Tuesday, August 26, 2008
VHS vs DVD vs BLU-RAY
OK...OK....Call me old fashioned...I don't care...but HOW MANY times are we gonna have to buy The Wizard of Oz...or Citizen Kane...Personally, I don't care if I can see the paint cracking on the Tin Man's face or see the cracked surface of "Rosebud"...I just want to see a movie in my own home, at my own leisure. Sure, DVD's have an advantage over VHS...for one, you don't have to rewind them...on the other hand, DVDs can scratch REALLY easily...BUT....VHS tapes can twist, break or tear....sigh...what is a collector to do...Now....BLU-RAY...I'm not opposed to the format, just not that interested. Why buy another "White Album"?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Chiller Theater Memories
For those of you who grew up in Columbus, Ohio in the 70's, or in my case a little country town called Cardington, Ohio, you could turn on Channel 10 and after the 11:00 pm news watch Chiller Theater, a segment of Armchair Theater on Friday nights. You were treated to a double feature of horror films that typically ran up 2:30/3:00 am, leaving many a adult/child sleepy eyed the next day. I was 10 or 11 years old when I noticed 2 films being show that I just had to watch. I begged/pleaded with my mom to stay up and she agreed. She tried to renege that night, but my dad took my side and I got to stay up.....ALONE!!!!
My first horror film/double feature experience was The Wolfman w/Lon Chaney Jr. and The Ghost of Frankenstein w/Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi. The Wolfman scared the crap out of me!! I couldn't squeeze myself any tighter into that living room chair in the corner, my heart pounding every time the Wolfman howled...wow!! Now, The Ghost of Frankenstein didn't scare me as much (thank goodness!) and I actually thought the Frankenstein monster was kinda cool. Well, that started the trend....Friday nights, pizza, pop and Chiller Theater. Eventually, my other 2 brothers would watch with me, but only 1 brother was a convert. My two favorite cousins from neighboring Marion, Ohio would join me in the fright fest on occasion. Unfortunately, while the double feature format would continue through the eighties, the old Universal Pictures movies would disappear and some of the bottom of the barrel features would be played...I swear they played The Incredible Melting Man 50 times...LOL! The show would become Night Owl Theater, with Fritz, The Night Owl featuring segments of jazz and funky graphics in the back ground. I've had the pleasure of talking to "Fritz" at the Marcon Sci-Fi convention held here in Columbus, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend, and he told me that they still used 16mm film up until the late 70's, which made the film geek part of me smile! Oh, the memories....Today, I continue to collect Chiller Theater movies in all types: 8mm/Super 8mm, 16mm, VHS and DVD. My favorite/prized movies are the films by Universal Pictures, American-International Pictures and Hammer Films!! Chiller Theater enthusiasts unite!
My first horror film/double feature experience was The Wolfman w/Lon Chaney Jr. and The Ghost of Frankenstein w/Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi. The Wolfman scared the crap out of me!! I couldn't squeeze myself any tighter into that living room chair in the corner, my heart pounding every time the Wolfman howled...wow!! Now, The Ghost of Frankenstein didn't scare me as much (thank goodness!) and I actually thought the Frankenstein monster was kinda cool. Well, that started the trend....Friday nights, pizza, pop and Chiller Theater. Eventually, my other 2 brothers would watch with me, but only 1 brother was a convert. My two favorite cousins from neighboring Marion, Ohio would join me in the fright fest on occasion. Unfortunately, while the double feature format would continue through the eighties, the old Universal Pictures movies would disappear and some of the bottom of the barrel features would be played...I swear they played The Incredible Melting Man 50 times...LOL! The show would become Night Owl Theater, with Fritz, The Night Owl featuring segments of jazz and funky graphics in the back ground. I've had the pleasure of talking to "Fritz" at the Marcon Sci-Fi convention held here in Columbus, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend, and he told me that they still used 16mm film up until the late 70's, which made the film geek part of me smile! Oh, the memories....Today, I continue to collect Chiller Theater movies in all types: 8mm/Super 8mm, 16mm, VHS and DVD. My favorite/prized movies are the films by Universal Pictures, American-International Pictures and Hammer Films!! Chiller Theater enthusiasts unite!
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