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Shemp Howard was a gifted physical actor and ad-libber yet his career oddly seemed at times to fly-under-the-radar. A century ago, his onstage life began as the original Stooge for superstar Ted Healy, ultimately gracing Broadway. Alongside brother Moe Howard with Larry Fine - the nucleus of The Three Stooges - they appeared in the feature film Soup to Nuts. He went solo in 105 movies with stars like John Wayne, James Stewart, W.C. Fields and Abbott and Costello.Returning to The Three Stooges in place of ailing younger brother Jerome (Curly), Shemp saved the act from prematurely ending but sadly he died at the rather young age of 60 in 1955. A Shemp renaissance has attracted attention from gifted artists including Drew Friedman, Tristan Yonce and Darin McGowan, the latter responsible for transporting him to magical cinematic locales like Oz (see photo above). BearManor Media author and veteran Canadian journalist Geoff Dale probes his fascinating life in this first-ever Shemp Howard book. Foreword byGeri Howard Greenbaum, Jill Howard Marcus and Sandie Howard Isaac.

Shemp Howard was a gifted physical actor and ad-libber yet his career oddly seemed at times to fly-under-the-radar. A century ago, his onstage life began as the original Stooge for superstar Ted Healy, ultimately gracing Broadway. Alongside brother Moe Howard with Larry Fine - the nucleus of The Three Stooges - they appeared in the feature film Soup to Nuts. He went solo in 105 movies with stars like John Wayne, James Stewart, W.C. Fields and Abbott and Costello.Returning to The Three Stooges in place of ailing younger brother Jerome (Curly), Shemp saved the act from prematurely ending but sadly he died at the rather young age of 60 in 1955. A Shemp renaissance has attracted attention from gifted artists including Drew Friedman, Tristan Yonce and Darin McGowan, the latter responsible for transporting him to magical cinematic locales like Oz (see photo above). BearManor Media author and veteran Canadian journalist Geoff Dale probes his fascinating life in this first-ever Shemp Howard book. Foreword byGeri Howard Greenbaum, Jill Howard Marcus and Sandie Howard Isaac.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT "NOTHING" In the summer of 1989, aspiring 20 year old filmmaker, Rolfe Kanefsky began production on his first independent film, a horror/comedy entitled, "There's Nothing Out There". Despite the fact he was majoring in film at Hampshire College at the time, his college advisers did not want to give Rolfe any credit for making a "horror" movie because they had no respect for the genre and point-blank told him upon reading his original screenplay, "You're not going to learn anything from making this film." Rolfe was annoyed to say the least and after shooting, he wanted to prove to his college that he had learned quite a lot and thus began the writing of this book. Although it started as an assignment to get college credit, Rolfe decided to write his (mis)adventures aimed at other aspiring young filmmakers to show how he pulled it off at such a young age. Starting by giving a bit of perspective of what got him interested in making movies, Rolfe devoted much of the book to explaining the whole process of writing the script, find the money, pre-production, production stories, and all the post-production work it takes to completing a feature length film shot on Super 16mm in the late 1980s. The first pass at this book ended with the completion of the film and the hope to find a distribution deal. Rolfe did get some credit for all of his work from his college but never officially graduated. Anyway, ten years later, Rolfe and some of his friends decided to put the book on-line for a while so at the age of 30, Rolfe, now a working independent filmmaker in Hollywood, California, updated the book to continue the story of what happened to "There's Nothing Out There" from 1990-2000. Upon finally making a deal with Bear Manor Publishing in 2023, Rolfe once more updated the book to conclude (as of now) the last 23 years of "Nothing" from the perspective of a now "seasoned" filmmaker of 54 years of age with over 80 produced movies. Adding hundreds of photos, this tale now tells the story of a little film that became a "cult classic" and a footnote in the horror genre which may have inspired the Meta-universe six years before "Scream" and later "Cabin In The Woods". But that is something you can judge for yourself upon reading this book and hopefully watching the film as well. As a bonus, this book also includes Rolfe's unproduced sequel called, "There's STILL Nothing Out There". Since the passage of 35 years has made it impossible to produce this script in his opinion, Rolfe thought it might be fun for those interested to be able to see how the story might have continued. Now, this doesn't rule out that he may make another sequel one of these days and in fact, he does have a new script but that's another story for another time in another publication.

"Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives" - Daffy Duck From the 1930s-1950s, no movie show was complete without a cartoon, and no cartoon was complete without an established character like Bugs Bunny or a caricature of a celebrity, or preferably both. In the same period, Universal Studios dominated the horror genre with its Classic Monsters: Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Wolf Man, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. It was inevitable that the monsters would make appearances in contemporaneous animation, and the tradition continues today in television shows like The Simpsons. Matthew Hahn, author of The Animated Marx Brothers and The Animated Peter Lorre, has found over a thousand cartoons featuring the monsters in movies, TV, commercials, music videos, computer games, and fan films, including abandoned projects, coincidences, connections, and apocrypha. The monsters' animated avatars play opposite Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Mighty Mouse, Woody Woodpecker, Mr. Magoo, the Pink Panther, Kaibutsu-kun, Beany and Cecil, Inspector Gadget, Spider-Man, the Super Friends, Scooby-Doo, the Transformers, Ghostbusters, Muppet Babies, Garfield, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Rocko, the Fantastic Four, Freakazoid, Catdog, SpongeBob Squarepants, Patrick Star, Billy and Mandy, Squidbillies, Tom and Jerry, Doraemon, Phineas and Ferb, Cleveland Brown, Uncle Grandpa, the Venture Bros., the Incredible Hulk, Teen Titans, Mr. Bean, Rick and Morty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Abbott and Costello. They have appeared in Mad Monster Party? (1967), the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Minions (2015), the Monster High franchise, the Groovie Goolies franchise, The Munsters franchise, the Castlevania franchise, Family Guy (1999), Futurama (1999), The Fairly OddParents (2001), Robot Chicken (2005), Mary Shelley's Frankenhole (2010). Creators include Walt Disney, Frank Tashlin, Paul Terry, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Dave Fleischer, Walter Lantz, Bob Clampett, Tom Ruegger, and Butch Hartman. Illustrated. Includes index, notes, and bibliography. This book should be on the shelf of all animation aficionados, classic movie fans, gamers, pop culture enthusiasts, history buffs, and lovers of fun facts.

"Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives" - Daffy Duck From the 1930s-1950s, no movie show was complete without a cartoon, and no cartoon was complete without an established character like Bugs Bunny or a caricature of a celebrity, or preferably both. In the same period, Universal Studios dominated the horror genre with its Classic Monsters: Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Wolf Man, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. It was inevitable that the monsters would make appearances in contemporaneous animation, and the tradition continues today in television shows like The Simpsons. Matthew Hahn, author of The Animated Marx Brothers and The Animated Peter Lorre, has found over a thousand cartoons featuring the monsters in movies, TV, commercials, music videos, computer games, and fan films, including abandoned projects, coincidences, connections, and apocrypha. The monsters' animated avatars play opposite Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Mighty Mouse, Woody Woodpecker, Mr. Magoo, the Pink Panther, Kaibutsu-kun, Beany and Cecil, Inspector Gadget, Spider-Man, the Super Friends, Scooby-Doo, the Transformers, Ghostbusters, Muppet Babies, Garfield, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Rocko, the Fantastic Four, Freakazoid, Catdog, SpongeBob Squarepants, Patrick Star, Billy and Mandy, Squidbillies, Tom and Jerry, Doraemon, Phineas and Ferb, Cleveland Brown, Uncle Grandpa, the Venture Bros., the Incredible Hulk, Teen Titans, Mr. Bean, Rick and Morty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Abbott and Costello. They have appeared in Mad Monster Party? (1967), the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Minions (2015), the Monster High franchise, the Groovie Goolies franchise, The Munsters franchise, the Castlevania franchise, Family Guy (1999), Futurama (1999), The Fairly OddParents (2001), Robot Chicken (2005), Mary Shelley's Frankenhole (2010). Creators include Walt Disney, Frank Tashlin, Paul Terry, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Dave Fleischer, Walter Lantz, Bob Clampett, Tom Ruegger, and Butch Hartman. Illustrated. Includes index, notes, and bibliography. This book should be on the shelf of all animation aficionados, classic movie fans, gamers, pop culture enthusiasts, history buffs, and lovers of fun facts.

John Ford (1894-1973) directed scores of memorable movies that feature countless scenes that linger in one's memory. He is the only director to have won four Best Director Academy Awards, for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952).There have been many biographies and film studies of John Ford and his motion pictures. There has never been a single volume devoted to the stock company of actors and actresses who worked for him, some continually, many intermittently, from his silent westerns of the 'teens to his final films of the 1960s. This book spotlights 112 members of Ford's fluid repertory company and includes a mini-chapter on each member of the troupe.And it was a diverse group. One wrote three books on the Baha'i Faith religion; another boxed the heavyweight champion of the world to a draw; one eloped with Loretta Young when she was seventeen; one participated in the Yukon gold rush; a photograph of one player's ear is the club logo for a professional wrestling association; another taught Lucy how to jitterbug; one was a legendary undercover agent for the OSS in France during World War II; another was a member of the advisory board to the Bank of America concerning loans to the studios; two were rodeo world champions.All of them, from obscure bit players to barely-remembered character actors to legendary film stars, made substantial contributions to Ford's movie legacy.About the AuthorBill Levy is the author of John Ford: A Bio-Bibliography and Beyond the Beach: The Wit and Wisdom of Nevil Shute. He has been writing his "Forgotten Gems" column on films of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s for New Jersey's monthly senior publication, Fifty Plus, since 2001. He lives in Mendham, New Jersey.

Before The Twilight Zone and before The Outer Limits, there was Tales of Tomorrow, the first science fiction series on television aimed at adult viewers. Premiering on ABC on August 3, 1951, the live drama featured several actors just beginning their careers. Lee Grant, Leslie Nielsen, Cloris Leachman, Paul Newman and his future wife, Joanne Woodward, and James Dean were just some of the players starring on episodes of the series. Many of the presentations were based on short stories authored by famous science fiction writers like Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Nelson Bond. Stories dealt with themes such as human mutations, nuclear apocalypse, time travel, space exploration, extraterrestrials, and alternate worlds. This book summarizes the story lines of each installment of Tales of Tomorrow and, where applicable, describes the short stories on which an episode is based. In addition, the book recounts the stories for the radio version of Tales of Tomorrow as well as some unproduced television episodes. Richard Irvin is the author of several books about television published by Bear Manor Media.

Before The Twilight Zone and before The Outer Limits, there was Tales of Tomorrow, the first science fiction series on television aimed at adult viewers. Premiering on ABC on August 3, 1951, the live drama featured several actors just beginning their careers. Lee Grant, Leslie Nielsen, Cloris Leachman, Paul Newman and his future wife, Joanne Woodward, and James Dean were just some of the players starring on episodes of the series. Many of the presentations were based on short stories authored by famous science fiction writers like Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Nelson Bond. Stories dealt with themes such as human mutations, nuclear apocalypse, time travel, space exploration, extraterrestrials, and alternate worlds. This book summarizes the story lines of each installment of Tales of Tomorrow and, where applicable, describes the short stories on which an episode is based. In addition, the book recounts the stories for the radio version of Tales of Tomorrow as well as some unproduced television episodes. Richard Irvin is the author of several books about television published by Bear Manor Media.

JULE VERNE (1828-1905) started out as a lawyer and playwright, but quickly discovered his special gift for "geographical adventures" with a strong dose of science. Journey to the Center of the Earth was his third published novel. In it, he sent three men on a bold quest hundreds of miles into the depths of the earth. As always, he stayed as close as possible to the scientific knowledge of his time. The novel is firmly anchored in 19th-century geology, palaeontology, and biology, sketched out against the background of some of the most dramatic scenes he ever wrote. The translation that forms the basis for this volume was published anonymously by George Routledge in 1876. Recently, a Verne researcher discovered the name of the translator in the Routledge archives: a woman named Jessie Campbell, who died in 1907. This text began life as the basis for an audiobook. The translation was extensively revised. There have been many corrections and changes, but it remains substantially Campbell's work, and this is the first edition of the novel that bears her name on the title page. The audio version of the text is also available. TAD DAVIS, a long-time member of the North American Jules Verne Society, is a writer and audiobook narrator. He lives in Philadelphia.

JULE VERNE (1828-1905) started out as a lawyer and playwright, but quickly discovered his special gift for "geographical adventures" with a strong dose of science. Journey to the Center of the Earth was his third published novel. In it, he sent three men on a bold quest hundreds of miles into the depths of the earth. As always, he stayed as close as possible to the scientific knowledge of his time. The novel is firmly anchored in 19th-century geology, palaeontology, and biology, sketched out against the background of some of the most dramatic scenes he ever wrote. The translation that forms the basis for this volume was published anonymously by George Routledge in 1876. Recently, a Verne researcher discovered the name of the translator in the Routledge archives: a woman named Jessie Campbell, who died in 1907. This text began life as the basis for an audiobook. The translation was extensively revised. There have been many corrections and changes, but it remains substantially Campbell's work, and this is the first edition of the novel that bears her name on the title page. The audio version of the text is also available. TAD DAVIS, a long-time member of the North American Jules Verne Society, is a writer and audiobook narrator. He lives in Philadelphia.

From the author of Marlon & Greg American Cable How Basic Cable Changed America Beyond Fake News and Unreal Reality In that media-changing era between a three TV network world and today's digital streaming, cable television came along and revolutionized our entertainment, our politics and essentially every aspect of our lives. AMERICAN CABLE tells this story. Author Joseph Brutsman ("Marlon & Greg - The Final Years of Brando & Peck") produced, wrote, directed and created cable shows from the start of the medium, from that time when it seemed that 100 new "networks" popped up overnight, nothing was on them, and creatives had to quickly figure it all out. That is just one of the many explored regions in AMERICAN CABLE.The book is as vast as its subject, and personal as well. From "The Sopranos" to "The Kardashians", the shows are explored, in both pay and basic cable. And all along the way, Brutsman takes us behind the scenes, telling us how the productions get made, how cable arrived in the first place, and how the impact of it all has changed a nation. It's television that rocked and shaped our world, all here in AMERICAN CABLE.

From the author of Marlon & Greg American Cable How Basic Cable Changed America Beyond Fake News and Unreal Reality In that media-changing era between a three TV network world and today's digital streaming, cable television came along and revolutionized our entertainment, our politics and essentially every aspect of our lives. AMERICAN CABLE tells this story. Author Joseph Brutsman ("Marlon & Greg - The Final Years of Brando & Peck") produced, wrote, directed and created cable shows from the start of the medium, from that time when it seemed that 100 new "networks" popped up overnight, nothing was on them, and creatives had to quickly figure it all out. That is just one of the many explored regions in AMERICAN CABLE.The book is as vast as its subject, and personal as well. From "The Sopranos" to "The Kardashians", the shows are explored, in both pay and basic cable. And all along the way, Brutsman takes us behind the scenes, telling us how the productions get made, how cable arrived in the first place, and how the impact of it all has changed a nation. It's television that rocked and shaped our world, all here in AMERICAN CABLE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT "NOTHING" In the summer of 1989, aspiring 20 year old filmmaker, Rolfe Kanefsky began production on his first independent film, a horror/comedy entitled, "There's Nothing Out There". Despite the fact he was majoring in film at Hampshire College at the time, his college advisers did not want to give Rolfe any credit for making a "horror" movie because they had no respect for the genre and point-blank told him upon reading his original screenplay, "You're not going to learn anything from making this film." Rolfe was annoyed to say the least and after shooting, he wanted to prove to his college that he had learned quite a lot and thus began the writing of this book. Although it started as an assignment to get college credit, Rolfe decided to write his (mis)adventures aimed at other aspiring young filmmakers to show how he pulled it off at such a young age. Starting by giving a bit of perspective of what got him interested in making movies, Rolfe devoted much of the book to explaining the whole process of writing the script, find the money, pre-production, production stories, and all the post-production work it takes to completing a feature length film shot on Super 16mm in the late 1980s. The first pass at this book ended with the completion of the film and the hope to find a distribution deal. Rolfe did get some credit for all of his work from his college but never officially graduated. Anyway, ten years later, Rolfe and some of his friends decided to put the book on-line for a while so at the age of 30, Rolfe, now a working independent filmmaker in Hollywood, California, updated the book to continue the story of what happened to "There's Nothing Out There" from 1990-2000. Upon finally making a deal with Bear Manor Publishing in 2023, Rolfe once more updated the book to conclude (as of now) the last 23 years of "Nothing" from the perspective of a now "seasoned" filmmaker of 54 years of age with over 80 produced movies. Adding hundreds of photos, this tale now tells the story of a little film that became a "cult classic" and a footnote in the horror genre which may have inspired the Meta-universe six years before "Scream" and later "Cabin In The Woods". But that is something you can judge for yourself upon reading this book and hopefully watching the film as well. As a bonus, this book also includes Rolfe's unproduced sequel called, "There's STILL Nothing Out There". Since the passage of 35 years has made it impossible to produce this script in his opinion, Rolfe thought it might be fun for those interested to be able to see how the story might have continued. Now, this doesn't rule out that he may make another sequel one of these days and in fact, he does have a new script but that's another story for another time in another publication.

In today's world of instant messaging, it is rare to find a large cache of letters, and those published here span more than a dozen years, from 1982 to 1995. They were sent back and forth between Jeffrey L. Carrier, beginning when he was a 19-year-old college student, and a long-retired star of silent movies named Patsy Ruth Miller. Nearly forgotten today, Miller was very popular a century ago, receiving great acclaim for her performance as Esmeralda opposite Lon Chaney's Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). It is fascinating to read their correspondence and trace a friendship that rises and falls and rises again against the backdrop of movie star anecdotes and the challenge of working together on Miller's autobiography. Miller could be unforgiving, but she could also be nurturing and Carrier, always respectful in his letters, takes it all in his stride. Through these letters, we get to know a naïve young man who grows in wisdom and experience and a once-famous movie star at the end of her life, still trying to cling to the glory of Hollywood fame. This book is a worthwhile companion to Miller's 1988 memoir, My Hollywood - When Both of Us Were Young, available from Bear Manor Media. "I've a hunch that this book will win hearts, a testament to the power of an extraordinary cross-generational friendship, as told through the fading art of the written word." - Austin Mutti-Mewse "How fortunate we are that Jeffrey L. Carrier decided to share his correspondence with silent film star Patsy Ruth Miller. Through these letters, we get a glimpse inside their complicated, but ultimately fulfilling friendship. We are also treated to Miller's personal recollections of Rudolph Valentino, Alla Nazimova, Joan Crawford, Lon Chaney, Mae Murray and scores of other silent film luminaries. This book is a must for any fan of old Hollywood." - Michael G. Ankerich

In today's world of instant messaging, it is rare to find a large cache of letters, and those published here span more than a dozen years, from 1982 to 1995. They were sent back and forth between Jeffrey L. Carrier, beginning when he was a 19-year-old college student, and a long-retired star of silent movies named Patsy Ruth Miller. Nearly forgotten today, Miller was very popular a century ago, receiving great acclaim for her performance as Esmeralda opposite Lon Chaney's Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). It is fascinating to read their correspondence and trace a friendship that rises and falls and rises again against the backdrop of movie star anecdotes and the challenge of working together on Miller's autobiography. Miller could be unforgiving, but she could also be nurturing and Carrier, always respectful in his letters, takes it all in his stride. Through these letters, we get to know a naïve young man who grows in wisdom and experience and a once-famous movie star at the end of her life, still trying to cling to the glory of Hollywood fame. This book is a worthwhile companion to Miller's 1988 memoir, My Hollywood - When Both of Us Were Young, available from Bear Manor Media. "I've a hunch that this book will win hearts, a testament to the power of an extraordinary cross-generational friendship, as told through the fading art of the written word." - Austin Mutti-Mewse "How fortunate we are that Jeffrey L. Carrier decided to share his correspondence with silent film star Patsy Ruth Miller. Through these letters, we get a glimpse inside their complicated, but ultimately fulfilling friendship. We are also treated to Miller's personal recollections of Rudolph Valentino, Alla Nazimova, Joan Crawford, Lon Chaney, Mae Murray and scores of other silent film luminaries. This book is a must for any fan of old Hollywood." - Michael G. Ankerich

Bruce Willis first came to America's notice as a TV star on ABC's Moonlighting, playing a cocksure private eye known for his ever-present smirk, then became an international superstar as an unlikely action hero in Die Hard, a megawatt critical and box office success that redefined the action genre in the '80s and beyond. But to pigeonhole him for either breakout role overlooks the actor for the artist he was. He consistently delivered in his 30-plus year career winning, nuanced performances in starring and supporting roles across cinematic genres as diverse as comedy, drama, romance, comic-book adaptations, neo-noir thrillers and science fiction. The Films of Bruce Willis offers a definitive critical assessment of his work, taking a deep-dive look at his commitment to stretching himself creatively and thematically in some of the most celebrated films of his generation. Unafraid to take risks with his image or the size of his roles, often choosing projects without billing and at a fraction of the salary he came to command, he crafted a fascinating big-screen legacy encompassing several personas that will live on in the wake of his abrupt retirement from acting in 2022 after being tragically diagnosed with a degenerative cognitive disorder. James L. Neibaur is a film historian and scholar with more than 35 books and hundreds of articles appearing in Cineaste, Classic Images, Film Quarterly, Films in Review, Filmfax and Encyclopedia Brittanica. GARY SCHNEEBERGER is a former journalist and entertainment critic who is president of the public-relations firm ROAR, where he has advised Hollywood studios, U.S. television networks major publishing houses and international nonprofits.

Bruce Willis first came to America's notice as a TV star on ABC's Moonlighting, playing a cocksure private eye known for his ever-present smirk, then became an international superstar as an unlikely action hero in Die Hard, a megawatt critical and box office success that redefined the action genre in the '80s and beyond. But to pigeonhole him for either breakout role overlooks the actor for the artist he was. He consistently delivered in his 30-plus year career winning, nuanced performances in starring and supporting roles across cinematic genres as diverse as comedy, drama, romance, comic-book adaptations, neo-noir thrillers and science fiction. The Films of Bruce Willis offers a definitive critical assessment of his work, taking a deep-dive look at his commitment to stretching himself creatively and thematically in some of the most celebrated films of his generation. Unafraid to take risks with his image or the size of his roles, often choosing projects without billing and at a fraction of the salary he came to command, he crafted a fascinating big-screen legacy encompassing several personas that will live on in the wake of his abrupt retirement from acting in 2022 after being tragically diagnosed with a degenerative cognitive disorder. James L. Neibaur is a film historian and scholar with more than 35 books and hundreds of articles appearing in Cineaste, Classic Images, Film Quarterly, Films in Review, Filmfax and Encyclopedia Brittanica. GARY SCHNEEBERGER is a former journalist and entertainment critic who is president of the public-relations firm ROAR, where he has advised Hollywood studios, U.S. television networks major publishing houses and international nonprofits.

"Beard writes to impress and succeeds in spades. His pounding, persuasive prose treats readers with respect, blasting out cinematic and socio-political references by the fistful, trusting you to either keep up or keep a notepad nearby. The quartet of films discussed at length herein aren't whining for unconditional love; like the neglected children that populate them, they demand-sometimes violently-our attention. Viewed through the personal lens of an intelligent, articulate, and passionate fan, we absorb their impact on an entire generational stripe who were at once shaped and reflected by them." -Aaron Christensen, HORROR 101 with Dr. AC In 1980, the U.S. elected an actor to the White House; Hollywood icon Ronald Reagan landed the world's leading role. While most of America celebrated, a white-hot rage simmered just out of sight. In 1982, a B-movie named Class of 1984 appeared in theaters. A vicious reworking of Blackboard Jungle, here was a film for the new America: a punishing wasteland of burnouts and punks, of rampaging youth and swift violence, where greed was rewarded and virtue disdained. Next came Bad Boys, The Outsiders, and Repo Man. As each attempted to diagnose this endemic of disaffected, angry young men, the subtext was clear: America had failed its youth. Children were paying the price for every adult sin. Ben Beard, author of The South Never Plays Itself, grew up on these films. He returns to them now, revealing common threads and hidden patterns. With insight, empathy, and humor, Beard analyzes how these disparate works have come together to form a lattice, a warning, a clarion call, and a potential salve for the still-tender wounds of youth. Equal parts memoir, cultural history, and cinematic excavation, as well as a pop-culture odyssey into early 1980s Americana-a land of guns, gangs, drugs, and the occult-The Bad Class attempts to understand the present by returning to the past, by probing this raw sliver of cinephilia, when a different plague was raging, the culture was sick, and the best films were trash.

"Beard writes to impress and succeeds in spades. His pounding, persuasive prose treats readers with respect, blasting out cinematic and socio-political references by the fistful, trusting you to either keep up or keep a notepad nearby. The quartet of films discussed at length herein aren't whining for unconditional love; like the neglected children that populate them, they demand-sometimes violently-our attention. Viewed through the personal lens of an intelligent, articulate, and passionate fan, we absorb their impact on an entire generational stripe who were at once shaped and reflected by them." -Aaron Christensen, HORROR 101 with Dr. AC In 1980, the U.S. elected an actor to the White House; Hollywood icon Ronald Reagan landed the world's leading role. While most of America celebrated, a white-hot rage simmered just out of sight. In 1982, a B-movie named Class of 1984 appeared in theaters. A vicious reworking of Blackboard Jungle, here was a film for the new America: a punishing wasteland of burnouts and punks, of rampaging youth and swift violence, where greed was rewarded and virtue disdained. Next came Bad Boys, The Outsiders, and Repo Man. As each attempted to diagnose this endemic of disaffected, angry young men, the subtext was clear: America had failed its youth. Children were paying the price for every adult sin. Ben Beard, author of The South Never Plays Itself, grew up on these films. He returns to them now, revealing common threads and hidden patterns. With insight, empathy, and humor, Beard analyzes how these disparate works have come together to form a lattice, a warning, a clarion call, and a potential salve for the still-tender wounds of youth. Equal parts memoir, cultural history, and cinematic excavation, as well as a pop-culture odyssey into early 1980s Americana-a land of guns, gangs, drugs, and the occult-The Bad Class attempts to understand the present by returning to the past, by probing this raw sliver of cinephilia, when a different plague was raging, the culture was sick, and the best films were trash.

When riding on the merry-go-round of life one may have an opportunity or two to reach for and grab a golden ring. Exactly when or how that will happen no one knows, and certainly no one knows how many attempts at the golden ring one may ever have. Bruce J Starin has had the opportunity to grab that golden ring many times while traveling the world from Jakarta, Indonesia to Reykjavik, Iceland, as an international television producer, dealing with celebrities and characters - ranging from Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, to Mel Brooks, Steven Spielberg, Diana Ross, William Shatner, Robert Goulet, even billboard diva Angelyne, as well as a kaleidoscope of famous personalities all included within the pages of this book. Also included is an expose' of the goings on with World Wrestling Entertainment - is it "real" or is it "fake" - you will be able to decide for yourself. The world and all its cultures and foibles remain as a never-ending kaleidoscope of tastes, smells, and once-in-a-lifetime perceptions. One just has to be lucky enough to first, be granted an opportunity to dabble in as many varied people and destinations as possible, and secondly wrangle them all into a lifetime. This is as the Germans say, his "Weltanshuang" or to define the phrase: his reason for living. Enjoy reading his book. It's an honor and sincere pleasure for him to share, perhaps reveal and expose his wild adventures with you! The author hopes you have as many laughs and giggles sharing his experiences as he had spending a lifetime in show business traveling the world and marveling at ...Such Creatures In.

When riding on the merry-go-round of life one may have an opportunity or two to reach for and grab a golden ring. Exactly when or how that will happen no one knows, and certainly no one knows how many attempts at the golden ring one may ever have. Bruce J Starin has had the opportunity to grab that golden ring many times while traveling the world from Jakarta, Indonesia to Reykjavik, Iceland, as an international television producer, dealing with celebrities and characters - ranging from Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, to Mel Brooks, Steven Spielberg, Diana Ross, William Shatner, Robert Goulet, even billboard diva Angelyne, as well as a kaleidoscope of famous personalities all included within the pages of this book. Also included is an expose' of the goings on with World Wrestling Entertainment - is it "real" or is it "fake" - you will be able to decide for yourself. The world and all its cultures and foibles remain as a never-ending kaleidoscope of tastes, smells, and once-in-a-lifetime perceptions. One just has to be lucky enough to first, be granted an opportunity to dabble in as many varied people and destinations as possible, and secondly wrangle them all into a lifetime. This is as the Germans say, his "Weltanshuang" or to define the phrase: his reason for living. Enjoy reading his book. It's an honor and sincere pleasure for him to share, perhaps reveal and expose his wild adventures with you! The author hopes you have as many laughs and giggles sharing his experiences as he had spending a lifetime in show business traveling the world and marveling at ...Such Creatures In.

One of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000'S most devoted fans, Chris "Sampo" Cornell, has created a combination memoir and episode guide, offering a fascinating perspective on the cult TV gem.

THE REVITALIZED CYBERNETIC COMPENDIUM TO TV'S MOST REALISTIC SCI-FI SUPERHERO SHOWSBefore various comic book multiverses expanded their franchises into epic live-action superhero movies and television shows, there was The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic William. Now, TV's classic wonder people of the 1970s are back and stronger than ever in this "Special Commemorative Edition" of THE BIONIC BOOK: THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN AND THE BIONIC WOMAN RECONSTRUCTED. Written by award-winning author Herbie J Pilato (RETRO ACTIVE TELEVISION, TWITCH UPON A STAR), this refreshed BIONIC tome tallies revised and expanded material, including an all-new Introduction by Bionic episodic scribe Terrence McDonnell; rare photos, and commentary culled from Pilato's exclusive interviews with Bionic stars the legendary Lee Majors (who embodied the half-man/half-machine marvel Col. Steve Austin), the Emmy-winning Lindsay Wagner (who portrayed as former tennis-pro Jaime Sommers-Steve's super female counterpart and one true love); series creator and iconic science fiction author Martin Caidin (whose Cyborg novel gave birth to The Six Million Dollar Man series), executive producer Harve Bennett (who would later rescue a once-flailing Star Trek film franchise), and producer/director Kenneth Johnson (who created The Bionic Woman, the character and the series, and who later brought Alien Nation and The Incredible Hulk to TV). This cybernetic chronicle also features recollections and a Foreword by actor Richard Anderson, who played Oscar Goldman-Steve and Jaime's stoic but understanding O.S.I. government agent supervisor-and other cast and production team members from both Bionic shows. More than a mere TV trivia guide, THE BIONIC BOOK explores in-depth the social, psychological, medical, and scientific influence, appeal, and message behind The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman).

THE REVITALIZED CYBERNETIC COMPENDIUM TO TV'S MOST REALISTIC SCI-FI SUPERHERO SHOWSBefore various comic book multiverses expanded their franchises into epic live-action superhero movies and television shows, there was The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic William. Now, TV's classic wonder people of the 1970s are back and stronger than ever in this "Special Commemorative Edition" of THE BIONIC BOOK: THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN AND THE BIONIC WOMAN RECONSTRUCTED. Written by award-winning author Herbie J Pilato (RETRO ACTIVE TELEVISION, TWITCH UPON A STAR), this refreshed BIONIC tome tallies revised and expanded material, including an all-new Introduction by Bionic episodic scribe Terrence McDonnell; rare photos, and commentary culled from Pilato's exclusive interviews with Bionic stars the legendary Lee Majors (who embodied the half-man/half-machine marvel Col. Steve Austin), the Emmy-winning Lindsay Wagner (who portrayed as former tennis-pro Jaime Sommers-Steve's super female counterpart and one true love); series creator and iconic science fiction author Martin Caidin (whose Cyborg novel gave birth to The Six Million Dollar Man series), executive producer Harve Bennett (who would later rescue a once-flailing Star Trek film franchise), and producer/director Kenneth Johnson (who created The Bionic Woman, the character and the series, and who later brought Alien Nation and The Incredible Hulk to TV). This cybernetic chronicle also features recollections and a Foreword by actor Richard Anderson, who played Oscar Goldman-Steve and Jaime's stoic but understanding O.S.I. government agent supervisor-and other cast and production team members from both Bionic shows. More than a mere TV trivia guide, THE BIONIC BOOK explores in-depth the social, psychological, medical, and scientific influence, appeal, and message behind The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman).

One of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000'S most devoted fans, Chris "Sampo" Cornell, has created a combination memoir and episode guide, offering a fascinating perspective on the cult TV gem.

LISTEN TO THE RAINAward Winning Actor - Award Winning Author - Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host MICHAEL DANTE Many years ago, I wrote a brief outline about a fictional character Michael Randall, who dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. I wrote it with the intention of portraying him in a movie or a television show with the same passion I had for playing baseball, in addition to surrounding his life with something different. Time passed and I could no longer physically play the role. But the story has always stayed with me. I have now completed it in a novella entitled, Listen to the Rain. It is my first contemporary offering about a complex young man who was also involved in organized crime. But he never lost his desire to play baseball as a career and found love along the way.

"America's Criswell foresees the future clearly." H.G. Wells "He predicts Nostradamus." Mae West "Criswell's relative fame in the early stages of the mass-media era was an innocent, harmless symptom of the beginning and continuation of the blurring the razor-thin line between factual News and Entertainment fiction in late 20th century America." Charles Phillip Wireman, Ass't Editor "Criswell is always a welcome guest on the 'Tonight Show' for his predictions are provocative and accurate time after time." Johnny Carson Startling Prophecies of the 1970s including: Carnage, Chaos, Crisis, Civil Rights, Climate Change! Rock & Roll, Robbery, Riot, Rape, Revelry, Drugs! Sexxx, Nudism, UFOs! Ghosts of Hollywood! Criswell Returns from the Grave!

Dame Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England on Sunday, September 26, 1948. Starting at an early age Olivia expressed an interest in music. By the time she was in her mid-teens she was singing in coffee houses with an all-girl group she formed with three classmates called "Sol-Four." Within the next decade she would become one of the most well-known female singers to ever grace the stage. Aside from singing Olivia also was an activist for environmental and animal rights causes. Olivia's mother once gave her some advice-- "If you can help someone I think you should do it." She certainly took her mother's advice. Olivia was a much loved performer for her entire career. That love from her fans has continued on just as strong, if not stronger, since her passing. Daniel Selby has researched and compiled the most up to date discography ever published on this remarkable Australian musician. From early musical beginnings to global super-stardom!Truly career spanning!

A Muck-Encrusted Mockery of a Timeline It all began in 1971, when writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson introduced a sympathetic bog-monster who was more than his horrifying exterior conveyed. But there was Moore to come-Alan Moore, to be exact-and it transformed the comics world. Wein and Wrightson's story "Swamp Thing," published in DC Comics' The House of Secrets #92, launched an extraordinary saga. The resultant Swamp Thing monthly title chronicled the macabre exploits of scientist-turned-plant Alec Holland, and it introduced chain-smoking occultist John Constantine, ushering in his acclaimed spinoff, Hellblazer. Alec Holland and John Constantine: distinctively different, yet inextricably intertwined. Born on the Bayou examines every comic, novel, and short story-approximately a thousand tales-to feature the mossy elemental or the British mage before 2011's Flashpoint. Featuring a foreword by Swamp Thing writer-artist and Constantine co-creator Stephen R. Bissette, plus an afterword by comics historian John E. Boylan.

A Muck-Encrusted Mockery of a Timeline It all began in 1971, when writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson introduced a sympathetic bog-monster who was more than his horrifying exterior conveyed. But there was Moore to come-Alan Moore, to be exact-and it transformed the comics world. Wein and Wrightson's story "Swamp Thing," published in DC Comics' The House of Secrets #92, launched an extraordinary saga. The resultant Swamp Thing monthly title chronicled the macabre exploits of scientist-turned-plant Alec Holland, and it introduced chain-smoking occultist John Constantine, ushering in his acclaimed spinoff, Hellblazer. Alec Holland and John Constantine: distinctively different, yet inextricably intertwined. Born on the Bayou examines every comic, novel, and short story-approximately a thousand tales-to feature the mossy elemental or the British mage before 2011's Flashpoint. Featuring a foreword by Swamp Thing writer-artist and Constantine co-creator Stephen R. Bissette, plus an afterword by comics historian John E. Boylan.