Home | About The Rondo Awards | 2002 Winners | 2003 Winners | 2005 Winners

Winners Speak: 2002 2003 2004


HERE ARE THE WINNERS

OF THE THIRD ANNUAL RONDO AWARDS

-- Honoring work from 2004 --

(Page includes press release, winners' list and all nominees)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEGENDS, NEWCOMERS WIN

3rd ANNUAL RONDO AWARDS

Harryhausen and Dunagan, Creature and Hyde

named best of 2004 in record horror fan vote

Feb. 19, 2005

   ARLINGTON, VA -- The book of a lifetime by special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, restored monster classics from the 1930s and 1950s, and an interview with the 'lost' child star of Son of Frankenstein were top winners in the Third Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards announced Sunday night.

   A short film called Flip! -- about a small boy waiting for his mail-order monster to arrive -- took a hotly-contested battle for Best Independent Film. And a zombie satire, Shaun of the Dead, obliterated the big budget competition in voting for the Best Film of 2004.

  Those were highlights of the 2004 Rondo Awards, an email survey named after 1940s character actor Rondo Hatton, and devoted to honoring the best in classic horror scholarship, creativity and genre preservation.

    Now in its third year, the five weeks of balloting in 21 categories drew a record 1,614 emailed votes from fans in the U.S. and more than 12 countries.  It was the biggest classic horror survey in online history. The Rondos are sponsored by the fan-based Classic Horror Film Board.

  Top winners in the Third Annual Rondo Hatton Awards included:

  -- Best Book of 2004: An Animated Life, by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Dalton, an oversized hardcover by the creator of Mighty Joe Young, the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and the popular Sinbad movies.

  -- Best Classic DVD: The Creature from the Black Lagoon Legacy collection, which included all three Creature movies from the 1950s and new audio commentaries by stars such as Lori Nelson and horror experts Bob Burns and Tom Weaver.

  -- Best Restoration: A restored print of the 1932 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, for which Fredric March won an Oscar, was the winner over the original Japanese version of Godzilla (known in 1954 Japan as Gojira), which toured the U.S. last year.

  -- Best Article: 'The Donnie Dunagan Interview,' by Tom Weaver in Video Watchdog #112, marked the first time Dunagan, the unforgettable child actor in Son of Frankenstein (1939) and the voice of Walt Disney's Bambi, had spoken to the media in 65 years.

   Weaver's interview with the retired Marine, who was living quietly in Texas unaware he was believed to be a 'lost' icon, was considered by many voters the scoop of the year in the world of classic horror scholarship.

   Other honors went to multiple-year winners:

   -- Writer of the Year: In addition to the Dunagan interview, Tom Weaver won best writer honors for the third straight year.  A write-in-only category, Weaver nevertheless was named by an impressive 127 voters.

   "Maybe you should name this award after Tom, make him ineligible and give the rest of us a crack at it,'' joked a fellow horror writer.

  -- Magazine of the Year: Video Watchdog, edited by Tim and Donna Lucas, won top magazine honors for a third straight year as well, despite expanded voter participation that included more 'mainstream' monster magazines.

  "We were far from confident about winning this year, what with the rising number of voters, but this makes our victory all the more meaningful,'' said Lucas.  "Thank you everyone."

   There were also some shifts in usual voting patterns:

   -- Best Convention went to the giant Chiller Expo, which often draws 10,000 or more to the Meadowlands.   "Best convention? Chiller. There's no comparison,'' said one voter about the mega-event.

  This ended a two-year run by a smaller, Pittsburgh-based convention called the Monster Bash, known for its more intimate sessions each June and famous for attracting some of the genre's top talents and fans.

   -- Best Website went to an East Coast horror host perennial, Count Gore DeVol, whose supporters turned out in legions to support his website of film clips, horror quizzes and creature contests.

   "Legendary host Dick Dyszel (as Count Gore), has been at this for so many many years,'' said one voter. "He really deserves this!''

   The expanded voting base was clearly a factor in the voting, explained Rondo organizer David Colton, a Virginia-based journalist and classic horror fan who said links to the Rondo ballot were posted at websites throughout cyberspace in January and February.

   "By reaching out to more voters at places like Fangoria and Rue Morgue, and to the nation's 'underground' network of TV horror hosts, we naturally are opening the classic horror doors to a younger and larger electorate,'' Colton said.

   "But it has been heartening to see that for the most part, young horror fans recognize the influence and coolness of the classic monsters and their creators. You can hardly see a difference this year in the voting when films like the 73-year-old Dr. Jekyll and a baby boomer remix, Flip! can still win.''

   Other winners included:

  -- Best Independent Film: Flip!, a 15-minute reverie on youth and monsters in the 60s, won in a narrow race over films such as Dr. Horror's Erotic House of Idiots -- a fan-studded (and decidely non-erotic), takeoff on horror takeoffs themselves -- and the critically praised remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by indie wonder Mark Redfield.

  -- Best Movie went to Shaun of the Dead, which beat its closest competitors, Spider-Man 2 and Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, by almost two-to-one.

  -- Best TV Presentation went to Bravo's five-part 100 Scariest Movie Moments, which narrowly edged out ABC's premiere monster-on-the-island episode of Lost.

  -- Best Horror Comic was won by The Black Forest, a dark yet fanciful mix of classic monsters and World War I landscapes by Robert Tinnell, Todd Livingston and Neil Vokes.

  -- Best CD went to a collector's dream of unreleased themes and incidental music from George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, which topped a compilation of Jerry Goldsmith movie and TV work.

  -- Best Cover went to relative newcomer Daniel Horne's provocative painting of the Creature emerging near a sunbather for Chiller Theatre #21.

   -- Best Fan Event was a near five-way tie, but fans warmed to the idea that Godzilla received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last June for his 50th Anniversary.

   -- Best Model or Collectible went to the new Zuni Fetish Doll from Trilogy of Terror.

   -- Best DVD Extra: Voters also were taken by the collector's busts of Frankenstein's monster, Dracula and the Wolf Man in Universal's Monster Legacy Collection, choosing those premiums as the Best DVD Extra over numerous commentaries and documentaries.

  -- Best DVD Company went to Universal, in recognition of the studio's decision to re-release its classic monster DVDs last year.

  -- Count Alucard's Controversy of the Year: Even while praising the studio, voters were split over Universal's computer-generated attempt ro re-invent the monster franchise for a new audience withVan Helsing.  The summer movie received a mere 25 votes for Best Film (In comparison, Shaun of the Dead got 219).   Voters instead named Van Helsing the Controversy of the Year.

   -- Classic Most Needed on DVD:  The survey's biggest numbers went to the original King Kong. With Peter Jackson's remake due in December, 375 voters -- almost one out of four who voted in that category -- named the 1933 version as the movie they most want to see released on DVD.

  Finally, seven honorary Rondo awards were announced Sunday night:

  -- Monster Kid of the Year:  Larry Blamire, writer, director and star of the 50s scifi lampoon Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, was named Monster Kid of the Year for his work celebrating the best in classic horror and sensibilities.  Several voters noted that no other work in 2004 came closer to the spirit of the genre than did his independent film about aliens hopelessly lost among equally clueless earthlings.

  -- Monster Kid Hall of Fame:  Six new members were announced for induction into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame. Joining original inductees Forrest J Ackerman and James Warren, Bob and Kathy Burns, and Zacherley and Vampira will be:

   Ray Harryhausen, author Ray Bradbury, makeup genius Rick Baker, the late film historian William K. Everson and legendary 50s scifi filmmakers and long-time monster fans Richard Gordon and his late brother, Alex Gordon.

    Many of the winners will receive Rondo Hatton statuettes, sculpted by Kerry Gammill (monsterkid.com), and cast by Tim M. Lindsey (tmlindsey.com).   The awards will be given at various conventions this summer, or mailed to recipients.  Watch this website for more details.

    "Once again, thank you to everyone who voted and, especially, to all the nominees,'' said Colton, who oversaw the enterprise with Gammill and a crew of Rondo advisers. 

  "Finding winners is fun, but it is the work, brilliance and passion of all the nominees now and in years' past which is the true inspiration for the Rondo awards.  See you again next year!"

 

Here is a category-by-category breakdown of who won.
(First and second place vote totals are in parentheses; also listed are honorable mentions who scored well.)


BEST FILM

SHAUN OF THE DEAD (219 votes)

Runner-up: SPIDER-MAN 2 (136 votes) Honorable mention: LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA (120)

BEST TV PRESENTATION

Bravo's 100 SCARIEST MOVIE MOMENTS (226 votes)

Runner-up: LOST (218) Honorable mention: Hallmark FRANKENSTEIN (122)

BEST CLASSIC DVD RELEASE

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON LEGACY COLLECTION (243 votes)

Runner-up: DAWN OF THE DEAD: ULTIMATE COLLECTION (172)  Honorable mention: TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON ONE (95)

BEST RESTORATION

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1932) (196 votes)

Runner-up: GOJIRA (164) Honorable mention: FREAKS (118)

BEST DVD EXTRA

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS LEGACY COLLECTION BUSTS (166 votes)

Runner-up: ED WOOD featurette, 'Making Bela' (124)  Honorable mention: FREAKS documentary (82)

BEST INDEPENDENT FILM

FLIP! (210 votes)

Runner-up: DR. HORROR'S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS (178)  Honorable mentions: Mark Redfield's DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (121); GHOULS A GO-GO (116)

BEST BOOK

AN ANIMATED LIFE (217 votes)

Runner-up: IN ALL SINCERITY, PETER CUSHING (138) Honorable mentions: BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN REMEMBERED (97); CHRISTOPHER LEE FILMOGRAPHY (88)

BEST MAGAZINE

VIDEO WATCHDOG (156 votes)

Runner-up: RUE MORGUE (124) Honorable mentions: MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT (115); FANGORIA (91); FILMFAX (67); SCARY MONSTERS (66)

BEST ARTICLE

'DONNIE DUNAGAN INTERVIEW,' by Tom Weaver, VIDEO WATCHDOG #112 (193 votes)

Runner-up:'Tribute to Helen Chandler,' by Greg Mank, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #19 (123); Honorable mention: 'Kongversations One and Two,' by Bob Burns, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #18-19 (113)

BEST COVER

CHILLER #21 BY DANIEL HORNE (279 votes!)

Runner-up: RUE MORGUE #41 by Clive Barker (115) Honorable mention: MONSTER BASH #2 by Kerry Gammill (88)

BEST WEBSITE

COUNT GORE DE VOL (159 votes)

Runner-up: Astounding B-Monster (131) Honorable mention: Dr. Gangrene's Chiller Cinema (74)

BEST CONVENTION

CHILLER (171 votes)

Runner-up: Monster Bash (149) Honorable mention: Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear (83); Wonder Fest (75); Monster-Mania (60)

BEST FAN EVENT

GODZILLA GETS STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME (137 votes)

Runner-up: Blob panic re-enactment (125) Honorable mention: Dr. Gangrene's late-night show at WonderFest (121)

BEST CD

DAWN OF THE DEAD (Romero; incidental music) (126 votes)

Runner-up: Jerry Goldsmith at 20th Century Fox (108); Vic Mizzy's Ghost and Mr. Chicken (99)

BEST HORROR COMIC

THE BLACK FOREST (195 votes)

Runner-up: The Walking Dead (118) Honorable mention: Scooby-Doo #92 (96)

BEST MODEL OR COLLECTIBLE

TRILOGY OF TERROR'S ZUNI FETISH DOLL (128 votes)

Runner-up: Hammer Dracula (93) Honorable mention: Mego Mad Monsters (87)

COUNT ALUCARD'S CONTROVERSY OF THE YEAR

VAN HELSING (191 votes)

Runner-up: Ed Wood DVD pulled (174) Honorable mention:Munsters documentary blocked (134); Stooges colorization (127)

BEST DVD COMPANY

Universal (258 votes)

Runner-up: MGM (118) Honorable mention: Blue Underground (91)

 

CLASSIC MOST NEEDED ON DVD

KING KONG (373 votes)

Runner-up: Black Cat(141) Honorable mention: The Raven (73)

 

WRITER OF THE YEAR

Tom Weaver (127 write-in votes)

Honorable mentions: Tim Lucas, Greg Mank

 


Special Awards



MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR

Larry Blamire

For his Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, which

reminded a whole generation why we

are monster fans in the first place. Bravo!

 



 

MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME
(Inductees based on Monster Kid suggestions)

William K.

Everson

Rick Baker
Alex Gordon

Richard

Gordon

Ray Harryhausen

& Ray Bradbury



--- HERE WAS THE OFFICIAL 2004 BALLOT ---

(A total of 1,614 people emailed votes from 1/15 - 2/19 2005)

Best Movie of 2004

    -- ALIEN VS. PREDATOR

    -- DAWN OF THE DEAD

    -- DAY AFTER TOMORROW

    -- THE FORGOTTEN

    -- THE GRUDGE

    -- HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

    -- HELLBOY

    -- THE INCREDIBLES

    -- I, ROBOT

    -- LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA

    -- OPEN WATER

    -- PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (musical)

    -- SHAUN OF THE DEAD

    -- SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

    -- SPIDER-MAN 2

    -- VAN HELSING

    -- THE VILLAGE

    -- Or write in another choice:

Best Television Presentation

     -- ANGEL: 'Not Fade Away,' aired 5.19.04. Death and rebellion mark Buffy spinoff's final confrontation with evil. Or is it?

     -- ENTERPRISE: 'Awakening,' aired 11.26.04. T'Pol's mother, played by Joanna Cassidy, dies in a story arc steeped in Vulcan lore.

     -- FARSCAPE: THE PEACEKEEPER WARS. Aired 10.17.04, SciFi Network. Cult favorite returns with four-hour reprise, leaving wormhole open for more adventures.

     -- THE 4400: 'Pilot,' aired 7.18.04, USA Network. Aliens return thousands of abducted people to Earth in ambitious miniseries.

     -- FRANKENSTEIN: Aired 10.15.04, Hallmark Network. Literate and literal, this four-hour re-telling follows the book more closely than most, even to the Arctic.

     -- LOST: 'Pilot,' aired 9.22.04. Is there an invisible monster picking off survivors one by one? This surprising debut had horror fans abuzz.

     -- THE 100 SCARIEST MOVIE MOMENTS: Aired 10.31.04 on Bravo. From 28 Days Later (No. 100), to Jaws (No. 1), this was smarter than anyone could have expected.

     -- SMALLVILLE: 'Crusade,' aired 9.22.04. Fourth season opens with Margot Kidder and a new Lois Lane, Erica Durance. Death of Reeve will make Kidder role more poignant.

     -- Or write in another choice:

Best Classic DVD

   

     -- CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON: LEGACY collection

     -- DAWN OF THE DEAD: ULTIMATE COLLECTION (1978)

     -- DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (32 and 41 versions)

     -- EYES WITHOUT A FACE

     -- FREAKS

     -- HOLMES: HOUND, ADVENTURES, VOL. 3 (MPI sets)

     -- HOUSE OF DRACULA (Part of Dracula Legacy set)

     -- INVISIBLE MAN: LEGACY collection

     -- JONNY QUEST Collection

     -- M (Criterion)

     -- THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS MIND (Karloff, 1936)

     -- TARZAN Collection (MGM)

     -- TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE (1933; Criterion)

     -- TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON ONE

     -- VIDEODROME

     -- WALT DISNEY TREASURES - TOMORROWLAND: DISNEY IN SPACE AND BEYOND

     -- WOMAN IN THE MOON (Kino)

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST RESTORATION

     -- DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1932; dialogue and footage restored)

     -- EYES WITHOUT A FACE

     -- FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (bright transfer finally)

     -- FREAKS

     -- GOJIRA (1954 Japanese version of Godzilla)

     -- THE HUNGER (1980)

     -- ILYA MUROMETS (aka SWORD AND THE DRAGON)

     -- M (New framing; total upgrade)

     -- MAN WHO CHANGED HIS MIND (1936; pristine print discovered)

     -- TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (brothel scene restored)

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST DVD EXTRA

     -- CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED: Commentary by screenwriter John Briley

     -- DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1932): Commentary by Gregory Mank

     -- DUEL: Interview with screenwriter Richard Matheson

     -- ED WOOD: 'Making Bela' with Martin Landau, Rick Baker

     -- FLIP! Documentary: 'The Making of Flip!'

     -- FREAKS: 'Freaks: Sideshow Cinema' documentary.

     -- HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: Commentary by David Stuart Davies

     -- LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA: Classic skeleton cartoon.

     -- M (Criterion): Vintage interview with director Fritz Lang.

     -- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE: Commentary by Lori Nelson, Tom Weaver, Bob Burns.

     -- TALES FROM THE CRYPT (EC Comics Documentary): Interviews with Al Feldstein, Ray Bradbury, Jack Davis, Al Williamson about EC, its impact and horror.

     -- TARZAN: 90-minute documentary, 'Silver Screen King of the Jungle'

     -- THIEF OF BAGHDAD (silent): 19 minutes of outtakes

     -- TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON ONE: Commentaries by stars, including Earl Holliman, Martin Landau, Kevin McCarthy, Rod Taylor, Martin Milner

     -- UNIVERSAL MONSTERS LEGACY SET: Collector busts of Frankenstein monster, Dracula, Wolf Man

     -- VIDEODROME: 'Forging the New Flesh' documentary by Michael Lennick

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST INDEPENDENT FILM OR DOCUMENTARY

     -- DR. HORROR'S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS: Debbie Rochon, Michael 'Ygor' Thomas, Zacherley and other fandom favorites in funny scifi send-up.

     -- DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE: Mark Redfield directs and stars in this effective retelling of a classic.

     -- FLIP! Funny and touching short about what really happened when you ordered something from the back of a monster magazine. DVD has many extras.

     -- FREAK OUT: Slasher movie fans meet up with the real thing in this horror-comedy from Britain.

     -- GHOSTS OF ANGELA WEBB: Michael 'Ygor' Thomas stands out in this surprisingly creepy chiller.

     -- GHOUL A GO-GO: Take-off on a kiddie rock and roll show, with a monstrous difference, collected on DVD.

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST BOOK

     -- BORIS KARLOFF: A MAN REMEMBERED (PublishAmerica), by Gordon B. Shriver. Numerous interviews with those who knew Karloff best.

     -- CHRISTOPHER LEE FILMOGRAPHY (McFarland), by Tom Johnson and Mark A. Miller.  Reference and analysis of his extraordinary career.

     -- GODZILLA ON MY MIND: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (St. Martins Press), by William Tsutsui.  Kansas professor reveals hidden meanings to Japan's biggest export.

     -- HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC (Faber and Faber, revised), by David J. Skal.  Revised version of a classic includes new chapter.

     -- HUMAN MONSTERS: THE DEFINITIVE EDITION (Midnight Marquee; revised), by Michael H. Price and George E. Turner. Greatly expanded look at obscure movie villains.

     -- IN ALL SINCERITY, PETER CUSHING (XLibris), by Christopher Gullo. Through interviews and research, a portrait of England's monster hunter.

    -- JEKYLL AND HYDE DRAMATIZED: The 1887 Richard Mansfield Script (McFarland), edited by Martin A. Danahay and Alexander Chisholm. Tracing a rarity.

     -- PETER CUSHING: MIDNIGHT MARQUEE ACTORS SERIES, edited by Anthony Ambrogio.  A variety of writers dissect England's master of cinema.

     -- PROFONDO ARGENTO (FAB Press), by Alan Jones. Two decades of on-set reports and interviews pertaining to Dario Argento's career.

    -- RAY HARRYHAUSEN: AN ANIMATED LIFE by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Dalton. The special effects wizard traces his own career. Rare production photos.

     -- SMIRK, SNEER AND SCREAM (McFarland), by Mark Clark.  Goes inside the monster actor's studio to analyze the best acting performances by horror stars old and new.

    -- SPACE PATROL: MISSIONS OF DARING IN THE NAME OF EARLY TELEVISION (McFarland), by Jean-Noel Bassior.  Everything, and we mean everything, you want to know about the 50s TV show that sparked a scifi craze.

     -- UP FROM THE VAULTS: RARE THRILLERS OF THE 20s AND 30s (McFarland), by John T. Soister. An in-depth look at near-forgotten horror and chiller films.

     -- A VAULT OF HORROR: A BOOK OF 80 GREAT BRITISH HORROR MOVIES FROM 1956-1974 (Telos), by Keith Topping.  Some you know; others will surprise you.

     -- WORLDS OF TOMORROW: THE AMAZING UNIVERSE OF SCIENCE FICTION ART (Collector's Press), by Forrest J Ackerman and Brad Linaweaver. Page after page of obscure science fiction magazine, book and pulp covers.

BEST MAGAZINE

     -- Amazing Figure Modeler

     -- Chiller Theatre

     -- Cult Movies

     -- Fangoria

     -- Filmfax

     -- G-FAN

     -- Little Shoppe of Horrors

     -- Midnight Marquee

     -- Monster Bash

     -- Monsters from the Vault

     -- Movie Mystique

     -- Phantom of the Movies VideoScope

     -- Psychotronic

     -- Rue Morgue

     -- Shock Cinema

     -- Scarlet Street

     -- Scary Monsters

     -- Starlog

     -- Van Helsing's Journal

     -- Video Watchdog

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST ARTICLE (Pick two; one will win)

     -- 'Abominable Snowman: Honda's Hidden Gem,' by Peter H. Brothers, G-FAN #69. Examination of the original version of HALF-HUMAN, directed by Ishiro Honda.

     -- 'The Amazing Music of Vic Mizzy,' by George Bamber, FILMFAX #103. The man behind The Addams Family and Green Acres themes is interviewed. Snap fingers here.

     -- 'A Very Lonely Soul: A Tribute to Helen Chandler,' by Gregory Mank and Gary Don Rhodes, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #19.  The tragic end of Dracula's beautiful heroine is recounted, including grisly news photos of her house fire not seen in half a century.

     -- 'Cinema of Science and Disease,' by Jen Vuckovic and Rod Gudino. RUE MORGUE #39. Interview with director David Cronenberg.

     -- 'Dracula's Coffin: The Story of Bela Lugosi's Steamer Trunk,' by Frank Dello Stritto, CULT MOVIES #40. Who's obsessive? A noted horror sleuth probes the mystery of Lugosi's luggage and finds a human story within.

     -- 'Forry, Godzilla and Me,' by Jessie Lilley, WORLDLY REMAINS ONLINE. About going to see Godzilla, the Japanese version, with Forrest J Ackerman on a spring day in L.A.

     -- 'The Great Chan Ban,' by Ken Hanke, SCARLET STREET #50. A Charlie Chan expert tries to get to the bottom of the Fox Movie Channel's ban on Chan films and finds himself locking horns with ethnic and studio politics.

     -- 'Here's to a Son of the House of Frankenstein: The Donnie Dunagan Interview,' by Tom Weaver, VIDEO WATCHDOG #112.  First interview with the actor, discovered in Texas 65 years after he played young Peter in Son of Frankenstein. Well, hello!

     -- 'Homicidal: William Castle's Slice and Dice Job,' by David J. Hogan, MIDNIGHT MARQUEE #71/72.  The definitive piece on the picture with a 'fright break.'

     -- 'John Saxon,' by Rick Bayne. PSYCHOTRONIC #40. Interview with star of Queen of Blood, Night Caller and Nightmare on Elm Street.

     -- 'Kongversations: Part One and Two,' by Bob Burns (as told to Tom Weaver), MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #18-19.  Burns recalls meeting the men who made King Kong, from Willis O'Brien to Marcel Delgado.  Marvelous stills abound.

     -- 'Man in Black: A Memoir of Mike Raven,' by Denis Meikle, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #16. A look at the imposing Hammer actor who once seemed poised to join Christopher Lee as a horror king.

     -- 'Miller Time,' by Terry and Tiffany DuFoe, VIDEOSCOPE #51. From Little Shop of Horrors to Piranha, an interview with B-movie legend Dick Miller, who has been there.

    -- 'Monster Memories: The Life and Crimes of The Monster Times,' by Joe Kane, VIDEOSCOPE #50. The Phantom of the Movies recalls a simpler time, when he was editor of The Monster Times in the 1970s.

     -- 'Murder for Sale,' by Candi Lace and Emma Anderson, RUE MORGUE #37. Reveals the bizarre but legal world of murder memorabilia, from action figures to autographs. Brr.

     -- '150 Years of Women and Horror: She Has Always Lived in the Castle,' by James J.J. Janis, MIDNIGHT MARQUEE #71/72.  Deeply researched look at female gothic writers of the 1800s such as Clara Reeve and Anne Radcliffe, who inspired classic horror films.

     -- 'Our Lady of the Fantastique: the Edith Scob Interview,' by Frederic Albert Levy and Tim Lucas, VIDEO WATCHDOG #107.  Rediscovering the star of Eyes Without a Face.

     -- 'Rediscovering Polanski,' by Kim Newman, VIDEO WATCHDOG #108. In depth reviews of eight Polanski films on DVD, from Repulsion to The Pianist.

     -- 'Robert Fuest: He Was Making Mad Films!' by Anthony Petkovich, PSYCHOTRONIC #41. Interview with director of the Dr. Phibes films and Devil's Rain.

   -- 'Scare News,' by John Skerchock, SCARY MONSTERS.  Magazine's regular news column delves deeply into monster fan doings, from conventions to special events.

     -- 'The Strange Creature of Topanga Canyon: Monster Makers, Part Five,' by Vincent DiFate, FILMFAX #104.  With assist from the ubiquitous Bob Burns, DiFate explores the amazing behind-the-scenes wizardry of Paul Blaisdell and It! The Terror from Beyond Space.

     -- '25 Years of Fangoria,' FANGORIA #234. Twenty-five writers, directors and creators, from John Landis to Guillermo Del Toro, discuss 25 landmark movies since 1980.

    -- 'Ungawa! Tarzan, Lord of the DVDs,' by Bill Cooke, VIDEO WATCHDOG #114. Six MGM Tarzans and many more are focus of Cooke's deep expedition into the jungle.

     -- 'Universal's Monsters: A Legacy Written in Blood, Fur and Electricity,' by Bill Cooke, VIDEO WATCHDOG #111. Of all the 'Legacy' reviews, this is by far the most complete.

     -- 'Van Helsing: The Man Who Slew Too Much, Part Two,' by Farnham Scott and Richard Valley. SCARLET STREET #52.  A look at the 'modern' Van Helsings, from Cushing and Olivier to Hopkins and Jackman.

    -- 'Zacherley for President,' by Gary Weintraub, SCARY MONSTERS 2004 YEARBOOK. Memories of a young monster fan searching everywhere for a Zacherley book in 1960.

     -- Or write in another choice:

   (Remember to vote for TWO of above articles)

 

BEST COVER

CHILLER THEATRE #21

By Daniel Horne

FILMFAX #102

By Harley Brown

FILMFAX #103

By Vincent DiFate

MONSTER BASH #2

By Kerry Gammill

MONSTER KID ONLINE MAGAZINE #5

By Jim Peavy

MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #18

By Joe Schovitz

MOVIE MYSTIQUE #2

By Susan Svehla

RUE MORGUE #41

Painting by Clive Barker

SCARLET STREET #52

By Bill Chancellor

SCARY MONSTERS #50

By Terry Beatty

VIDEO WATCHDOG #107

By Charles Largent

VIDEO WATCHDOG #112

(Signature edition)

By Charles Largent, signed by Donnie Dunagan

 

BEST WEBSITE

Classic Horror Film Board, sponsor of Rondos, is not eligible

     -- Astounding B-Monster www.bmonster.com

     -- A Tribute to Lon Chaney Jr. Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atributetolonchaneyjr

     -- Bride of House of Universal Yahoo Group http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/brideofhouseofuniversal

     -- Chiller Theatre Expo Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chillertheatreexpo

     -- Countgore.com www.countgore.com 

     -- Creature from the Black Lagoon Yahoo Group http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/creaturefromtheblacklagoon

     -- Creepy Classics www.creepyclassics.com

     -- Dr. Gangrene's Chiller Cinema http://www.chillercinema.com

     -- DVD Drive-In www.dvddrive-in.com

     -- DVD Maniacs www.dvddrive-in.com

     -- Eccentric-cinema http://www.eccentric-cinema.com 

     -- Horrorhosts.com http://horrorhosts.com

     -- Horror-Wood Webzine www.horror-wood.com

     -- Latarnia: Fantastique International http://www.latarnia.com

     -- Lugosiphilia Yahoo Group http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/lugosiphilia

     -- Midnight Marquee http://www.midmar.com

     -- Mobius Home Video Forum (welcome back!) www.mhvf.net

     -- Monster Kid Online Magazine www.monsterkid.com

     -- Monster-Maniacs Forum http://p078.ezboard.com/bmonstermaniacon

     -- Professor Griffin's Midnight Shadow Show http://www.midnightshadowshow.com

     -- Scarlet Street www.scarletstreet.com

     -- SciFilm.org www.scifilm.org

     -- Secret Fun Spot www.secretfunspot.com

     -- Serialsquadron.com www.serialsquadron.com

     -- Shocklines Forum http://p082.ezboard.com/bshocklinesforum

     -- Sinister Cinema www.sinistercinema.com

     -- Solar Guard Academy http://solarguard.com

     -- Universal Monster Army Yahoo Group http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/UniversalMonsterArmy

     -- Video Watchdog Roundtables http://www.videowatchdog.com/home/roundtable

     -- Worldlyremains.com www.worldyremains.com

     -- Or write in another choice:

   

BEST CONVENTION

     -- CHILLER (Meadowlands)

     -- CINEMA WASTELAND (Cleveland)

     -- FANGORIA WEEKEND OF HORRORS (Meadowlands)

     -- G-FEST (Chicago)

     -- HORROR-FIND (Baltimore)

     -- MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL

     -- MONSTER BASH (Butler, Pa.)

     -- MONSTER-MANIA (Cherry Hill, N.J.)

     -- RUE MORGUE'S FESTIVAL OF FEAR (Toronto)

     -- SCREAMFEST (Ft. Lauderdale)

     -- WONDERFEST (Louisville)

     -- Or write in another choice:

 

BEST FAN EVENT

     -- Blob panic re-enactment: Just like in the movie, fans flee screaming from actual theater where Blob was filmed.  Blobfest. Colonial Theater, Phoenixville, Pa. 7.16.04.

     -- Godzilla gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of 50th anniversary. 10.29.04.

     -- Tribute to Vincent Price, with Caroline Munro, Hazel Court, Roger Corman and Cortlandt Hull, hosted by Tom Weaver. Monster-Mania, Cherry Hill, N.J., 8.28.04.

     -- Home movies of Evelyn Ankers and Richard Denning, presented by daughter Dee Denning Dwyer. Monster Bash, Butler, Pa., 6.26.04.

     -- Lugosiphilia panel: Bela is analyzed by biographer Arthur Lennig, friend Richard Sheffield, historians Gregory Mank and Leonard Kohl, moderator Johanne Tournier of Lugosiphilia. Monster Bash, Butler, Pa., 6.25.04)

   -- Monsters for Charity auction of items ranging from Vincent  Price cufflinks to horror lobby cards raises $2,500 for charities. New York City, 11.13.04.
   
      -- Dr. Gangrene's late night comedy-horror show, featuring THE SHE-CREATURE, live commentary by Bob Burns, home movies of Paul Blaisdell, and Nurse Moaneek, Doc's assistant.  WonderFest, Louisville, Ky. 5.15.04

     -- Tribute to Forrest J Ackerman includes Joe Dante, John Landis, Ib Melchior, Curtis Harrington, George Clayton Johnson, Maila Nurmi (Vampira). On tape: Peter Jackson, Ray's Bradbury and Harryhausen. American Cinematheque, Los Angeles, 2/11/04.

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST CD

     -- DAWN OF THE DEAD: Unreleased Incidental Music (Trunk records)

     -- GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN: Vic Mizzy soundtrack (Percepto)

     -- GHOULS GO WEST by the Moon-Rays (Sound Imp Records)

     -- GODZILLA 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION: Akira Ifikube soundtrack (La-La Land Records)
     --  HELL YEAH! by the Horrorpops (Hellcat Records)

     -- JERRY GOLDSMITH AT 20TH CENTURY FOX: 6-CDs, includes music from Damnation Alley, Alien, Shock Treatment, Thriller (Varese Sarabande)

     -- PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Special edition. Soundtrack and effects (Sony)

     -- SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW: Edward Shearmur soundtrack (Sony)

     -- VAN HELSING: Alan Silvestri soundtrack (Decca)

     -- Or write in another choice:

BEST HORROR COMIC BOOK

     -- The Black Forest, by Robert Tinnell, Todd Livingston and Neil Vokes. This monstrous tale of World War I has a simple concept: 'All Quiet on the Western Front' meets 'Frankenstein.'

     -- Grumpy Old Monsters, by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. Hilarity ensues at a nursing home for creatures and ghouls. (IDW)

     -- Phantom Jack, by Mike San Giacomo. What happens if you really could turn invisible. It's not pretty. (Image)

     -- Scooby Doo #92 by John Rozum.  Appearing in 'cameos' at a monster convention are Tom Weaver, Tim Burton, Stephen King, Dennis Druktenis, Ben Chapman, Bob Burns, Ron Adams.  (DC)

     -- 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow, by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith. Sequel to the duo's groundbreaking tale of vampires feasting in the dark of Alaska. (IDW)

     -- The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Real people confront real zombies. (Image)

BEST MODEL OR COLLECTIBLE

Nominees developed with help from Universal Monster Army group at yahoo!

     -- Classic TV Toys Mego Mad Monster Reissues

     -- Jakks Classic Monster Figures (non-Van Helsing versions)

     -- Product Enterprises Hammer Dracula figure

     -- Sideshow Mr. Hyde

     -- Sideshow 1/4 scale Frankenstein
     -- Trilogy of Terror Zuni Fetish doll

     -- X-Plus Toys War of the Colossal Beast

     -- Or write in another choice:
 

COUNT ALUCARD'S CONTROVERSY OF THE YEAR

      -- Colorization returns with THREE STOOGES

      -- ED WOOD DVD mysteriously pulled from shelves for months

      -- MGM gives Best Buy exclusive on some Midnite Movies titles

      -- MOBIUS message board loses all posts

      -- MUNSTERS documentary DVD blocked by Universal

      -- VAN HELSING: CGI film splits fandom

      -- Or write in another choice:

 

DVD COMPANY OF THE YEAR

     -- Alpha Video: Amazing cover art revives rarities.

     -- Blue Underground: Euro horror.

     -- Criterion: Back in game with M, Mabuse.

     -- Image: Willing to take risks.

     -- Kino: Keeping silents alive.

     -- MGM: Midnite Movies an affordable delight.

     -- MPI: Holmes revivals continue.

     -- RetroMedia: Unexpectedly classic at times.

     -- Universal: Legacy sets return classic monsters to everyone.

     -- Warner Bros: The vaults still open.

     -- Or write in another choice here:

CLASSIC MOST IN NEED OF DVD RELEASE

     -- BLACK CAT (Karloff/Lugosi)

     -- CHANDU THE MAGICIAN (Lowe/Lugosi)

     -- DR. X

     -- INVISIBLE RAY

     -- JUNGLE WOMAN trilogy

     -- KING KONG

     -- Val Lewton Collection

     -- MAD LOVE

     -- MARK OF THE VAMPIRE

     -- MIGHTY JOE YOUNG

     -- THE RAVEN (Karloff/Lugosi)

     -- Or write in another choice here:

WRITER OF THE YEAR

     Who did the best work in 2004 to advance the state of classic horror research. Write-ins only.

MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR

     Who deserves to be named 'Monster Kid of the Year' for efforts beyond the call of duty to build a better world of gods and monsters? (Last year's winner: Arnold Kunert, who got Ray Harryhausen his star on Hollywood Walk of Fame).

MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME

    Who are the all-time 'Monster Kids' who should be this year's inductees into the Monster Kid Hall of fame?

   Last year's inductees, the first, were Bob and Kathy Burns, Forrest J Ackerman and James Warren, Zacherley and Vampira.

That's it!!!


Thanks again for being part of the Third Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Email questions or suggestions for the 2005 awards to David Colton at taraco@aol.com.

And remember , as Rondo once explained, 'She screamed.'


Busts sculpted by Kerry Gammill (monsterkid.com), cast by Tim M. Lindsey (tmlindsey.com)

 


The Rondos are sponsored by


click banner to enter

The Rondo Awards © David Colton

<!--