The One With All of the Movie Stuff

Not a whole lot went on last week, other than the fact that I spent the weekend at the Noir City Film Festival at the Redford Theatre. The weekend featured eight classic noir films introduced by Film Noir Festival president and host of The Movie Chanel’s Noir Alley Eddie Muller. The films included Out of the Past (1947), Detour (1945), The Narrow Margin (1952), Kiss of Death (1947), Ace in the Hole (1951), Scarlet Street (1945), The Set-Up (1949), and River Street (1953). My favorites of the bunch were probably The Narrow Margin and Out of the Past, but Ace in the Hole is the one which will stick with me. That one really bothered me.

Muller was charming and informative. I got to speak with him a couple of times and have him autograph my books. There was also a bar serving drinks from his Eddie Muller’s Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir and a reception on Saturday with home baked treats. All in all it was a great time, but my butt is still a little sore from watching eight movies over three days.

My other big task was the start of two new meads. I ran over to the local apple orchard and picked up some apples and cider (and donuts of course). I’m making two cysers (apple meads), one with apple juice and the other with cider (or cloudy juice if you are from outside of the States). Everything else is the same, so this is a bit of an experiment.

Listening To: Queen by Nick Cutter, a tale of lost friendship, growing up, and genetically engineered insects and You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace, a brilliantly twisty and funny story told from the viewpoint of a serial killer. I did not see the twist at the end coming.

Currently Reading: I’m savoring Watching Evil Dead by Josh Mallerman

Current Obsession: Noir films, obviously. I kind of want to do a watch list of modern movies with the same kind of feel, but I don’t know if I will have time before October rolls in. I think I will try to squeeze in Against All Odds (1984), which is an adaptation of the novel Build My Gallows High by Daniel Mainwaring, the book which Out of the Past was based upon. It also features two actors from Out of the Past: Jane Greer and Paul Valentine.

We are still working on the last publications of the year. Look for more information in a couple of days.

We added another appearance to our calendar: the Mistletoe Market at REOTOWN Marketplace in Lansing, MI. While the marketplace runs for a number of weekends, we will be there in coordination with their Krampus appearance on 14 December.

Speaking of appearances, we will be vending at Fantasticon this weekend (27 and 28 Sept) at the Oakland Expo Center in Waterford, MI. The show runs from 11:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and 11:00 to 17:00 on Sunday. Also in attendance will be DRP author Peggy Christie.

After that look for Michael at the 12 Hour Horror Movie Invasion at the Historic Howell Theatre 4 October, 11:00 to 23:00, the Local Author Showcase at the Brighton District Library 5 October, 14:00 to 16:00, and Dragon’s Roost Press at the Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair at the Creative Cafe in Flint 18 October, 12:00 - 15:00, and the A2 Community Bookfest at the Downtown Ann Arbor library 9 November, 10:00 to 17:00.

Most importantly, we will once again be at VFW Post 9222 in Berkley, MI on 1 November for the 18th Annual Monster Mash for Literacy Bash. Come and hang out with the members of the Great Lakes Association for an evening of music, dancing, food, raffles, costume contest, and a cash bar.

After a lot of consideration, it looks like we will be switching over to Behiiv. More information on that move soon.

I thought about devoting this week’s Ramble to the attacks on free speech, health, and the environment that have all happened in the last week, but there is only so much that my blood pressure medication can deal with. Instead, here is a link to a timer which counts down to the end of the current presidential term:

End of Trump’s Presidency

Instead, here is a list of some of the upcoming horror related events that are happening in the Motor City area over the next two months. This does not include any of the haunted attractions, many of which are already open for the season.

9:30 pm Army of Darkness (1992) Michigan Theater

8 pm Festival of Darkness, Redford Theatre

8 pm Vampire Zombies…From Space! (2004) Senate Theater

9:30 pm Army of Darkness (1992) Michigan Theater

7 pm Ghostbusters (1984) with Shadowcast, Redford Theatre

9:30 pm Saw (2004) Michigan Theater

11 am - 11:30 pm 12 Hour Horror Movie Invasion Historic Howell Theatre

3 pm Frankenweenie (1984) and Frankenweenie (2012) Senate Theater

7 pm Ghostbusters (1984) with Shadowcast, Redford Theatre

2 pm Local Author Showcase Brighton Library

5 pm The Michigan Theater Community Club — Elevator of Horror (discussion of elevated horror interactive event — Free Admission) Hear.Say Brewing

7 pm Mars Attacks (1996) Historic Howell Theatre

7:30 pm Vampyr (1932) Michigan Theater

7 pm The Devil’s Rejects (1995) 20th Anniversary, Historic Howell Theatre

8 pm The Omen (1976) Michigan Theater

8 pm Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Redford Theatre

9:30 pm A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Michigan Theater

2 pm Monster Squad (1987) Redford Theatre

8 pm Candyman (1992) Redford Theatre

8 pm The Cabniet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Senate Theater

8 pm The Omen Michigan Theater

8 pm Young Frankenstein (1974) — 35 mm print Redford Theatre

9:30 pm It Follows (2014) Michigan Theater

10 am - 4 pm Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair, Creative Cafe

2 pm Mark of the Vampire (1935) Sir Graves Ghastly Tribute Redford Theatre

6 pm Clawson Trick or Trail, Clawson City Park

8 pm Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) Sir Graves Ghastly Tribute Redford Theatre

8 pm Fankenstein (1910) and Frankenstein (1931) Senate Theater

4:30 pm Shaun of the Dead (2004) Michigan Theater (Double Feature with Day of the Dead)

7 pm Day of the Dead (1985) Michigan Theater (Double Feature with Shaun of the Dead)

7:30 pm Suspiria (1977) Michigan Theater

8 pm Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) Michigan Theater

8 pm The Cat and the Canary (1927) Redford Theatre

9:30 pm The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Featuring shadowcast by The Leather Medusas, Michigan Theater

2 pm Edward Scissorhands (1990) Redford Theatre

6 pm Suspiria (1974) Senate Theater

8 pm Shaun of the Dead (2004) Redford Theatre

9:30 pm The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Featuring shadowcast by The Leather Medusas, Michigan Theater

6 pm Nosferatu (1922) Featuring live organ accompaniment Michigan Theater

8pm Carnival of Souls (1962) Michigan Theater

8 pm The Evil Dead (1981) Redford Theatre

9:30 Night of the Living Dead (1968) Michigan Theater

8 pm - midnight 18th Annual Monster Mash for Literacy Bash, VFW Post 9222

8 pm Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (2004) Redford Theatre

8 pm Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980) Senate Theater

8 pm The Rocky Horror Show Live Redford Theatre

8 pm The Rocky Horror Show Live Redford Theatre

6 pm The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Senate Theater