LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS - Don Snyder - "We're The Lemon Grove Kids" (1965)

You might be wondering why we havn't covered anything by the other classic 1960's el-cheapo, no budget film maker, Ray Dennis Steckler here. Let me just tell you that all of Ray's films are still available, full of crazy and cool music, and out of all the people we've talked about here, he's the only one still out working and promoting his movies himself, and that you should go out and buy each and every one of them!!! Some weirdo named Greg Goodsell has been leaving a bunch of comments on this blog lately, and if you'll follow this link, you can read an article written by him that will tell you more about Ray Dennis Steckler. Greg just did an interview with Ray for "Screem" magazine coming out in March, so he's got a lot of inside and up to date information to share. Steckler for details: Ray Dennis Steckler's Incredibly Strange New Career Path 

 Here's a great 86 second blast From The Kids Band intro music. 

 

Ray Dennis Steckler, Gopher, Cash Flagg, Cindy Lou Sutters, Etc himself! 

 

Don Snyder wrote and sang the theme for "We're The Lemon Grove Kids", which is probably the best kid's movie ever made!!!

ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES - Alexander Laszlo - "Trilogy" (1959)

Unfortunately for all of us, at the end of last year we lost another one of the people that made the whole B-Movie scene as cool as it was. I'm referring to classic director Bernie Kowalski, who not only directed this great film "Attack Of The Giant Leeches", but also "Hot Car Girl" and "Night Of The Blood Beast" before doing a hoard of cowboy and cop TV shows until just a few years ago! Anyone who was ever lucky enough to meet Bernie, would tell you that he was always a class act, easy to talk to, and forever a gentleman! He'll be sorely missed, but at least the man left a legacy of film and video that will never be forgotten!!!

Okay, so here we have some of the exact same music from Alexander Laszlo in the theme that was used for the theme of "Beast In The Haunted Cave", but back in 1959, you didn't notice stuff like that!! Here's the opening theme music to "Attack Of The Giant Leeches".

The music on the jukebox is swinging as Lem the poacher, portrayed by George Cisar, is spinning his laughable tales of unknown critters.

Then Liz, portrayed by the ravishing Yvette Vickers enters the room!

There seems to be more to this story that what they're letting on. Now, why are Liz and Dave married? Was it arranged or deranged? She doesn't really seem to like him much!

Liz is disgusted by and despises her husband Dave, and yet she continues to tease him. 

Then Dave's good buddy Cal gives him some advice, yeah, he'll be around all right!

Two seconds later, Cal's ready to jump in the sack with Liz!! What a pal!! 

"You want something Cal?"

 

Dave, played by the master Bruno Vesota, is not really as dumb as Cal and Liz might have thought! 

Karma Time!!!

And this is all before the movie really gets going! I just read where someone just remade this movie, good luck it's pretty tough to remake perfection!!

CONQUEST OF SPACE - Van Cleave - "Me And Rosie, Too" (1955)

Now here's a guy, Van Cleave, with another remarkable resume of cool flicks! Check out some of these titles! Besides "Conquest Of Space", Van Cleave composed the music for "The Colossus of New York", "The Space Children", "Robinson Crusoe On Mars", "Project X" and at least 12 "Twilight Zone" episodes, besides many other assorted TV and movie titles! 

 

You know, Ross, how being up in space for a long time makes you kinda kooky! 

 

"Anything a cat can do,"Me and Rosie can do, too!!"

 Two-timing Rosie was played by Joan Shawlee. From "Irma LaDouce" to "The Wild Angels" with "The Rifleman" and "Dick Van Dyke" along for good measure, this woman had one incredible career well into the 80's, before leaving us in 1987. Thanks for the memories Joan! 

 

Listening to Phil Foster as Jackie, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to think of him in a series of 1950's shorts where he played a character named 'Brooklyn'!

THE WILD WILD PLANET (Criminali Della Galassia) - Angelo Francesco Lavagnino - "Connie, You're Drunk" (1965)

"The Wild Wild Planet" is such a fascinating movie, and we covered the theme and most of the details a few months back, but there is still more outer space party music by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino to get down with! So here you go.... 

 

"I'm having dinner with the corporation, okay??" 

 

" I like to be treated as a lady, not a buddy!" She just twisted the hell out of Mike's arm, but now she insists she wants to be treated like a lady! Right, Connie!! 

 

"Connie, you're drunk!!!!"

 Eat fire, space scum!!! 

 

Back on terra firma, it's "I just hate the sight of you!", but she's still drinking so don't worry, because everything's gonna be all right Mike!

BLOOD BATH (Track Of The Vampire) - Ron Stein - "Max" (1966)

"Track Of The Vampire" is actually a pretty good movie with some very jazzy music by Ron Stein and Mark Lowry, but the problem is, and I hate to say it, is this....... 

 

These hipsters just aren't that hip.............. 

 

and Karl Schanzer as Max the artist, who was also in "Dementia 13" and "Spider Baby" is just not believable in this role as a whacked out artist type character. 

 

"Quantum Painting?" "Bucket Of Blood" or "Dementia" are much better choices for "Beat-Noir-Cool!"

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Fred Katz - "The My Name Is Seymour Suite" (1960)

Here's about 5 minutes of joy that I threw together a couple of months ago. It's been fermenting about long enough and I think it's ready to be unleashed. Here's some of "The Little Shop Of Horrors" musical and comedy segments filtered through my mind into one massive mini-mix I call "The My Name Is Seymour Suite."

 For years I thought Dodie Drake was Mitzi McCall for some reason! 

 

What can you say about the cop scene? "Lost one!" 

 

Meri Welles as Leonora Clyde is another character never to be duplicated! 

 

One of the greatest chase scenes of all time!

ROCKETSHIP X-M - Ferde Grofé Sr. - "Walkin Around On Mars" (1950)

The only movie we've been able to find from the year 1950 that had any music that wasn't strictly orchestral is "Rocketship X-M", but if there's only going to be one, at least it's a really good one!! Classic composer Ferde Grofé Sr. used the talents of the number one 'go to guy' when you needed the spooky sound, Dr. Samuel Hoffman on the theremin quite nicely! Together they made this walk on Mars a lot more than just interesting! Mind-boggling Podiatrist, Dr. Hoffman established the sound everyone to this day associates with a scary or spacey scene, and will dwell in the "Dwrayger Dungeon" Hall Of Fame for eternity for his contributions to cool horror sounds! Dr. Samuel Hoffman, we salute you!!! 

 

So, Okay, just try and imagine, it's 1950, do you think anything could look cooler than this? I seriously doubt it! 

 

You just automatically can tell it's Mars by the color! 

 

Here's some of that classic "Space Theremin"!!