freakboy on film: BLOOD (or how I stalked the ghost of Andy Milligan)

Do you really believe that the startling lack of Andy Milligan in this year’s posts means I’m no longer obsessively re-watching his surviving films and having fever-wet daydreams about finding his lost ones? 

WRONG!

The proof of how deep my Milligan obsession goes can be found in my New England Adventure.  When Dave of My Gay Opinion invited me to Connecticut so we could meet a beloved singer/actress at the Rhode Island Comic-Con, he suggested a visit to New York City.  I immediately said yes to The Big Apple, obvi, and started to think of things I wanted to experience there.  The second thing I thought of was visiting a film location for FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET in Staten Island.  I simply had to see where Andy Milligan lived in the early 1970’s and check out the street corner where the ending of FLESHPOT comes out of nowhere.

Who cares about the Statue of Liberty when there’s Andy Milligan?

After a ferry ride to Staten Island, an Uber and some confusion over which house was which, Dave figured out the location of 149 Corson Ave.  This is where Andy Milligan lived during the production of my favorite of his films. . 

I think this is Andy’s house.

In FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET, Andy’s house is where Bob (Harry Reems) lived and where the up and coming lawyer was hoping to have a future with hustler Dusty Cole (Laura Cannon ).  

Where a porn star legend died!

Down the street, at the corner of Corson and Westervelt Ave, is where (SPOILER ALERT) Bob is hit by a car, sending Dusty to huddle in a nearby stairwell before going back to being a hustler on 42nd Street. 

Sadly, I didn’t stay in New York City to live out my 42nd Street Hustler dreams

I know I only heard of Andy Milligan 4 years ago, but it was beyond amazing to walk the same sidewalks and streets of the grindhouse auteur.  While I can’t say I felt his spirit, I did feel high on the knowledge that Andy had been there.  

Did Andy Milligan traverse the treacherous Staten Island sidewalks?

He also used 149 Corson Ave. as the primary location for a film I don’t love as much as FLESHPOT, but it has its charms… 

I regret I didn’t trespass closer.

BLOOD (1973) 

Dr. Lawrence Orlovsky has found the perfect temporary home for his seemingly sickly wife Regina and his scientific experiments until he can deal with his crooked lawyer and move back to his father’s estate, but keep an eye out for the full moon.  The Staten Island structure will also be perfect for legless servant Orlando to wheel around in, just don’t ask him to go upstairs.  Orlando’s wife Carrie assists Lawrence in his experiments, despite a bum leg, which is a result of meddling with science.  Carlotta, the third servant, performs menial tasks and donates her blood to feed the man-eating plants in the cellar.  The man-eating plants are a key ingredient in a weekly injection to keep Regina alive. 

Who’s a pretty vampire?

It’s an Andy Milligan horror film, so there’s over the top drama, romance of sorts, side characters and plots that come and go, multiple murders and hints of incest.  Also, in case you haven’t figured it out, Lawrence is the son of the Wolf Man and Regina is the daughter of Dracula.  This supernatural pairing almost makes BLOOD Andy Milligan’s take on DARK SHADOWS.  The story is soapy enough, but it never quite reaches the sublime gothic atmosphere of the classic daytime drama. 

Not Barnabas and Quentin.

The acting is decent enough for this kind of film, but I want to give a special shout out to Hope Stansbury.  As with her role in THE RATS ARE COMING! THE WEREWOLVES ARE HERE! (1972), Ms. Stansbury brings a memorably off-kilter screen presence as Regina Orlovsky.  You’d swear the actress is on the brink of actually snapping and murdering her costars!  Tragically, her two other Milligan appearances, THE DEGENERATES and DEPRAVED! (both 1967), are lost films.  When checking her IMDb page, it appears Hope appeared as part of an “Off Broadway Family” in FOR LOVE OF IVY (1968) starring Sidney Poitier, which I am now very curious to see.  Also of note, Ms. Stansbury wrote Andy Milligan’s first film VAPORS (1965). 

Regina…Fashion Icon!

In conclusion… It’s funny.  As much as I love John Waters and would get a kick out of visiting Baltimore, Maryland, visiting Andy Milligan’s neighborhood in Staten Island felt more exciting and profound.  Maybe I feel a deeper connection to Andy’s often corrosively cynical celluloid views of life or maybe I’m just sick in the head.  I mean, I still find much to enjoy in BLOOD even though it’s probably one of his lesser films.  So, if you’re sick like me, fully embrace your Andy Milligan obsession and watch BLOOD while mentally planning to stalk his ghost again.  Hey, it shall be a most noble Holy Crusade to visit the church of GURU THE MAD MONK!  

Freak Out, 

JLH

P.S. The last Andy Milligan film I blogged about was his very last film…

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If you enjoy a good soap opera…

Persistent Resistant Fog (March 2020 in Hindsight)

What can I say about March? 

I'm not sure if it came in like a lion or a lamb and I'm even more confused by how it's going out.  I got some blogging in and one video out before COVID-19 had a direct effect on my life.  No, it still hasn't reached my town.  Yes, there are others with more reason to worry, complain and generally hate everything going on right now.   Yes, I'm thankful my state and town are not on lockdown...yet. 

🌽Praise be He Who Walks Behind the Rows!🌽 

The library closed its doors until further notice on the 17th.  This has altered the way I can stay in touch with my online life.  I've become a ghost online, with the exception of Twitter.  I also haven't been blogging since and I'm behind at listening to blogposts from others.

I was going to blog about my thoughts on the original DARK SHADOWS series, but didn't feel like it and putting a post together on my tablet is different than on the library computer.  Especially an elaborate post with lots of photos, captions and colors.  Plus, to post any blog , I will have to sit outside the library, so weather is a factor.  Don't even get me started on whether or not I'll be able to put together The Collective Eye for April.  

I will say this...

My sister and I finished 5 years of daytime television in 7 months.  It was exciting and fun and I recommend DARK SHADOWS now that we all have extra time on our hands. 

In conclusion, March hasn't been the worst month ever, but it has been full of confusion and uncertainty.  While I haven't blogged much during the last half of the month, I have been writing.  This has been more for myself than anyone else.  My words may eventually end up here or maybe not.  Right now writing is just a coping mechanism.  

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words and I'm going to try to keep on blogging in April.  Well, unless my town goes into lockdown. 

(Don't)

Freak Out, 

JLH 

P.S. My latest video may be infectious...

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The Collective Eye Archive for books, blogs & so much more...

https://thejlhcollective.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-collective-eye-archive.html 

Leap Day Nutter List (February 2020 in Hindsight)

My February in a nutshell...

I predominately poured my creative juices into this blog, which was extremely satisfying. 

I had my annual (dystopian-future sounding) wellness check and the doc said I'm as healthy as a horse, but tragically refrained from calling me a stallion.

I didn't make as much progress on A STUDY IN ORANGE as I had hoped, but that's ok. 

I tasted the delicious difference in French chocolate, but a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup still makes me weak at the knees. 

I think I'm finally coming to terms with, and more fully enjoying, listening to my tablet read e-books to me, but it will never be the same as reading with my own eyes. 

I will probably spend my extra day in February posting this list and continuing to watch DARK SHADOWS.  My sister and I are on the final stretch of the gothic soap with less than 200 episodes to go.

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words this month.   

Will my March blogging come in like a lamb or a lion?  We shall half-see. ;) 

Freak Out, 

JLH 

P.S. In case you missed my Valentine's Day video, which wasn't quite what I originally planned.  (Those little candy hearts did not want to be crushed!) 

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There will be a new Collective Eye opening soon!

👁

http://thejlhcollective.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-collective-eye.html 

Dance Your Cares Away (An Ode to Pansy Faye)

Oh Pansy 

Dear Pansy 

Here you are 

A shining star 

Making my world gay 

Oh Pansy 

Sweet Pansy 

Tell my fortune 

Sing a tune 

Dancing my cares away 

Oh Pansy 

Dead Pansy 

Time has gone 

Songs carry on 

Echoing through my day 

(This poem was inspired by the tragically short-lived character of Pansy Faye from DARK SHADOWS) 

Thank you for reading  or listening to my half-blind words. 

Freak Out, 

JLH 

P.S. A different poem about a different TV series...

https://freakboyzone.blogspot.com/2013/12/twas-whovian-night-before-christmas.html 

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My books & blogs... 

http://thejlhcollective.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-collective.html

channel freakboy: DARK SHADOWS ("Door to the Infinite" Edition)

My sister and I have been watching DARK SHADOWS, the classic gothic daytime soap opera which ran on ABC from 1966-1971.  She had seen all of it before and I had seen most of it.  We are a little over halfway done with the approximately 1,245 episodes and have been seriously enjoying the atmospheric visit to Collinsport, Maine.  It all started with a young woman arriving to be a governess to a disturbed boy at  Collinwood mansion, but it wasn't long before supernatural elements began to manifest.  The most notable of these, of course, is the vampire Barnabas Collins.

For the record, we are not watching for the series' allegedly camp qualities.  My sister and I are so emotionally absorbed in the characters and storylines, that we don't see the so-called cheap special effects.  It also helps that we keep in mind that TV studios didn't allocate a huge budget to daytime dramas, and still don't.  From Josette's first spectral appearance to Laura Collins' flammable Phoenix exit to Barnabas standing at the door to the Infinite, DARK SHADOWS has managed to create effective, edge of your seat moments within its limited budget.  The latter is why I'm writing this. 

It's early 1969 and the Collins clan has abandoned Collinwood due to the extremely malevolent spirit of Quentin Collins, who has possessed young David.  The family takes refuge at the Old House, which was their original ancestral home and is also where Barnabas is residing.  Barnabas, who is currently not a vampire (long story), decides to confront the spirit of Quentin and save David by using the ancient Chinese divination practice of I Ching.  In a trance, Barnabas' spirit must pass through the Door to the Infinite to face Quentin on an equal astral plane.  Fate has other plans for Barnabas because the door leads him to 1897, where he essentially Quantum Leaps into his vampire body.  This is where an extended time travel storyline begins and so far the events are thrilling! 

However, it is that moment when Barnabas is standing before the Door to the Infinite which impressed and fascinated me.  It's such a simple scene that would probably be CGI nowadays. Back in 1969, the incredible manual  lighting trick gives the moment a beautiful and unearthly quality.  The screenshot I took appears even more beautiful and haunting because it looks like an artist's rendering of the scene.  It challenges the viewer to imagine what might wait for them beyond the Door to the Infinite.  An eye exam chair would probably be there to ensnare me.  For Barnabas Collins, a chained up coffin awaited him because, human or not, he will never fully escape the vampiric curse.  Also because that's where his vampire body could be found in 1897.  To find out how Barnabas escapes the confines of his coffin, you can watch on Amazon Prime!  

Perhaps I'll blog more about Dark Shadows when my sister and I have finished the series, which might be in March or April.  Until then...

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words and have a productive 2020. 

Freak Out, 

JLH 

P.S.  My television posts were once called The TV Freak and here is one of those...

https://freakboyzone.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-tv-freak-returns-revivals.html 

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DARK EXCURSIONS is a post-modern gothic romance.

With its intriguing twists and turns, this novel is sure to entertain the soap opera fan in your life...

https://thejlhcollective.blogspot.com/2018/03/dark-excursions-complete-set.html  

A plop in the bucket...

I've never made a bucket list.  Partly because my morbid mind already thinks enough about my untimely demise.  Mostly because I never saw the point of writing out a list of experiences I'll never be able to afford to achieve unless some unknown rich relative kindly kicks the bucket and leaves me a fortune.  With my luck and German ancestry, I would probably discover that the fortune had been suspiciously amassed during World War II, leaving me racked with guilt.

Yet, here I am making a bucket list anyway.  A slightly realistic bucket list, which is why it's short.  I'm either in a masochistic mood or I'm just trying to fulfill one of my September writing goals. (Write at least one blogpost) 

a freakboy's bucket list 

1.  Finish writing A STUDY IN ORANGE  

To continue working on my lurid mystery-romance is another of my September writing goals, but finishing it may take a bit longer. 

2.  Finish watching DARK SHADOWS (1966-1971)

My sister and I recently started watching the original gothic soap opera from the very beginning.  She has seen it all before and I have seen a fair chunk.  With well over 1,000 episodes, this may take a little while. 

3.  Listen to the audiobook of AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Theodore Dreiser (1925)

I always meant to read this epic-length novel a second time, but fate has left me with this less than ideal option.  I'm pretty sure a copy is available to borrow from Nebraska Library Overdrive, so I just need to stop hesitating and take the plunge.

4.  See ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968) in the theater

To experience my favorite film on the big screen would be electric!  It would also require either time travel or for my local theater to suddenly start showing classic films.  In other words, this is the least realistic item here.

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind bucket list.

Freak Out, 

JLH 

P.S. Another of my September writing goals is to sell at least one book or ebook.  So, in case you've enjoyed this post and crave more of my words...

DARK EXCURSIONS

Post-Modern Gothic Soap Opera Romance-Drama 

DARKENING STURGEONS 

Modern take on 1950's science fiction/horror films 

VISION BENT 

Visually-impaired autobiographical poetry

viewAuthor.at/JohnLHarmon