The Cool Ghoul, Jayme, and Dr. Vollin MD
For over 10 years Dr. Vollin, MD (aka Freddie Poe) has been sharing his monsterkid passion with fellow enthusiasts through his column, How to Collect a Monster, in Movie Collector's World magazine. All good things, as the saying goes, and MCW is one for posterity. But the good doctor still makes house calls and Zombos invited him over for a chat.
How did you come to write your long-running column, How to Collect a Monster, in MCW?
I was an English/Theater major back in my
college days. I did lots of stage acting and wrote my own plays, some of which
were produced here in Worchester, Massachussetts. I also wrote poetry, for
which I won contests, and got to read my poems at the Worchester Public
Library.
When I started re-collecting movie memorabilia
(I had an earlier collection in my teens), I was looking to write for some of
the monster magazines. I thought they were pay jobs, but soon found out most
genre writers do it for the love of it. The stuff I was writing was about
chasing down movie posters, the hunt, etc, so I didn’t really fit into Scary Monsters, Monsters From the Vault, and the others.
I hooked up via the Internet with PJ Angel of
Pocatello, Idaho, and we began my column “How to Collect a Monster from the
House of Poe” on PJ’s Planet Mopo movie poster site. About a year later I
submitted an article called “Universal Scream Queens” to Movie Collector’s World magazine. Brian Bukantis loved it and it
went to print in 2002 (or maybe it was 2003). Brian got such a great response
to it that he asked me for more. I already had stuff from Planet Mopo, so I
submitted more articles to MCW.
From there we just went monthly. I did the column from 2002 to 2012. Brian had me
take a few months off here and there so I wouldn’t burn out. Unfortunately I
ran into health problems and stopped writing in 2012. MCW continued another six months or so without me and then called
it quits in 2013. The magazine was certainly a staple to the hobby and will be
missed. Brian Bukantis sacrificed a huge slice of his life for that magazine.
He is a great man. He is my brother.
What are the high points that stand out for you from the many interviews you've conducted?
That’s a tough one. There have been so many.
Definitely hooking up with the great Harry Wise, Spook Show Master and Magician
Exraordinaire! Harry was my brother of another mother. Our relationship didn’t
end with the interview. We talked everyday for 5 years before he passed away, just
when I was on my way to Florida to finally meet him in person. It was a great
loss to me. Harry was like my Dad.
Another father figure for me, and a great
interview, was with local, forty year theater manager, Johnny “Dee” DiBenadetto.
The man was a plethora of movie knowledge. He rubbed elbows with all the big
names of the era (1940s to 1980s), including Jayne Mansfield (I have an 8 x 10
still of the interview).
And the Yvette Vickers interview led to a
long friendship with many a late night phone call until her horrible death a
few years ago. Ben “The Gillman” Chapman was another dear friend of mine. Benny
and I had a special relationship. He was my party buddy at conventions. I
really miss Benny.
Being invited to Carla Laemmle’s 100th
birthday party at the Egyptian Theater in LA was another unforgettable event.
At that time I also got invited to Ron Borst’s house to see the greatest
collection of monster movie memorabilia on the planet! Bar none!
Meeting Ray Bradbury was another high point. I said "Ray! want to see the real illustrated man?" and then I showed him my monster tats which include a portrait of Forry and the quote "sci-fi is my high," and Ray said "bless you my son". Imagine being blessed by the greatest sci fi writer of all time. I can take that one to my grave!
There are far too many highpoints in my ten
years with MCW to mention, but they
all hold a special place in my heart.
How did you become a monster kid?
This is an easy one. My mother was a movie
fanatic. She let me watch Frankenstein on Shock! Theater in 1959, on a Saturday
afternoon, and that did it. When it became an obsession for an impressionable
five year old like me, my mother called the family doctor (they made house
calls back then), who was her cousin, Dr. Arthur Haddad. Well, I found out he
was married to Laura Zacherle, John Zacherle’s sister! Yes, the Cool Ghoul
himself! Next time Dr. Haddad made a house call he brought me a Zacherley Fan
Club Kit, which included the passport to Transylvania, an item I’ve retained my
whole life (so far). From that point on I was a monster addict, buying Aurora
model kits, Famous Monsters, and
Spook Stories trading cards.
Another big influence, during my teen years,
was Blackie Seymour. A lot of people didn’t like Blackie and a lot did.
Nevertheless, the man was nice to me. He taught me the movie poster business,
not to mention all about Universal Studios. No one knew more about Universal
than Blackie. He passed away last year.
Tell us about your favorite horror movies and stars and why you like them.
Okay, here is the hard question I’ve been
asked a million times. Also, it’s one I can’t answer. But I will say this. Bela
Lugosi is my all time favorite. I especially like any films Lugosi did with
Karloff. They played off each other very well. It seemed so natural. I love The Black Cat, The Raven, and The Invisible
Ray. Murders in the Rue Morgue is
another Lugosi landmark. I like Dracula,
but I think the Spanish version of the same era is a better film technically
and certainly atmospherically. But Carlos Villarias is no Bela Lugosi, even if
Lupita Tovar states they were very much alike in their portrayal of Dracula.
She is wrong. Villarias couldn’t carry Lugosi’s cape!
I love The Wolf Man, King Kong, The Man Who
Laughs, Things to Come, The Mysterious Island (1928), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1932), and The Werewolf of London. One Karloff film that really stands out is
The Body Snatchers (1945). Most people would say Frankenstein was his greatest
role. I would beg to differ. And that’s all I have to say about it. LOL!
Aside from being a monster kid, you are also a boxer. Tell us about that.
Next to collecting monster stuff, boxing is
my other passion. My father was a top ranked boxer back in the 1940s and 1950s,
Johnny Potenti. He was such a devastating puncher that he was ducked by many
champions of the era. The only champion that ever gave him a shot was the
legendary Beau Jack. They fought in 1950 at Boston Garden, both well past their
primes and Beau Jack squeaked out a split decision; while some in attendance
said my father won.Beau Jack said in Ring
magazine that Potenti had the best left jab/hook he had ever faced.
I followed in my father’s footsteps, getting
into the ring at 10 years old. I had a pretty good amateur career in the “no
head guard era,” and had my last bout at 28. But I never turned pro. I was,
however, a professional sparring partner for the rest of my life. I just
stopped boxing at 56 on doctor’s orders. I can’t even go into a gym now because
I know I will get in the ring with men much younger than myself and bang it
out. Boxing is like a drug in my veins. If I go into a gym it won’t be long
before I put on the gear. So to be fair to my girlfriend and my family I have
stopped, but it appears the damage is already done.
What's the one question you would love to be asked and what's your answer?
Question:What do I love about my life now as opposed to my past?
Answer: As I’ve aged I have lost all my
anger. I was what I called a “hater.” I hated everything and everybody. I don’t
know what it was. Even when I was boxing I wanted to get hit and hit. I wanted
to kill my opponents, not defeat them. I took a lot of beatings I didn’t have
to take. I guess I had a lot of problems I didn’t know about. Every
relationship I had with girlfriends went bad. I fought with the police, and
every form of authority out there. I drank a lot and was always saying “I’m
sorry” to people. I think I hated myself more than anyone.
Now at 57, I have the best girlfriend any man
could ever hope for, two great kids from my only marriage (when I was 17), and
7 grandchildren; also two dogs (my best friends), and one cat that I took off
the street.
And finally, piece of mind: all the hatred is gone, and when I’m by myself I find
ME in good company.
