Month: July 2018

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.

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).

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,

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

*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: 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 (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/ 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: 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:  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!

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!

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, 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.

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?

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