“What Secrets Are Harbored Within The Sinister Highways Of The Mind?”

Time to celebrate someone who has helped save some of the world’s craziest films!

Sad news to report about the passing of a man who spent his life saving obscure cinema for the world to savor: Mike Vraney, the founder of Something Weird Video, has died. The website has the entire story and a very nice eulogy to Vraney, which you can see here…

http://www.somethingweird.com/

I wanted to share some of the incredible films that Something Weird has saved for future generations, including my favorite “worst movie of all time”…yes, wait for it:

PSYCHED BY THE 4D WITCH!

For that I will ALWAYS be grateful to Vraney, but it speaks to his unique passion for film: he knew that NOBODY would ever let “The Godfather” fade away to obscurity – Vraney focused on the kind of movie that snuck in and out of your local graindhouse theater or drive-in during the 60′s and 70′s, and he decided to keep their spirit alive! How? Well, how about THIS!

“Confessions Of A Psycho Cat!”

“What Secrets Are Harbored Within The Sinister Highways Of The Mind?”

With twisted violence, macabre humor, and lots of gratuitous skin (it was apparently shot as a straight horror film with the nude scenes added a year or two later), CONFESSIONS OF A PSYCHO CAT is a delirious, out-of-its-mind instant cult classic, and the scene where Virginia dresses like a toreador to come after “Raging Bull” La Motta is exploitation at its best!

Wait – JAKE LAMOTTA????

Yes, Jake LaMotta!

This is why we need to celebrate Vraney’s efforts!

Here are several of Something Weird’s other masterworks – who else would have thought to keep alive the classic movie madness of:

“DEADLY WEAPONS!”

When Gangsters kill her boyfriend, the eye-popping, excessively endowed Chesty Morgan seeks revenge with two of the most incredible weapons ever seen on the motion picture screen: her 73-inch breasts! Yes, this bizarre sexploitation oddity was directed by Dorish Wishman, and Something Weird has saved many of the Director’s films from obscurity!

Or how about THESE!

Something Weird has the classics from the “Godfathers Of Grime”, Herschell Gordon Lewis and David F. Friedman!

“Nothing So Appalling In The Annals Of Horror!”

Talk about truth in advertising! But I’m having a bit of fun here, because this is considered “The Godfather Of Grime”! In 1964, this film SHOCKED the world with its depiction of bloody violence and sex – take a look at the classic trailer:

Yep, it’s the work of legendary Exploitation Director Herschell Gordan Lewis! Flaunting all movie codes, Lewis made “Blood Feast” for around $50,000 – and it grossed millions! Yes, it’s a lousy movie, but it really blew the doors off grindhouse theaters across the country!

This film was a shocking sensation, thanks to some very clever marketing. Legendary Grindhouse Producer David F. Friedman came up with some very effective publicity stunts for “Blood Feast” which included giving theater goers vomit bags reading:

“You may need this when you see ‘Blood Feast’”!

Lewis went on to make another classic exploitation film:

“Gruesomely Stained In Blood Color!”

The phenomenal success of “Blood Feast” inspired the Director – he also directed the classic “2000 Maniacs” and “Color Me Blood Red!”

“Drenched In Crimson Color!”

Mike Vraney also saved the work of arguably the world’s WORST film maker! And don’t worry, it’s presented:

“In Cranium-Cleaving Color!”

How can you resist a movie that offers this tagline?

The Ghastly Ones!

Check out the “Doctor’s Warning” on the poster – a classic “come on” for the suckers at that time…love it! Now, back to why we are here: “The Ghastly Ones” is one of the world’s WORST exploitation films ever made! Check out this legendarily bad trailer!

Here is the plot: Three married couples spend the night in a Victorian-era house where they start getting killed off by a deranged psycho who’s bent on claiming an inheritance they are all entitled to.

Sure, that’s a servicable plot: but under the Direction of Andy Milligan, it’s a debacle! Here’s a great bit of trivia, thanks to IMDB: In several of the fight scenes of the film, the crew and their cameras and sound equipment are visible.

There are also moments when the director can be heard softly reminding the actors of their lines!

Now THAT”S film making! As one reader on IMDB stated:

“This is an absolutely horrible film in every way possible.”

Now, that’s what it took to get Mike Vraney to save your film – but he may have saved the best of all!

Behold an original drive-in theater ad for the amazingly bad, perfectly chosen by Something Weird video classic:

“Psyched By The 4D Witch!”

Earlier I mentioned this classic film. Well, it’s not so much a “classic movie” as it is a series of b-roll shots with a poorly written narration laid over it…and shots of this actress…

This movie was actually released in movie theaters…with NO synched sound at all, the worst voiceover narration ever recorded, and random footage strung together to fill time…in fact, it was described by Something Weird Video (who was smart enough to release it on DVD) as:

“the most maddening, jaw-dropping, mind-bending piece of celluloid lunacy ever to play American theaters!”

You understand that is EXACTLY why Vraney saved this film – he was passionate about the obscure, often atrocious movies that deserve to be savored by future generations of bad movie lovers!

Once again, congrats to Vraney and the SW team for keeping this part of movie history alive! I plan to honor their work by going to the website and ordering up a few obscure classics to enjoy forever…

RIP Mike! Go check out ALL of his movie – and there are hundred! – by clicking here!

http://www.somethingweird.com/

Never Forget!

Never forget…..the hair that is….this incredible Jan-Claude hairstyle always reminds me of his greatest movie: John Woo’s Louisiana bayou thriller “Hard Target!” But there is SO much more to celebrate about Jean-Claude – because JCVD is back in a BIG BIG WAY!

Jean-Claude Van Damme was one of the world’s biggest stars. From “Bloodsport” to “Time Cop” to the classic “Hard Target”, Jean-Claude kicked ass across a multitude of great action films…and then, Jean-Claude fell off our screens…until now.

“Central to Unit 27. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s robbing a post office. I need back-up!”

Wait, WHAT? Don;’t worry, I’ll explain in a moment….I will also explain how I ended up:

Hanging With Jean-Claude In Cannes!

I will tell you all about hanging out with the legendary action star – many times – in Cannes, but first, here is the already legendary “splits” TV ad with Jean-Claude Van Damme:

Kudos, Mr. Van Damme! This TV ad has certainly put Jean-Claude back in the spotlight, but you missed his real comeback just last year…and I will also tell you how I have been lucky enough to hang with the action star several times when I was running programming at E! More on that as well, but first, I have to tell you about a revelatory movie starring the “Muscles From Brussels!”

Looking good, JCVD! However, there’s a LOT more on display than just Jean-Claude’s muscles…there is a real, honest, and open look at an action star…if you haven’t seen the terrific film “JCVD”, you are missing out on Jean-Claude’s greatest performance ever…

I was stunned by how good this movie was – I had heard about Jean-Claude’s performance, but never got around to wartching it – and when I did, I was stunned…..First, take a look at the trailer for the great film “JCVD”:

Policier: “Central to Unit 27. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s robbing a post office. I need back-up!”

And with this urgent police call, “JCVD” explodes into action! Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! In “JCVD”, Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States. But nothing goes as planned…

I won’t share anything else, as the joy of this film is to watch it unfold…The concept for “JCVD” originated with the producer, who had an agreement with Jean-Claude Van Damme to play himself in a movie. In the original screenplay Van Damme was portrayed more as a clown. Mabrouk El Mechri was brought on to rewrite, and was subsequently asked to direct.

Director Mabrouk El Mechri agreed to rewrite the script on the condition he could meet Jean-Claude Van Damme first before starting the draft, so he wouldn’t waste six months on something that Van Damme would veto.

There is a funny scene in a taxi involving Jean-Claude and a cab driver, and whole scene is completely improvised. Mabrouk El Mechri told Jean-Claude Van Damme to just be nice to the driver no matter what she said!

But the real masterstroke in the film takes place about halfway through, when Jean-Claude breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience…it is mesmerizing, and one of the best monologues committed to film…I don’t want to spoil it, but here is a short snippet to give you an idea of the honesty on display:

J.C.V.D.: “This movie is for me. There we are, you and me. Why did you do that? Or why did I do that? You made my dream come true. I asked for it. I promised you something in return and I haven’t delivered yet. You win, I lose. Unless…”

This monologue goes on for several more minutes – no break, one single take – and it is mesmerizing…you can see the real anguish in his face, in his voice…and the real emotion! After you see this scene, you can’t help but root for Jean-Claude to survive!

This is also a fun, twisty action thriller as well – a real return to form for the “Muscle From Brussels”…really worth checking out – I have the blu-ray of the movie…it’s just the latest chapter in a wild ride for the action star…which took him many times to the south of France…

Welcome To The Cannes Film Festival!

Yes, Cannes is a gorgeous city on the French Riviera, where celebrities gather every year to celebrate film…and we would travel to cover the festival for E!

For many years, my Host was Michael Castner, who Alex points out was always the hardest worker on the team…

Just kidding, Michael – he was terrific to work with, and always got great interviews for us – including this revealing conversation with Jean-Claude at the famed Hotel du Cap…

One year, after a huge Cannes party, I was hanging out with Jean-Claude – since we had covered many Planet Hollywood openings and Cannes festivals, we had become acquainted – and I had just seen his latest movie.

I said to Jean-Claude, congratulations on “Hard Target!” He looked at me and said, “we can do better!” I just smiled but I thought, “no, Jean-Clause, you CAN’T do better than John Woo!” That was, unfortunately, the last time we saw this hairstyle on screen…

And JCVD went into a career tailspin…until now…so kudos on the TV ad, bravo for “JCVD”, and most importantly,

“Welcome Back Jean-Claude!”

Time To “Break Like The Wind!”

Can’t wait to put on this album and hear some great music, courtesy of the legendary heavy metal band “Spinal Tap!” Or perhaps it’s time to bite into a “Shark Sandwich!”

Yes, as much as I LOVE the best cult movie of all time, “This Is Spinal Tap”, these are some hilariously AWFUL album covers! Need more proof?

Behold “Intravenus De Milo!”

Yes, one of the best parts of the film is when the band discusses all of their albums, and he we awful album cover after awful album cover – like this one!

It’s A “Rock ‘n’ Roll Creation!”

And the worst, of course, is what gets them in hot water from their US record label – the offensive “Smell The Glove!”

These album covers are just one reason I love this movie! Here are many more!

“Hello, Cleveland!”

One of the most iconic lines in movie comedy history – as the Band Spinal Tap gets lost in the bowels of Cleveland’s music arena and can’t find the stage…

And of course, there’s also this, when a band member admits they will never know what killed their drummer, who drowned in someone else’s vomit:

Nigel Tufnel: “You can’t really dust for vomit.”

“This Is Spinal Tap!”

Arguably one of the funniest movies ever made, this is also the first and funniest “mockumentary” ever made, directed by Rob Reiner.

You know the plot: in 1982, legendary British heavy metal band Spinal Tap attempt an American comeback tour accompanied by a fan who is also a film-maker. The resulting documentary, interspersed with powerful performances of Tap’s pivotal music and profound lyrics, candidly follows a rock group heading towards crisis, culminating in the infamous affair of the eighteen-inch-high Stonehenge stage prop…here is the trailer for this comedic masterpiece:

Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean were given $10,000 to write a script for Spinal Tap. A 20-minute version of the film was made with the money to better demonstrate the improvisation they had in mind. Several scenes from this demo are in the final movie, and the entire effort is included on various special editions of the film…

“But These Go To Eleven!”

Most of the dialogue was improvised – kudos to the entire “Tap” team of Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest – but this is now one of the most quoted film lines in modern movie history…

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and…

Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?

Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.

Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?

Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?

Marty DiBergi: I don’t know.

Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?

Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.

Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean were given $10,000 to write a script. A 20-minute version of the film was made with the money to better demonstrate the improvisation they had in mind. Several scenes from this demo are in the final movie.

And Talk About Cameos!

Lots of Director Rob Reiner’s friends showed up to support the film by playing small roles.

The two mime waiters are Dana Carvey and Billy Crystal.

Fran Drescher plays Bobbi Fleckman. In an interview, she says that people still identify with her more for this supporting role than her more recent and starring turn in The Nanny!

The band’s chauffeur in New York is the late Bruno Kirby, perhaps best known as young Clemenza in “The Godfather II”, as well as many other films…

And in the end, it was all about the band, even with all of the mysterious drummer deaths. After all,
no one will ever be sure exactly how drummer Stumpy Joe died: “You can’t really dust for vomit.”

But everything turned out OK, according to David St. Hubbins: “Well, I’m sure I’d feel much worse if I weren’t under such heavy sedation.”

And Now, The Todd Rundgren Connection – The Eggs That Won’t Open!

I was reading the biography of Todd, and I came across a chapter about the first Utopia tours, and guess what? There IS a Spinal Tap connection!

As you know, there is the hilarious scene from “Spinal Tap” when one band member gets trapped in a malfunctioning egg onstage…well, according to the book, that may have come from a Utopia concert!

Utopia’s First Tours! Todd’s Disasterous “Geodesic Dome!”

On page 230 of the Todd bio book “A Dream Goes On Forever Vol. 1″, Todd says one of the early Utopia tours “had this special geodesic dome for the syntheziser player (Jean Yves Labat) to sit in”. Well, it kept breaking down!

The story, as recounted in the book, clearly suggests that “Spinal Tap’s” malfunctioning egg was a direct parody of Todd’s “Geodesic dome!” Paul Fishkin says “I was at the Philly gig…at least one inspiration for ‘Spinal Tap’ was Jean Yves in the bubble, not being able to get out. it was so bad – indescribably bad!”

So Todd’s early synth musician Jean Yves Labat got trapped in the dome and couldn’t get out – just like Harry Shearer being trapped in Spinal Tap’s egg…

So the next time I watch Spinal Tap, I will put on the Theme From Utopia as well and savor the connection…if you want to read more about Todd, make sure to get the biographies…click here to read all about it:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/04/todd-rundgrens-new-musical-state-his-new-tiki-iniki-bar-todds-incredible-bio-books/

The Spinal Tap “Stonehenge” Debacle!

Of course, Spinal Tap has many more problems than just malfunctioning eggs…they had a two foot tall Stonehenge!

This debacle was caused when the lead guitarist put “20 inches” instead of “20 ft.” on the design…when the tour manager tries to tell the band to play better, the lead singer gets angry:

David St. Hubbins: I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem *may* have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being *crushed* by a *dwarf*. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.

Ian Faith: I really think you’re just making much too big a thing out of it.

Derek Smalls: Making a big thing out of it would have been a good idea.

The Non-Black Sabbath Connection!

There’s a common misconception that the “too small Stonehenge” disaster is a parody of Black Sabbath’s over-sized Stonehenge sets from the Born Again tour. This is impossible, the Stonehenge Spinal Tap scene existed as early as 1982 when the film existed as a 20-minute short. Black Sabbath didn’t begin using their Stonehenge sets until 1983.

And Finally, The Album Reviews!

Another great moment is when Director Marty DiBergi reads the band their latest album review: “This tasteless cover is a good indication of the lack of musical invention within. The musical growth of this band cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry.”

Nigel Tufnel: “That’s just nitpicking, isn’t it?”

Nitpicking indeed! “This Is Spinal Tap” is a classic movie comedy, and was ranked #1 on Entertainment Weekly’s “Top 50 Cult Films of All-Time”!

“Hello Cleveland!”

You know the song…

“Here We Come…Walking Down The street…We Get The Funniest Looks From Everyone We Meet…”

Yes, they were manufactured by TV…but it was Jack Nicholson who gave them HEAD!

They were one of the 60′s most popular bands – and they made a movie, too – that was written by Jack Nicholson!

“Hey hey we are the Monkees, you know we aim to please. A manufactured image with no philosophies!”

Yes, that is Jack Nicholson sitting with The Monkees – listening as they play some classic Monkee music – and saying Jack’s lines, because he wrote the quote above!

Jack Nicholson, Screenwriter For The Monkees!

Yep, it’s true: Davy, Peter, Michael and Mickey all starred in a movie that was written by Jack Nicholson! Yes, it is time to share one of Jack Nicholson’s most obscure efforts – as a Screenwriter for The Monkees! Or, as Peter Tork would say:

“Let me tell you one thing son. Nobody ever lends money to a man with a sense of humor.”

Time To Celebrate “Head!”

If you haven’t heard of this cult classic slice of pop psychedelia, check out the movie trailer!

In the 60′s based on the phenomenon known as The Beatles, a smart US TV Producer decided to make a show about a pop band – and they created The Monkees:

They were an immediate pop sensation, with such classic hits as “Last Train To Clarksville”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and, of course:

“Hey Hey We’re The Monkees!”

After years on TV and a slew of hit songs,t he group decided to go in a more experimental direction, which led to:

Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Mike, Davy Jones: “Hey hey we are the Monkees, you know we aim to please. A manufactured image with no philosophies!”

The Monkees made a film that was one of the most neglected psychodelic gems of the “flower power” generation. Here is how the great website IMDB TRIES to explain the plot of “Head”:

“Running in from seemingly nowhere, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith & Peter Tork – better known collectively as The Monkees – disrupt a bridge opening ceremony. From where and why did they come to disrupt the proceedings? They were filming a series of vignettes in several different genres, including a wild west sequence, a desert war sequence, a Confederate war sequence, and a science fiction sequence.

They disagree with much of what is happening around them, and try to figure out how to escape the oppression they feel – symbolized by a big black box in which they are seemingly imprisoned – by the forces around. “

Well, there you go – but really, does it matter what the plot is? It was a chance for Jack Nicholson to hang out with The Monkees, and write a screenplay for them! It included lines like this:

Peter Tork: “Everybody’s where they wanna be.”

Micky Dolenz: “That is a particularly inept thing to say, Peter, considering that we are in a vacuum cleaner.”

Here is some great trivia about the film: the movie’s origin was in Ojai, California, where The Monkees, producer/director Bob Rafelson and writer Jack Nicholson spent a weekend in a resort motel verbally tossing story ideas into a tape recorder. This became the script for the movie.

Co-writer Jack Nicholson actually compiled the movie soundtrack in its final form, with snippets of the movie dialogue between songs, and is so credited on the album cover. (When he saw Michael Nesmith at work in the studio and asked if he could help, Nesmith let him take over, because “I just want to go home”.)

Nicholson had unwavering enthusiasm for the movie, joining in a stickering campaign to promote the premiere, and declaring later that “I saw it, like, 158 million times, man. I loved it!”

A misleading ad campaign, combined with a poorly timed release date of 6 November 1968, two months after The Monkees TV show was canceled, led to a box office disaster. According to IMDB, “Head” only grossed $16,111 in ticket sales!

Cue The Special Box Set!

Although a huge bomb when it was released, time has been very good to “Head.”

The film is available on DVD with bonus material, and there is a huge box set with all of the film’s music, lots of outtakes, and bonus material!

And of course, Michael Nesmith wrote some of the band’s music – and he also went on to have an incredible solo career – including creating MTV!

If you don’t know the story about Michael Nesmith’s solo career, you are missing a lot! Read all about Nesmith and the beginning of MTV by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/14/elvis-drugs-michael-nesmith-the-dawn-of-mtv-elephant-parts-the-monkees/

And enjoy the classic, hilarious Nesmith project “Elephant Parts!”

WOW! Check out this AMAZING VIDEO!

Need to change a tire? No problem! You don’t even need to pull over!

Yes, what you are seeing is real: they are changing flat tires while driving on two wheels!

Wow! “Sidewalk Skiing!”

Meet the world of dangerous stunt driving, courtesy of Saudi Arabia!

Here’s how “Laughing Squid” describes it: “A group of men appear to remove and reinstall two wheels on a Toyota SUV as the vehicle is driven down the road on two wheels in this insane video uploaded by Al Drifter. The potentially deadly stunt is an example of ‘sidewalk skiing’, a death-defying activity practiced by young men in Saudi Arabia’s underground street racing culture.”

Check out this unbelievable video:

Thanks to Laughing Squid website for sharing this…unbelievable….check out the entire story here:

http://laughingsquid.com/death-defying-passengers-remove-and-reinstall-wheels-while-their-vehicle-is-driving-on-two-wheels/

It’s just one of the more amazing things we’ve seen online lately…

Look Out!

You know when there is a traffic accident, people slow down to gawk…well, someone took it one better: they compiled the most unsettling collection of “close calls” from traffic cameras!

Here is one I found on youtube, posted by “Giovanni Gentile”:

Here is one posted by “ArroganteDekadenz” on youtube:

While these are hard to watch, they are also fascinating – and everyone in these videos walked away without a scratch! Amazing….

I have a question for you:

Don’t be frightened, but it’s been on my mind:

What Makes A Movie “BAD”? This?

Well, this is clearly a film that can give you a splitting headache…

Maybe This?

Let’s see: George Burns, Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees dressed up as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”…you know what, I’m beginning to feel a bit “unwell”….

Or Without A Doubt THIS!

If you just shouted out:

“You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!”

Well, then you know what I’m talking about – these are images from five of the worst films ever made – and also the greatest films because there is something really fun about viewing them!

Bad movies have a special place in my heart – because I paid good money to see these! And now I own them all as well, allowing me to have a “bad movie marathon” anytime I want…

Time For A “Bad Movie Marathon!”

We will begin overseas, on a beautiful island where people are terrorized by severed heads!

Mystics In Bali!

Yep, every bad movie marathon has to begin with a possessed severed head movie….

Here is the plot of “Mystics In Bali”: researching a book that takes her to Bali and the black magic cult of Leák, Cathy meets an evil witch which promises to train her in the dark arts. Tricked, Cathy is turned into a Penanggalan:

a flying vampire with internal organs hanging from her neck!

It is now up to the local holy men who are then enforced to do battle with the forces of evil. And look at these amazing special effects they must fight off!

Folks, this is a delight to behold…”MYSTICS IN BALI” has to be seen to be believed!

The film is a strange blend – with some genuine creepy moments and others that will have you unintentionally laugh out loud.

And let’s be honest – don’t you HAVE to see this movie now to see what happens to this pregnant lady next?

Next up: the most recent “camp classic”, thanks to the magic of Tommy Wiseau!

Yes, let’s take a moment to behold the majesty of…”The Room.” This 2003 cult film is a movie sensation – it routinely plays all across the country as a “midnight movie” offering…with audience participation much like that “other” midnight cult classic:

Rocky Horror Meets The Room!

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” flopped when it was originally released, but has since become a cultural phenomenon….and now “The Room” has followed in its footsteps…Tommy Wiseau’s seductive gaze and all…

“The Room” was written by Tommy Wiseau, directed by Tommy Wiseau and stars Tommy Wiseau…it is widely regarded as the worst film ever made…and its popularity grows by the year….more on that in a moment, but first, a quick recap on the movie:

Tommy Wiseau stars as “Johnny”, a successful banker who lives happily in a San Francisco townhouse with his fiancé, Lisa.

“You Are Tearing Me Apart, Lisa!”

Yes, THAT LISA.

One day, Lisa decides to seduce Johnny’s best friend, Mark. From there, nothing will be the same again…and yes, THIS IS MARK…

After enjoying all that “The Room” is, you’ve had a few questions – including this very important one:

“Where did this movie come from and how did it get out?”

To find out the answer to that question, the story of Greg Sestero’s amazing book that details the inside story of the film’s production can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/27/tommy-wiseaus-classic-the-room-now-a-book-tommys-secrets-revealed/

Kudos to Sestero for writing a hilarious yet affectionate look at Tommy Wiseau!

Now, speaking of “DISASTERS:

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!

Yes, it is widely considered the greatest album ever made – and I love everything about The Beatles….but I’m not talking about the fab four right now!

Producer Robert Stigwood optioned the music and made this amazingly misguided attempt to bring the Sgt. Pepper Band to life, courtesy of the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton -

AND GEORGE BURNS!

While you take a moment to settle your nerves, you can check out the trailer!

Take a moment to absorb this: a film was made using rock’s greatest album of all time. And the decision was made to turn it into a musical comedy starring Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees and George Burns…

But That’s Not All!

Yes, they also managed to book Steve Martin, Alice Cooper and Earth,Wind & Fire! It was a mid-70′s greatest hits team that must also share the blame for agreeing to star in this 1978 disaster! And yes, here is MORE high stepping!

Needless to say, this movie was one of the biggest bombs EVER – and as for reviews – well, Newsweek’s David Ansen called Sgt. Pepper “a film with a dangerous resemblance to wallpaper.”

“And In The End…”

For the finale of the film, it was decided that they’d assemble an enormous roster of celebrities to sing the reprise of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Formal invitations were engraved and sent to virtually everyone in the entertainment industry; the many who RSVP’d were treated to first-class transportation to Los Angeles, limos, luxurious hotels, champagne, a lavishly catered dinner and private tents for each of the stars in the studio’s garden room.

What more can be said? How can anything be worse than the butchering of The Beatles? Well…

Behold The Magic Of Andy Milligan!

If you don’t know Andy, you have missed out on cinema created by a Director who gives Ed Wood a run for his money!

“In Cranium-Cleaving Color!”

How can you resist a movie that offers this tagline?

Let’s begin with the fact that is one great poster – it almost promises to deliver an awful movie – and guess what? Director Andy Milligan did!

The Ghastly Ones!

Check out the “Doctor’s Warning” on the poster – a classic “come on” for the suckers at that time…love it! Now, back to why we are here: “The Ghastly Ones” is one of the world’s WORST exploitation films ever made! Check out this legendarily bad trailer!

Here is the plot: Three married couples spend the night in a Victorian-era house where they start getting killed off by a deranged psycho who’s bent on claiming an inheritance they are all entitled to.

Sure, that’s a servicable plot: but under the Direction of Andy Milligan, it’s a debacle! Here’s a great bit of trivia, thanks to IMDB: In several of the fight scenes of the film, the crew and their cameras and sound equipment are visible.

There are also moments when the director can be heard softly reminding the actors of their lines!

Now THAT”S film making! As one reader on IMDB stated:

“This is an absolutely horrible film in every way possible.”

To read more about this master of bad taste and “unique” filmmaking, click on my whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/13/fleshpots-rats-cranium-cleaving-color-meet-andy-milligan-sexploitations-ed-wood/

But there is, in my opinion, one movie that rises above them all in its purity of awfulness – the legendary “you can call it a film but it isnt in any stretch of the imagination” classic:

Psyched By The 4D Witch!

I have written about this film before. That is of course if you can really call it “a film.” But it was in movie theaters, and yes, they took my money without shame…you see, it’s not so much a “bad movie” as it is a series of b-roll shots with a poorly written narration laid over it…and shots of this actress…

As you watch, you begin to notice things, like the fact there is NO synched sound at all, meaning it’s all b-roll and voiceover of her “thoughts and reactions”! And by the way, it is the worst voiceover narration ever recorded, with pointless scenes of her in a room followed by random footage of traffic and city streets – all strung together to fill time…in fact, it was described by Something Weird Video (who was smart enough to release it on DVD) as:

“the most maddening, jaw-dropping, mind-bending piece of celluloid lunacy ever to play American theaters!”

You understand that is EXACTLY why I love the folks at Something Weird Video – because they saved this film!

To read all about Something Weird Video, and their passionate attempt to keep the world’s weirdest films alive, click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/07/something-weird-wild-wild-cinema-celebrating-a-weird-genius-rip-mike-vraney/

Now put in some movie badness and have a great weekend!

Hey, YOU! I’m Talking To YOU!

Sometimes it takes the right kind of man to get your attention, especially since it is the day when everyone shouts:

“MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!”

Yes, it is a national holiday for fans of galaxies far, far away…and why not – it has been a crazy time, with lots of new “Star Wars” announcements!

There are too many of these “May The 4th” designs online to count, but the one done by Adam Pockross seemed to capture the iconic importance of it well…where the saga began – and the characters we have all come to love – and as new fads emerge, they are immediately given a “Star Wars” flavor…

Meet The Force…

As any real fan knows, there was just a huge announcement regarding the new film: the cast was announced! An official photo was released of the cast reading the script with JJ Abrams…

CNN had a good writeup of the news, and some immediate reaction from very important members of the “Star Wars” legacy:

“Amid the back-and-forth about the cast of the new “Star Wars” movie, one voice has cut through the fray: Luke Skywalker’s.

Mark Hamill tweeted his support of the recently announced “Star Wars: Episode VII” team on Thursday, calling his new and returning castmates a varied and impressive group.

“I was knocked out by the diverse & extraordinarily talented new cast members,” Hamill said of a UK table read. “WOW they’re good! The saga is in superb hands.”

Strong praise from the original Skywalker!

On Tuesday, Disney and Lucasfilm made an official announcement of who’s joined “Star Wars: Episode VII,” revealing that the iconic, original “Star Wars” actors will appear in the film along with a number of newcomers. Along with Mark Hamill, “Star Wars” veterans Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Carrie Fisher are all reprising their former roles!

They’ll be joined by “Inside Llewyn Davis’” Oscar Isaac, “Attack the Block’s” John Boyega, “Girls” actor Adam Driver and newcomer Daisy Ridley, among others.

“Star Wars Journeys!”

Disney also announced a new series of online apps that will allow fans to get all of the “Star Wars” backstories…here is a great writeup from The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/02/business/media/disney-keeps-focus-on-star-wars-with-a-new-line-of-apps.html?_r=0

The Times did a great job on this story, clearly articulating Disney’s plans for the series…they are being very aggressive, which is a good sign for fans…

Carrie Fisher also tweeted her approval of the new cast. “May the Episode 7 be with you always,” she tweeted to her fans April 30.

It took me back to a time when G4′s own Olivia Munn had the force…

When G4 aired exclusive Star Wars convention specials, Olivia gamely went out into the crowds to work her magic…and even though she’s not in the movie, she will always be Princess Leia to me…

Of course, former G4′er Chris Gore is celebrating as only he can – with a big “May The 4th Be With You” party in Glendale, California!

If you wan to have a blast celebrating the fourth, this is the place to be – tell Chris I said hello!

The casting news has prompted a deluge of fan-based material online, and reminded me of some of the best “Star Wars” stuff you can buy…

Got A “Star Wars” Hangup?

Yes, Mr Vader needs to straighten you out about a few things, especially when it comes to hanging up your Stormtrooper outfit…but these are just the latex tin Star Wars merchandise…and who wouldn’t want to use Yoda to keep a shirt hanging nicely in the closet?

It reminds me of the item I picked up at Comic-Con:

Yes, it’s my favorite Star Wars item of all time: the R2D2 soy sauce dispenser…how can you go wrong with that? Oh, and and it looks like Darth Vader picked up a bad habit while terrorizing outer space:

There are countless pieces of fan art that celebrate all that is Star Wars – and I got to see many of them when G4 covered a Star Wars convention live:

As you can imagine, everyone loved Olivia Munn as Princess Leia – whether she dressed like this, or went a more modest route when we filmed in Tokyo’s Shibuya district:

You can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/09/official-star-wars-vii-release-date-olivia-munn-as-princess-leia-bloopers-bacon-darth-vader-fans-galaxy-of-star-wars/

And of course, Olivia wasn’t the only traveler in the galaxy:

All this travel is making me hungry…how about this:

The “Weenie Wing Commander!”

How can you not love this idea?

And of course, not to be outdone, Burger King in Englad came up with their “Darth Vader Burger”:

And this pic was posted on twitter by @RutigerHammer – great job capturing the great taste of a “Star Wars” breakfast cereal!

And speaking of Twitter, here are three more amazingly fun people to follow!

@DarthVader_No1

@Darth_VaderSW

@EvilDarthVader

And of course, the one and only official account:

@starwars

The “Starwars.com” website also has all the latest official fan stuff…

And if you haven’t heard this one yet, here’s a great bit of trivia about the origin of “Star Wars!”

How Flash Gordon Created “Star Wars!”

Yes, this is the face of “Star Wars!”

Check out the whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/05/how-flash-gordon-created-star-wars-sam-jones-the-original-han-solo/

It’s just one of a million great “Star Wars” anecdotes, small bits of trivia, and fan fun…like the guy who loved bacon AND Star Wars!

And yes, all that fighting’ bacon makes me thirsty….but don’t worry, here’s the Star Wars way to quench your thirst!

May the 4th be with you!

Do You Recognize This Image?

If you do, then you are a fan of one of the greatest rock albums of all time!

See You On The “Dark Side Of The Moon!”

Time to celebrate Pink Floyd…one of rock’s greatest bands, with a history of timeless music like “The Wall”:

And of course, there is also “Wish You Were Here”, with one of their most iconic album covers:

And then there is also one of their most introspective works, “Animals”…and again, an iconic album cover that involved floating a giant inflatable pig over a factory in England…

Pink Floyd’s Seminal Achievement!

But without a doubt, Pink Floyd’s greatest achievement has also become a tantalizing mystery: but first, imagine how excited Pink Floyd was to record their seminal masterpiece, “Dark Side Of The Moon” at the iconic Abbey Road studios!

Time to jump up and down, just like Pink Floyd, to celebrate one of rock’s masterpieces:

“Dark Side Of The Moon!”

Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” is not only a timeless piece of music – it introduced an iconic musical image that has lasted ever since!

When “Dark Side Of The Moon” was released, Pink Floyd was a popular, but not hugely successful band. The idea that this album would become one of the biggest selling albums in history wasn’t assured at all. In fact, Guitarist David Gilmour had a bet with manager Steve O’Rourke that the album wouldn’t crack the US top 10! He lost the bet when the album hit number one on the US charts!

Bring On The Guinness Book Of World Records!

Among the album’s many other records, “Dark Side Of The Moon” is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being on the record charts longer than any other album in history – 591 consecutive weeks or 11.4 years in Billboard’s top 200!

Yes, more than eleven years on the record charts!

Time For Some Pink Floyd Trivia!

There are a number of great stories about this album. The original title for the album was “Eclipse (A Piece for Assorted Lunatics)”. Before the album was released, the band changed their mind and the title was renamed – and then they found out there was a problem…

The band discovered that the progressive folk rock act Medicine Head had released an album with the title of “Dark Side of the Moon” just a year earlier! After a brief discussion, they decided that, since the Medicine Head release wasn’t successful, they would go ahead with their plans to use the name.

A “Dark Side” Rush Job!

Did you know that the music and lyrics for the entire album were written during a seven week period? The band were preparing for a tour at the time, and they desperately wanted to showcase new material!

Listen Closely…

There are a number of spoken word elements to “Dark Side Of The Moon”, and there are some famous voices buried on the album…cue Cards with generic questions were written up by lead singer Roger Waters and given to roadies, anyone at Abbey Road, doormen, and members of Wings including Paul and Linda McCartney!

Approximately 20 questions were asked along the lines of, “Are you afraid of dying?”. “When was the last time you were violent and were you in the right?”, and “What does the phrase ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ mean to you?” Wings’ guitarist Henry McColluch said “I don’t know I was really drunk at the time” in response to the question about violent behaviour, and you clearly hear it at the fade out of “Money”.

The “stoned” laughter used in the background of “Speak to Me” and “Brain Damage” is from Peter Watts, a road manager for Pink Floyd pictured on the back of the “Ummagumma” sleeve.

Pink Floyd Walk Abbey Road!

Yes, the album was recorded at the London studio made famous for all time by The Beatles. Here is a photo of the band recording “Dark Side Of The Moon” at Abbey Road!

Yep, Pink Floyd walked in the steps of the Fab Four when they recorded in London’s iconic Abbey Road studios…and they met The Beatles there as well…check out this picture…

The album cover to The Beatles “Abbey Road” is probably one of the most iconic in music history, as is “Dark Side Of The Moon”…here’s a classic Beatles outtake from their photo shoot…

“Dark Side Of The Moon” was recorded at Abbey Road using state of the art 16-track equipment. Roger Waters created tape loops for the rhythmic chiming of the sound effects for the hit single “Money”.

“Bring Me A Ruler, I’m Making Music!”

Due to the technology of the time, making tape loops meant physically cutting and mending bits of tape together in precise measurements using a ruler and feeding these manually into a tape machine for duplication! Yes, they used a ruler to measure out the music!

Monty Python’s Role In “Dark Side Of The Moon!”

Yes, the famous british comedy troupe Monty Python were part of Pink Floyd’s recording as well! Studio time would be typically interrupted for Monty Python television broadcasts. In fact, Pink Floyd were such Python fans that they used some of the money they made from the initial success of the album to help fund Monty Python’s The Holy Grail film.

The design of the inner spread of the gatefold, featuring the spectrum heartbeat, echoing the audio heartbeat at the beginning of the album, was an idea from Roger Waters.

“Us and Them” was originally written by Richard Wright in 1969 as an instrumental piano solo intended for use in Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Zabriskie Point” film which the band had been commissioned to score.

The piece, then known as The Violent Sequence, was to be used over slow-motion scenes of student / police riots at UCLA. It was rejected for the film and resurrected for Dark Side after Waters penned the lyrics. Tapes exist of the band performing it as The Violent Sequence early in 1970.

“Us And Them” Live From 1974!

Here is a great live performance of “Us And Them” from Bristol, England in 1974…

“Us And Them” is one of the most beautiful ballads ever written. An absolutely gorgeous piano-only demo of “Us And Them” is included on the special edition release of the CD…

“Dark Side Of The Rainbow” – The Wizard Of Oz Connection!

And of course, the story of Pink Floyd’s “Wizard Of Oz” connection is one of music’s biggest mysteries…

Judy Garland Goes To The “Dark Side Of The Moon!”

Did Pink Floyd record “Dark Side Of The Moon” to sync up with the legendary film “The Wizard Of Oz?” Here is how wikipedia describes this theory:

“Dark Side of the Rainbow – also known as “Dark Side of Oz” or “The Wizard of Floyd” – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album “The Dark Side of the Moon” with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.”

This produces moments where the film and the album appear to correspond with each other. The title of the music video mashup-like experience comes from a combination of the album title, the album cover, and the film’s song “Over the Rainbow”. Band members and others involved in the making of the album state that any relationship between the two works of art is merely a coincidence.”

David Gilmour denied the album was intentionally written to be synchronized with the film, saying:

“Some guy with too much time on his hands had this idea of combining Wizard of Oz with Dark Side of the Moon.”

That being said, it has become one of rock’s most fabled conspiracy theories, right up there with The Beatles famous “Paul Is Dead!” scandal…and here is a video that explores this connection…fascinating…

Pink Floyd Naked!

And how about this to promote your body of work – put it on real bodies! I found this picture of a row of naked women, all with individual Pink Floyd album covers painted on their bodies:

To read ALL about Pink Floyd, here is the book for you:

Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd by Mark Blake – published in 2008

This is the true inside story of Pink Floyd – from the formation of the band, the meltdown of original lead singer Syd Barrett – and the raging ego of Roger Waters – this is the book that tells it all!

Author Mark Blake draws on his own interviews with band members as well as the group’s friends, road crew, musical contemporaries, former housemates, and university colleagues to produce a riveting history of one of the biggest rock bands of all time. We follow Pink Floyd from the early psychedelic nights at UFO, to the stadium-rock and concept-album zenith of the seventies, to the acrimonious schisms of the late ’80s and ’90s.

Along the way there are fascinating new revelations about Syd Barrett’s chaotic life at the time of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the band’s painstaking and Byzantine recording sessions at Abbey Road, and the fractious negotiations to bring about their fragile, tantalizing reunion in Hyde Park.

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is how the classic album “Dark Side Of The Moon” was made – using material that had been recorded and set aside, animosity forming within the band due to Roger Waters…and how David Gilmour quietly became the soul of the band.

THE WALL

There are also great stories about how Pink Floyd’s iconic “The Wall” came about – and how difficult Roger Waters became…all leading to the ultimate disintegration of the group.

THE DIVISION BELL

Pink Floyd would go on to release a number of albums after Waters left, the last being “The Division Bell”. The story of how the band fought over the name, and how Waters launched his own tours, is terrific…

Still, you will be hard-pressed to come away from the book with a positive feeling about Waters…instead, you will get a renewed appreciation and respect for David Gilmour…

Meticulous, exacting, and ambitious as any Pink Floyd album, “Comfortably Numb” is the definitive account of this most adventurous—and most English—rock band. You know, the one who flew the pig over the factory for the cover of their album “Animals”…

Still one of the most iconic images in rock!

So there you have it, the story of Pink Floyd in words and music!

Here’s To A Tasty Celebration Of Mobster Meals!

Time to bite into the greatest film ever made, Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”…and it’s also time to enjoy one of Martin Scorsese’s finest achievements as well…

Aside from being two of the greatest movies ever made, they both deal with the Mob – gangsters who lived large, and ate well too!

TIME FOR SOME DINNER IN A MOVIE, MOB STYLE!

Behold Clemenza’s Meatballs!

Not only is “The Godfather” the greatest movie ever made, but it is chock full of food – family meals, wedding cakes, executions that take place in a diner that serves “the best veal”…food as part of life, and death. For example, Don Corleone’s daughter Connie makes a meal for her obnoxious husband, who announced that he’ll eat out later – you know, with his mistress…

Connie goes into a fit and flings the dinnerware around the house, causing her husband to beat her…what we find out later is that this was instigated for one reason: to lure Sonny out of his compound, and to one of the many iconic death scenes in the movie: at the toll booth.

Time To “Go To The Mattresses!”

When the five families start their mob war, they go “to the mattresses”, which means they all sleep in one place to be ready for battle at any time. Clemenza teaches Mikey how to make Sunday sauce for this house full of guys…here is the scene, and the recipe – first, the scene from the movie, courtesy of “The Godfather” blu-ray!

And here is that recipe again, courtesy of Clemenza:

“Heh, come over here, kid, learn something. You never know, you might have to cook for 20 guys someday. You see, you start out with a little bit of oil. Then you fry some garlic. Then you throw in some tomatoes, tomato paste, you fry it; ya make sure it doesn’t stick. You get it to a boil; you shove in all your sausage and your meatballs; heh? And a little bit o’ wine. An’ a little bit o’ sugar, and that’s my trick.”

Let’s Get Cooking!

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 large (28-ounce) cans tomatoes (whole, crushed or chopped)
1 (10-ounce) or 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
3 to 4 Italian sausages, grilled and sliced
1 pound cooked meatballs (use your favorite recipe)
Dry red wine
¼ cup sugar
Hot cooked pasta

First, take whatever ground meat you like and add some fresh minced garlic and onion, plus some italian herbs….roll those into meatballs and sear them off in a pan…now, make the sauce.

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add garlic and cook for a few minutes; do not let the garlic burn. Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously so that a relatively smooth consistency is reached.

Add sausages and meatballs. Stir until the meat is coated. Add a splash of red wine, then the sugar, according to taste. As you can see, Clemenza is very serious about making a good meal for his men…

Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for a minimum of 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Serve over hot cooked pasta.

And whatever you do, don’t insult the head of the family when it comes time to eat:

The Godfather – “Dinner IN A Movie!”

So, make the meatballs, put in the movie’s special edition blu-ray, and enjoy!

With that iconic “Gordfather” image in mind, let’s visit Martin Scorsese’s world of gangsters – who are just as hungry as Coppola’s boys!

“Goodfellas Garlic!”

Yes, there really is a style of cooking pasta known as “Goodfellas Garlic thin!”

“Goodfellas thin”: The unofficial measurement of a slice of garlic cut extremely thin using a razor blade.

In 1990, Scorsese teamed up with Robert DeNiro to tell the story of Henry Hill, the young kid who worked his way up through the mob hierarchy, only to see it all fall apart.

Ray Liotta is brilliant as the young mobster, and DeNiro plays James Conway, the guy who helps Hill get into the mob, only to betray him in an effort to save himself.

Joe Pesci won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of psycho gangster Tommy DeVito – I have included the infamous “but I’m funny HOW?” dialogue at the end of this post, one of the film’s many iconic moments.

Scorsese’s Mom Cooked For Them!

Scorsese’s mother, Catherine Scorsese, plays Tommy’s mother. She and the cast ad-libbed the dinner scene. Scorsese’s father, Charles Scorsese, plays the prisoner who puts too many onions in the tomato sauce…the prison scene that introduced America to the “Goodfellas thin” slicing of the garlic!

The term is a reference to the famous scene in which lead character Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) describes in detail how mob boss Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino) prepared dinner while in prison:

“In prison, dinner was always a big thing. We had a pasta course, then we had a meat or a fish. Paulie was doing a year for contempt and had a wonderful system for garlic. He used a razor and sliced it so thin it would liquefy in the pan with a little oil. It’s a very good system.”

Here is the scene:

How can you not love that?

Here is the three-meat meatball (just like Goodfellas “Veal, beef and pork… you gotta have the pork.”) recipe to try at home:

First, slice the garlic “Goodfellas thin!”

Meatballs a la Goodfellas

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, sliced razor thin then minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.

Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold it’s shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

Place cooked meatballs into Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 more minutes.

There you have it, Meatballs ala Goodfellas….the best “dinner in a movie” you will ever have!

Thomas Keller’s Ratatouille!

Oh, and if your movie food hunger hasn’t been satiated, try THIS!

Yep, click on my story about Chef Thomas Keller’s ‘Ratatouille” recipe!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/29/ratatouille-chef-thomas-kellers-recipe-for-animated-food-magic/

Let me know what you think!

“Hell, Upside Down!”
Take a moment to enjoy what is, without a doubt, one of the greatest movie tag lines of all time! “Hell, Upside Down!” Time to enjoy some classic movie mayhem. And time also to have a celebrity CATFIGHT!

That’s right, let’s go back to the 70′s, an era when disaster movies were BIG – and the Star feuds were BIGGER!

The Master Of Disaster!

There was an era in the 70′s when “disaster pictures” were the rage: huge blockbusters like “The Towering Inferno” with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman:

But did you know how McQueen referred to Newman in conversations?

“That Fuckwit!”

Well, thanks to the great british film magazine EMPIRE, I’ve got a bunch of anecdotes about stars who hated other stars while acting in huge blockbuster disaster films!

I subscribe to EMPIRE – a truly great movie magazine full of great reviews, interviews, on-location reports and lots of stories about film – including one of their April issue that introduced British audiences to the original “Master of Disaster”, movie Producer Irwin Allen!

The Poseidon Adventure!

“Hell, Upside Down.” That was the tagline for the greatest disaster movie of all time, which spawned a series of “disaster-themed” films throughout the rest of the 70′s – check out the trailer!

Yes, that was Leslie Nielsen as the Captain in the trailer, just one of a slew of recognizable faces in this star-studded disaster epic!

Gene Hackman – who just a year earlier won the Best Actor Oscar for “The French Connection” – plays Reverand Scott, who is on the ship that is capsized by a huge tidal wave! He must help a small group climb up to the bottom of the overturned luxury cruise ship!

This movie was Hollywood’s gold standard all right – Oscar winners Hackman, Shelley Winters and Ernest Borgnine – along with a bunch of other familiar faces – all struggling to survive!

A “Tricky” Gene Hackman, A Livid Shelley Winters!

A great anecdote from the magazine involves Gene Hackman, who Director Ronald Neame referred to as “tricky”. Hackman demanded to change a scene, shifting the focus from Shelley Winters to himself. Winters went ballistic:

“That scene is the only damn reason I’m doing the movie and Hackman’s not going to take it away from me!”

Winters lost the argument, and she later said that filming the revised scene was, in her words:

“the most dreadful morning I’ve had since I made a film with Judy Garland.”

What a classic line! I love catty Hollywood insider stories, and since “The Poseidon Adventure” was a huge smash, Producer Irwin Allen had more Hollywood cattiness to come!

Time for a heated “Inferno!”

Steve McQueen’s Battle With Paul Newman!

The magazine also offered an inside look at Irwin Allen’s “The Towering Inferno”, starring Steve McQueen and Paul Newman – and of course, more Star fights!

Empire tells the whole story about how Irwin Allen got both superstars to appear in the film, without realizing that McQueen HATED Newman! Even after becoming a superstar, McQueen always felt Newman was treated better by the press and the industry, and it drove him crazy.

The problems began even before they began filming. McQueen read the screenplay for “Inferno” and counted all of his lines – and then he counted Newman’s – and discovered the other Actor had twelve more lines than he did. His response?

“Goddmanit, that fucker’s always twisting my melon!”

“The Fuckwit!”

McQueen was so jealous of Newman’s popularity he always referred to him as “the fuckwit!” None of their rivalry impacted the end result, however, as “The Towering Inferno” was a huge box office smash!

These are two classic disaster films that helped spark the era of blockbuster cinema – and I love stories about stars who fight on the set!

I Love TV News!

And you can see why: it’s LIVE! That means ANYTHING can happen, like a monkey who may be a “bit too friendly” on this live news shot:

What a Large Storm System You Have!

It’s not only what live guests – or live animals – may do unexpectedly, it’s also what goes on behind the scenes, like when a weather graphic is created that may be, well, just a bit TOO graphic:

The Best of June 2014!

With so many daily newscasts all around the world, it’s easy to find an ongoing collection of fun news bloopers! Here now is a look at some of the best news bloopers form June 2014!

Well, those worked for me! Kudos to the great youtube site “NewsBeFunny” for sharing this – follow them and get regular, hilarious news updates!

“Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!”

One of the most iconic lines in science fiction history, uttered by one of Hollywood’s biggest stars…time for some “Apes” talk!

With “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” in theaters, time to look back at the original film – a classic science fiction film that has one of the most shocking endings in motion picture history!

“And Unusual And Important Motion Picture!”

First of all, I LOVE THIS MOVIE POSTER. I mean, talk about trying to get a LOT of words on a single one sheet! But it speaks to what an “unusual” and unique film “Planet Of The Apes” was when it was released!

“Planet Of The Apes” is widely considered to be one of the seminal films in science fiction history – and now that the franchise has been resurrected so well, let’s look at the classic beginning…starting with the film’s trailer:

You probably already know the plot: three Astronauts crash land on a desolate planet, where they forage for food and shelter until they discover they are not alone…

The Astronauts are shocked to find they’ve landed on a world that is run by Apes! This sequence is just the first of many shocking reveals in the movie, expertly directed by Franklin J. Shaffner! The “roundup” of humans is a brutal, brilliant set piece in the film, as the Astronauts realize they have landed in hell…

The filmed roundup, slaughter and “photo ops” in the film evoked the atrocities of Vietnam at the time – in fact, throughout the movie there are pointed references to the current political climate in the country at the time…

After capture, the Astronauts are put in chains – until the “Scientist” Apes realize that there is something “different” about these human specimens…

“Planet Of The Apes” Trivia!

There is a ton of great trivia about this film, which was shot in the desert over one of the hottest summers ever…there was barely any time for an Ape to rest!

I love that shot – the makeup was a long and arduous process, and it couldn’t be taken off! That’s more than the movie’s star could say…

A Shirtless Charleton Heston!

Yep, this iconic movie star was happy to go topless for most of the film…more about that in a moment, thanks to the great website IMDB.com and these fascinating “Ape” facts!

It was a tough shoot in the Arizona desert. Not just for the actors in the ape make-up but also for Charlton Heston who spends most of the film half-naked, being brutalized by the elements and the simians. As Heston noted in his autobiography:

“Even rubber rocks hurt!”

Smile!

Here’s some fascinating trivia: during breaks in filming, actors made up as different ape species tended to hang out together, gorillas with gorillas, orangutans with orangutans, chimps with chimps. It wasn’t required, it just naturally happened!

Actor Roddy McDowall recommended to his co-stars in makeup that they should frequently add tics, blinks and assorted facial gestures to add a sense of realism and keep the makeup from appearing “mask-like”. McDowall reportedly became a “merry prankster” with the makeup, driving home with his make-up on, shocking other drivers on the freeway!

All the Ape actors and extras were required to wear their masks even during breaks and in between shots because it took so much time to make them up. Because of this, meals were liquefied and drunk through straws.

Charlton Heston was sick during much of the film with the flu. Rather than wait for him to get better, the producers felt that his hoarse voice added something to the character of Taylor, and they kept filming…

According to Heston’s diary, after filming the scene where Taylor and Nova are forcibly separated, he wrote that he was feeling like hell while shooting because of his illness, and felt even worse “every time that damn fire hose hit me”.

The Brilliant, Shocking Ending!

The first time you see this film, you are stunned by the shocking ending…I won’t reveal it here, but it is a brilliant finale to one of the greatest science fiction films ever made…

Promoting On The Tube!

As the film became a cultural sensation, savvy movie marketer’s took advantage – here is a photo showing “Apes” riding a London subway to promote the film’s opening in England!

Simian Beauty Contest!

Of course, there were multiple sequels, each a bit more outrageous – culminating in this “beauty contest” hosted by LA radio personality and “Laugh-In” Announcer Gary Owens to celebrate “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes!”

Even as the movie series sputtered out in the mid-70′s, Charlton Heston went on to do a number of other classic science fiction films, such as his “last man on earth” epic “The Omega Man.”

You can read more about this classic film by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/04/westworld-meet-zardoz-crucify-the-omega-man-hollywoods-70s-sci-fi-head-trips/

And of course, there was even more Charlton Heston sic-fi in the 70′s…

“Soylent Green Is People!”

And of course Heston was in one of the great 70′s sic-fi films “Soylent Green” as well!

Welcome To Comic-Con 2014!

In my time at G4, this was the week for Comic-Con Live! And for us, that meant ALL of our Talent heading into the madness of 150,000 fans for 3 days of live coverage of the greatest pop culture convention in the world!

Grab A Pen! It’s Time To Head To San Diego Again!

One of my favorite experiences at G4 was Comic-Con, the coolest comic book convention in the world…and G4′s talent also loved being there, even if it meant signing, signing, and signing autographs…

It really was a non-stop “Signing fest”…but Olivia Munn never minded. In fact, as you will see, ALL of our Talent loved posing for pictures with the fans…Blair Butler couldn’t go ten feet without posing for another picture:

And Candace Bailey got thrown into the deep end of the Comic-Con pool when we made her film a ton of segments on the convention floor as well as sign…um, she doesn’t look too happy…

And Alison Haislip really got into it one year with a “Catwoman” outfit that had the G4 fans in a frenzy!

Welcome To Comic-Con!

You know what it is: it’s the world’s largest gathering of pop culture fans – it’s San Diego’s Comic-Con…every summer, San Diego is packed with hundreds of thousands of fans who wait patiently outside the convention center for hours on end, waiting to enter their nirvana…

Costumes! Cosplay!

Once the fans get inside, it is organized mayhem…but everyone is in a good mood….well, ALMOST everyone…this guy in front looks a bit perturbed…

And THIS guy has just the “right amount of wrong” in his Joker makeup…

Comic-Con Cosplay!

The best thing about Comic-Con is simple: it’s a chance to geek out and dress up in your favorite outfit – along with thousands of others who want to do the same…

And Kevin and Olivia had just as much fun dressing up, like when they shot a special “Star Wars” skit from the convention floor….

You can wander the convention floor for hours and – literally everywhere you turn – find someone else who is dressed up for the Comic-Con party…

G4′s Slave Leia Contest!

Remember 2008, when Kevin and Olivia chose the perfect “Slave Leia” from the crowd? Check out this classic G4 video of the moment:

Of course, no one could out “Slave Leia” Olivia…and she did a pretty good “Wonder Woman” as well…

But it’s more than just cosplay…it’s also a place where you can even buy lots of cool stuff, like this!

R2-D2 Soy Sauce Dispenser!

Yes, when I saw this R2-D2 soy sauce dispenser, I knew I had to own it…but it will NEVER leave its protective packaging….it’s a piece of art! But, beyond the cool comics, souvenirs and toys you can buy here, it is definitely the people who make this convention so unique…

Flame On!

And you will see EVERY kind of costume…like this homage to “Ghost Rider”…

And it is a convention that DOES NOT JUDGE. COMIC-CON DOES NOT JUDGE! In fact, I found over the years that virtually ANYTHING can be used as a costume – like say, your lunch container…

A Celebration Of Geekdom!

Without a doubt, Comic-Con is a great place to dress up and enjoy yourself…there are no rules, no judgments, and a never-ending array of things to do and experience…of course, if you get stuck outside by yourself, it can be a lonely place….

The View From The Stage…

If you wanted to know what it felt like to be there, well Kevin Pereira captured it in this video he posted from the G4 stage…

But that stage was our chance to capture the excitement and fun of Comic-Con, because while we were overlooking it, there were thousands of people wearing their best outfits every single day down in the floor…

Alison Haislip and Doug Benson!

And if you wander the floor, you will come across lots of famous people like Alison Haislip and Comedian Doug Benson!

Alison Haislip and Blair Herter!

Alison also teamed up with Blair Herter to film at Comic-Con – they were a great team to work with, always up for fun and games – and true professionals…and after the long days of filming, there was always a group dinner, especially if it was for the legendary “blueberry steak”…

There was always a great group of Talent at the convention, including Blair Butler, who is sitting by Blair…and by the look on Alison’s face, she’s close to punching me for taking so many pictures…

I traveled to San Diego many times to take part in Comic-Con, one of the greatest conventions of all time…I mean, how can you go wrong when THIS guy shows up?

Japanese Elvis!

I never got a chance to talk to Japanese Elvis, or even to hear him sing…it was hard enough keeping up with the very busy Alison, but that’s all right, because we always had someone to help Alison out with her schedule at Comic-Con – our own “Elvis”, Super Talent Executive Scott Moore!

Alison’s Fan Signing!

Comic-Con is an exhausting event, with filming all day and night, but Alison never got tired…in fact, after a day of filming, she still did hours of fan signing! It all started when the line formed…we would put a sign up to let people know where to line up…

And Alison would stand and sign for hours…the event expertly organized and run by Marketing Wiz Deborah Beckman…

In order to manage the mayhem, Deb would give out tickets for lining up – if you had a ticket you were guaranteed an autograph, so no one went away disappointed…and one lucky fan always got the coveted “first in line” sign…a badge of honor, and a special photo with Alison…

Alison and Sara Underwood!

On top of individual signings, we also had a group signing session, and hundreds and hundreds of fans would wait for hours for a chance to get something signed, and pose for a picture….

These conventions are exhausting for talent – they must arrives hours before the show begins – hair and makeup, plus wardrobe – it really is a long long day – but they never complained, were there for one reason: to celebrate Comic-Con with the fans…

And once again, the fans showed up to see their favorite stars!

Alison IS Catwoman!

I showed you how fans liked to dress up, and how fans loved to get an autograph from Alison. But nothing thrilled fans more than the year Alison dressed as Catwoman, roaming the convention floor with a camera crew, shiny black leather and all…

Alison shot a bunch of stories from the floor of the convention while dressed as Catwoman, and she posed for lots of pictures with fans:

It was always a great adventure with lots of fans and stars hanging out to embrace pop culture without limits:

So, for all of those who are going, have a great time and say hello to Chewbacca for us! And for all of my fellow G4′ers, remember this convention as one of the highlights of our time at the network – because it was terrific live coverage!

All Hail “Jerseylicious”!

It was the biggest hit for the style network, and made its cast members stars! But more than that, “Jerseylicious” attracted millions of fans, who watched every week to see how these professional hair and makeup artists from New Jersey handled a myriad of personal and professional issues…

The Style network shut down last year, and the final season of “Jerseylicious” – season 6, went un-aired in the US…but was seen by millions of fans around the world! Time to give US fans what they want as well!

“Jerseylicious” Appreciation Day!

Those “lost” episodes have made their way to social media, where fans can now see them in their entirety….I will have more on that in a moment, but first, to say “thank you” to this great cast, here is some “Jerseylicious” appreciation – and a look at what is happening with the cast now – and then, how to find the “unseen” episodes!

First, meet Olivia Blois-Sharpe and Tracy DiMarco from the first season – oh, did you know they don’t get along?

Olivia and Tracy’s dislike for each other was just one reason the first season was such a big hit, and that helped form the promotion of the next season, like this dynamite poster, celebrating the dysfunctional relationship between Tracy and Olivia.

The Style network team did an amazing job of promoting the show, including this huge billboard in Times Square:

Olivia posted this selfie’s of her with the show billboard in the background…

As you can see, the cast loved the show as much as you did! So, for fans around the world, the “unseen” season six is coming to light!

BEAUTY IS WAR! PREPARE TO GET PULLED IN!

Here is one of the great ad campaign: Anthony Lombardi and Gayle Giacomo having a tug of war with Gigi, Tracy and Olivia caught in the middle…

It was less than four years ago that “Jerseylicious” premiered, and America quickly fell in love with the entire cast from The Gatsby Salon in New Jersey.

“JERSEYLICIOUS” FUN FACTS!

Here are some fun facts about the show. The first “Jerseylicious” spinoff was “The Glam Fairy”, which followed the life of Alexa Prisco and her team of Glam Fairies in Hoboken…

Gigi and Frankie went to Cape May in season one of “Jerseylicious”. Picturesque Cape May holds the distinction of being the oldest seashore resort in the United States and one of the most unique.

Gigi and Frankie broke up in Atlantic City…which recently announced that several of their casinos are closing…but it was sure fun to film the finale of season four there as well…

Olivia is shown here pumping her own gas, which is a no-no in Jersey – that’s right, you can’t pump your own gas in the garden state!

Here are Olivia and Gigi behind the scenes on day one of filming season 4…

And Tracy DiMarco took plenty of great behind-the-scenes pics as well…lots more about the incredible changes in Tracy’s life still to come!

The cast was terrific to work with, and loved to take behind-the-scenes photos while working – here are a few of the ones they posted for fans…

And of course, one of my favorite pictures is Olivia sporting a cheeseburger hat!

And of course, we have watched as Gayle’s daughter had a baby…

So far on “Jerseylicious” we saw Gatsby Salon owner Gayle Giacomo become a Grandmother, and her daughter Christy become a Mom…and Gayle and Cristy still run The Gatsby Salon in central Jersey, so go see them!

Anthony Lombardi also got to showcase his son on the show…an adorable kid who has all of his Father’s sophistication…

And More Babies On The Way!

If you are a true fan, you know that one of the other cast members is now pregnant…

Congratulations to the Jerseylicious girls on their Steve Harvey talk show appearance!

Welcome back, EVERYONE! It’s “Unseen” Jerseylicious Time!

The “Unseen” Season 6!

Because the style network shut down, season 6 of “Jerseylicious” was never seen in the US…

However, since they aired around the world, there are ways to keep up with a very exciting last season of the show! Olivia promises you will love these “unseen” episodes, doing a “pinkie swear” with show creator and Executive Producer Alex Duda!

Olivia Sings The Theme Song!

You knew this, right? Olivia recorded the theme song for the show, and here is a terrific behind-the-scenes look at the recording session!

Tracy, Gigi and Olivia Visited Steve Harvey!

Gigi, Tracy and Olivia were on Steve Harvey’s talk show last year, talking about the new season…and here they are posing with Steve, Alex and Kareen!

And here is a shot of Alex Duda – the Creator and Executive Producer of “Jerseylicious” as well as the Emmy-Award-Winning Executive Producer of Steve Harvey – backstage with Olivia right before the taping of the show:

And while she was there, Olivia shared some makeup tips with Steve’s website:

Smile!

So many great memories of Jerseylicious, here are some more candid pictures of the cast:

And now, thanks to youtube, all episodes of “Jerseylicious” season six can now be seen – because they have aired around the world, all ten episodes are on youtube, so let’s go – here are links to the first three episodes!

Jerseyicious Season 6 – Episode 1!

Jerseyicious Season 6 – Episode 2!

Jerseyicious Season 6 – Episode 3!

All ten episodes can be found by searching “Jerseylicious Season 6″ on youtube – so fans of the show can see where it all ended – I was just glad to have had the chance to see the cast one last time on the set during filming!

Hope you enjoy the last season of the show – and keep showing your support on all of the fan websites, so we can make a case for more shows!

Tracy Parties In Las Vegas!

Here is a shot Tracy posted from Las Vegas with her girlfriends – at her Bachelorette party!

Tracy’s Bridal Party Weekend!

Great pics of Tracy having a ball, that’s because Tracy marries Corey Eps in season six…

This dramatic moment happens later in the season, so look for it online! And congratulations to Tracy and Corey for this incredible moment!

Tracy’s Having A Baby!

And even MORE dramatic news: Tracy is pregnant!

Tracy and Corey announced this news online and in OK magazine, and it has the fans so excited! Thanks to “Mother Hubbard Photography” for these terrific pics!

Tracy and Corey are so excited and happy – and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them!

Jersey IS “The Glamour State”!

Olivia, Anthony and Karl Giant have kept very busy as well:

The Glamour State!

And of course, Olivia, Anthony and Karl Giant put out a great book, which you can read about by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/29/the-glamour-state-olivia-and-ants-jerseylicious-book-karl-giants-brilliant-cast-pics/

It’s a book full of great cast photos and Jersey trivia!

So stay in touch with the cast in person, online, through social media – stayed connected to the cast! And go see Anthony at his salon in Jersey – the Anthony Robert Salon. Go see all of the cast and tell them you miss them!

Time For A Sasha Grey Halloween!

Sasha Grey has a new film out in time for Halloween 2014 – and Sasha is starring with Elijah Wood! The premiere was just held in Spain, where the cast and crew were ready to share this psychological thriller with the world!

“Open Windows” For Halloween!

Sasha has been focused on making terrific independent cinema – and in this case, she is working with Elijah Wood on a thriller that is perfect for Halloween 2014!

Kudos to the entire cast and crew for this great independent thriller – now on demand! Here’s a look at the film!

Here is the trailer:

Here’s the plot: Sasha Grey stars as an actress named Jill, who refuses to have dinner with Nick, a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. Elijah Wood is the spurned fan…

A guy named Chord, posing as Jill’s campaign manager, helps Nick spy on the actress from his own computer. Nick starts a game in which he realises that is only a puppet into the manic plans devised by Chord…

Elijah Wood has been on a creative tear recently, using his production company to make edgier work, like his remake of “Maniac.”

He also produced a very low-budget horror film called “Toad Road”, which was released by a new company called “Artsploitation Films.”

Kudos, Sasha!

This is the latest in a string of great Sasha movies, such as Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience.”

And of course, as much as it may annoy Sasha, here are some of the great adventures I had with her in Australia!

Sasha’s Travel Adventures!

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I had the chance to travel to Australia with Sasha, exploring one of the greatest countries in the world!

Here she is filming with our crew at Sydney’s convention center…and she also got the chance to take on some much more dangerous sports as well!

Sasha Gets A Shark Photo Bomb!

Those were indeed REAL LIVE SHARKS photo bombing Sasha as she walked among them at Sydney’s Aquarium…and no, there are NO barricades or glass between her and the sharks!

Here’s a short video all about it her adventure – first up, getting instruction from her Shark Master – and asking if she can “walk like a duck underwater!

Then it was time to walk into the tanks and hang out with the sharks…we were all, of course, safely kept behind thick glass!

Sasha Gets “Brushed Back!”

Then it was time to “interact” with the sharks…remember, there is nothing between her and those sharks! Here’s a video in which she discusses the “tail flipping” incident!

You can see all of the pictures – and more video – by clicking on the link below:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Sasha Goes Bats!

Sasha also got to see Australian bats – which just hang out in their parks and look like this:

That story with pictures and video can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

OK, this was Sasha trying out a game where you try and stay on a mechanical surfboard…she did pretty well at it! But we decided to really test her, and took her to the iconic Bondi Beach, where she learned to surf for real!

The entire story, plus lots of fun videos, are located here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

Sasha’s On Top Of The World!

Finally, we had the chance to travel to Melbourne, and while we were there we headed up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere: Eureka Tower…

And yes, Melbourne is as beautiful as it looks – we had a great time, and if you want to see the entire video of Sasha peering out from 88 stories high, and how the cube she is in magically transforms, just click BELOW:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Sasha Outtake!

Finally, I found this hilarious short video of Sasha in a car putting on some makeup – and yes, she realizes she is being filmed:

As you can see, Sasha is great fun to work with, so if you are a fan, go order “The Juliette Society” now!

Congrats to Sasha for the publication of her novel!

More To Come From “The Juliette Society”!

Congratulations to Sasha Grey on the best-selling status of her debut novel, “The Juliette Society”! And just announced: a sequel is on the way!

Sasha Grey’s novel, “The Juliette Society” is a worldwide sensation – the book is a bestseller in a number of countries around the world – and the excitement continues as Sasha is writing a sequel!

Sasha has been promoting the book around the world, including personal appearances and book signings – when I traveled to Australia with her, she had tons of fans meet her at a personal appearance in Melbourne:

Sasha Down Under!

I am a big supporter of Sasha’s work, because I admire how focused and driven she is. I had the chance to film lifestyle segments in Australia with Sasha…and she was terrific to work with…

Eureka!

Melbourne Australia is a gorgeous city, and it is also home to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere:

After going up 88 stories in Eureka Tower, Sasha went into a small room and – well, you can watch what happened for yourself:

The people in Melbourne were terrific, and a huge number of fans came out to meet Sasha when she made a public appearance:

After Melbourne, we headed to Sydney, a much more raucous city, where Sasha let us put her to the test with a variety of extreme sports – and she did them all, including swimming with sharks…

Shark Photo Bomb!

Sasha donned scuba gear for the first time ever and went underwater to walk among sharks in Sydney…absolutely NOTHING between her and the sharks…and two of the more playful sharks decided to photo bomb her!

Here’s a short video of her adventure, including her describing how one of the sharks took a swing at her!

First, here is her instruction before entering the tank:

Once inside, Sasha was literally among the sharks, with NO barrier between her and them…and she describes what happened next:

And of course, our Australia adventure was just beginning…it was time for another “first time” sporting adventure…

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

Even though she had never done it before, Sasha willingly donned a wetsuit and learned to surf at Australia’s legendary Bondi Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world:

That led to my favorite video with her EVER – when she discovered – quite unexpectedly – just how cold the water was at Bondi!

Sasha was an amazingly fast learner: within a half hour she was surfing! I also love this video, which captures the moment Sasha discovers that they spit their gum out on the ground in Australia just like the rest of us:

It was a great trip down under, capturing the lifestyle of the Aussies, and even cooking bugs! Yes, that is what they are called, although they are really just “giant-shrimp-with-squashed-lobster-heads” things:

Still, she cooked them, along with a kangaroo steak – they are raised commercially just for that purpose – and we had a nice taste of Australia:

I posted a number of short videos that captured some of the “behind-the-scenes” moments from the trip – you can find them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Johnrieber/videos

I have thought about these fun shoots as I read all about Sasha’s success with “The Juliette Society” – so if you haven’t purchased the book yet, now is the time!

And, if you are a Sasha Grey completist, here are ALL of the stories I have posted of our Australian adventure…beginning with Sasha’ 88-story Melbourne adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Then, it was off to Sydney:

That’s where Sasha donned a wetsuit and went for a walk among sharks – here is the complete shark dive adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/21/sasha-grey-shark-diving-sydneys-bugs-opera-house-beauty-australia-rules/

I have to reiterate that there was nothing between Sasha and the sharks and stingray except her instructor:

And of course, I was given more pictures by someone on the crew, so I did a shark followup here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Then it was time to head to Australia’s famed Bondi Beach:

Here is the entire surfing adventure, with a number of fun videos of Sasha on a surfboard:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

My first post was all about Sasha’s fan signing in Melbourne…

This is the story of how we got lost inside Melbourne’s massive casino:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/17/melbourne-exploring-australias-exotic-southern-city-with-sasha-grey/

Then, when I previewed the book, I also shared some video of Sasha discovering bats in Sydney:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Luckily, we shots lots of behind-the-scenes pics and video, which is why I am able to share them with fans:

And my most recent story focused on the release of the novel, plus some additional outtakes I found!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

OK, so that’s it – your entire library of Sasha Grey’s Australia adventures! If you made it this far, I remind you to make sure and purchase “The Juliette Society” for yourself and friends!

And don’t forget to download Sasha’s latest film for Halloween!

Looking for a unique way to give a movie gift this holiday season?

Give A Great Movie Night!

I love the idea of a couple of movies wrapped in a popcorn container with specialty salts and some great wine! But it has to be the “right” kind of film. If your cinephile is looking for something more sophisticated than “The Ugley Truth”, then look no further than here:

Weng Weng’s Got You Covered!

Yes, it’s time for giving gifts to those you love – so why not surprise them with one of these five wild wild wild movies?

Let’s get started – first, hands up!

MEET 2 FEET AND 9 INCHES OF PURE MAN!

You are in good hands, because the legendary action hero “Weng Weng” is on the case!

For Your Height Only!

Now here is a classic film to slip under someone’s Christmas tree: a James Bond rip-off starring the legendary “littlest action hero” Weng Weng!

Take a look:

This classic slice of campy action stars Weng Weng, the legendary diminutive action hero…first, the plot:

Mr. Giant has kidnapped the brilliant Dr. Van Kohler and is planning to use the Doctor’s invention, the N-bomb, to hold the world hostage. The only one who can foil Mr. Giant’s evil scheme is Agent 00:

A 3-foot-tall filipino martial arts master, expert marksman, top-class romancer and all-around super spy!

That’s right: SIZE DOESN’T MATTER!

“For Your Height Only” is a play on words on “For Your Eyes Only”, the title of the James Bond film released that same year. I mean, look at this Bond-ish poster!

And of course, just like James Bond, Weng Weng is also a lady-killer…

Every movie lover would embrace Weng Weng! This movie was so successful that a sequel was produced in 1982, titled “The Impossible Kid”. Weng Weng is known as the shortest man to ever be a lead in an action film/martial arts film; he stands at 2’9″ (less than one meter).

The answer to the question you are thinking is “yes, it is as crazy as you imagine” – but isn’t that the point of giving it to a loved one?

From Weng Weng to Lloyd Kaufman!

Yes, it’s the perfect transition, because while Weng Weng is a small slice of heaven, Troma stands tall once again with their latest “Tromasterpiece!”

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1!”

The Maestro of Troma has unveiled his latest classic – check out the trailer!

WARNING! FULL FRONTAL NUDITY IN THIS TEASER – VERY VERY NSFW – ONLY FOR YOUR OWN EYES!

Well, hard to argue about this one…it’s Troma in spirit and execution – and of course green foam and blood….

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High” was ultimately divided into two parts, with “Vol. 1″ arriving this year…you can find it at Amazon as well as the official Troma store…and “Vol. 2″ will be released in 2015…

If you head to Troma.com, you can buy this terrifically fun movie and see the hundreds of films they have in their library –

Support legendary filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman by checking out more of my “Return to Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1″ here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

Now, time to shift from Troma, home of the classic “Surf Nazis Must Die” – yes, another great Troma classic, to a more serious Nazi film…

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

These are wacky cult films that are actually good! And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, here is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

Ok, let’s get away from war films and head to the far east, where there are entirely different kinds of zombies to fight!

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

Did I Say “Bloody?”

Yes, these classic “j-sploitaiton” films – japanese exploitation, a genre that offers garden hoses full of blood – a campy excess that keeps the films firmly in “tongue in cheek” territory – they are well done, and very fast and frenetic….never a dull moment in these movies!

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

It’s what every movie buff would want under their tree!

To read all about “Helldriver”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

From “J-Splo” To “Oz-Splo”!

As much as I love “J-sploitation”, I think “Ozsploitation” may be even better!

Yes, let’s head to Australia for a legendary film that lives up to its hungry name!

Strap Yourself In For “The Bed That Eats!”

Yes, it is time to discover the wonder of “Death Bed!” First, let’s see a few choice moments thanks to “Saibot216″ on youtube….

It is referred to as the “worst film ever made!” But c’mon, if you’ve see “The Room” or “Birdemic”, you know that’s not possible…and now, thanks to the great home video distributor CultEpics, there is a new blu-ray that gives YOU the chance to decide for yourself!

Patton Oswalt’s Favorite Film!

This cult classic was lost to camp movie buffs for years, and comic Patton Oswalt actually went on a riff about the film – and people thought he was making it up!

He wasn’t of course – “Death Bed” is a terrific horror comedy that deserves to be seen by the cinephile in your family!

Read all about this incredible movie AND see Patton Oswalt’s love affair with it by clicking on my whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

So there you have it: five wildly entertaining films that deserve to be on everyone’s holiday gift-giving list!

Time to sing some classic holiday songs – and who better to do so than these guys!

All Hail Hall & Oates!

Yes, they are one of America’s musical treasures, and this holiday season it’s time to celebrate their classic Christmas album!

“Home For Christmas”

“Home For Christmas” is Daryl Hall & John Oates’ first full length album of Christmas music. It was released in 2006, and it a beautiful collection of new and timeless Christmas music…

The CD features two new songs written by Hall & Oates: “No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas” and “Home for Christmas.”

Here are Hall & Oates performing a gorgeous version of “The Christmas Song” on “Live From Daryl’s House”:

The CD also includes a version of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”, which became their second number one Adult Contemporary hit. Here is the live version of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”:

“Jingle Bell Rock!”

Yes, Hall & Oates have had an amazing career, and even had a huge Christmas hit in the 80’s with this fun take on a classic holiday jingle…check out the hilariously retro music video for “Jingle Bell Rock” here:

If you don’t have the Hall & Oates Christmas album, grab it now – it’s terrific holiday music!

And speaking of classic holiday music, we must never forget this classic from Macy Grey…

Macy Grey??!?!?!?!?

Yes! Alex and I have enjoyed Macy’s classic holiday song for years! Her brilliant song “I Try” CLEARLY ends with a holiday greeting – and we can prove it! Just watch the music video and at precisely 3:11 into the song, you can clearly hear her shouting out “Santa Claus!”

Let me know if you also shout out “Santa Claus” along with Macy Grey on her legendary song…and if you are now in the holiday mood, then time to plug in your Christmas lights and get lit up yourself!

The Greatest Holiday Movies Ever!

And of course, you need watch some of these incredible holiday films…read all about “Love Actually”, “It’s A Wonderful Life” and Clark Griswold by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/23/amazing-love-actually-facts-rare-wonderful-life-photos-the-best-holiday-movies-ever/

And make sure to buy the classic Hall & Oates holiday album!

It’s Anniversary Time! Let’s Celebrate!

Today is the third year anniversary of this blog, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone who visits – and if you don’t want a piece of “bacon cake”, then maybe this will do:

Yes, this is a chicken wing cupcake, and I share this photo for a reason: it was three years ago when I shared the recipe for making them yourself…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/03/buffalo-chicken-wing-cupcakes/

Three years of posting stories about food, travel, movie, music, books, concerts, great adventures both personal and professional…and yes, stuff like this:

The Majesty Of A Cheesesteak Doughnut Burger!

Yes, I post about burgers a lot. Because many of you seem to enjoy these unique foodstuffs. And yes, there is much more to come. But before we devolve into a discussion of “Cheesesteak Doughnut” burgers, let me thank the person behind this story – and behind this blog.

Three years ago, my wife and ongoing inspiration Alex told me to write a blog and have some fun…and that fun included stories about our adventures in Spain, Provence and more, including the Cannes film festival…

That’s my wife Alex and I along with our good friend Michael Castner in a Cannes hotel stairwell waiting to interview a celebrity. I have shared a number of fun stories from the past, including the story behind this photo of Michael interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger, while I watch in the orange shirt:

You can read the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/14/cannes-2014-my-classic-arnold-schwarzenegger-encounter-big-star-planet-hollywood-shenanigans/

Alex has been amazingly supportive of this blog, letting me share some of our adventures with you – but she couldn’t have imagined it would lead to this:

The Tokyo Burger Tower!

Little did Alex know that, as I looked for things that interested me enough to write about, I would find a world full of crazy food – from a “Tokyo Burger Tower” you see above to the best burger currently being made in Cambodia!

Some people love these burger posts – so thank you for your feedback – and one, Jeff Greenfield, HATED a food story I posted: showcasing the spaghetti-stuffed hot dog!

Not sure why, but Jeff said this freaked him out a bit…so now I have to keep looking for more wacky food mashups just to keep him on his toes…you know, like the “bacon cheeseburger-stuffed doughnut!”

Read all about the majesty of this by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/25/bacon-glazed-cheeseburger-doughnut-amazing-burgerbacon-mashup/

Yes, it has been a tasty three years…and I promise moving forward there will be much more of this:

Yes, this bacon cheeseburger has 1,000 slices of bacon, which is appropriate since this is a post all about numbers:

Closing In On One Million Views…

In the three years I have been posting, these stories have collectively generated almost one million views – it is exciting to see the response to new stories as well as stories posted a year ago or longer – and from the comments I have gotten, it’s nice that a wide range of topics are of interest…from amazing travel memoirs like this:

Read about this incredible Author and her year on a south pacific island by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/05/faraway-lucy-irvines-castaway-sequel-more-amazing-island-escapes/

And of course, I have posted many times about my favorite musical group of all time!

The Beatles Are #1!

The greatest musical group in history is also making history for me! Here is the single most viewed post I have ever published:

The Beatles Lost Rooftop Concert Film!

Yes, you can never go wrong when you’ve got The Beatles helping you out! My “Let It Be” post continues to be the most viewed story of all time on my blog, which I love because this Beatles documentary is probably the greatest “lost” film of all time, and you can read my entire post about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

And yes, I own a VHS copy of the movie, which is one reason I love The Beatles so much!

Now, onto a “different” kind of movie…

Three years ago, I discovered that certain stories got a lot of interest, like films from the “grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street: it was almost three years ago when I actually warned people which movies NOT to show at a family holiday gathering!

Which, I will reiterate, is NOT a film to be shared with relatives…although “The Sinful Dwarf” is a classic example of “euro-sleaze”, a rough type of 70’s film…classic cult cinema that lives on thanks to DVD and on demand services – and I do have a fondness for wacky exploitation movies, like this:

Grindhouse Cinema Lives!

Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but I have met a ton of passionate exploitation fans who enjoy stories about his unique time in movie history…and look, not only did I share the plot of “Mantis In Lace”, but I found this picture as well!

The fact that the President and Vice-President would be eating in front of a “Mantis” poster…I love the internet! Ii you want to more, just click on my “grind house gift guide” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/23/sex-violence-grindhouse-have-a-purient-holiday-an-exploitation-gift-guide/

There are a lot of people who enjoy this unique era of film, and I thank all of you who read my posts about this weird and wild world of cult cinema…

But I also love to travel, and Alex and I have been lucky enough to have some great adventures, which I have shared throughout the years:

Here is Alex harvesting a fresh eggplant from the Patricia Wells garden in Provence, where we cooked with this legendary cookbook Author:

We got to cook on Julia Childs’ original provincial stove, and you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/10/tasting-provence-cooking-with-patricia-wells-food-and-travel-unite/

No matter how great cooking with Patricia and her husband was, it pales in comparison to the fun I’ve had with my kids as well…

This is my daughter Jessica, who came along on a work trip to Tokyo and got to see some crazy japanese food…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/06/tokyos-build-a-burger-wacky-japanese-burger-ads-wildest-food-for-sale/

We had a great time eating our way through some of Tokyo’s great food…but it paled in comparison to this hilarious trip, which I call:

The “London Grind!”

My son Jeff went with me on a work trip to London, and got to work with the crew for a few days as well…which led to what we call his “London grind” adventure – a hilarious night out with some very drunken British business people, highlighted here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/18/alison-haislip-the-london-grind-travels-with-alison/

This was a trip to film for G4 with Host Alison Haislip, and thanks to Alison for being such a great talent, and so much fun to work with in London!

And Let’s Never Forget The Bacon!

Yes, I have posted about ALL kinds of bacon as well…that’s because bacon is funny, and you “never cut funny”…so whether it’s a bacon wedding cake…

Or perhaps it is bacon that is utilized in a more “fashionable” manner…yes, bacon has proven to be very very popular, and the stranger the better!

Thanks to Sara Underwood for wearing a bacon bikini – all for the good of television. Of course, bacon fits best right here:

Burgers!

I have also enjoyed posting lots of burger posts…like the Brazil burger sold in an edible wrapper:

I haven’t been to Rio to have this, but cannot wait to get there! Read all about this edible adventure here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

I have also shared my love of music – and of course my admiration for the music and career of Todd Rundgren!

I have been a lifelong fan of this musical Artist, and have posted many stories about his unique career. For example, did you know that he created MTV? Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/02/todd-rundgren-inventor-of-mtv-a-hollywood-square/

And one of my favorite stories about Todd Rundgren was his special musical friendship with the late Singer/Songwriter Laura Nyro…

You can read it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/25/brilliant-laura-nyro-todd-rundgrens-muse-their-beautiful-musical-history-together/

Laura is an under-appreciated Artist, and her body of work is amazing to listen to. Here is a story about a recent tribute CD that is currently nominated for Three Grammy Awards!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/09/re-imagining-laura-nyro-a-brilliant-map-to-the-treasure-laura-nyros-beautiful-tribute/

Congrats to Billy Childs for the success of this project, which highlights great Laura Nyro music!

Todd Rundgren AND Laura Nyro fans have been hugely supportive of the site, and I truly appreciate it. I’ve also met a lot of great people who have great blogs as well, and I appreciate everyone’s support and interest…

Stevie Wonder Live!

I also shared my review of Stevie Wonder’s “Songs In The Key Of Life” concert in Chicago, including this live performance of “Saturn” with India Arie:

And there is so much more to share!

Year Four Sneak Peek!

With more than 700 posts, I just keep finding more stuff of interest to me. So what else can you expect going into 2015? Here are some clues:

Behold “Zolton”!

Yes, I’ve got some classic movie posters to share, thanks to an incredible website that helps to keep these alive…that will be posting soon, and I also have some great stories about classic Hollywood, such as the legendary sex kitten Jayne Mansfield:

I also have a bunch of travel stuff to share, like more of my adventures with Sasha Grey in Australia, where she got photo bombed by a shark!

Thanks to Sasha for always supporting these posts, and allowing me to tell all the fun stories about working with her, like this classic clip of Sasha finding out just how cold the water at Bondi Beach was!

Check out all of her adventures by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

And yes, there are more food adventures to come as well:

One of Barcelona’s most innovative restaurants is coming soon to the blog…as well as a look at some of the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

There are a lot of fun adventures still to come…my goal is to share more stories about interesting people, classic movies, adventurous travel, wacky movies and more bacon!

Thanks again for the million views and I hope you enjoy what is still to come!

Let me know your thoughts!

I Have Exciting News For You!

Yes, it’s that time of year to look at some of the most unfortunate mistakes that live news has to offer! Whether it’s “aroused” weather patterns or “friendly” animals, live news mistakes have never been funnier!

“Talk About Your Mega Doppler!”

I love these compilations, and there are so many great sites that create them…here’s a look at what happened live on your local news in 2014!

Thanks to “Funny Video Club” for this youtube compilation!

“Is That Bad Weather Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?”

And there are more! Yes, someone made this graphic with no thought to where the weatherman would be standing…and here are many more just as funny!

Thanks to “Central Entertainment Agency” for posting these shocking and hilarious bloopers on Youtube!

“C-C-C-Catfight!”

And sometimes they aren’t mistakes, they are catfights! Yes, these two Anchors did NOT like eadch other, and it came out in all it’s hilarious glory live on the air! Click on my story for the whole report!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/24/anchor-catfights-f-bombs-galore-local-news-is-live/

And of course, live newscasts aren’t the only hilarious TV every day…how about game shows!

“Family Feud” Fails!

And of course, Steve Harvey is “Family Feuds” greatest Host ever…because of his reactions to the wacky answers he gets! Check out the best here:

Thanks to “Clip Nation” for this compilation!

And nothing beats these game show bloopers – a compilation of the greatest of all time!

Thanks to “TorchTaylor21″ for posting these!

Check out more wacky mistakes by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/28/the-funniest-game-show-bloopers-ever/

And there are ALWAYS more news bloopers to enjoy:

Check out more right here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/01/going-live-on-the-news-going-wild-the-best-news-bloopers-of-june-2014/

Enjoy what 2014 offered you in local news hilarity!

How do you define a Hollywood Sex Kitten? How about like this?

And how do you become Hollywood’s most notorious blonde bombshell? Well, it doesn’t hurt when you let it all hang out!

Thanks to NationalStereotype.com, which has their picture stamp on this…it’s a classic moment when an Actress becomes a star!

Introducing Iconic Sex Symbol Jayne Mansfield!

One of Hollywood’s great sex symbols has a fascinating story!

Jayne Mansfield was an actress,nightclub entertainer, singer, and one of the earliest Playboy Playmates – an eclectic career that ended tragically…

Jayne Mansfield was a major Hollywood sex symbol of the ’50s and early 1960s – known as a sexy alternative to Marilyn Monroe – in fact, she was known as the “Working Man’s Monroe”. Here is a publicity picture that shows a strong resemblance to Marilyn…

According to her biography on wikipedia, Mansfield was also known for “her well-publicized personal life and publicity stunts, such as wardrobe malfunctions.” Yes, she sure knew how to take a candid photo!

Mansfield is one of the most enduring sex kittens in Hollywood history. She was a huge star who had lots of big star friends. Here she is hanging out with John Lennon…

Mansfield starred in a number of popular films in the 50’s and won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe.

She starred in the 1957 smash hit “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” Her other major movie performances were for “The Girl Can’t Help It” and “Too Hot to Handle”.

Mansfield also launched a nightclub act and toured the world. However, many remember her for a much more “candid” performance!

“Promises! Promises!”

In 1963, Mansfield starred in the sexploitation film “Promises! Promises!”

Mansfield was the first major American actress to have a nude starring role in a Hollywood motion picture. Here is a short scene from the film with Mansfield taking a sexy bubble bath!

Mansfield appeared nude in the June 1963 issue of Playboy, further cementing her reputation as Hollywood’s sexy movie star…

This was an era when posing nude – and appearing nude in a movie – was a shocking and controversial decision – but it only cemented her reputation as the world’s sexiest woman…

Mansfield was married several times during this period, and also had children…

Mariska Hargitay!

Mansfield was the mother of four children, including Actress Mariska Hargitay, who has had a big career of her own…

A Tragic End…

The Jayne Mansfield story has a tragic end. On June 29, 1967, Mansfield and her Attorney Sam Brody were driving home from a nightclub performance in Mississippi when they crashed into a semi-truck, instantly killing both of them. Jayne Mansfield was only 34 years old at the time of her death…

Hollywood Babylon!

As you can see, Mansfield’s legendary sex kitten pose was used as the cover to Kenneth Anger’s blockbuster book “Hollywood Babylon”, which looked at some of entertainment’s most scintillating stories…

Mansfield remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic sex symbols, and her tragic death has only made her life that much more fascinating…

There have been other sex symbols in Hollywood, and here are a few of the more accomplished Actresses…

Ann-Margret!

Yes, there have been some legendary sex kittens in Hollywood – and one of the greatest was Ann-Margret – read all about this amazing actress by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/23/hollywoods-legendary-sex-kitten-ann-margret-rock-operas-baked-beans-elvis/

And if you want to see who else was America’s sex kitten in the 70’s, look no further than this:

Raquel Raquel!

Raquel Welch is also an amazing Actress, with a great body of work, and in the 70’s she was also the sexiest woman in the world!

Read all about her greatest achievements, including the legendary “C-C-C-Catfight” episode of “Seinfeld” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/13/raquel-raquel-60s-sex-symbol-and-c-c-c-catfight-seinfeld-star-raquel-welch/

I hope you check out some of this classic work from Hollywood’s past!