Upstate New York Notables: Don Arioli

Don Arioli (1936-2005), writer/director/actor/animator, born in Rochester, Monroe County.

Upstate New York Notables: Terry Anderson

Terry Anderson (1947-), political hostage/journalist/professor, raised in Batavia, Genesee County.

Upstate New York Notables: Florenz Ames

Florenz Ames (1889-?), actor, born in Rochester, Monroe County.

Upstate New York Notables: Jeff Altman

Jeff Altman (1951-), actor, born in Syracuse, Onondaga County.

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Forecast

I enjoy checking out booking sampler LPs; though they're usually loaded with dopey, wannabe-rock star AOR barband crap, the occasional rough gem can be picked out, like "Shot in the Dark" from Forecast, a loose, dirty basement rock outfit. This LP, complete with galactic record holder on the cover, was a QCA pressing from a Syracuse agency. I remember hearing radio ads for shows featuring some of the other acts on this record, like 805 and Alecstar. The liner notes say of Forecast, "the audience is chauffeured through time...the Who's Tommy...a salute to Hendrix...the Doors come to life...modern classics...showmanship and presence."

v/a: The Album, the Acts, the Agency LP (DMR, 107094X, 1981)

February Desktop Calendar

Feel free to pass around...

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Alan Caddy and Bob Faloon

Alan Caddy, founding member of the Tornados who passed away in 2000, produced dozens of now sound/exploitation LPs chock full of a mix of rock and orchestral covers of hit songs of the day, mainly through the Canada-based Avenue of America label, for which he was house arranger and producer. Don't know who Bob Faloon was. Here's a gruff and loose cover of "Honky Tonk Woman" from their album of Stones covers.

Alan Caddy and Bob Faloon: Do Songs Made Famous by the Rolling Stones LP (Canada: Avenue of America, AVE-4304, 1972?)

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Affinity

The lounge band Affinity, in between rousing renditions of "New York, New York" and "I'll Never Love This Way Again" throw in a curve ball with their Scientology ballad "I'm a Thetan." They're still active in Arizona; here's their site.

Affinity: Live! LP (Aces, 810717, 1981)

Upstate New York Notables: Kim Alexis

Kim Alexis (1960-), model, born in Lockport, Niagara County.

Upstate New York Notables: Scott Adams

Scott Adams (1957-), cartoonist: Dilbert, born in Windham, Greene County.

Vintage Signage 52

Hoffman's Playland, Latham, NY.

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: A.J. Marshall

Welcome to a new musical feature here at Chateau Vulgaria. The Tomb of Vinyl Horrors will feature weird records, with an emphasis on strange covers and unusual sounds, with special attention paid to local, privately-pressed records of a highly personal and eccentric nature. A single song sample will be included with each selection, for 30 days (I'm thinking).

First up is a guy with a pretty froggy voice, A.J. Marshall. Seems like he was an old-time crooner dude who MGM assigned the task of interpreting "now" hits like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Little Green Apples." Here's his take on Blood Sweat & Tears' "You've Made Me So Very Happy"; A.J., take it away...

A.J. Marshall: There's a Lot of Lovin' in This Old Boy Yet LP (MGM, SE-4648, 1969)

Vintage Signage 51

Snow Man ice cream, in the Lansingburgh section of Troy, NY.

Vintage Signage 50

Lou Simon's Wine and Liquor, Latham, NY. Was recently forced to close by the nearby Albany Airport after 43 years.

Vintage Signage 49

Body King, Latham, NY.

Vintage Signage 48

Admiral Dry Cleaning, Watervliet , NY.

Fanny Hill Festival

Raleigh's great Center Drive-in screened this Fanny Hill triple-feature in July, 1971. THE YOUNG, EROTIC FANNY HILL (1971) was a strange Joe Sarno film featuring Tallie Cochrane in the lead role; available on VHS and DVD-R from Something Weird. FANNY HILL MEETS THE RED BARON (1968) is a lost Barry Mahon film. THE NOTORIOUS DAUGHTER OF FANNY HILL (1966) was from producer Dave Friedman, and featured Stacey Walker and William Rotsler, and cinematography by the late, great László Kovács.

This will be the last ad for a while (but rest assured they'll be back later; I have thousands). Look for more surprises soon, I have some cool stuff planned.

THE YOUNG GRADUATES / SWINGING SUMMER

The New Forest Drive-in screened this double-feature in July, 1971. THE YOUNG GRADUATES (1971) was a Crown release starring Patricia Wymer; was released on VHS by Academy, but no DVD release. A SWINGIN' SUMMER (1965) was a beach party musical with Lori Williams, William Wellman Jr., and Raquel Welch; no official release, but available on the grey market.

WANDA (THE SADISTIC HYPNOTIST) / THE SKIN GAME

The Wak-Art screened this adult double-feature in January, 1969. WANDA (THE SADISTIC HYPNOTIST) (1969) was a weird sexploiter from Greg Corarito, featuring Lynn Harris and director Richard Compton. Not sure what the THE SKIN GAME is; anyone have any clues?

THE VELVET TRAP / THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE

Here's an amazing ad for a double-feature at the Center Drive-in, from February, 1968. THE VELVET TRAP (1966) was a Craddock Film release directed by Ken Kennedy; no known video release. THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE (1967) was an obscure Spanish/US comedy directed by Richard Rush and starring Tab Hunter; it had a video release on the Burbank label, but no DVD.