by Creepy on September 29, 2008
Dr. Ronald N. Kornblum, the L.A. County Coroner who oversaw the autopsies of John Belushi, William Holden, Natalie Wood, Karen Carpenter, and Truman Capote passed away last week at the age of 74.
While his legacy will associated with celebrity, he was also an expert witness in cases nationwide regarding chokehold deaths, and “earned high marks as a forensic pathologist recognized for his knowledge of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and fatalities involving Taser guns.”
He once said he wanted to change the public image of the coroner.
“Everyone thinks of a coroner walking with a limp; he’s got a humped back, he’s covered with blood,” he said in 1988. He said that image was no closer to reality than the version popularized in the long-running TV drama “Quincy, M.E.,” in which actor Jack Klugman played a Los Angeles County coroner who was a medical examiner, action hero, Sherlock Holmes-style sleuth, judge and jury all rolled into one. “Life,” Kornblum said, “isn’t like that.”
More at the L.A. Times.
by It Came from New York on September 29, 2008
Raleigh Studios hosts the 8th annual horror film festival that started it all. And Denise Gossett wants to scare you!
Denise Gossett is the mastermind behind Shriekfest. Nine years ago she starred in a horror film called Chain of Souls. When she asked the producers and director what their plans were for releasing the film, she was shocked to hear it was going straight to video. She suggested submitting it to film festivals.
To her surprise, the filmmakers told her there were no film festivals dedicated to the horror genre.
I thought, ‘How can that be?’ There are so many horror fans. I did some research and found what they said was true for the US. There were a few in other countries but really nothing notable or well known. So I came up with the idea for this festival. [click to continue...]
by It Came from New York on September 27, 2008
Pretty meager selection of early pumpkins at the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s yesterday. Cheap though, only $3.49.
by Lisa Mouse on September 25, 2008
Taste Burrough’s Last Fix! You can have it all at Kevin Klemm’s Reliquary and Odditorium.
LA’s self-appointed “King of Corpses” Kevin Klemm has opened his Cabinet of Curiosites to be on exhibit at the Hyaena Gallery. While it is too late for Creepsters to attend what would have been a goth-swarmed opening night in the most creepiest of lands known as Burbank, the urge to touch decaying flesh can still be satisfied until September 30, 2008.
Longtime collector of carnival “gaffs”, Klemm has reinterpreted the classic dime museum into a modern incarnation of that traveling wonder which has all but vanished from our landscape. Mr. Klemm invites you to suspend your disbelief and see relics of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, William S. Burroughs, and O.J. Simpson. Marvel, as well, at mounted heads of strange beasts such as the ManBull, Zombies, and Vampires before gazing upon the mummy of Anton LaVey…if you dare!
You won’t believe your eyes, or your hands, as your pulsatingly curious fingertips explore relics from the Ed Gein Collection. Mr. Gein is a well known and respected American (USA! USA! USA!) killer and notorious grave robber who exhumed corpses from local graveyards and fashioned gruesome trophies and keepsakes from them. I’m hoping they still have that old Mother’s day gift, or a pair of his human flesh socks which I’ve heard are wonderful for New England winters.
On your way out, don’t forget to oogle at the post-mortem photographs displayed thoughtfully in ACTUAL CORPSE FRAMES. How genius, I can’t believe they thought of that before Martha did. Remember folks, it’s all happening in the true heart of darkness, Burbank, where recently an 80 year old woman mentioned to her neighbor that she had been living with her brother’s corpse since last October. True Story!
The Hyaena Gallery is located at 1928 W. Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506.
by Noir Vixen on September 24, 2008
I love zombies. I like dressing up like one. I adore the artful arrangement of gore and fake blood. I enjoy discussing ways to survive a zombie apocalypse. I’ve even been known to take drastic cuts in pay if I can be a zombie in a horror movie done up by an inspired FX artist.
If you share my near obsession with the restless undead, you will love Lost Zombies.
Lost Zombies is a community generated zombie documentary made up of hundreds of people from all over the planet discussing outbreaks of zombie infestations in their own, personal way.
It’s free to join and a fantastic way to connect with the other twisted imaginations of your ilk.
Come play with us!
by It Came from New York on September 23, 2008
Taking a stab at evolved, alternative (his word) pumpkin carving that aims for unsettling results is Tom Nardone’s obsession. First there was the website. Then last year, Penguin published his first book, Extreme Pumpkins, which sold out everywhere weeks before Halloween.
This year, he’s ba-ack with Extreme Pumpkins II - Take Back Halloween and Freak Out a Few More Neighbors, also published by Penguin and available now.
He recently put down his Sawzall long enough to answer a few questions.
We saw Jimmy Kimmel French kiss your devil pumpkin when you were on Regis & Kelly Live. How thrilling was that?
That was fun. I also pranked Kelly and Kimmel. I spent the entire night in a hotel room filling their pumpkin with fake blood. It was worth it to see the look on Kimmel’s face. As soon as they finished carving it, blood dripped out of its mouth.
Last year, you did a promo tour for the first Extreme Pumpkins book. What was that like?
I learned who is reading my book. It seems to be beer-drinking dudes, old ladies and boy scouts.
What did you learn about pumpkin carving in the past year? Any new frontiers being crossed this Halloween? [click to continue...]
by Mighty Worm on September 22, 2008
Just yesterday SCREAMFEST announced that TRICK ‘R TREAT would be the opening film at this year’s festivities. Well, now they’ve finally decided to grace us with a full list of the rest of their line-up.
Another interesting update: You can actually buy tickets to the TRICK ‘R TREAT after party. Interesting. If you wanna mix and mingle with the director and a handful of the stars, and don’t mind shelling out an extra $30 on top of your ticket price - better get crackin’.
by Mighty Worm on September 21, 2008
If you’re not familiar with the much beleaguered history of the movie TRICK ‘R TREAT, a quick glimpse at the release date on the poster to the right should tip you in the right direction.
Written/Directed by Bryan Singer protégé Michael Dougherty, the movie has been postponed, pushed back and otherwise shelved over and over again the past couple years. The reasons are all suspect: inter-studio politics involving Singer and the Superman franchise, the movie stinks, etc. Doesn’t really matter. End result is the same: the movie has no offical release date and will likely be unceremoniously dumped onto DVD… someday.
Recently news of a random NY screening surfaced, much to the chagrin of the rest of the horror-loving country. Well, sorry still rest-of-country, but good new Los Angelenos!
TRICK ‘R TREAT will be showing opening day (Oct 10th) at this year’s SCREAMFEST! [click to continue...]
by It Came from New York on September 19, 2008
by Creepy on September 19, 2008
by Jessica Chisum on September 19, 2008
by La Llorona Mona on September 19, 2008
What would All Hallow’s Eve be without All Hallow’s Day? As it does every year, Halloween totes its companion All Saint’s Day, or as it is more affectionately known (by me) – Dia de los Muertos!
In preparation for its 35th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration Self Help Graphics is inviting artists to submit artwork addressing the theme, “A Call to Witness.” This exhibition is just one of a slew of DDM themed events, programs and workshops Self Help will be presenting this year. It will run from November 2nd through November 23rd. Find submission guidelines here.
Self Help Graphics has been an artistic and cultural pillar of the Eastside community for over 40 years. This year’s Day of the Dead celebration is very likely to be the last in that location as the building has recently been sold.
by Mighty Worm on September 19, 2008
The STARZ movie channel has posted their Halloween schedule. That’s not particularly interesting or exciting - nor is the schedule itself - but a hop over to the site will also lead you to the Starz Bunnies, a collection of 30-second movie parodies starring, you guessed it, Bunnies.
The silly shorts cover all genres, but I recommend checking out the HORROR Bunnies. Each short attempts to synopsize the entire plot of the movie it’s lampooning, so what’s really funny is how easily a piece of crap like 30 DAYS OF NIGHT can be summed up in 30 seconds. [click to continue...]
by Jessica Chisum on September 18, 2008
An inside peek at L.A.’s creepy-crawliest attraction…
Forget about “Walking with the Dinosaurs.” This weekend, it’s all about “Creeping with the Spiders.” The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opens its annual Spider Pavilion this Sunday at 10am. However, if you are a member of the museum, you are invited to get a sneak peek this Friday and Saturday, 10am -5pm. That’s right, see the gigantic spiders and their gorgeous webs before everybody else unwittingly walks right through them. Eeeek!
golden orb weaver, from wikipedia
This very afternoon I was privileged enough to take a walk through the Spider Pavilion with Spider Curator Brent “The Bug Guy” Karner. Brent is personally responsible for bringing hundreds of spiders into the Pavilion. As associate manager of entymology at the museum, he hand-picks the spiders and releases them one week before the Pavilion opens to the public.
“The creepiest time to be in the Pavilion,” Brent admits, “is right when all the spiders are released.” Brent says that’s when they are most active, crawling around trying to find space to set up their webs and setting draglines. With so many spiders jumping around and flying through the air on strands of silk, even a “Bug Guy” gets freaked out.
[click to continue...]
by Noir Vixen on September 17, 2008
Image courtesy of LADead
The Autumnal Equinox is upon us, dearest darklings. Monday September 22nd will mark the official change of seasons. It’s certainly a good reason to celebrate.
On Friday, September 19th, dawn your passionate, scarlet attire and revel with other like minded devotees as Ruin ushers in the Fall with Lilith Eve at the darkly glamorous Monte Cristo (3100 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 90005). Enjoy the monthly Night Gallery showcasing local artistic talent out on the patio rooftop and partake of the uniquely spiritual experience that is Monastic. (If you haven’t seen Monastic live, you are missing out on a performance that will enchant you.)
As if that isn’t enough hedonism for you, you can visit the absinthe bar and languish elegantly in the vintage red parlor while sipping on ‘Death In The Afternoon.’ (That would be champagne and absinthe for you neophytes.) Perhaps you will succumb to the primal act of dance while DJ Xian and guest DJ Sally weave wicked musical seduction all night long.
The evening is 21+ and the doors open at 10 pm. Entry is $10 and there is valet parking available for $5. Upscale attire is requested.
For further details visit www.ladead.com.
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