DAMNATION ALLEY - "Survival Run" (1977)

Here's a Wednesday End Of The World Special for you that is straight outta Weirdsville!

This epic piece was made in 1977, and was titled "Damnation Alley!"

It once was referred to as "Survival Run,"as in 'Beer Run.'

The two head honchos are Jan-Michael Vincent as Tanner, and George Peppard as Denton.

These two are the future, or what's going to be left of it.

If he was still around, I'd ask him, because it doesn't seem like George Peppard is enjoying himself much in this film.

Okay, here we go ! It's on, and over, just like that!

So WWIII was a cataclysmic disaster of immense proportions!

The rules have changed!

There are now lots of giant and vicious scorpions and cockroaches!

This is the escape vehicle! They call it The Landmaster! 

It was built by Dean Jeffries in 1976 for $350,000.00.

The boys leave California and are headed to Albany, New York. They've heard that there is some bit of civilization left in Albany!

On the way, they stop in Las Vegas!

An abandoned casino is a strange sight to see.

Finally, they run into a woman with a French accent, not that it spices up the story much. Janice was played by Dominique Sanda, and now she's along for the ride!

The first thing I thought of when I saw The Landmaster was that....

.............The guy who invented this Fidget Spinner must have been a huge fan of this film!!

Paul Winfield is in there from the start as Keegan......

.....But he's the first victim in this buddy story, killed by a bunch of giant cannibal cockraches!

Ironically, if you're headed to Las Vegas yourself, you can see The Landmaster because it's parked, and on display out in the desert somewhere in between Rosamond and Mojave, Calif.

Some survivors turned into stupid redneck desert rats!

No matter what, that always seems to happen.

I guess the stupid rednecks.......

.......Didn't see those cannons on top of The Landmaster!

They just keep trudging along under psychedelic skies!

They also pick up this kid along the way! 

Jackie Earle Haley took a break from "The Bad News Bears" to play Billy.

Despite all odds, they make it through all this crap!

In the end, they do make it to Albany, and believe it or not, there are lots of normal people there trying to start civilization all over again in peace and harmony!

SANTO y MANTEQUILLA NAPOLES en LA VENGANZA DE LA LLORONA / Vengeance of the Crying Woman - 1974

Here's round 4 in our epic Mexican Monster Movie Rumble in May!.. This story's all about Santo and his boxing pal, they help a professor and his niece find a clue to a treasure that will be used to help local children. The clue to the treasure is a medallion worn by a mummy known as "The Crying Woman". The mummy soon comes to life and terrorizes the locals to get her medallion back. Meanwhile, our heroic duo have to fight off a band of thugs.

Santo's boxing Cuban co-star, José Mantequilla Nápoles, was the World Welterweight Champion and ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all time in that division and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame! His record of the most wins in unified championship bouts in boxing history, shared with Muhammad Ali, was unbeaten for 40 years!

The movie begins with a match on TV where Santo is kicking some dude's ass, classic TV set!

Then, the Professor calls for Santo to help him recover a hidden chest of gold that would be returned to help out the local children. On the other side of the city though, the head of a family makes a deal with The Crying Woman's earthly helper...

Santo and José get a lead and take the Professor with them to investigate, it doesn't take long before they locate a coffin. When it's opened, the mummy of the Crying Woman is just hanging out in it. Before the exit the room, the Professor grabs the medallion from around the mummy's neck... Raw Row!!

The Professor takes off from the gang to ponder the medallion, when, a gang of hoods surround him and take the stolen object. Then, out of nowhere, Santo flying drop kicks the dude with the gun right in the mush! A big fight ensues, Santo and José kick their asses.

There's a lot of TV viewing in this one, it used to be a real family affair!

Santo's on the tube fighting against an Asian guy. Check out that awesome still!

In the meantime, the Crying Woman comes looking for her freakin' medallion! What was the stupid Professor thinking?! He's dead now and she's recovered her precious item...

While looking for the treasure, the bad guys show up, so, Santo tosses a gas bomb at them, knocking them out. Love this shot, but phew, man, who let one?!

The kids' mom has been possessed and lures her son into the old haunted mansion next door...

Here's a mystery photo, there's something weird going on... But, what?!

Mom has a table full of toys, and a bike behind him, that she will give him if he will just take his cross off! He takes it off and mom becomes a meany. When mom and the boy have left the room, the daughter shows up after following them into the place. She's looking at the toys when the Crying Woman's helper shows up! While talking to the small girl, she holds up the cross her bro left on the table, making the helper explode!! Really!!!

After lots of fights, our heroes finally find the hidden treasure chest, they carry it to Santo's cool 1965 Pontiac and take it to the people in charge of the deal.

When the guy reads the will confirming the retrieval, well, the Crying Woman turns into a skeleton and goes poof, bringing this story to an end, just like this post!

THE VAMPIRA SHOW - "The Ghost Hostess With The Mostess" (1954-1955)

 We've talked about Zacherley and Ghoulardi and Dr. Morgus, and even Elvira, but it was Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi, aka Maila Nurmi, aka Vampira who was the first ever television horror host!

Welcome to another smokin' hot Saturday Night Special in The Dungeon! 

The picture above, and as much information as you could ever want to know about Vampira is available at the wondrous website Recipes For Rebels!

It's all there, so I'm not even going to try!

 "The Vampira Show" was on channel 7 in Los Angeles in 1954 and 1955!

 The show opened with Vampira walking down this foggy hall that gave the viewers a good look at that seventeen inch waist of hers!

 As the camera gets closer and closer......

 .....And closer.........

Vampira lets out one of the most classic screams of all time!!

  AAAAAAAaaaahhhhhHHHHH!!

I love these shots! She looks so proud of herself, and she should be for all that she accomplished in her life against all odds!

Almost all the tapes of any of "The Vampira Shows" have been destroyed, and we're very lucky to be able to see this brief portion!

Where I come from, we call this "The Look." It's funny, kids can learn it before they're even two.

So do yourself a favor and go and read Vampira's incredibly fascinating, albeit sad story at

"Recipes For Rebels," I swear you will thank me later, and while you're there, make sure and check out the video for "Vampira's Cocktail!"

It's a killer!