they wanted to return for our Anniversary Show. We invited the following three Guests from the top ten fan choices back to help us celebrate this October.
HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS - H.G. Lewis was CW fans number one pick to return this October. The “Godfather of Gore” probably doesn’t need much of an introduction to Wasteland fans. He’s the man who - with partner, Dave Friedman - changed the face of horror cinema forever when they unleashed BLOOD FEAST to the world in 1963. Beginning with the 1960 release of the teen exploitation film THE PRIME TIME, and ending with the over-the-top gore film THE GORE-GORE GIRLS in 1972, Herschell Gordon Lewis made close to forty films that ranged from children’s movies to drive-in exploitation and adult “nudie cuties” to the gore classics we all know like BLOOD FEAST, TWO THOUSAND MANIACS, COLOR ME BLOOD RED and THE WIZARD OF GORE. After 30 years away from making movies, Herschell reteamed with his old partner Dave Friedman to make BLOOD FEAST 2: ALL U CAN EAT (2002) and is currently wrapping up THE UH-OH SHOW (2009), his latest film project. We’re hoping to have a screening of THE UH-OH SHOW for attending fans this October, and Herschell doesn’t charge his fans for an autograph, so don’t pass up what very well could be a once in a lifetime chance to meet a true splatter film pioneer and living legend this October. Right now, Mr. Lewis is only scheduled to appear on Friday and Saturday, so please plan accordingly if you’d like to meet him this Fall.
CAMILLE KEATON - Camille came in a solid number five on fan ballots to come back to a CW Show. As a young girl Camille found herself in a handful of European horror films and thrillers that include playing the victim in WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO SOLANGE? (1972), Riccardo Freda’s TRAGIC CEREMONY (1972), DECAMERON 2 (1972) and THE EVIL EYE (1973). Her biggest claim to fame came as “Jennifer Hill”, the rape and assault victim who gets her revenge in director Meir Zarchi’s DAY OF THE WOMAN (1977) - much better known to every fan as I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. You can also find Camille in RAW FORCE (1982) and THE CONCRETE JUNGLE (1982) to name a few. Recently, Camille has returned to acting, appearing in the thriller THE BUTTERFLY ROOM (2010) and well as the horror outing, CHOP (2010).
REGGIE BANNISTER - Reggie was third on CW fans top ten list of returning guests. Our old pal, Reggie Bannister, has been in the music, film, and entertainment business for over forty years now. He played “Donovan” in his old friend Don Coscarelli’s first film, KENNY AND COMPANY (1976) and went on to the cult film role of a lifetime when he took the role of “Reggie” - everyone’s favorite shotgun wielding and Barracuda driving “Tall Man” chaser - in Don Coscarelli’s PHANTASM (1979), as well as the three sequels in the series. Reggie even had one of his original songs used on the PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION (1998) soundtrack. Some of the other “wasteland type” films you’ll find Reggie in include SURVIVAL QUEST (1989), SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT 4 (1990), THE DEMOLITIONIST (1995), WISHMASTER (1997), BUBA HO-TEP (2002), FALLEN ANGELS (2006), THE RAGE (2007), and SAWBLADE (2010) to name but a few of the more than two dozen films Reggie has appeared in over the past few years alone.
We also have New Guests who have never been with us coming in to Celebrate the best of what the Drive-In and Grindhouses had to offer!
GIGI BANNISTER - Gigi and husband Reggie Bannister run Production Magic, their own little California based production company, but that doesn’t mean that Gigi doesn’t do her own thing when the chance arises either. She was special effects makeup coordinator on PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION (1998) and did effects on UP AGAINST AMANDA (2000). She’s been a set decorator, had a small acting role in BUBBA HO-TEP (2002) and was America’s first vegetarian vampire TV horror hostess back when she hosted her VAMPI, THE VEGETARIAN VAMPIRE TV show. Add in duties producing TV shows and commercials, running an annual October Haunted House, and doing whatever movie work that may pop up, and our old pal Gigi keeps herself pretty busy these days.
JOSH BECKER - You could say Josh is part of the group of B movie loving fans from Michigan who watched too many Three Stooges shorts as a child, remembers Cleveland’s very own Detroit-transplanted TV Horror Host, The Ghoul, and made short 8mm films with the rest of the core group of people who ultimately unleashed the cult horror classic, THE EVIL DEAD, on the last gasp days of the Drive-In and you’d be in the ballpark. He’s also done a bunch of other stuff I’m sure Cinema Wasteland regulars are familiar with. His first feature film was STRYKER’S WAR (1985). It was released on video under the title, THOU SHALT NOT KILL... EXCEPT and features Sam Raimi in the role of a demented cult leader. A few years later, Josh made LUNATICS: A LOVE STORY (1991) with Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell. In 1997 Josh used the money he received for a script to make the crime thriller, RUNNING TIME (1997), which stars Bruce Campbell. Like Alfred Hitchcock’s ROPE and the cult classic THE SADIST, RUNNING TIME is told in real time and is well worth searching out if you haven’t seen it. Between his first feature film and today, writer and director Josh Becker has also done episodes of the REAL STORIES OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, and JACK OF ALL TRADES TV shows, along with the HERCULES IN THE MAZE OF THE MINOTAUR (1994), ALIEN APOCALYPSE (2005) and HARPIES (2007) made for TV movies and has written at least two books we know of. New to the world of conventions, Josh will be making one of his first ever appearances this October.
GLORIA HENDRY - Modeling and working at the Playboy Club lead to Gloria Hendry’s first film role as a cocktail waitress in FOR LOVE OF IVY (1968). By the time she was cast in director Larry Cohen’s BLACK CAESAR (1973) with Fred Williamson, she was on her way to cult movie stardom. In 1973 alone, Gloria appeared as “Rosie Carver” along side Roger Moore’s “James Bond” in LIVE AND LET DIE (1973), stood alongside Jim Brown in SLAUGHTER’S BIG RIP-OFF (1973), and returned for a second run as “Helen” along with Fred Williamson in HELL UP IN HARLEM (1973), Larry Cohen’s sequel to BLACK CAESAR. You can also find her in the Jim Kelly action film BLACK BELT JONES (1974), kicking ass along with Cheri Caffaro and Rosanna Ortiz in SAVAGE SISTERS (1974), and keeping it real in director Don Edmonds BARE KNUCKLES (1977) to name a few of her more well known Drive-In gems. Gloria has also recorded a CD, tried her hand at producing, and appeared on several TV shows. She returned to more of what Wasteland fans will remember her for when she appeared in the comedy DOING TIME ON PLANET EARTH (1988), director Jeff Burr’s PUMPKINHEAD 2: BLOOD WINGS (1994) and the recent thriller ABSOLUTE EVIL (2009).
ROBERT “JOHN” SKIPPER - Now a respected sculptor in Ontario, Robert Skipper just happened to be in the right place at the right time when he frequented the same Mexican watering hole as a certain Alejandro Jodorowsky when the writer and director was putting together his now infamous spiritual western, EL TOPO (1970). It was through this chance meeting that Robert, billed as Robert John in the film, was offered the role of El Topo’s grown son. He was around during the promotional tour that followed when EL TOPO was released as America’s first “midnight movie” and returned to life in Canada when the tour was over. Until he was discovered by a fan in 2000, appearing as the Son of El Topo was just Robert’s little secret but his friendship with the fan also led to a 2004 reunion between Skipper and Jodorowsky in Toronto. Other films of interest to Cinema Wasteland fans that Robert has contributed to include writing additional dialogue for the film, THE YUM-YUM TREE (1976), as well as appearing as “Derrick” in the sci-fi sex comedy drama LOLITA 2000 (1998). Thanks to our friends at Vagrancy Films, October’s Cinema Wasteland show will be Robert Skipper's first official convention appearance; where he’s looking forward to discussing his role in EL TOPO and what it was like to work with one of the most prolific directors of modern cinema with attending fans.
CAROL SPEED - Although the bulk of Carol Speed’s movie career only lasted about ten years, she made some of the most enjoyable Drive-In films to come along during the 1970’s. She was sassy prison inmate “Mickie” in director Jack Hill’s BIG BIRD CAGE (1972), appeared as a hooker in THE NEW CENTURIONS (1972), showed up as the sarcastic groupie “Janyce” in BUMMER (1973), Max Julien’s loyal hooker girlfriend in THE MACK (1973), as “Amanda” in director Cirio Santiago’s SAVAGE (1973), the deaf mute “Sarah” in Al Adamson’s DYNAMITE BROTHERS (1974), and the club owner’s girlfriend “Leslie” in the enjoyable BLACK SAMSON (1974). In 1974 Carol was quite impressive in the lead role as a possessed minister’s wife in director William Girdler’s little seen Exorcist-like ABBY (1974) where she also sang one of her own songs for the soundtrack, and made one of her last movie appearances along side Rudy Ray Moore in DISCO GODFATHER (1979). She appeared on TV in shows like “Sanford and Son” and the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”, made for TV movies like the comedy GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL (1972), and the drama THE GIRLS OF HUNTINGTON HOUSE (1973) where she also sang one of her songs. She’s written a couple of books, appeared in TV commercials, and made her long awaited return to movies in the thriller VILLAGE VENGEANCE (2006). Carol will be making one of her first ever convention appearances this October, so let’s show her exactly why Cinema Wasteland fans are the best fans in the world.
CARTER STEVENS - Adult film producer, director, and performer Carter Stevens had a twenty five career in the adult film business that spanned from the golden age of porn through the shot-on-video days of today. And he’s not just another guy with two dozen pseudonyms either! How could you go wrong with a title like LICKITY-SPLIT (1974), one of the first films Carter wrote, produced, directed, and appeared in? He also appeared in a few stand out films from the 70’s like HIGHWAY HOOKERS (1975), NIGHT OF SUBMISSION (1976) and INSIDE JENNIFER WELLES (1977) to name just a trio. Carter also directed a few films that have long been considered a classic in the genre like ROLLER BABIES (1976), JAIL BAIT (1977), PUNK ROCK (1977), and PLEASURE PALACE (1979) to name but a few. He was also the guy who directed the notorious Avon Films “roughies” like WICKED SCHOOLGIRLS (1980), HOUSE OF SIN (1982) and BIZARRE STYLES (1981). In the 90’s Carter directed a series of shot-on-video bondage films as “Master Carter Stevens” that all still sell briskly to this day. He retired from the business as the year 2000 rolled around, but his impact on the adult industry with the 100 or so films he worked on and it can surely be felt to this very day. Interesting to most Cinema Wasteland attendees I’m sure, is the fact that the ending footage for the notorious SNUFF (1976) was shot in Carter’s NYC studio. He didn’t shoot the footage mind you. He just rented out his studio to the distributors, who knew they needed some sort of hook to get people to watch that boring piece of crap. Another fun fact for CW fans is the fact that both Carter Stevens and Cinema Wasteland’s very own 42nd Street Pete are both originally from West Orange New Jersey and both graduated from Mountain High and West Orange High School. I’ll bet their old teachers are just so proud of both of them...
AUSTIN STOKER - After a stint in the Army, Austin Stoker began his acting training at New York’s HB Studio and landed small roles on TV shows like THE MOD SQUAD before getting real screen time as “McDonald” in BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973), last in the classic sci-fi series. He played “Lieutenant Bozeman” in HORROR HIGH (1974) [aka Twisted Brain] and worked with director William Girdler in three of his nine films when he appeared in THE ZEBRA KILLER (1974), the fantastic black cast “Exorcist” knockoff, ABBY (1974) with William Marshall and Carol Speed; and as Pam Grier’s sidekick and lover in SHEBA, BABY (1975). In 1976 Austin took the role most fans still remember him for when he played Lt. Ethan Bishop, whose police station was ambushed by gang punks, in John Carpenter’s ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. You can also find Austin Stoker in AIRPORT 1975 (1974) as well as several stand out made for TV movies and television shows that include KOJACK, RETURN TO THE PLANET OF THE APES, VICTORY AT ENTEBBE, ROOTS, THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, INCREDIBLE HULK, and ARLISS to name but a few.
JIM VAN BEBBER - Ohio native Jim Van Bebber finished his violent gang revenge movie DEADBEAT AT DAWN and unleashed it upon the world in 1988. Shot in and around Dayton, Ohio, it was quite the independent sensation when released and seems to find new fans to this very day. He followed DEADBEAT AT DAWN with a series of short films like ROADKILL: THE LAST DAYS OF JOHN MARTIN (1994), the disturbing MY SWEET SATIN (1994), and DOPER (1994). He’s also directed videos for Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, Necrophagia, and Pantera. In 2003, his long awaited film project, THE MANSON FAMILY, was finally completed and released. You can also find Jim in Richard Martin’s DEMENTED (1994) as well as Andy Copp’s THE MUTILATION MAN (1998). We here at Cinema Wasteland know damn well just how hard it is to get a film project off the ground, much less finished and distributed. We’re still hoping writer, editor, stunt man, actor, and director Jim Van Bebber has one more gem up his sleeve to unleash upon an unsuspecting world one of these days. Until then, our friends at Chainsaw Kiss Films are helping to bring Jim in and will be filming a retrospect on DEADBEAT AT DAWN all weekend. We will also be screening DEADBEAT AT DAWN on Friday night, October 1st, with a panel following the screening. Check the Weekend Schedule of Events for the exact screening time and we’ll see you all there!
MORE GREAT NEWS FOR “DEADBEAT AT DAWN” FANS - Mike King, DEADBEAT AT DAWN’S producer and cinematographer, as well as Marc Pitman, the guy who played “Bone Crusher” in DEADBEAT will be making their first ever convention appearance with Jim this October. Read on!
MIKE KING - Mike King started making short films with his parents’ Super 8mm camera when he was 11 years old and experimented with special effects; model building, animation and multiple exposure. He attended Wright State University, where he studied under Academy Award nominated documentary filmmakers, Jim Klein and Julia Reichert, and earned a BFA in Motion Picture Production. While at Wright State he co-founded Mercury Films with Jim Van Bebber and produced/photographed the underground cult films DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988), ROADKILL: THE LAST DAYS OF JOHN MARTIN (1994), MY SWEET SATAN (1994), and THE MANSON FAMILY (2003) with his friend. A music video he shot with Van Bebber for the band PANTERA was featured in American Cinematographer magazine, and he’s worked on several other projects Wasteland attendees may have seen like BLEED (2002) and DEAD AND ROTTING (2002). He followed the band DOWN through Europe in 2006, shooting documentary and concert footage, and spent a month during 2007 in Nigeria working with documentarian Susan Stern. In the Winter of 2006, King shot Danny Draven’s latest film, the 35mm feature, GHOST MONTH, which won an award for Best Cinematography at the 2007 Chicago Horror Film Festival. Mike’s recent projects include documentaries for director Aileen LeBlanc. Mike King is also a partner in ImageWerx Film & Video, Inc., a commercial production company based in Dayton, Ohio. We here at Cinema wasteland couldn’t be happier that Mike King is taking a couple of days out of his busy schedule to meet with fans this October.
MARC PITMAN - Long time actor and crew member in the Jim Van Bebber list of film credits, Marc Pitman has been there since day one. He was the psychotic “Bone Crusher” in DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988) and started gang war Armageddon when he beat Van Bebber’s movie girlfriend to death with a golf club. He showed up as a victim in the cool Van Bebber directed short film, ROADKILL: THE LAST DAYS OF JOHN MARTIN (1994), and who else but Marc Pitman could play “Tex Watson” in THE MANSON FAMILY (2003)? Recently, you can find Marc in the recently completed, TRUE NATURE (2010), a dark thriller about a family that’s reunited with their college-age daughter after she’s been missing for a year’s time. We here at Cinema Wasteland are more than happy that Marc decided to join Jim Van Bebber and Mike King this October. A little “Ohio feel” is just what we need to Celebrate our 10th Anniversary right if you ask us.
GLEN COBURN - Glen wrote, directed, and costarred in the low budget sci-fi / horror cult film, BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE (1984) as well as the “Baby Born With Full Beard” segment of the anthology comedy, TABLOID (1985); a couple of regional rarities shot in Texas in the mid-80’s that made their mark during the video rental store heyday of the 80’s and early 90’s. A couple of years back, Glen was with us when he released BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE on DVD and has been looking for a reason to come back to enjoy another Cinema Wasteland Weekend ever since. He found all the reason he needed once he found out that his old friend, Matt Devlen, was heading to Cleveland to unleash DVD’s of the 80’s B Movie classics, OZONE! ATTACK OF THE REDNECK MUTANTS and THE ABOMINATION upon the world this October. It was Matt that first introduced Glen to his wife Kay at the cast and crew screening of Glen’s BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE. Twenty two years and a lovely teenage daughter later, Glen and Kay are still together, which is something to be proud of in this day and age if you ask us. Glen will be on hand to help Matt and Muther Video with the DVD premier, but I’m sure he’ll have a few copies of the BLOODSUCKERS DVD on hand for any fan looking for one.
MATTHEW DEVLEN - Matt Devlen got his start in the movie biz by producing and/or directing TABLOID (1985), THE ABOMINATION (1986) and OZONE! ATTACK OF THE RED NECK MUTANTS (1986), a trio of low budget horror films shot in and around Dallas, Texas, in the mid 1980’s. This put him a path to Hollywood where he kept faithful to his B movie roots producing Adam Rifkin’s early horror-comedy, THE INVISIBLE MANIAC (1990), with Shannon Wilsey, (better known as the porn queen, Savannah), UNDERGROUND (1991), SOULMATES (1992), BODY PARTS (1994), THE UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR (1994), and the vampire-comedy DEMONSOUL (1995), to name but a few. Now a veteran of eighteen independent features, Devlen has branched out into comedy, drama, and action films in addition to the horror films Wasteland fans may know him for. Considered an “international provocateur” by his friends, Devlen spends half the year in Europe where he is currently developing two film projects set in his adopted hometown of London. A madcap marketeer in the PR world as well, he currently oversees Cheeta the Chimp’s campaign for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When he’s not promoting Tarzan’s favorite sidekick, you can find him donning yet another hat – that of a rally driver in the notorious Gumball 3000 which he is geared up to drive next year from London to Istanbul. Devlen’s highway hijinks are legendary and include commandeering a British ice cream truck for the 3,000 mile journey in 2005. THE ABOMINATION and OZONE! ATTACK OF THE RED NECK MUTANTS, two of Matt Devlen’s earliest films, are set to make their DVD premier at October’s Cinema Wasteland Show. He’s dragging along dear ol’ Muther Video and long time friend Glen “Bloodsuckers From Outer Space” Coburn to help him celebrate their release too. Why not make it a point to stop over and show the group a little B movie love this October? Just don’t park and leave the keys in your ice cream truck and all should be fine.
BARBARA DOW (aka Muther Video) - As “Loretta Libscomb”, Barbara Dow met a grisly demise in producer and director Matt Devlen’s OZONE! ATTACK OF THE RED NECK MUTANTS (1986). You can also find her in Devlen’s segment of the anthology comedy, TABLOID (1985), as a scientist in the early Adam Rifkin directed horror-comedy THE INVISIBLE MANIAC (1990), in Mark Piro’s NUDIST COLONY OF THE DEAD (1991), Rifkin’s bizarre DARK BACKWARD (1991), and WITCHCRAFT 4: THE VIRGIN HEART (1992), as well as a few other dramas and comedies. Some fans may know Barbara as Muther Video. She even played a character named “Mother Video” in the film, RED LIPSTICK (2000). This October, Barbara will pull her infamous Muther Video wig out of the hat box when she’s on hand for the DVD premiers of the 80’s cult films, OZONE! ATTACK OF THE REDNECK MUTANTS (1986) and THE ABOMINATION (1986) along with producer/director Matt Devlen. A life long fan of horror films ever since her own mother got her hooked on monster movie classics like the original Wolf Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Hunchback of Notre Dame, Muther Video will be on hand to talk films and peddle OZONE discs to attending fans all weekend long this October. You see, she’s doing her best to hightail it into retirement, hoping to “buy a houseboat and live the rest of my life on the ocean in Florida” as she put it. We certainly hope she enjoys her little detour to Cleveland this October. Maybe she’ll even give up that Sunshine State dream for the glamour of Cleveland, Ohio by the time Sunday, October 3rd rolls around?... Well, OK, at least we know we can offer her the best damn fans in the world and a few good memories to take with her come show time. That’s not too shabby if you ask us.
RUBY LAROCCA - Ruby got her start appearing in Factory 2000 horror, cult, and exploitation films for directors Joey Smack and William Hellfire, and you can find her in stuff like PEEPING IN A GIRL’S DORMITORY (2000), MISTY’S SECRET (2000), and THE INTERNATIONAL NECKTIE STRANGLER (2000) along with Misty Mundae and Tina Krause, two other popular cult actress’ I’m sure don’t need much of an introduction to most Wasteland fans. She soon became a staple in Seduction Cinema’s erotic spoof films like WITCHBABE: THE EROTIC WITCH PROJECT (2001), MUMMY RAIDER (2002), SATAN’S SCHOOL FOR LUST (2002), THE LORD OF THE G-STRINGS (2003), SPIDERBABE (2003), and AN EROTIC WEREWOLF IN LONDON (2006) to name but a few you’ll still find playing on late night cable TV. Ruby’s career has risen above roles in soft sex spoofs and underground B movies as well. She stole the show as a demonic prostitute in the Media Blasters produced horror film, FLESH FOR THE BEAST (2003), played a tough prison chick along side Tony Todd in SHADOW: DEAD RIOT (2006), and worked on the critically acclaimed film, THE LOST (2006), which was based on a book by one of her personal favorite authors, Jack Ketchum. Obviously a fan of underground exploitation films, she reunited with William Hellfire and played “Christine” in THE DEVIL’S BLOODY PLAY THINGS (2005), showed up in BATBABE: THE DARK NIGHTIE (2009), and has a dozen other credits to her name since. Ruby added “writer” and “director” to her growing list of film credits when she hooked up with filmmaker Victor Bonacore to form the Chainsaw Kiss production company where she wrote, directed, and starred in BELATED BY VALENTINE’S LOVER (2010) which will be making its Wasteland premier as part of October’s popular Friday Night Short Film Block. She’s also currently in post production on SCREAM QUEEN CAMPFIRE (2010), a film she directed and stars in, while the Chainsaw Kiss crew are currently working on their first feature film, BLOOD WINGS: A SATANIC FANTASY. You’ll be able to find Ruby, along with her Chainsaw Kiss cohorts Victor Bonacore, Joey Smack, and the guy known as ScreamerClauz at the Chainsaw Kiss table all weekend long.
Add in our equally important Returning Guests and Regulars and we’re set to celebrate Ten Years of Cinema Wasteland in Grand Style!
A. GHASTLEE GHOUL - The host of the Dayton and Springfield Ohio area’s long running, late night, horror-comedy schlockathon known as “The Ghastlee Movie Show” has been spewing video-vaudevillian cheese and sleaze to the untold millions... ah, hundreds... OK, dozens of fans held captive by his wit and wisdom for over twenty years now. Regularly joining Ghastlee for a Cinema Wasteland weekend is long time cohort in crime, Jeff McClellan: American, as well as Louu the XXXmas Devil, Suspira, and Mayhem Zann; members of the garage-punk band, SPLATTERTUDE. In addition to having Ghastlee and his band mates prowling our dealer and guest room all weekend long, why not join A. Ghastlee Ghoul (along with the motley band of “Ghastlee Nite Players”) every Saturday night, beginning at 8:00pm in Movie Room 1, as he presents A GHASTLEE NITE AT THE MOVIES LIVE SHOW, where he hosts a night of music, comedy, skits, interactive games and prize giveaways that has become somewhat of a drunken Saturday night tradition at Cinema Wasteland over the years. A. Ghastlee Ghoul has been with us since our very first show and we’ve sort of adopted him as our official Wasteland horror host. And although many a horror host has come and gone from Cinema Wasteland shows over the years, you can always count on Ghastlee, (along with Son of Ghoul), to be with us twice a year. And if you need a Ghastlee fix between Wasteland shows, don’t miss A. Ghastlee Ghoul’s Splattertude radio show, which has recently moved to his own splattertude.com site so fans can now download the shows.
AMY LYNN BEST - Amy Lynn Best, a Pittsburgh PA native, has studied acting and dancing since she was three years old. She co-produced and costarred in the independent feature horror film, THE RESURRECTION GAME (2002), and like many independent film producers, she learned the film business from the ground up. On the short haunted house film, TENANT, Amy studied cinematographer from that film's director of photography, Bill Fuller. Out of necessity, she learned the basics of grip work, camera operation, and the fine art of line producing. Since meeting her film making husband, Mike Watt, she has acted or worked on nearly a dozen films, including the critically-acclaimed feature, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (2000), DR. HORROR’S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS (2003), along with ABATTOIR (2007) SPLATTER MOVIE (2008), and DEMON DIVAS AND THE LANES OF DAMNATION (2009).
RON BONK - Ron began making movies in 1992. Although his main interest was in directing and producing, the necessity of making sure his movies sold with honest accounting also fell on his own shoulders, so he ventured into distribution. With the success he had marketing his own productions, other filmmakers offered Ron their work to distribute as well. It wasn’t long before the demands of a running a successful B-movie distribution company took over any time he had left for directing so in recent years, Ron has become more of a producer; establishing two production divisions of his company in St. Louis and Lexington and making movies to meet marketplace demands. His company, SRS Cinema, now represents over 200 movies and Ron has directed or produced over 25 feature motion pictures over the years. Among his many ventures, Ron established the B-Movie Hall of Fame in 1998 and the B-Movie Film Fest in 1999. Both have gone on to great acclaim and he hopes to establish a museum in Syracuse for the Hall of Fame one day.
COUNT GORE DeVOL - Count Gore De Vol has been hosting horror movies since 1971 in three markets: Paducah, KY, Washington, DC, and The Entire World! After a year at WDXR in Paducah, he moved to WDCA, Channel 20 in Washington, where he hosted Creature Feature and competed with Congress for the title of chief blood sucker for more than 15 years. In 1998, Count Gore responded to the calls of his fans and returned to his chosen profession by becoming the first horror host on the Internet with “Creature Feature”, his Weekly Web Program at www.countgore.com that continues to this day. In 1999 he triumphantly returned to Washington to host Channel 20’s "Countdown with the Count" Millennium Special. Recently, the ol’ vampire can be found as “the narrator” in indy vampire flick, THE DEAD MATTER (2009), and just happens to be the main topic of interest in the documentary EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN (2009). Count Gore is a semi-regular guest at Cinema Wasteland, and we couldn’t be happier to have him around to help celebrate our 10th Anniversary this October.
42nd STREET PETE - Long time Wasteland friend, 42nd Street Pete, is our “go to guy” when it comes to all things Grindhouse. Why? Because he was there. He lived the era. In the Grindhouse heyday through its demise in the 80’s, the guy lived Times Square and all of the good, bad, and ugly, that went along with it. Hookers, peep shows, drugs, bums, mobsters, and the infamous grindhouses were all part of Pete’s life. Back in 2004, Pete hosted UNCONVENTIONAL, a look at the 13th anniversary of the Chiller Theater convention in New Jersey. A couple years back, he started hosting 42nd STREET PETE’S 8mm MADNESS; DVD collections of forgotten 70’s stag loops. Recently, he’s found himself in a few soft core spoofs like THE INSATIABLE IRON BABE (2008) and BATBABE: THE DARK NIGHTIE (2008). Pete’s hosted his share of Drive-In and Grindhouse movie panels at past Cinema Wasteland shows, as well as his “42 Questions From 42nd Street Pete” trivia game during A GHASTLEE NITE AT THE MOVIES LIVE SHOW on Saturday nights and the Hardcore Wrestling Hour he puts together for fans that you’ll find screening on Saturday mornings.
KANE HODDER - Stuntman and actor Kane Hodder is probably best known to horror movie fans as the guy who played “Jason Voorhees” more times than anybody else to date. He portrayed horrordom’s favorite coed cutup four times, beginning with FRIDAY THE 13th PART 7: THE NEW BLOOD (1988) and followed that by donning the hockey mask again for FRIDAY THE 13th PART 8: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN (1989), JASON GOES TO HELL (1993) where he also played a security guard who is killed by the body shifting “Jason” (and was also was the guy who had his hand in “Freddy Kruger’s” glove at the end of the film), and once again in JASON X (2001), which he calls his favorite of his four “Jason” roles. In addition to his Friday the 13th appearances, Kane has acted in over 60 films and did stunts and/or was the stunt coordinator on over 70 films, including several you will currently find on cable TV rotation and plenty every Cinema Wasteland fan should know, including THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 (1985), HOUSE and HOUSE 2 (1986 and 1987), LEATHERFACE: TCM 3 (1990), ALLIGATOR 2: THE MUTATION (1991), PUMPKINHEAD 2 (1994), SCANNER COP 2 (1995), WISHMASTER (1997), SPAWN (1997), CHILDREN OF THE CORN 5: FIELDS OF TERROR (1998), DAREDEVIL (2003), THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005), HATCHET (2006), and ED GEIN: BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD (2007) to name but a few. Currently, Kane shows no sign of slowing down and he has ten films he’s currently scheduled to appear in and another four he’s working as the stunt coordinator on in various stages of post and preproduction.
LLOYD KAUFMAN - During his years in Yale, Lloyd got introduced to B-Movies and the work of Roger Corman. This began his interest in movie making and the rest as they say, is history. Writer, producer, director, actor... and pretty much any job required of him to finish a production; that’s Lloyd Kaufman. He is also the founder and president of Troma Entertainment, the independent film company that has given us demented horror-comedies like BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS (1976), THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985), CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH (1986) and so many more. To date, Troma and Lloyd Kaufman have distributed over 1000 movies, many of them simply know as “Troma Movies” to the legion of fans who have come to expect a certain amount of gross-out appeal from anything the company distributes. Always busy appearing in other people’s movies while continuing to produce and direct himself, Lloyd is currently in preproduction on several projects, including a new Toxic Avenger movie. Lloyd loves his Cleveland fans and is a semi-regular guest at Cinema Wasteland. We’re still wondering why he enjoys Cleveland so much?... Maybe it’s the food? Maybe he just enjoys a nice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboy for a cheap price?...
SAL LIZARD - Sal began acting on stage. Since 2003, he’s appeared in over two dozen movies, which included playing three different zombies as well as “Dr. Scott Shannon” in Richard Griffin’s FEEDING THE MASSES (2004). You can also find Sal in indy films like CREATURE FROM THE HILLBILLY LAGOON (2005), ABE'S TOMB (2007), I AM LEGEND (2007), HILLBILLY BOB: ZOMBIE (2009), THE BOX (2009) and HOOKED (2010) to name but a few. Several years ago, while living in Southern Ohio, Sal created “Abner Zombie: Standup Comedy Zombie... and part time gravedigger” while working at a haunted Halloween attraction; telling jokes to visitors of the Gates of Terror. Sal is also a professional Santa who keeps busy all winter long doing the ho-ho-ho thing around the Holiday’s. Sal has attended the Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo several times over the years appearing as both the jolly ol’ red-suited Santa that kids from around the world know and love, as well as a more “spooky” version suited to horror shows like ours, always offering up a photo opportunity to any fan with a camera it seems. Recently, Sal is working on his own movie production and hoping to get it completed so he can screen it for CW attendees before you know it.
SON OF GHOUL - With over twenty years and somewhere in the neighborhood of over 1,000 shows under his belt, Son of Ghoul is Akron and Cleveland’s longest continuous running horror host, as well as a long time regular here at the Cinema Wasteland show. Live in the Cleveland or Akron area? Then by all means, see if you can’t catch Son of Ghoul’s movie show every Thursday afternoon and Friday night. A life long Three Stooges fan that can actually boast that he owns all 190 Columbia produced Three Stooges shorts on 16mm film, Son of Ghoul presents a trio of Stooge Shorts every Saturday at Noon in Movie Room 1. After all, Cinema Wasteland and the Three Stooges go together better than drunks and strippers.
TOM SULLIVAN - Tom was the makeup effects man, prop builder, stop motion animator... ah, hell, he did so much behind-the-scenes work that I feel Tom is at least partially responsible for the entire look and feel of Sam Raimi’s cult horror favorite, EVIL DEAD. He also worked plenty an uncredited job on EVIL DEAD 2 and did some work on THE FLY 2 for Chris Wallas. A talented artist, Tom has also done illustrations for collectible card games, film production companies, book illustrations, and designed the ultra-cool “Book of the Dead” DVDs for the Anchor Bay limited edition EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2 releases. Currently, Tom worked on TOM SULLIVAN’S BOOKS OF THE DEAD comic series from Dead Dog Comics and found himself taking a few acting roles in films like the horror-comedy BUDDY BEBOP VS THE LIVING DEAD (2009), DOG (2009) and A SHEER AGENDA (2009) to name a few. Tom is a regular here at Cinema Wasteland and has become a real fan favorite guest. He has his own “Sullivan Museum Room” at the show where he puts original EVIL DEAD props, storyboards and artwork on display for all attending fans to see up close and personal. It’s always our pleasure to have Tom as part of our Cinema Wasteland Family and let him get a little credit where credit is due - with the fans. Be sure to stop in and see what Tom has in store for all you fans as he also celebrates his 10th Anniversary with Cinema Wasteland.
MIKE WATT - Writer, director, and journalist Mike Watt wrote and directed THE RESURRECTION GAME and Bloody Earth Film's A FEAST OF FLESH (aka "Abattoir") through Happy Cloud Pictures, which he co-founded with the lovely and talented Amy Lynn Best and the less lovely but also talented Bill Homan. He also wrote the screenplays for SEVERE INJURIES, WERE-GRRL, SPLATTER MOVIE: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT, DEAD MEN WALKING for The Asylum and THE SCREENING for G. Cameron Romero. He's the current editor of Sirens of Cinema Magazine - if you aren't reading it, that's proof that children have truly been left behind.
** ALL GUESTS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ALL 3 DAYS OF THE SHOW UNLESS NOTED **
Guest appearances are based on schedules permitting. Guests do charge a nominal fee for autographs. Show events are naturally subject to change.
ALL OF OUR GUESTS WILL BE SET UP IN AMONGST THE VENDERS IN OUR 10,000 SQUARE FOOT DEALERS ROOM FOR EASY ACCESSIBILITY ALL THREE DAYS OF THE SHOW.
Cinema Wasteland
P.O. Box 8
Berea, OH 44017
(440) 891-1920