THE TWILIGHT ZONE / "To Serve Man" - 1962

Here's a great little episode from The Twilight Zone that always satisfies, in a gruesome way of course. It's about an alien race, the Kanamits, who arrive on Earth promising peace and the use of their technology that would feed the world with limitless energy! What could go wrong?!

It stars Lloyd Bochner as Michael Chambers, Susan Cummings as Patty and Dungeon favorite Richard Kiel as the head Kanamit. Sounds pretty close to Cannibal!

One day, flying saucers are seen all around the world...

The head Kanamit speaks with the United Nations general council, addressing them through mental communication. He assures them that they are a peaceful race and are there to help the human race as they have done on other planets.

Does this look like someone that you could trust? Nine feet tall to boot.

He leaves with the council a book written in their language, supposedly containing all their technological secrets to share with the Earthlings.

Everyone gets behind it and the Kanamits are even offering to take Earthlings to their planet so that they can get free items from their gift shop!

Michael Chambers, a linguist, is given the task of translating the book along with Patty, his assistant, the general thinks something's fishy and wants to know what it says...

Finally, they have the title, To Serve Man... Hmmm.

The Kanamit agrees to take a lie detector test in front of the United Nations, and he passes with flying colors.

Another flight is scheduled and the people line up in droves to visit the aliens' home planet, billions of miles away.

The Kanamit weighs everyone in before the flight and when this hefty guy steps on the scales, the alien gets a big old smile on his face! Cracks me up.

Both Michael and Patty have signed up for the flight, they can't wait for the trip. But before she heads to the spaceship, she wants to do one last crack at the translation of the book's interior. Michael heads off to board the ship.

He's waiting for Patty to arrive but she's a little late...

She finally shows up and yells at Michael... It's a COOKBOOK!

Michael is caught on the stairs and the Kanamit closes the door on him!

And, they head off into deep space in their flying saucer, borrowed from EARTH vs. THE FLYING SAUCERS.

Michael is in his compartment where he throws his food on the floor, the Kanamit comes in and communicates to him that he needs to eat to keep up his weight!

Michael has a grim warning for us all, the Kanamits are on Earth to take you back to their planet, each and everyone of you!

Then he gobbles down his dinner, since there's no way out of this pickle! There you have it, whatever you do, do not trust aliens from outer space!!

THE ROBERT HERRIDGE THEATER - "The Sound Of Miles Davis" (1960)

 It's another Saturday Night and I ain't got nobody, so welcome to the Saturday Night Special in The Dungeon!

"The Robert Herridge Theater" was a dramatic series that was on TV for one season and had 26 episodes in 1960 to 1961. The stories were all over the place from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Telltale Heart," to an episode called "A Story Of A Gunfighter" that starred William Shatner, but the episode I find the most intriguing was episode number two that was more of a documentary concert, and it was called........

 

"The Sound Of Miles Davis."

 

"There are different ways of telling a story."

 

Robert Herridge was obviously a huge jazz fan, and should be considered a national hero for his accomplishments promoting it! This show was completely unorthodox, and I'll bet he took a lot of flak for it!

 

 What an incredible array of talent in one room together, and this is one of the few instances where you'll ever be able to see a live performance by John Coltrane before he died at the age of 40.

 

Miles Davis and John Coltrane are two of the most influential musicians there has ever been in all the history of music!

I've been listening to the music of Miles Davis for a few decades now, and yet somehow this song called "So What" sounds as fresh and new as anything you could hear today!

Not only is the music great, but the photography is equally impressive. I love this shot of John Coltrane! 

During Trane's solo, Miles stands down and takes a smoke break. That is so 1960's!!

I wish I had never smoked, but it sure was cool at the time!

Back in the 70's I had a college DJ gig on Sunday mornings that was a spiritual show, so I played lots of "Love Supreme,"and lots of Gospel and Reggae music.

This call board gives you an idea of the quality of talent there was on this show. They don't exactly do closeups on all the musicians, but according to the closing credits, besides long time Miles' combo with Paul Chambers on Bass, Jimmy Cobb on Drums, and Wynton Kelly on piano, there's also another true fave of mine, Julian "Cannonball" Adderly playing alto sax, and according to IMDB, Ahmad Jamal and Dave Brubeck are in there playing pianos too.

Long time associate of Miles Davis, Gil Evans does the Conductor work here on the last couple of songs.

This show was so good, it has literally left me speechless!

The next episode of "The Robert Herridge Theater" was "The Tell-Tale Heart" followed by "The Easter Story." In episode seven, Robert once again used the jazz theme, this time featuring the Ben Webster Sextet, and The Ahmad Jamal Trio.

Gil Evans was the conductor on one of the most iconic albums of all time, Miles Davis's "Sketches Of Spain" in 1957.

SO, if you know someone who thinks they don't like jazz, then sit them down with a nice bottle of wine and play this excerpt video of "So What." 

And if that doesn't do it, then they really don't like jazz, because this is one perfectly beautiful piece of music! I've just listened to it three, make that four, times in a row!

Robert Herridge is my new hero and I'm willing to bet that he had a supremely killer stereo in his home!

I'll just leave you with that bass line from "So What!" Go listen to it!

13 EXAMPLES OF HORROR & SCI-FI VHS BOX ART

Today we gots 13 examples of VHS box art in the horror and sci-fi genres, naturally our favorites, so, here we go with some cool eye candy, just for you.

We start with this one, MESA OF LOST WOMEN, Tarantella posing with her giant spider pal.

Here's a super wild cover from FIEND WITHOUT A FACE showing that poor guy getting choked out by one of the fiends!

Universal basically had the best VHS box art, like this fine example here for TARANTULA, a movie that I saw at the theater back in the day.

Then there are some bonkers covers, like this one for I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN that will grab your attention!

Another awesome example of VHS box art for MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS from Universal, Arthur Franz was in a pile of interesting horror and sci-fi films in the fifties. Saw this one with my dad in 1958.

Great box art here for ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, man, that kicks ass! Saw this Cormanized flick in 1957, loved it.

The artwork here for MONOLITH MONSTERS is fairly bizarre Universal design, but nice. Also saw this one with my dad, the giant growing crystals were unbelievably awesome, what a great idea for a movie!

Love this box art for INVADERS FROM MARS, those mutants were a sight to behold, all big and green like, with their rock melting tools, Arthur Franz was in this one too. If you ever get the chance, check out the British version!

Seeing THE BLOB with my dad in 1958 left me wounded for years! Very nice artwork with Steve at the center of everything.

Here's all you need to know about QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, 'nuf said! I saw this one in 1958 and thought the sets were crappy.

Here's an attractive piece of artwork for FIRST MAN INTO SPACE with The Professor there at the bottom left, the monster was a freak from Hell.

We couldn't not include this great GODZILLS vs. THE SEA MONSTER box art, now, that's one wild ride there!

We'll end things with this box art for VOODOO WOMAN, black and white with orange lettering, simply sweet. That must be Mary Ellen Kay's face because it's definitely not Marla English. A little eye candy to brighten your day ~