ALLIGATOR MAN by Dave Goode

 

Frank Merrill ( born Otto Adolph Poll ) was the 5th actor to portray Edgar Rice Burroughs literary hero Tarzan of The Apes. He had doubled for the original screen Tarzan , Elmo Lincoln , in the serial The Adventures Of Tarzan ( 1921 ). Later he was cast as Tarzan in Tarzan The Mighty ( 1928 ) and Tarzan The Tiger (1929 ). The latter movie was partially filmed in sound. And Merrill became the first screen Tarzan to deliver the victory cry of the Great Apes. Merrill had been a national gymnastic champion specializing in the Roman rings , high bar and rope climbing. Famously Merrill was a runner - up to legendary bodybuilder Charles Atlas for the title of " The World's Most Perfectly Developed Man ". At 6 ' tall he was a bit taller than your average gymnast. And he had a 44 inch chest , 16 and a half inch bicep , 14 inch forearm , 22 inch thigh with 15 inch calves at a bodyweight of 185 pounds.

 

I first learned of Merrill when DC Comics began publishing a Tarzan comic book in the 70s. In the early issues there were features on the Tarzan movies. One of these had a brief bio of Merrill that said after his career playing the Lord of the Jungle was over he performed exhibitions wrestling alligators. I however never saw any reference to this second career anywhere else. But it got me to thinking about the idea of an alligator wrestler playing the role of a Tarzan - like jungle hero.

My buddy Vance Capley and I were talking on the phone the other day about introducing a character for an upcoming GOLDEN ADONIS comic we've been working on. Here's a first look of Amos Moses , The Alligator Man.

 

Love the comic cover below? You can grab this image on a t-shirt, poster, mask, sticker, magnet, etc: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/12959303-alligator-man?store_id=140005

 

 

 

ILSA , QUEEN OF THE GRIND HOUSE by Dave Goode

If you're a fan of  " men's sweat mags " then you might also be a fan of the Ilsa movie series starring Dyanne Thorne. ILSA SHE - WOLF OF THE SS (1975 ) , ILSA , HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHIEKS ( 1976 ) and ILSA TIGRESS OF SIBERIA (1977 ). There was a fourth flick ILSA THE WICKED WARDEN ( 1977 ). But that was originally a movie titled GRETA THE WICKED WARDEN about another psychotic dominitrix. The title was obviously changed to capitalize on the success of the Ilsa movies.

Born Dorothy Ann Seib in Park Ridge , New Jersey Dyanne Thorne began her show biz career as a band vocalist and stage actress in New York. She appeared on comedy albums with Allen & Rossi , ,Loman & Barkley and Vaughn Meader. She would appear on a number of television variety  shows and television series. To fans of the original STAR TREK she is " Girl No. 1 " on the classic episode A Piece Of The Action. Her buxom figure would lead to roles in grind house  movie like SIN IN THE SUBURBS ( 1964 ) and nudie - cuties like THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO ( 1971 ). And then in 1975 she would take on the role that would lead her to cult stardom.

Ms. Thorne standing 5' 7" 123 lb. ( 37 - 22 -35 ) figure looked like the embodiment of the Nazi she - devils that tortured captured American soldiers on the covers  of men's adventure mags in the 60s.

It got me to thinking that she would have been the perfect foil for Steve Holland and Eva Lynd in one of those alternate universe war movies I keep imaging that duo starring in.

SON OF STONE by Dave Goode

 

Cowboys and Dinosaurs are cool. And have appeared in comic books and movies like THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN ( 1956 ) and THE VALLEY OF GWANGI ( 1969 ). But still cooler were Indians and Dinosaurs. Specifically the heroes of the comic book feature Turok , Son of Stone from Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics.

The feature first appeared in Four Color Comics No. 596 ( Oct. - Nov. 1954 ). The second appearance  would be a year later in Four Color Comics No.656 ( Oct. 1955 ) before receiving it's own title Turok , Son of Stone No. 3 ( March - May 1956 ). The comic followed the adventures of Turok and his younger brother Andar. These two pre - Columbian Native Americans find themselves lost in one of those isolated lost valleys populated by dinosaurs and cave people. A standard comic book and B - Movie cliches. The concept was reportedly inspired by writer Gaylord Du Bois visits to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.

More than once I've imagined Jay Silverheels ( 1912 - 1980 ) starring in a movie adaptation of Turok , Son of Stone. The Canadian - Mohawk was born Harold J. Smith on the Six Nations of The Grand River the grandson of Mohawk Chief A. G. Smith. An outstanding lacrosse player Silverheels was best known as portraying the Lone Ranger's faithful Indian companion Tonto on television and in the movies.

Of course the other star of any Turok movie would be the head of the special effects department. And in my 1950s Turok , Son of Stone that would be the Wizard of Dynamation Ray Haryhausen.

THE GREATEST TAG-TEAM MATCH IN MEXILUCHAHERO MOVIE HISTORY by Dave Goode

Of Universal's classic monsters my favorite was the Wolf Man. Lon Chaney Jr. starred in a series of films during the 1940s beginning with The Wolf Man (1941). This was followed by Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943), House Of Frankenstein (1944), House Of Dracula (1945), and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). These films have come to be known as the "Larry Talbot Saga".

There was also a novel by Jeff Rovin titled Return Of The Wolf Man that continued Talbot's story. It begins where Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein left off. And if you're a fan of classic horror movies I can't recommend this book enough.

Werewolves are also popular in Mexico's Cinema of the Psychotronic. No where so much as in flicks featuring Mexiluchaheroes. Blue Demon's first starring role was in Blue Demon, El Blue Demonia (1965). It featured the blue-masked luchador battling a scientifically created wolf man. Blue Demon would take on another werewolf in Santo & Blue Demon vs. Dracula & The Wolf Man (1972).

Santo y Blue Demon contra Dracula el Hombre Lobo directed by Miguel Mi Delgado from ascreenplay by Alfredo Salazar is a favorite of fans of the genre. Largely because it's one of the few team - ups where Blue Demon isn't playing second fiddle to a steel guitar. In this one the two anonymous adventurers stand on equal ground. The same can't be said of the relationship between Dracula (Aldo Monti) and Rufus Rex, the Wolf Man (Augustin Martinez Solares). It reminds me of the one between Armand Telsa (Bela Lugosi) and Andreas Orby (Matt Willis) in Return Of The Vampire (1944). With the wolf man as the vampire's slave.

There's plenty of action in this flick. Especially between Blue Demon and the Wolf Man in the movie's climax. But the best remembered scene is the one where the two masked heroes, dressed like the Men from U.N.C.L.E., play a game of chess while standing guard over the movie's heroines.

For this week's blog my buddy Vance Capley and myself did a Mr. Incognito mash-up page featuring some characters that may be recognizable to fans of Universal Studio's movies of the 1940s.

Dig the art?
Then get it on a t-shirt, cup, magnet, and more:
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KENT TO THE RESCUE by Dave Goode

 

One of the cool things about growing up in the Silver Age was that you not only had Superman comic books. But you had reruns of The Adventures of Superman starring the great George Reeves. One  of my favorite episodes was JUNGLE DEVIL from the second season. The episode written by Peter Dixon and directed by Thomas Carr featured your standard B - Jungle Movie plot with intrepid heroes in search of a lost scientific expedition in a hostile jungle. In this case it was Daily Planet reporters Clark Kent ( George Reeves ) , Lois Lane ( Noel Neill ) and Jimmy Olsen ( Jack Larson ). And it's one of those episodes that shows just how cool George Reeves as Clark Kent was. Sure Superman gets to fight the " jungle devil " of the title. A runaway gorilla played by veteran ape - suit actor Steve Calvert. But Kent also gets all the best lines and scenes. 

It was also in this episode that Superman performs a super stunt that has became a major part of the Superman mythos since Action Comics No.115 ( Dec. 1947 ) where the Man of Steel squeezes a piece of coal into a diamond. I can say without hesitation that this is the first place that I saw this trick performed. Also in the cast of this episode are Damain O'Flynn as Dr. Ralph Harper and Doris Singleton as his wife Gloria. If you are a fan of 50s television than you'll recognize Doris Singleton as Caroline Appleby , the Ricardo's neighbor on I Love Lucy. Specifically from the episode where George Reeves appears as Superman.

 

During my 20s and 30s I had this recurring dream of riding the subway to a comic book shop in Brooklyn where they sold rare old comics that you could only dream of. One of those comics that I remembered most vividly was a Sheena Of The Jungle comic that featured photo covers of Irish Mc Calla in a leopard bikini. Sort of like the Dell Comics Tarzan comics with photo covers of Lex Barker and Gordon Scott. The other was an Adventures of Superman comic that was based on the Superman from the television series. With the characters drawn to resemble the actors who portrayed them on the series. Plus you got stories featuring alien invasions and monsters created by mad scientists. Indeed the stuff that dreams are made of.

 

 

From the fertile imagination of super-creator Dave Goode and the super-pen of Vance Capley comes this retro comic cover...

Do remember when our hero met Lucy? We do! Artist Vance Capley goes wild on this design now available at https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/2450490-my-hero-2018?store_id=140005

I KIND OF LIKED THE ORIGINAL COSTUME by Dave Goode

 

I've always been a fan of comic book heroes who didn't posses " powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man ". I found inspiration in costumed athletes like Daredevil from Marvel Comics. Especially from Daredevil. His origin got this former underweight asthmatic exercising. Which led me to lettering in three sports in high school. And making a couple of All - City teams in both track & field and wrestling.

 

Today , as a fan of masked wrestler movies I get a chuckle out of how when Daredevil first confronts the villain's hired thugs in Daredevil No. 1 ( April 1964 ) they mistake him for a costumed wrestler.  

 

 

 

 

The thing is the Man Without Fear's original costume resembled the one worn by acrobat / aerialist Jules Le'otard. Le'otard was the inspiration for the popular 19th century song The Flying Trapeze a.k.a The Man On The Flying Trapeze. And oh yes the leotard was named after him.

After taking over the art chores in Daredevil with issue number five , Wally Wood would redesign Daredevil's costume in Daredevil No.7 ( April 1965 ). This would be the iconic costume that the Man Without Fear wears to this day. But I kind of like the original costume. I'm not saying I prefer it. But it is after all something a circus acrobat , or if you will a daredevil , would wear.

 AND NOW ANOTHER AMAZING ADVENTURE OF MR. INCOGNITO!

THE PEPLUM QUEEN by Dave Goode

 

No other movie genre featured as many exotically beautiful women as the sinew & sandal genre. If you "like movies about gladiators" then you might be watching them for the various queens, princesses, high priestesses, and slave girls.

There was Sylva Koscina, Sylvia Lopez, Giana Maria Canale, and Wandisa Guisa. Bella Cortez, Jose Greci, Moira Orfei, and her cousin Liana Orfei. And of course there was the incomparable Chelo Alonso (1933-2019).

Born Isabella Apolonia Hernandez she joined Cuba's National Theatre in Havana at 17. She would be dubbed the Cuban H-Bomb by the European press when she became a featured performer at Paris' famed Follies Bergere.

 

 

 

 

 

She would rise to movie stardom as a dancing girl in the movie SHEBA AND THE GLADIATOR (1959) starring Anita Ekberg and Georges Marchal. Oddly enough this was not a "gladiator movie". Not so oddly La Alonso's dance scene steals the picture from star Anita Ekberg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her best known films from the sinew & sandal genre were GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959), SON OF SAMSON (1960), and ATLAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS (1961). She would also appear with Steve Reeves in the swashbuckler MORGAN THE PIRATE (1960). All of these flicks save ATLAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS featured an exotic dance number by La Alonso.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many fan boys have imagined Chelo Alonso portraying La of Opar in a Tarzan movie. But it was writer Frank Schildiner once suggested to me that La Alonso might have made a good Belit in a movie adaptation of Robert E. Howard's story QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST. Most likely with Steve Reeves playing Conan of Cimmeria.

While on the subject of exotic dancers enjoy the latest Ginger Snaps comic by the team of Dave Goode and Vance Capley.

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