Hollywood Gothique

You are browsing the archives of 2009 July.

Sex sells, so it should be no surprise that last year’s post “Good Girls Gone Bad: 13 Sexy Costumes for Women” is one of the most popular ever on this website, and yet I am surprised at what a perennial it is. Part of the point (made in a New York Times article the post referenced) was that women enjoy the annual opportunity to step outside their normal persona and indulge their inner vixen without fear of societal disapproval, because the Halloween season grants a certain carte blanche. Why, then, does this particular post draw viewers year-round? I suspect it’s men fantasizing about what they can get their girlfriends to wear next October, or boys fantasizing about having girlfriends, but whatever the case, with interest in Halloween steadily growing (even though it’s only summer), we have decided to take pity on all those desperately hopeful young men by offering up another collection of 13 Sexy Costumes for Women.

NEVERMORE – an evening with Edgar Allan Poe, featuring “Prose, Poetry and Perversion” – has had its run at the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood extended yet again. The originally scheduled performances (ending on July 31) sold out weeks in advance, so the play was extended to August 29, then into September, and now until October 31. See below the fold for details.

In the past I’ve ranted about quote whores – critics who sing loud hymns of praise in the hope of being quoted in advertisements – so it is a bit surreal to see myself being quoted. The webpage for the new Creature from the Black Lagoon show at Universal Studios Hollywood contains an excerpt (which [...]

The big finish includes reprises of songs heard earlier in the live musical show at Universal Studios Hollywood, plus the spectacular appearance of the Creature expanded to Kong-size proportion, leading to a hilarious sick joke for the punchline. Some people seem not to like the ending, and I can sort of understand why it would [...]

The Creature take Kaye back to his lair and mixes her a drink in a skull-shaped shaker. After her initial dismay quiets, she sings a love duet with her captor, “A Strange New Hunger.”

For more on - Creature from the Black Lagoon – A Raging, Rockin Show - click the links below.

Creature from the Black Lagoon – [...]

In the third song from the live musical show at Universal Studios Hollywood, the Creature sings “I’m evil” and kills off several extras who try to stop him from abducting the object of his affection.

For more on - Creature from the Black Lagoon – A Raging, Rockin Show - click the links below.

Creature from the Black Lagoon – [...]

This is the second song from the Creature from the Black Lagoon: A Raging, Rockin’ Show, which made its official debut on July 1 at Universal Studios Hollywood. It recreates a famous moment from the 1954 monster movie, in which the Creature swims below the surface while the woman who has caught his attention swims [...]

Universal Studios has just sent out a press release announcing that they are providing fans with a “backstage pass” to this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Before you Los Angeles Halloween fans work yourselves into a frightful frenzy about an opportunity to literally step behind the scenes and see how this theme park attraction is put [...]

This is the first song from the Creature from the Black Lagoon: A Raging, Rockin’ Show, which made its official debut on July 1 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Check out the wacky stereotypes: the greedy white guy, the nerd, the hot chick, the native drummers, and the female captain of the boat, who appears to [...]

Vampire Con 2009 has announced a Vampirella contest. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the popular comic book character, the self-proclaimed “first convention devoted to Vam-Pop Culture” is teaming up with Vampirella’s publisher, Harris publications, to sponsor a photo contest, inviting models to fill out the flimsy costume worn by the statuesque vampire-vixen. The winner [...]

This independent horror film gets a midnight-movie one-screenining-only premiere at the Nuart Theatre. Cast members Noah Segan & Shiloh Fernandez and Writer Trent Haaga will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. This will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen in Los Angeles.
Over at Cinefantastique Online, Dan [...]

The Friday night series of “Fright Night” double bills continues this month and next, with campy sci-fi films double bills, a DJ, and live performances.
On Friday, July 24 it’s THE GIANT GILA MONSTER and THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION. The evening’s entertainment includes DJ Noah K, plus live performances by Mad Marionettes & Miss Bonnie Delight. There will [...]

As you can see, we have been adding updates for Halloween 2009’s professional haunts and theme park attractions in Los Angeles. Amateur yard haunts are a little slower to rev up; one exception is Horror on Frankel Street, whose proprietor recently sent us a message about plans for his 2009 Halloween event
This year’s haunt, titled: “The [...]

October Shadows returns! Presented by Creature Features, this year’s annual celebration of Halloween art will be held at the Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California beginning October 10th. Every Halloween season, October Shadows showcases the work of artists from the fields of fine art, illustration, comics, film, TV and animation- all to celebrate the spirit spirit of All Hallow’s Eve.

As we mentioned last month, Richard Elfman (brother of Danny) will be appearing in person this weekend at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The American Cinematheque is having a two-day tribute to the director, with a double bill of MODERN VAMPIRES (the uncut version) and SHRUNKEN HEADS on Friday at 7:30pm, followed by a screening of [...]

[ October 2, 2009; 11:59 pm; ]  Steven Spielberg’s spectacular film version of Michael Crichton’s novel gets the Midnight Movie treatment, courtesy of the Nuart’s Insomniac series. The film features pioneering computer-generated imagery that still stands up over fifteen years later. Read a review here.

Location: Nuart Theatre – 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West Los Angeles 90025 (310) 478-6379
Link out: Click here
Date: October [...]

Mark your calendars: This year’s Halloween Time at Disneyland in Buena Park will run from September 25 to November 1. The official webpage for the event has few details at present but promsises updates in the Fall. So far it sounds as if most of last year’s Halloween attractiosn will be carried over.
All the usual Disney [...]

Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced its dates for the 2009 edition of its annual Fright Fest. Sponsored by Snickers this year, the Halloween celebration will run Fridays through Sundays in October, except for October 2, when the park will be closed. Hours are 10:30am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 10:30am to 10:00pm on [...]

Shipwreck Productions has posted dates and information for the 2009 Terrorfest aboard the Queen Mary.This year’s Halloween celebration will take place on Fridays and Saturdays in October: 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, from 7:00pm until midnight (possibly later on some nights).
Tickets are $35 for regular nights, $20 for preview nights (the first weekend, October 2 [...]

Knott’s Berry Farm has been announcing some new mazes for its 2009 Halloween Haunt. Details are scarce, but so far they have promised us four new attractions, two of them in 3-D.
2008's version of the Asylum
LOCKDOWN – THE ASYLUM (set near the GhostRider roller-coaster). This location has been known as the Asylum for a few [...]

We are in the process of updating our page for Halloween Horror Nights 2009 at Universal Studios in Hollywood. This year’s theme is SAW. Dates are October 2-3, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, 29-31 and November 1. The official website promises “all new” horrifying mazes, backlot Terror Tram tour, twisted shows, and “bone-chilling” scare zones. No doubt [...]

 This botched effort at quirky cult filmmaking, based on the epynomous comic book, screens at midnight.
Location: Nuart Theatre – 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, West Los Angeles 90025 (310) 478-6379
Link out: Click here
Date: September 18 at midnight

The Universal Studios Hollywood publicity department has just announced a film contest to create the best scary short subject. Top prize is $1,000 cash, an airing of the winner on Chiller, and a trip for two to the opening night of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, which for better or worse will build its theme around [...]