The musings and meanderings of a dreamy doll in the new Atomic Age

Diner-Saurs in the Desert

Leaving Anaheim, we headed to Vegas in the tow vehicle rental (sans trailer) for some fun with friends and (eventually) the Wild West Arts Fest (more on that later).

On the way, amidst the inky desert dark, we stumbled upon a midnight oasis; A lone diner nestled amongst the vast nothing on either side of us, it’s signage and architecture suggesting a classic 50s greasy spoon. The space had not been on our radar previously, and, with neither of us very confident drivers at night, we were glad for the reprieve, especially one so outwardly on the nose (for us).

Making our way inside the space, we were greeted by a fortune telling Elvis and a life-sized Betty Boop. To the left was a 5 & Dime store, packed with a near absurd level of retro commercial kitsch- as if someone read only the highlights of 30s-60s Americana and then proceeded to prepper-level hoard everything related to I Love Lucy, the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, etc, and stock the shop to the gills accordingly. The women working the boutique, which also doubled as a nostalgic malt shop and soda fountain, echoed the surrounding aesthetics, both in dress and demeanor, directing us to the restaurant on the opposite end for more food and drink options , while I purchased the first item of décor for the Airstream (a coral colored Kit Kat Klock which had been on my wish list for ages, because OF COURSE they had one there).

Stopping over briefly to use the restrooms, the locale’s sense of humor became shockingly more apparent as, entering the women’s bathroom, I was greeted by the arched back of an imposing male figure, hunched over a urinal, hand on the wall above him, bracing his endeavors. I IMMEDIATELY flushed, looking to back out, assuming at least ONE of us was in the wrong place, until I realized he was inanimate, and I’d likely joined the astonished ranks of any number of femme creatures years past, seeking to relieve themselves in that space before me.

That heart pounding escapade aside, we journeyed through the opposite wing of the diner, to the greasy-spoon proper element, replete with charming painted wood cutouts of celebrities from Bette Davis to Fred Astaire, a tower of freshly baked pies, rotating within a dessert display case, and various other nostalgic ephemera everywhere you looked. It turns out, the owners of the space, who purchased it in the early ’80s, had worked (respectively) at Knotts Berry Farm and in the movie biz, and in the process of restoring the diner, (originally built in 1954) had moved their extensive collection of memorabilia into the joint for some added character (context we’d only gained the day following).

We continued, unawares, through the empty portion of the restaurant (it was very near closing, and the clientele were scarce as a result), making our way towards the parking lot out front where we’d left the truck. As we exited, through the buffeting wind, we heard music the sound of 50s Doo-Wop emanating from an unseen courtyard behind the property. Rounding the corner, we were met with what was probably the most unexpected sight of the evening- a gorgeously maintained and completely deserted promenade of grass and rocky terrain, filled with miniature lakes and waterways, traversable by way of small arching sweetheart bridges, adjacent an empty stage, and surrounded, everywhere you turned, by a unique and elusive species of reptiles ONLY found in these foothills of the Calico Mountains- The Diner-Saur.

Not much is known of this perplexing species, save that they only seem to want to gather exclusively around Peggy Sue’s. As we took in our surroundings, the voices of George Harrison and Paul McCartney echoing over unseen speakers in unison “Tell me whyyyyy”, we pondered the creatures’ origin and existence, cell service non-existent and the restaurant now shuttered, with no one to provide answers to the MANY questions amassing between us in this pseudo “Lost Highway”-esque ambiance.

I was grateful for the mystery- and the circumstances in which we happened upon the joint. I don’t know that my sense of reverence for the setting would have been quite as heavy if I’d planned to be there ahead of time, fully versed in the answers to all these burning theories about the rationale behind it. Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you DON’T plan- the ones the universe, by pure serendipity, allows to unfold in front of you. My advice- this go around- to fellow thrill seekers, is to venture off the beaten path, look up from your map from time to time, let your cell service abandon you and see where the road takes you- you never know what you might find.

For more about this magical space, check out their website, here!

http://www.peggysuesdiner.com/

Atomic Abode on the Mother Road

On May 5th, I set off for an adventure I’d been dreaming of for decades. It began April 29th with a flight from DC to John Wayne Airport in Anaheim, CA- the mission? A “meet and greet” with our 2019 Airstream Flying Cloud at Airstream OC.

The Atomic Doll meets her brand new Atomic Abode for the first time!

The lead up to this journey was a long and arduous one (not to mention expensive) but once it finally became a reality, was worth every bit of stress, nervous apprehension and dollar spent in pursuit of it.

After landing in Anaheim and spending a quaint evening in the Clementine suites, we were greeted by our little aluminum armadillo for the first time, red carpet treatment and all, at Airstream of Orange County, who, by the way, have an ACTUAL FLYING CLOUD at the entrance of their lot.

A thorough orientation at the dealer completed, we spent the evening at Downtown Disney, drinking, collecting “Park Pennies” (SO MANY PRESSED PENNIES ON THIS TRIP!) and watching the fireworks before retiring to our room at the posh Indigo hotel (whose facilities, while warm and welcoming to all, are geared more towards those traveling solo, sans kids, than many of the other nearby lodgings, in case you were searching for a quieter morning than many of the other Disney-adjacent chains). The highlight of our evening (beyond all of the retro-centric Disneyana everywhere you looked) was our tiki-bar excursion to Trader Sam’s, where we scored this killer Shrunken Head mug and even caught the bar-side wrath of the gods a few times in the form of “tsunamis” (generated by the bartenders, via spritz bottles :p) and “volcanoes” erupting in 3d paintings on the surrounding walls!

The next morning, we drove to Panorama City to pick up our cross-country tow vehicle (an F250 Diesel) from Enterprise Truck Rental. We decided, in lieu of heading straight to Vegas (which was our next side venture before taking ownership of the Airstream for our primary journey), we would bring the truck back to Airstream OC so their service department could assist us in setting up the hitch/ weight distro for the vehicle.

It was my first time driving a diesel truck that large and I’d soon find out (IN THE MOST NERVE WRACKING WAY POSSIBLE), size DOES matter when it comes to Vegas parking structures…

Stay tuned to hear about our Vegas Vacation, Wild West adventures with real life cowboys and more, in my next installment!

The Atomic RV

On May 5th in 1955, a small herd of travel trailers were parked just outside of “Survival Town, U.S.A.” at a Nevada nuclear test site. These trailers were a part of Project 36, overseen by the Civil Effects Test Operations Office (an extension of the Civil Defense Administration), whose mission was to explore the ramifications of a nuclear explosion on travel coaches and emergency response vehicles.

*Trailers used in Operation Teapot, May 1955 (Photos from Trail R News Magazine Article, July 1955)*

Mannequins awaiting the bomb in Operation Doorstep in a “corner room” basement shelter made of timber

During the height of testing at the Nevada Proving Grounds, these sort of experiments were not uncommon- just two years prior, in March of 1953, Operation Doorstep had recruited passenger vehicles from car manufacturers across the United States to see how well they would fare in the direct path of a detonation. The automobiles were outfitted with gamma radiation badges and parked adjacent to variously constructed homes on “Main Street” in a veritable 3 Little Pigs scenario, except, in place of a wolf attempting to blow down the structures, in this story the houses, vehicles and mannequins propped inside them, would face off against the force of a 16 Kiloton atomic blast.

From J.C. Penney to AT&T, American companies were enthusiastic to support the Civil Defense mission. Among the 17 trailers selected to take part in Project 36’s Operation Teapot (aka “Operation Cue”) was one of American travelers’ most beloved brands, the Airstream. The history behind this unique caravan is a complicated but fascinating one, intertwined with the innovations of aircraft engineer, Hawley Bowlus.

Bowlus, who had a hand in building- among other things- Lindbergh’s famed Spirit of St Louis, was an avid sailplaner who had been experimenting with and crafting these no-engine gliders from a very young age. The “Ranch” in California, where he manufactured his planes, lacked the right environment to actually fly them in, however, so Bowlus set out to find a solution. In 1934, in response to this predicament, he created the first riveted trailer- the “Road Chief”- from Duralumin, an early aluminum alloy.

The design was strategic and purposeful- to ferry the gliders with their wings stored alongside them, and be similarly lightweight and aerodynamic to the planes themselves. After some time, the structures evolved from purely mechanical transport and were modified to include living quarters in response to the pilots’ need to seek sturdier shelter in various climates between flights. The trailers were unique in their “monocoque” (French word for “shell”) design, integrating the chassis with the body, creating a single, load bearing hull- not unlike that of an airplane. The influence of Hawley’s background innovating aircraft was unmistakable in his RVs, and would eventually provide the groundwork for another industry visionary of his era.

A short distance from where Hawley Bowlus was crafting his airborne and road-bound vehicles was another trailer manufacturer by the name of Wallace Merle “Wally” Byam. Byam, born in Oregon on the 4th of July in 1896 to humble beginnings, moved to California in his late teens to attend Stanford University. After graduating, he signed on with the Merchant Marines and shortly after, entered the publication business, printing and distributing various magazines through the advertising agency he co-owned with his then wife. In the early 1920’s, Byam published an innovative “Do It Yourself” guide- he initially sold to Popular Mechanics, then later printed in one of his own periodicals- on low-cost trailer building; It was an instant success.

Ostensibly, Byam’s familiarity with travel trailers stemmed from his long stays in shepherd wagons while working on his family’s farm in Oregon. Shepherd wagons, or “shepherd huts”, as they are also sometimes referred to, are the not-so-distant cousins of the modern day caravan. Typically built from cast iron and other forged elements, sporting curved corrugated iron rooftops, windows, a large door and iron wheels, they existed to allow farmers, mule drivers and sheep herders the ability to camp in the pastures near their flocks for extended periods of time in relative warmth and comfort.

Stella and Wally Byam, pictured in front of their Airstream

Byam’s designs revolutionized the trailer industry- by lowering the floor between the wheels and adding several feet of height to the overall structure, it was now possible to stand upright and move about normally within the space. His success in selling his trailer kits and plans lead to his own small home-based Masonite trailer manufacturing business in California, which he incorporated in 1931 under the Airstream moniker.

Where Byam’s initial designs and Bowlus’ differed was in material, construction and most of all, marketing. Bowlus’s roots were in aircraft manufacturing, so although his trailer’s aluminum riveted exterior construction was superior to that of Byam’s Masonite curved style, Byam was not just selling vehicles- he was selling “The American Dream”- one of adventure, possibility and the unknown, and all customized to the individual purchasers’ needs. Eventually, mis-reading the market and over-manufacturing to a non-existent demand would tank Bowlus Trailers; Byam, on the other hand, was creating his trailers to spec, with a paying customer identified for each, so every trailer that was manufactured was financially backed.

Hawley Bowlus, facing difficulty repaying his suppliers, shut down his trailer operations in 1936 to return to his work designing military gliders. Wally Byam, inspired by the hardy and practical construction of the Road Chief, discontinued his Masonite line and adapted the design to create the aluminum riveted, semi-monocoque Airstream “Clipper“. Though Byam experienced steady success for several years, he was not immune from the effects of the Great Depression; between the aluminum shortages during WWII and the dwindling demand for “luxury” purchases, he temporarily halted Airstream’s operations to work for Lockheed’s military aviation department.

Airstream Clipper, towed by a Lincoln Zephyr (circa 1930s)

American propaganda publication by Ace Comics, Published 1952-1953

After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, America oscillated between awe and anxiety regarding their nuclear potential as they entered the Atomic age. Escalating geopolitical tensions created the “Cold War” (so dubbed via an essay by George Orwell) prompting a plethora of propaganda from both the Soviets and the U.S., reinforcing each as singularly capable Superpowers.

“Bert the Turtle” was the iconic face of the Civil Defense ‘desk drills’ which encouraged school children to take cover and protect themselves from the effects of a potential bombing by hiding under their desks.

This international posturing, coupled with a healthy fear of all-out nuclear war, generated a significant cultural movement focused on the importance of the “readiness, self sufficiency and preparedness” of America’s citizenry. From school-house “Duck and Cover” drills, to the increased sale of in-home bomb shelters, and rise of volunteerism for local Civil Defense respondents, every effort seemed focused on converting fear of the bomb into proactive measures to strengthen the home-front.

One such aspect of this “readiness” philosophy was the ability to be mobile and agile in the event of an attack or evacuation. The government identified travel trailers as “important resources” in the event of a full-scale war. With the return of economic prosperity to the U.S. and this increased focus on the viability of mobile homes, RV sales sky-rocketed, creating a renewed demand and attention for the industry, overall.

“Copa Girl Linda Lawson as “Miss-Cue” wearing an A-Bomb crown to illustrate the misfiring of the Operation Cue Bomb on May 1, 1955 “

After weathering the Great Depression and resuming production in the 1940s, the Airstream brand had become an iconic standout, synonymous with Americana alongside the likes of Coca-Cola and Marilyn Monroe. Due to it’s innovative design and market acclaim, it was selected by the Civil Defense Administration to participate in “Operation Teapot”. Operation Teapot (aka Operation Cue) was a multi-faceted military and scientific exercise, analyzing the overall impact of a nuclear explosion on everything from houses, to fabrics, to food and the electrical grid. Each element of the operation received an identifying number- nestled among them was Project 36– the combined effort between the U.S. military and the Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association, Mobile Homes Dealers Association and Travel Coach Association. The collaboration was no small undertaking, nor was it without significant cost- the total sum value of the trailers donated by the RV industry- which they dubbed as “an offering to the Great Bomb”- was around $75,000 (which equates to approximately $700,000 in 2019).

The significance of this goes beyond recognition of the Airstream’s hardiness in the face of an atomic blast- this was the first joint operation intent on educating the public about the realities of these attacks- Prior to this, the activities of scientists and the military in Mercury, Nevada had been mostly speculative, despite the visible mushroom clouds in the distance. Subsequently, this launch had an unprecedented media presence and fanfare surrounding the very public display- even more so due to the government’s strategic engagement of other popular brands to join in.

*Airstream #15 in line with the other RVs selected to be tested at 10,500 ft from the epicenter of the 29 kiloton blast*

After several delays due to weather and engineering concerns, the test commenced on May 5th, 1955. Members of Project 36 staggered the selected trailers at 10,500 ft and 15,000 ft, respectively, from the epicenter of the 29 kiloton blast in an effort to prove their overall resilience and their potential as temporary housing for those displaced by an attack. The distances were selected to simulate low-blast pressure areas anticipated in suburban zones adjacent to key targets.

A video of the destruction during Apple-II shot/ Operation Teapot. Approx 10 seconds in, a travel trailer can be observed tipping over due to the shock-wave of the blast.

The ensuing results of Project 36’s experiment thrilled the RV industry, especially the Airstream corporation, whose Test Unit #15 vehicle (a 22 ft single axle aluminum riveted model) suffered essentially no structural damage from the blast, aside from a small indent in the rear of the vehicle and next to no interior damage from the shock wave (a full account of the results is documented in the report by the Civil Effects Test Group in the images below, not accounting for radiation, of which statistics were unmeasured).

Airstream iconography and alignment with the Atomic Age persists, even today. The exterior aesthetics, which remain relatively unchanged from the trailer utilized in Operation Cue continue to echo a bygone era romanticized by many as the penultimate representation of America at it’s best. As the country moves, once again, into uncertain times, it’s likely those seeking mobile dwellings will turn to the brand that survived the blast.

Meet “Miss Blobfest”

Miss Blobfest, captured by PK3 Photography

Ever since attending Blobfest last year, I had ONE goal- one goal which seemed to eclipse every other aspiration I’d had before it, and since- and that was to become MISS Blobfest. It became a running joke among friends, that, despite all the otherwise incredible things I’d accomplished this past year, everything paled in comparison to my ambition to achieve this kooky, kitschy dream.

I’d long been obsessed with vintage “Miss” pageants, and retro brand-babes and my fixation only grew after publishing a piece about Jayne Mansfield last March. In the course of my research I’d learned that, prior to her underdog success as a starlet in the shadow of Marilyn Monroe, Mansfield initially asserted herself in the public eye by competing in- and winning- various odd beauty pageants.

Monroe donning a crown to promote “Gentlement Prefer Blondes”

Before she was the notorious “platinum-pated movie siren”, she was, respectively, “Miss Magnesium Lamp”, “Miss Photoflash”, “Miss Hot Dog” and “Miss Fire Prevention Week” (among others). And the list of stars who dipped their toes into peculiar pageantry before diving into the limelight doesn’t stop there- Joi Lansing was an uncredited “Miss Anti-Triskaidekaphobia”; Mamie Van Doren kicked off her career as “Miss Eight Ball”, the Three Stooges, Geene Courtney enjoyed her turn as “Miss Cheesecake” and “Miss Sausage Queen” and singer Ruth Gillis sleepily donned her sash as “Miss Slumber Siren” during a 1955 Sealy Slumber Party- even Marilyn Monroe, herself, briefly endured as “Miss Medical Center Aides”. Perhaps my favorite of all of them, though, and the first to really launch my love of these ladies, were the “Miss Atomic” pageants.

From “Miss Atomic Blast”, showgirl, Candyce King, and her bombshell up-do- fashioned from toilet paper rolls and hairspray cans- to “Miss A-Bomb”, (Paula Harris), to dancer, Linda Lawson’s impromptu ordaining as “Miss Cue” at the Sands by Servicemen fresh off a synonymous atomic operation at a Nevada Test site in 1955, the compulsion to crown in the wake of atomic achievement seemed crucial. But the most famous of them all and my personal brand inspiration, was Lee Merlin, who unofficially earned the title of “Miss Atomic Bomb” after Vegas News Bureau photographer, Don English, attached a mushroom cloud applique to her bathing suit and snapped a picture of the now legendary Copa Girl in the desert.

Taking the stage on Friday the 13^th, on the 60^th anniversary of The Blob inside the very same Colonial Theatre which the Blob attacks in the now famous flick, I couldn’t help but think of these women, existing uniquely and eternally in their own weird, bygone time-capsules, and feel an odd affinity with them. When I was announced as the winner, for a fraction of a second, it was like the barrier in time and space, itself, had thinned, and I was able to straddle both the past and the present, coexisting between these two eccentric epochs while being comically serenaded by the evening’s host, Mr. Lobo. While I may not share similar aspirations of fame as Mansfield or Monroe, I wonder if they felt similarly when they held these strange spotlights, taking in the absolute absurdity, while ridiculously reveling in the bizarre beauty of it all.

Miss Blobfest 2018, photo Chorus Photography

BEWARE, it’s Blobfest!

While most one hundred and fifteen year old film houses are busy worrying about keeping the doors open, the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA has their hands full trying to keep a molten meteor at bay! Every year since 2000, the historic auditorium has faced a formidable invasion; Fans from all around the globe descend upon this quiet little suburb of Philadelphia to attend Blobfest– a gathering so named for the Colonial Theatre’s most famous unwelcome patron, classic movie-monster, The Blob.

Movie poster for the initial release of “The Blob”

When the 1958 film debuted- starring a yet unknown, Steve McQueen (billed in the credits as “Stephen McQueen”) and a semi- known, Aneta Corsaut (who portrayed Sheriff Andy’s girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show)- it was never intended to be a box office hit. The “Glob”, as it was originally titled, was pitched to the drive-in movie market as a “cheap teen flick” (despite the majority of the film’s “teen” cast laughably all in their late twenties at the time). With a budget of just over $110k, the film was released as the “B” picture- the secondary draw in a double-feature, alongside I Married a Monster from Outer Space. It has since become a cult hit, adopted and re-released as part of the Criterion Collection, and netting millions in profits (of which a younger, and less financially savvy, Steve McQueen, saw only $3,000 of, opting for the immediate payout at the time, instead of a 10% share of the film’s future proceeds).

Blobfest Fans, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Due to the underdog success of the film, helped along by it’s chart topping, catchy as all get-out theme song, (penned by a group of studio musicians-including Burt Bacharach- called “The Five Blobs”), the viscous villain developed an unsurprisingly unusual fan-base. The enthusiasm and nostalgia surrounding The Blob gave way to Blobfest, which is not only a celebration of the mammoth miscreant, but one of all things kitsch, B-horror, and retro-Americana. The annual event, which is primarily hosted within the various chambers of the Colonial Theatre, occurs every July (timed true to when the original Blob landed on earth in the film) and is not unlike the Blob itself; each year it grows larger in size, with seemingly nothing that can quell it’s unparalleled evolution.

B-movie horror flicks and double-features are on constant rotation within the Colonial throughout the festival, from Demon with the Atomic Brain, to Creature from the Black Lagoon (in 3D, no less!); A quick stroll past the main auditorium’s doors during screenings of The Blob will have you rolling with laughter as the audience engages the more ludicrous elements of the film out loud, with some good-natured MST3K-style riffing. And speaking of MST3k, scattered among the festivities are its celebrity guests, which this year included the new series writer/ producer,

Ricou Browning, the original Gill-Man from the Creature of the Black Lagoon. Photo provided by Alex Doll, aka Miss Blobfest 2018

Matt McGinnis aka “Matt Claude Van Damme,” along with Ricou Browning, the original underwater Gill-Man in Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Steve McQueen biographer, Marshall Terrill. Also celebrating the film’s 60th anniversary at Blobfest 2018 was the ACTUAL “Blob”. Director, Irvin Yeaworth actually sold The Blob prop to local resident and author, Wes Shank, in 1965, who dusted it off for this year’s audience so fans could pay homage to the molten meteor in all it’s geriatric, gelatinous glory.

Shocktail Hour’s Aurora Gorealis, Photo courtesy of Chorus Photography

King of Mars and Dixie Dellamorto, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

The festival commences inside the Colonial Theatre, where a campy, yet utterly endearing variety show opens with the impressive emergence of a pipe organ, ascending from the depths of the stage, The Phantom Of the Opera theme feverishly emanating from the instrument, courtesy of local maestro, Rudy Lucente. The Friday show has become well-known for showcasing many beloved figures in the horror-scene, from its host, Cinema Insomnia’s, Mr. Lobo, to its official reporter, Dash Daring, alongside characters from the “Monster Musical Kiddie TV Show”, Ghoul A Go-Go, and “Scientists” Dr. Frank N. Stone and Dr. Ima Hack. This year, the lovely Aurora Gorealis, horror hostess from Baltimore, MD, lent her ghoulishly glamorous vibes to the cast, which also featured the Blob nurses, Dixie Dellamorto and Amanda Wolfe and even the King of Mars, himself. Amidst the cadre of characters and commotion of the skits, there’s also a tin-foil hat competition, and screenings of the fan-made short films which won this year’s “Shorty” award (named for The Blob director, known as “Shorty” to his friends). While the stage show is definitely action-packed, the majority of Blob-fiends are there to participate in the most notorious enterprise of the fest- the “Run-Out”.

Photo of the 2018 Blobfest run-out, courtesy of Chorus Photography

The Run-Out is the most coveted ticket of the entire weekend, and this year, sold out in under 3 minutes flat. The unlucky souls who failed to score a ticket gather round the theater’s entrance in anticipation of the chaos to come. The marquee of the Colonial sports the same billing as in the original Blob, and underneath it hangs a banner advertising the venue as “Healthfully Air Conditioned”- a throwback to a significant development in the theater’s history, which occurred when ownership of the Colonial changed hands in the late 1950s and the space was refurbished to include a larger screen and improved heating and AC. After the inside audience is regaled by performances from the Feet First Dancers, and Miss Blobfest 2018 (you’re lookin’ at her) is crowned and serenaded by Mr. Lobo, it’s time for the guest of honor to attack, sending movie-goers tumbling through the aisles and out the doors, running for their lives from The Blob.

Swing dancers dressed as The Nurse and Mechanic from the Blob at the Blob Ball, Blobfest 2018

Giddy and breathless, patrons then reconvene and head over to “The Blob Ball”. This year marked the 10^th anniversary of the tangential event, created by the Rivers Rockabilly Trio, which consistently showcases live rockabilly music and swing dancing, hosted in various locations around Phoenixville.

Saturday’s shenanigans kick off early in the day with the Fire Extinguisher Parade, led by Dash Daring and Dr. Frank N. Stone, a comical nod to the Blob’s Achilles heel- CO2! Loads of Blob themed products litter the streets from eclectic vendors set up all along Bridge St, hocking everything from retro horror merch to classic kitsch, toys, clothing, home décor and more. Everywhere you turn, there’s something going on- from live music and swing dancing in the streets to a colorful costume contest, there are seemingly endless opportunities to engage in the revelry.

Fire Extinguisher Parade at Blobfest 2018, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Meandering through the cordoned off section of Bridge St adjacent to the theater, it’s clear that everyone wants a piece of this amorphous agitator. In fact, the entire town seems in on the fun, from an official Mayoral decree, recognizing the festivities, to competitions among local businesses for who can boast the cleverest Blob specials- from drinks, to dessert or construct the most eye-catching Blob-themed window display.

The event has been regularly nominated for several years to win the prestigious Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for “Best Festival”, and it’s easy to see why. Blobfest is truly a phenomenon that exists outside of time, space, and social norms. It’s a yearning for an era that only existed in the limited spectrum of 1950’s retro De Luxe hues and an optimistic innocence, characteristic of the Atomic era. It’s not only remarkable for its celluloid conviction, but also for its uncanny ability to draw nearly anyone into the communal reverie, from die hard fans to newcomers, alike. A perfect escapist mirage, Blobfest is unequivocally out-of-this world.

View from the back of the Colonial Theatre as the crowd lights up the night, celebrating the 60th birthday of The Blob, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

*Editor’s note: I sat down (as this year’s “Miss Blobfest”) with several notable characters from the festivities to get the inside scoop on what it is, exactly, that makes the celebration of this non-binary beast the best. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the epic full size image gallery, the majority of photos provided by the ever-amazing, Chorus Photography, and a link to footage of the event, courtesy of Cinema Insomnia

Miss Blobfest/ Alex Doll: So how did you first become involved with Blobfest?

Mr. Lobo and Miss Blobfest 2018, Chorus Photography

Mr Lobo: We think it was July 2010…Mr. Lobo was living in California and Dixie [Dellamorto] had contacted [the Blobfest Committee] to let them know I was coming. They gave me a table and I was just another guest on the 3rd floor of the Colonial, selling pictures and DVDs. The usual MC didn’t show up, and organizer and mascot, Dr. Frank N. Stone, who was a fan, gave me the microphone and asked if I would “help out” on stage. It was one of those–“Is there a Horror Host in the house?”–situations!

Kevin Barry (Ghoul A Go-Go): To tell you the truth I’d have to guess about Blobfest without doing some research- I’d say almost/ around 15 years!

Matt McGinnis, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Matt McGinnis (MST3K): I’ve been going to Blobfest since 2005 and I have no regrets. I’ve actually only missed one Blobfest in the 13 years I’ve been attending (which I guess makes it only 12 years). My mom found out about in some tourist magazine and since I’ve been a fan of old monster movies for as long as I can remember, we decided to give it a go and have never looked back. It’s become a summer staple, something I look forward to every year. It’s like Halloween in July!

Dr. Ima Hack and Dr. Frank N. Stone, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Dr. Ima Hack/ Joan Homick ( Blobfest Committee): This was my 14th Blobfest– About the sixth for Dr. Hack. Dr. Hack’s first presentation was “The Women of Horror.” My role [on the committee] has been publicity and booking guests and their travel, if necessary. Everyone on the committee has their own unique talents and abilities that they bring to the fest -artistic, technical, writing, acting, love of sci-fi, and vintage- It really works out well.

Suzanne Firner, 2018 Miss Blobfest Runner-Up: I’ve been attending since 2009. My friend told me about it and how it celebrated B-movies, [and all things] retro-She said it was right up my alley.

What, in your opinion, makes Blobfest so special?

Mr. Lobo and Dash Daring with the costumed contestants, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Mr Lobo: For one, it’s a real community event. I don’t mean the “Horror Community” or “Classic Sci-Fi Community” or “Cosplay Community” or “Riffing” Community or “5 People on the Internet who like Mustard on Their French Fries Community”–the “Community” word has been over used lately as an excuse for [others to] bully each other into conforming to scenester norms. I mean, the whole town gets into it! Surely Blobfest is not for Everyone–but Everyone is welcome. I always make the joke on stage that every other fan event is about shame–you’re hunched over a folding table in a cheap hotel banquet hall, digging through a dusty box of comics, while your irritated and bored family members wait for you to be done… All the local shops, the Fire Department, the Police, the theater, the restaurants…everyone gets involved and is proud that this “B-Movie” was made in their town! I remember the diner cook coming out from behind the counter to draft Mr. Lobo into the kitchen to help design a Blob pancake for the menu…only at Blobfest does that kid of magic infect everyone!

Also, there is nothing like sitting in the same theater that is featured in the film watching the film…it’s so surreal…you feel like the Blob is going to come out of the projection booth any minute…

Miss Blobfest/ Alex Doll: …and even the Phoenixville Mayor, Peter Urscheler, got involved- publishing an official decree, complete with the Mayor’s seal, wishing everyone a, “Happy Blobfest Weekend!!” and encouraging folks to “Stay safe and wear your tin foil hats!” (Ref: Mayoral proclamation)

Dash Daring and Bill Jersey, Art Director for The Blob- Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Dash Daring: The amazing and refreshing thing about Blobfest is that the crowd and audience is 100% with you, as a performer or personality. In so many other ways our culture is looking to be as cynical as possible all around, and our movies must be perfect, but at Blobfest, the attendees are open to the campiness; They let that cynicism drop, and you’re getting real smiles and genuine laughs.

Miss Blobfest/ Alex Doll: I’d agree that the accessibility of the event is what makes it so unique. It’s a hard thing to preserve as folks catch on and the festival grows in popularity, but there’s the hope that the limited number of seats in the theater will create a forced cap on the attendance, allowing it to maintain its humble roots without risk of becoming over-commercialized. There’s a severe lack of posturing that is otherwise ever-present at other cons or festivals celebrating anything remotely iconic, and that purity- in the aim to just accomplish sheer fun and camaraderie- is something I have only experienced at Blobfest.

Matt McGinnis: … It’s so much more communal than other cons. People come from all over to be here, but during the weekend, the entire community gets in on the fun with window displays, special food and drinks, and all kinds of enthusiasm that you can’t help but get caught up in. The impact of the festival can no longer be contained to just the Colonial Theatre or Bridge Street; it spreads all over, much like the Blob itself.

So what are some of your favorite memories of the festival?

Matt McGinnis: In 2007, my friends and I won the first ever Blobfest: Shorty Award in the under 18 category for our movie, Stalk of the Blob Man! It was such a dreamlike experience to have a crappy backyard movie we made playing on the same screen that The Blob invades every year, in the same theater where greats like Harry Houdini and Mary Pickford have performed. I still have the amazing Blob trophy that we got for it, along with one of the tinfoil-wrapped paper plate flying saucers we used in the movie. There are some things you just can’t let go of.

Dash Daring: I’d say maybe the year we had August Ragone was keenly memorable. I think that year we invited him back to our house for dinner, and we both totally passed out, dead asleep on the couch, watching little known horror flick, The Convent.

As for the run-out, do you know how many years that has been going strong?

Dash Daring: I recall being told that it was originally a few patrons who took it upon themselves to re-enact the run-out as they were leaving from one of the film’s screenings of the Blob. After that the theatre picked it up to make it an official thing.

Dr. Ima Hack/ Joan Homick: I believe the first run-out occurred at the very first Blobfest. In fact, that may have been most of what Blobfest was 19 years ago. My first year, people gathered in the lobby waiting for the regular film to end. Once that audience left, everyone filed in. Shane (Dr. Frank N. Stone) worked up a little sketch about a gorilla (King Kong) that escapes and that cued the run-out. My two kids were young and they got to be the “press” that took pictures of the gorilla. That was it. That was Friday night.
Within in a year or two, we started handing out tickets just outside the theatre because more people wanted to come in than we had seats. Then we started selling tickets. This year those tickets sold out in two minutes!

King of Mars, surrounded by fans at Blobfest 2018, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Mr. Lobo: I always wanted to experience the run-out- it was on my bucket list of fan events. [Regarding his first run-out] The crowd pushed forward and you think “this is starting to bottleneck”-but everyone is in on the routine and waits their turn so you feel safe. Like a slow mosh pit for old nerds! What a rush! Mr. Lobo just felt magic coursing through his veins and ringing in the ears! We were bringing up the rear so we got caught in the doorway when the CO2 erupted in clouds and you go breathless! Then we’re outside and we see flashbulbs and crowds behind the barricades! Mr. Lobo was then welcomed into that warm surge of hugs and congratulations and handshakes and photo-ops…like we just hosted Saturday Night Live or returned from a trip to the moon! We not only survived….but triumphed! All of us! It feels like that for me every time!

*Editor’s note: In my conversation with Dash, he later discovered footage from 1987 (which can be found here: 1987 Colonial Theatre run-out ) where fans conducted their own run-out, separate from any connection with the festival.

As the event has hosted a litany of notable characters, who were some of your favorite celebrity guests?

Kevin Barry (Ghoul A Go-Go): Kyra Schon, years ago. But we’re friends. I got to watch night of the living dead with her in the balcony before it was opened to the public. They didn’t have their permit yet.

Mr Lobo: That first year they had local horror host legend “Stella–the Maneater from Manayunk”…it was an honor to share the stage with her and her manservant “Hives”. I had wanted to meet them ever since we appeared together in the horror host documentary “American Scary”. She remains one of my favorite guests and I hope we can get her back next year for the 20th Blobfest! Riccou Browning–the Creature From the Black Lagoon was another favorite, which is why we asked him back this year for the Blob’s 60th!

Dash Daring, Mr. Lobo and Alex Doll with Ricou Browning, the Original Creature From The Black Lagoon

Miss Blobfest/ Alex Doll: I also just want to point out that when you graciously allowed me to “guest interview” Ricou (the Creature/ Gill-Man), he DID agree to be your father, and I have that on film, so it’s official. Just sayin’.

Dr. Ima Hack/ Joan Homick: I loved having Marta Kristen who played Judy in Lost in Space. She is part of my childhood, so to have her in front of me and share the stage with her was a thrill. Also, she was very gracious and easy to work with. It was also great having Keith Almoney with us this year and the other time about five years ago. He’s one of the few folks left who actually worked on the film, so that makes him special. He’s a very sweet guy.

Suzanne Firner, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Suzanne Firner, 2018 Miss Blobfest Runner-Up: It may sound lame but my favorite guest is always the actual Blob. There have been times where the actual Blob had a scheduling conflict so it couldn’t come- It just seemed weird not to have the star of the show at the festival.

Mr. Lobo: I also love hanging out with the hunchback’s hunchback–Creighton from Ghoul A Go-Go!

And for the horror initiated, any other notable names on that list?

Mr Lobo: Well, you have to be somewhat initiated to care about Tom Savini, Ed Wood alum, Conrad Brooks, Marta Kristen and B-9 from Lost in Space…Marta was amazing too…we saved the theater from a meteor attack that year!

*Editor’s note: If you wander into any screening throughout the weekend, you’ll encounter a litany of one-of-a-kind skits and sketches scattered around the theater. The Spookshow this year, hosted by Mr. Lobo, featured a variety element that was FULL of silly antics prior to and during the screening of Daughter of Horror. It boasted not just one, but TWO Bela Lugosi’s, though one of them (played by Matt McGinnis) had more of a “Dollar Store Rendition” vibe in order to contrast with the more authentic variant, played by Dash Daring. The Saturday night event also featured a “Reefer Madness” style original sketch by Dash Daring, which touched on the dangers of “back alley pomades”, pitched by dueling pompadours, Matt McGinnis and Dash Daring, hosted by Mr Lobo as the classic interloping voice of caution. A brief aside, I chatted with Dash and Matt a bit about both acting in and creating these experiences for the audience.

Dash Daring: There’s a wide latitude of opportunity to pitch sketches and performances at Blobfest. Broadly these things need to fit the themes of the film, 1950’s pop culture, retro science fiction and horror films, and the legacy of the theatre, but beyond that we’re given license to try cool and quirky things like the “Pomade” bit (featuring genuine extract of BLOB!). Additionally, because the audience really is with you, and game to be let in on the camp of it all, there’s less pressure that something might flop, which in itself is freeing.

Behind the scenes at the Spookshow prior to Daughter of Horror at Blobfest 2018 with Mr Lobo and Dash Daring as “Bela Lugosi”

Matt McGinnis: That was a lot of fun. Who knew the back-alley pomade cartels were so shady? But it was awesome getting to goof around with those guys on stage. Especially during the Daughter of Horror spook show, which I’m thrilled that I got to be a part of.

[To Matt] Now that you’ve played a knock-off “Bad Bela” Lugosi, what’s next for you in your career?
Matt McGinnis: I feel like the knockoff celebrity game is something I could really dive deeper into. I’m looking to start a new stint as a knockoff of both of the Property Brothers; good luck telling me apart!

So what’s next for Blobfest? Who and what would you like to see in the next iteration?

The Grim Reaper and Blobfest fans at the costume contest, Blobfest 2018, Pic courtesy of Chorus Photography

Dr. Ima Hack/ Joan Homick: Next year is the 20th Blobfest. I’d like to have our “greatest hits” of guests return: Marta Kristen, Keith Almoney, Stella the Man Eater from Manyunk. Maybe Tom Savini. And we’d definitely like to get Barbara McQueen here.
I’d like to see a pet costume contest, but that probably isn’t going to fly. And as everyone on the Blobfest committee knows, I would like to have my earliest childhood crush, Robin from Batman and Robin, be a guest someday.

Any final thoughts on the festival you’d like to share?

Dr. Ima Hack/ Joan Homick: It’s an event that young and old can enjoy together. It’s wacky and kitschy and silly fun. There really is nothing else like it!

Matt McGinnis: Blobfest people – and monster people in general – are always the coolest people. They’re freaks, but they’re the coolest freaks. Because they know what it’s like to be one of the outcasts and they share a common bond with a lot of the monsters seen in some of these movies. And just to be able to come together and partake in the joy of the campy horror/sci-fi madness with other like-minded people… there’s nothing like it. So be one of the cool freaks. Go to Blobfest.

Miss Blobfest/ Alex Doll: And with that, I’ll let Ghoul A Go-Go’s finest fiend, Creighton, have the last word-

“Creighton Like Blobfest”

Catch exclusive footage on Cinema Insomnia from Director, Aaron Lane of this year’s Blobfest, hosted by Mr. Lobo: https://vimeo.com/280480865/7a13ea840a

Adventures of the Atomic Doll!

Stay tuned for future posts on the adventures & musings of the Atomic Doll!