DECEMBER 1999 The big 2000 is just around the corner, and everybody's counting down the days by naming the best of the year, the decade, the century, the millennium. Well, we're shameless enough to jump on the bandwagon. Every day in December, we'll count down to the year 2000 with a different Top-10 list. Check in every weekday for a salient sampling of 10 indispensible B-movie facts, served up "In No Particular Order!" Now, because you demanded it, we've gathered all the "Wax Facts" that accompanied our Vincent Price Tribute last month into one handy list. Fifteen tidbits, trivia and tales related to the making of "House of Wax." The regular news follows. Enjoy: 1. "Wild effects tests" were shot a few weeks prior to the start of production; Andre de Toth directed Paul Picerni (who would play Scott Andrews), "Paddleball Man" Reggie Rymal and Warners contractee Vera Miles in this test footage. House of Wax began shooting (under the title The Wax Works) on January 19, 1953, with scenes shot on the Morgue and Lower Floor Boarding House sets. 2. According to star Paul Picerni, Vera Miles was considered for the female lead: "I wanted her to get that part so badly. I tested with Vera, I assisted her on her test, and I just adored her -- she was so gorgeous and such a nice girl. I didn't know Phyllis Kirk at that time, so I really was rooting for Vera to get the part. Phyllis ended up getting it, and she was fine, of course." 3. In one early version of the script, Prof. Jarrod (Vincent Price) is seen alone in the fiery wax museum after his fight with Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts); his clothes are smoking, so he dumps a bowl of water over himself. In an effort to escape the burning building, Jarrod drags a ladder toward a skylight window, climbs it and smashes some panes. But by now the foot of the ladder is in flames. Jarrod (his clothes blazing) tries to pull himself through the opening he has made in the skylight, but the burning ladder collapses and he topples backward. Described in the script is a shot from the floor as the ladder (with Jarrod clinging to the top rung) plunges directly at the camera lens and into the flames. 4. The wax figures seen in the movie (over 50 of them) were acquired in a large rental deal with "The Stuberghs," 3680 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, a company known in the commercial field for their line of window-display mannequins and dress forms. Two midget extras were employed for scenes shot on the Second Museum set, perhaps as wax figures, perhaps as background museum patrons. 5. According to a (possibly bogus) publicity blurb, three women extras working in a museum crowd scene fainted when a guillotine blade dropped and snapped the head off one of the lifelike wax dummies. De Toth explained that the women's tightly laced corset costumes of the Gay '90s period may have been a contributing factor. After first aid on the set, the three women returned to their places in the crowd. 6. "House of Wax" had been slated for a 24-day shoot; it went five days over schedule. On the 29th, and last, day of production (Friday, February 20, 1953), Kirk, Picerni, Charles Bronson and "Paddleball Man" Reggie Rymal worked from late afternoon until the middle of the night. 7. It was originally planned that "House of Wax" should end with the death of Jarrod and the rescue of Sue, but an additional scene was shot on Saturday, March 7, 1953 (the "capper" in Lt. Brennan's office). In the script pages for this extra scene, Sue and Scott's upcoming wedding is mentioned; this reference didn't make it into the release print. 8. Minuetta Kessler of Cambridge, Mass., wrote in a June 4, 1953, letter to Warners, "Last night I walked out on one of your pictures and I think you should know why. It is entitled "The House of Wax," [sic] and it shows an appalling lack of conscience on your part. It is obviously the product of a demented mind and can appeal only to similarly morbid and demented minds. I shudder to think that my child might have been exposed to this monstrosity, and I am taking steps to warn other parents of this destructive and shocking picture. To show so little concern for decency is a criminal act against the public." 9. Winifred Marguerite Heath of Santa Barbara, Calif., reacted unfavorably to "House of Wax" and wrote Warner Bros. a scathing letter, quoting Jesus Christ: "Whoso shall cause one of these Little Ones to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea." She added, "I don't, of course, advocate such a fate for all movie producers [but] I would not mind a bit if all the purveyors of pornographic tripe were given a near-to-death ducking." 10. During a conversation with authors Tom Weaver and Lucy Chase Williams, director Andre de Toth said that, during his preparations to direct "House of Wax," he was shown the original "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933) and said that he thought highly of its director, fellow Hungarian Michael Curtiz. He went on to say that, in the opening scene of "House of Wax," the museum fire got out of control (the blue of the sky was visible through a hole burned in the soundstage ceiling). The director called the Warner Brothers firemen "the real heroes of the picture." 11. The movie never reveals where Prof. Jarrod (Vincent Price) bided his time between the burning of his first museum and the opening of his second. In an early script, Jarrod tells Sidney Wallace (Paul Cavanagh) that, after the fire, a doctor took him to a sanatorium in the country, and it was there that he recovered his memory. (Jarrod: "Strangely enough, the doctor died before I could tell him my story.") 12. In a scripted scene (not in the movie), Police Sgt. Shane (Dabbs Greer) questions Wallace and shows him a photo of Dr. Craig Bennett, a plastic surgeon who had a sanatorium in Chappaqua, N.Y. — and who disappeared some months after the museum fire. Wallace thinks he recognizes Dr. Bennett as Jarrod's new wax figure of Louis XVI, but he keeps this to himself. In yet another scripted but unseen moment, Sue later finds Wallace's cloth-wrapped body in a box at Jarrod's new museum. 13. Script description of Vincent Price's character, Prof. Jarrod: "In his early forties. A well-proportioned man with the face of a poet. When we first see him, his hair is slightly long and touched with gray, his features fine and sensitive." 14. Warner Brothers was thrown when the Pennsylvania Board of Censors demanded a double fee for the showing of 3-D pictures (Pennsylvania statutes required a set fee for every foot of film exhibited in the state). 15. The world premiere of "House of Wax" was held at New York's Paramount Theater with the picture's stars (and singer Eddie Fisher) in attendance. It amassed an estimated gross of close to $75,000 over a three-day period there, one of the Paramount's biggest weekends. OBITUARIES William "Billy" Benedict Billy Benedict, the character actor who may be best known to cult-film fans as "Whitey," one of "The Bowery Boys," is dead at 82. He had a heart ailment. In addition to the long-running series of "East Side Kids/Bowery Boys" films, Benedict acted in hundreds of films ranging from Ed Wood's "Bride of the Monster," to roles in big-budget screen hits such as "The Sting." Benedict also acted in the classic serials "The Adventures of Captain Marvel" and "Perils of Nyoka" and had numerous bit-parts as caddies, bellboys and newsboys in classics such as "Bringing Up Baby," "The Ox-Box Incident" and "The Killing." Albert J. Whitlock Oscar-winning visual effects artist Albert J. Whitlock has died in Santa Barbara, Calif., following a long illness. He was 84. Whitlock was regarded by many as a pioneer in the art of matte painting, the blending of realistic paintings with live-action photography. Following a stint with Disney (where he created the titles for "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"), he began an association with Alfred Hitchcock working on such films as "The Birds," "Marnie," "Torn Curtain" and "Topaz." In all, Whitlock worked on more than 150 films, winning back-to-back Oscars for "Earthquake" and "The Hindenburg." James Goldstone Longtime film and TV director James Goldstone is dead at 68. He had cancer. Following his work on "The Outer Limits" series, Goldstone was hired by producer Gene Roddenberry to direct the "Star Trek" pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before." The two had worked together on the "Highway Patrol" series in the 1950s. Goldstone's feature films include "Red Sky At Morning" and "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight." Goldstone claimed he never saw the "Star Trek" pilot because he didn't enjoy watching television. DEAR B MONSTER Q: One of my favorite drive-in classics, Richard Cunha's "Frankenstein's Daughter," features a poolside performance by The Page Cavanaugh Trio. Why does the name of this musical aggregation sound so familiar? A: Anytime Frank Sinatra wanted to gig around Hollywood with a small combo, Ol' Blue Eyes often called upon pianist Page Cavanaugh to back him up. Cavanaugh was managed by Marc Frederic, Cunha's production partner at the time Frankenstein's Daughter was shot. More recently, Cavanaugh released a CD paired with piano-lounge fave, Michael Feinstein. THE B-MOVIE MONTH IN REVIEW RAY BRADBURY RECOVERING FROM STROKE The wife of science fiction author Ray Bradbury confirms that he is recovering from a stroke suffered in mid-November. Bradbury's contribution to the fantasy field can't be overestimated and we're sure that all B-Monster readers join us in wishing Ray a complete and speedy recovery. JACK PIERCE REMEMBERED Makeup legend Jack P. Pierce ("Frankenstein," "The Mummy," "The Wolf Man") was the subject of a special Internet webcast. The program is a preview of Scott Essman and Visionary 2000's live theatrical biography of Pierce to be performed in the Los Angeles area. This Live Audio preview showcases the actors and production team behind the multi-media show, makeup experts, Pierce historians and "people actually connected to the Pierce legend." You may still be able to listen in at http://www.steinonline.com Essman is also the man behind a special museum exhibit dedicated to Pierce's life and work. A live dedication took place November 20 at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. A video celebrating Pierce's work was also unveiled. For more information, check out http://www.jackpierce.com WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK? Here's what Nelson Gidding, screenwriter of the original 1963 version of "The Haunting," had to say when asked if he'd been invited to the premiere of the recent remake: "No, I just went on my own once it had been released. I don't know if [original director] Bob Wise was invited to the premiere or not. You know, the whole thing isn't worth talking about much. It's a bad movie, and there's no sense flogging a dead piece of horse s--t!" GIANT SWEEP The results of the Annie Awards, recognizing excellence in animation are in, and it looks as though "The Iron Giant" is finally getting the respect that Warners, the studio that released it, never showed the film. "The Iron Giant" won in every category in which it was nominated, including Best Animated Theatrical Feature, Best Character Animation, Best Direction, production design, writing, storyboarding -- in other words, a film that actually deserved greater recognition got it. When was the last time that happened? TWO OF THE 50's FINEST ON DVD Two more 1950s sci-fi classics are soon to get the royal DVD treatment. "Creature From the Black Lagoon" and "It Came From Outer Space" are now being prepared for DVD release and will feature the same types of extras that have complimented other recent horror and sci fi DVD packages: behind the scenes footage, complete cast and crew credits and bios, and voice-over blow-by-blow from peerless fright-film historian Tom Weaver. TCM TO SHOWCASE CHANEY DOCUMENTARY Silent-screen legend Lon Chaney will be the subject of a one-hour documentary slated to appear on Turner Classic Movies sometime in 2000. Noted silent film historian and documentary filmmaker Kevin Brownlow is producing. Chaney expert and author of the Lon Chaney Trilogy, Michael F. Blake, will act as special consultant to the project. Bronlow produced a highly regarded, 13-part documentary on the silent era, as well as documentaries on Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and D. W. Griffith. No air date for the Chaney film has been determined. NEW ON VIDEO The latest releases from the folks at Englewood Entertainment are interesting examples of two, "no-budget," schlock-film masters in peak form: JAIL BAIT Early in his career, a young Brit named Alex Gordon -- later to produce "She-Creature," "Day The World Ended" and many more -- came up with a pair of screenplays that were the stuff of cult-film legend. One became "Bride of the Monster," the other, "Jail Bait." Both were directed by Ed Wood. The latter is hardly as entertaining as "Bride," but contains more than enough Woodian flourishes to keep things interesting. For instance, the cast: Lyle Talbot, Dolores Fuller, Tim Farrell and the screen debut of Steve "Hercules" Reeves -- not to mention the same flamenco guitar and piano soundtrack heard in Ron Ormond's "Mesa of Lost Women." Think you know Ed Wood because you've seen "Plan 9"? Better check out "Jail Bait." JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TIME David L. Hewitt can arguably be called the Ed Wood of the 60s. His ambitious, zero-budget epics ("Wizard of Mars," "The Mighty Gorga") were chock-full of stiff dialogue, cheesy special effects, plot holes -- and HEART! It's easy to laugh at these backlot eccentrics in hindsight, but damned few could do more with less than Hewitt. In addition, he gave plum roles to B-movie stalwarts who gave it their all, budget notwithstanding. "Journey" is a good case in point, as it features Scott Brady, Gigi Perreau and Anthony Eisley. THE IRON GIANT If you didn't go see "The Iron Giant" in theaters, shame on ya -- you missed one of the year's best movies. But there's a chance to redeem yourself -- pick up the video version and enjoy. It's heartfelt and well-crafted and possesses the four key elements missing in most contemporary movies: a beginning, a middle, an end and a moral. What's more, no one wears black leather or gets disemboweled. THE HAUNTING The completely unnecessary remake of "The Haunting" is currently taking up space at a video store near you. It's chock-a-block with computer-generated visual effects, not one of which manages to evoke the slightest scare. It squanders a decent performance by a good actress, Lily Taylor, and (spoiler warning: if you read any further it may dilute the film's "impact") it tacks on about the dopiest ending you could ever imagine. All-in-all, just a plain waste of time. CARRIE II For those of you who missed it as it flashed briefly on the big screen, "The Rage: Carrie 2" is now available on home video. So, why would you wait 23 years to make a sequel to a cult hit such as "Carrie?" Has the cult grown? Apparently not enough to keep this film in theaters for more than a week or two. It's directed by Katt Shea, whose past credits include "Stripped to Kill" and "Stripped to Kill 2." If that doesn't impress you, Amy Irving reprises her role from the original movie. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Don't dare miss the launch of the sci-fi strip that already has fans and pros buzzing. "The Crater Kid" daily adventures commence January 1, 2000! The six-shootin' star of this freewheeling sci-fi story is a 10-year-old whose heroic fantasies become reality when he's spirited light-years from earth to aid the inhabitants of the distant planet Meta 4. Having caught a preview recently, comics legend Jim Steranko called the strip, "Fun, far-out and fantastic," proclaiming that Marvel Comics' Wolverine had definitely "met his match!" Readers will be able to add the strip to their own pages by cutting and pasting a simple code. The strip is delivered to the reader's page (along with the advertising of some canny sponsor), or fans can simply visit the Crater Kid website each day for the latest episode. Keep an eye out for the Kid's print debut in the Image Comics title "Astounding Space Thrills" due to hit newsstands next spring. For a sneak peek, check out http://www.craterkid.com SPECIAL THANKS TO: Michael F. Blake, whose books are available through Vestal Press or at http://www.amazon.com Harris Lentz III, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com Bryan Senn, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com and at http://www.midmar.com/books.html Tom Weaver, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com and at http://www.midmar.com/books.html PARTING BLURB "In Monsta-scope!" -- Valley of the Dragons