Welcome, all lovers of the mysterious and other-worldly! Welcome to my Radio Spot Reliquary.
In late 1977 a movie opened which captured the imaginations of all those who believe in UFOs and extraterrestrial life. The sci-fi magazines of the time immediately began to compare it to Star Wars but, in all fairness, it was a movie of a totally different kind. This movie, set on Earth, appealed more to the mind…offering many puzzling events which led to an astonishing conclusion. Visually it was satisfying and the effects were great, especially the mind-blowing finale. It remains a classic but didn’t lead to any spin-offs or sequels, aside from a director’s cut or two. So, keep watching the skies…they are watching us.
Mysterious lights in the sky! Strange happenings! Strange visions! The Devil’s Tower! Losing your mind! Government cover-up! The Mother ship! D-E-C-C-G! Contact! Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
Whew, is it hot! It is hotter than an overcooked vat of my Witch’s Brew!
I was just sitting here in my parlor when I received a phone call from the Radio Reaper. He was all in a tizzy:
“Granny,” he said, breathlessly, “have you seen Zombos’ recent posting? It is the pressbook for Dracula Has Risen From The Grave. I have some radio spots for it but I’m too busy to fix them up and send them to him. Can You do it?”
“Sure, Reaper,” I said. “I will be glad to. Send me the files and I’ll get right on it.”
He did and I did, and I must admit they were right up my alley. I wasn’t too familiar with the movie or the spots, but after hearing them, I was glad I got to write something about them.
They are not the usual radio spots I am used to hearing! If you have never heard them you are in for quite a treat. They are full of puns and I LOLed through most of them (that’s text jargon for those of you who do not know). I called up my grandson Big Abner and let him hear them and he LOLed, too.
Hee hee.
These spots are quite unlike anything I would have thought the Warner Bros./Seven Arts marketers for Hammer’s vampire movie would have resorted to so I had to look it up on Wikipedia to see if it was a spoof or a tongue-in-cheek feature. But, no, it was played in all seriousness…even rated “G”, which is surprising in itself. However, the one-sheet poster should have been a dead giveaway for the advertising tone. I didn’t read anything about what Hammer Films thought of the American campaign so I guess all was well, since it became Hammer’s most profitable movie (according to IMDb).
Reader reviews on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDb) mostly agree that it is one of the best in the Hammer series. I haven’t seen it so I can’t attest to that fact or add my opinion. It is the fourth of the series and was made in 1968.
So, here are the spots, courtesy of the Radio Reaper’s Reliquary. We hope you enjoy them and get a laugh or two from them. If nothing else, they have quite a bite….sorry…. Now, on with the pun-ishment!!
If you have radio spots you would like to share with Granny or just want to exchange spells, you can reach her at [email protected].
Welcome, all lovers of outer space adventures! Welcome to my Radio Spot Reliquary.
It was late May of 1977 when a relatively unknown movie opened in theaters and set off a chain reaction never before seen…a reaction that is still going strong almost fifty years later. Through sequels, comic books, books, cartoon series, and countless streaming spin-offs, the adventure continues to this day. Never has a handful of characters been so totally embraced by the cultures of the world as have these brave and gallant heroes battling seemingly overwhelming odds. Visually magnificent with groundbreaking visual effects, this motion picture set the standard for space operas to follow.
Radio-wise, the marketing campaign for this film never let up. The first five radio spots released were from May, 1977 and the next three were from mid-summer. The next fifteen story spots done in serial form were from its re-release in July, 1978 (shoot, at some theaters it was still playing as late as December, 1977!), and the last ten were from its re-release in 1979…”It’s Back!”
So, listen to the radio spots from the movie that started it all…a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The Force! Droids! Aliens! Heroes and a Princess! Jedis! Light Sabers! Star Destroyers! The Death Star! Star Wars!
Remember when professional critics’ reviews actually had a yay or nay power over movies? Here are radio spots highlighting the glowing reviews for Jaws, courtesy of Granny Creech and Radio Reaper.
Spielberg’s first big hit contained elements he repeated in many of his movies. A night sea hunt for the shark provides an early example of his favorite visual hallmark, a beam of light made visible by fog. He would continue to devote close attention to characters, instead of hurrying past them to the special effects, as so many 1990s f/x directors did. In “Jaws” and subsequently, he prefers mood to emotional bludgeoning, and one of the remarkable things about the picture is its relatively muted tone. The familiar musical theme by John Williams is not a shrieker, but low and insinuating. It’s often heard during point-of-view shots, at water level and below, that are another way Spielberg suggests the shark without showing it. The cinematography, by Bill Butler, is at pains to tell the story in the midst of middle-class America; if Spielberg’s favorite location would become the suburbs, “Jaws” shows suburbanites on vacation. (Roger Ebert,
Gary Fox and the Radio Reaper just can’t stay out of the water…
Since 2-D wasn’t enough to bring the terror close, Jaws 3-D made those shark chompers sharper for popcorn-loving audiences. Or, at least, that was the intention. Released in July of 1983, This “third dimension is terror” outing pumped up a soggy script with gory optics. Being a Jaws nut no matter what, I did watch this, with friends, in the theater. The 3-D glasses gave me a headache but I persevered. Besides, I loved Louis Gosset Jr. as much as Lea Thompson (I know, right!) and with a team of female water skiers, the Sea World park backdrop, and Brody’s son all growed-up to face a mother shark and her baby–with help from “plucky” dolphins, what’s not to love? Well…although they hired Richard Matheson (yeah, that guy) to turn in a top-notch script, some bright bulbs decided to revise it to his dislike. Of course, audiences (including me) ate it up anyway as much as the sharks ate up the people. To get the lowdown on Jaws 3-D, read Just When You Thought It Was Safe:A Jaws Companion by Patrick Jankiewicz. One tidbit I gleaned from the book: Because of the 3-D process, the original hope was to use it for a Creature From the Black Lagoon sequel, headed by director John Landis. Sid Sheinberg, head of MCA, saw the test and opted to do Jaws 3-D instead. Ouch.
The radio spots provided by Gary and Radio Reaper include the Advance Promo and Preview Trailer.
Once again the mysterious Radio Reaper strikes with radio spots from Jaws 2…
“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water” is the tagline we can never forget. While Jaws 2 may be the best of the sequels, given that it has Roy Scheider returning as Chief Brody, Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, and Murray Hamilton playing the mayor again, it began the sequelitus money-grab of the franchise. But who could resist? There is something about watching a huge shark chomping on people–especially teenagers–that riffs off what makes horror movies so appealing. This time the director, Jeannot-Szwarc, gets the credit after replacing the original director, John D. Hancock. Scheider returned to fulfill a contract obligation, but wasn’t too happy on set. Once again, the problems with salty water mixing with a mechanical shark led to delays and a ballooning budget expense. In spite of the director differences, script rewrites, and technical problems, Jaws 2 was another box office winner. (ScreenRant has something to say about it.)
The Fourth of July Weekend is coming, and you know what that means….
Welcome, all lovers of all things intense and terrifying! I’m the Radio Reaper. Welcome to my Radio Spot Reliquary.
It was back in the summer of 1975 when I saw a movie that scared me to death! I would never go swimming in the ocean again! Despite many production problems the movie went on to become one of the top grossing movies of all time and put the name Steven Spielberg on the map.
From the horrifying opening to the explosive climax, the terror doesn’t stop.
“May be too intense for younger children.” Hell, may be too intense for adults! Just listen to these exciting spots from 50 years ago!
Poor Chrissie! Poor little kid on the rubber raft! The bitten-off leg! You’re gonna need a bigger boat! Chief Brody! Quint! Hooper! Bruce the shark! JAWS!!!
Jaws Re-release Spot
ZC Note: Jaws was the original summer blockbuster, ushering a whole new terrortainment into the theaters. Who could enjoy the beach after that movie? While the fictional town of Amity Island was located off the coast of Long Island, the movie was actually filmed at Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Jaws was the first major movie to be filmed on open waters instead of studio water tanks, which caused numerous issues for Bruce, the mechanical shark. They had so much trouble with Bruce that, although Stephen Spielberg originally planned to show Bruce eating up more screen time, he relied instead on John Williams’ score to use music to drive the now unseen terror.
The town of Amity may have been fictional, but some of the details come from real events. Quint (Robert Shaw), the experienced shark hunter, was based on Frank Mundus, a shark fisherman from Montauk, New York. Benchley used Mundus’ experience catching a gigantic great white shark off of the New York coast as inspiration for writing Jaws in the ’70s. The story itself was also loosely based on the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, a time when five people fell victim within two weeks in early July. ScreenRant
Welcome, all lovers of all things weird and wonderful! Welcome to my Radio Spot Reliquary.
I was visiting with Granny Creech the other day when she noticed all the radio spots I had rearranged in my Reliquary and she wondered when I was going to start sharing them here on Zombos’ site. I told her I didn’t want to steal her thunder and, besides, I don’t have the way with words like she does. She chided me and told me that it would be OK. She said she concentrates on spots from the fifties and sixties, with a few later exceptional exceptions, and it would be cool for me to bring out those from the seventies and eighties. She said they were still good and fans would like to hear them. No detailed introductions would be needed just present them. So, I thought about it and decided that it could work. But I would need some help.
I’m no historian and I hate researching things, so I asked our old buddy Zombos if he would be able to help me. I aroused him from his usual stupor and, after much coercion and the promise of two cases of Guinness, he agreed to be my backup, filling in where I needed some help.
So, here is to the first of what promises to be a long series of classic newer radio spots, presented in no particular order, just however the mood strikes me. I’m sure you will enjoy them, as collecting them has been a labor of love for me. They are some of my favorite titles and I want you to hear them. …
The Mysterians is a very colorful movie, at least as far as scenes shot in their dome base.
Uncle Oscar called me the other day and invited me over to Witchwood Cemetery to see all the new spring flowers. The cemetery was in full bloom, he said, and presented a lovely sight.
I headed on over there and he was right. Bright colors were everywhere and presented a glorious picture. It was quite the contrast from the usual dreary and bland landscape the late fall and winter seasons presented. It was quite cheerful.
We walked around, enjoying the beauty and saying hello to old friends who were actively engaged in some much-needed spring cleaning. We made our way to the back part of the cemetery and came across The Radio Reaper’s large crypt. The Reaper greeted us as he swept out a large pile of trash.
“Greetings, Granny and Uncle Oscar,” he said. “How are you two? Beautiful day for cleaning out the cobwebs.”
“Yes it is,” I said. “What have you been up to?”
“Oh, just cleaning, rearranging, and sprucing up. In fact, I’m glad you came by. I found something you might be interested in,” he said.
He went into his crypt and soon reappeared, a large record in hand. …
We are finalizing plans! Me, Hester Grimple, Vespera Howler and Winifred Hawthorne enjoy a cup of my brew while discussing the decorations and activities for the Monster Bash. It’s going to be a scream!
Greetings, My Children!
Old Granny Creech here just bursting with excitement! Why? Because it’s Halloween week! Things have been very busy in Squirrel Hollow because we’ve all been getting ready for our annual Monster Bash at the Witchwood Cemetery late Halloween night. It promises to be the best ever as we have a lot of new residents eagerly waiting to join the festivities.
For this installment of radio spots, I’ve decided to feature 15 odds-and-ends that capture the wide spectrum of spooks and apparitions that will surely make an appearance at your house this Halloween evening to terrorize and torment you. I hope you appease them with some delectable treat of some sort, dead or…alive (hee hee). These spots are from my collection and that of the old cadaver himself, The Radio Reaper.
I’ll be back next week to see how you all survived and to give a report on the ghastly goings-on at the Bash. Oh…and by the way…you are invited if you dare to come and join in the fun after you’ve finished appeasing the little monsters that come to your door. The party starts at midnight. Just wear your favorite disguise or, if you are scary enough, just come as you are. We all will be there. There will be lots to do and goodies to eat. Plus, lots of my Witch’s Brew to go around!
I hope to see you there! Bring a date, if you can dig one up. And, remember: “Don’t spook until you’re spooken too!” Beware!
Happy Halloween!!
4D Man, Circus of Horrors, The Blob and Dinosaurus Radio Spots
The Creeping Flesh, The Green Slime, The Haunted Strangler, The Thing From Another World, Thirteen Ghosts (Lobby Spot) Radio Spots
Old Crazy Gary here again…Granny is still taking care of her ailing mother but she hopes to be back here soon.
I was just sitting around the other night reading my newest book when I decided to take a break and snoop through Granny’s computer to see what she has in store for the coming weeks. Wow! What a line-up! Anyways, I saw a folder titled The Radio Reaper and I decided to take a peek inside. I know he has been supplying Granny with a bunch of neat stuff, but I wanted to see what all else was in there. Oh boy! I spent the rest of the night going through over 2000 spots of all kinds from all genres. I had a ball.
I heard spots from horror and science fiction movies I was familiar with and some I was not. I wrote down the names of the ones I thought were especially good and thought you should hear them. These are crazy good and have received the “Five Thumbs-up Crazy Gary Approval Rating”.
Granny would more than likely never feature these because they are not from the 1950-63 time frame she specializes in but they are too good to pass up. They will make you shudder; they will make you scream; they will make you want to see them; they are that good.
So listen, if you dare, to these tidbits from The Radio Reaper’s Reliquary. They will haunt you forever!
13 Terror Radio Spots for Alligator, Crocodile, Midnight, The Bat People, The Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Legend of Spider Forest, The Projected Man, and The Twilight People.
Crazy Gary here, filling in for the ever vivacious and witty Granny Creech. I am her much-loved nephew and I work in the Dead Letter Office at the post office in Squirrel Hollow.
Granny’s mother, Hattie Jones, suffered a stroke recently and is in the intensive care unit in the hospital in Geyser Springs. Granny went to be with her. Before she left, she told me to carry on her weekly radio spot column, and I agreed, hesitatingly of course, because I don’t have the way with words Granny does nor her knowledge. I told her I would do the best I could. She patted me on the head and said I would do okay. I just wish she hadn’t had that hammer in her hand when she did it. Ha Ha. Just kidding.
Granny gave me a tentative list of the spots she wanted me to cover, and there are some good ones, believe you me. I just hope she gets back in time to do them justice. Until then, though, I will do the best I can.
Today we will feature radio spots for a movie I have never seen. It’s a 1949 comedy murder-mystery feature from Universal International called Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff.
Now I’ve seen several Abbott and Costello movies in the past, but this one has always escaped me. My favorite, of course, is Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Isn’t it everybody’s?!), a classic in every way. I had to look up the synopsis for this one on Wikipedia to see what it was all about and it sounds very confusing…a typical ‘who-dunnit’ with lots of suspects and the patsy, of course, being poor old Lou Costello. The odd part about all of this is the title of the movie. From the synopsis I see that the killer isn’t Boris Karloff at all, and why he is billed as such is a mystery to me. Even the radio spots can’t decide the proper name for the film, announcing it in some cuts as Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer. It must have been a ploy by the marketing department to capitalize on Karloff’s reputation and drawing power.
The spots are some of the oldest Granny has, and she said to thank The Radio Reaper. He dug deep into his reliquary to provide these. An audio rarity to be sure…
So, as Granny would say, sit back and enjoy these spots from 1949, and give a toast to The Radio Reaper the next time you meet with friends to enjoy cups of Granny’s witch’s brew.
I’ll see you next time…
15, 30, and 60 second radio spots
Do you have any radio spots you would like to share? Contact Gary (Granny’s nephew) at [email protected].
