‘Evil Dead’ stops ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Mad Max’ outguns ‘Star Wars’ in 14th Annual Rondo Awards

‘Monster Mash,’ affectionate look at 1970s horror craze, is voted Book of the Year; Lugosi historian Gary Rhodes is Writer of the Year; Vincent Price’s daughter named Monster Kid of Year

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By David Colton
CHFB News

ARLINGTON, VA. – Revivals of classic horror and science fiction franchises of the 1980s won top honors in the just-completed 14th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, announced April 14 after an online vote by fans and genre professionals worldwide.

The popular EVIL DEAD movie franchise directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell took four awards, including Best DVD, Best Restoration, Best DVD Extra, and Best TV Presentation of 2015 for the offshoot series on STARZ, “Ash vs. Evil Dead.” The TV series’ win ended an impressive six-year Rondo run by AMC’s still-thriving “The Walking Dead.”

The action thriller MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, which also had its roots in the 1980s, was voted Film of the Year, topping STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS in a showdown of genre favorites.

Book of the Year went to “Monster Mash,” by Mark Voger, which examines the monster craze in movies, television, music, toys and models of the 1970s. And movie historian Gary Don Rhodes was voted Writer of the Year for his research and multiple books on horror actor Bela Lugosi and the launch of horror films in the 1930s.

In addition, voters named Victoria Price, the 53-year-old daughter of horror legend Vincent Price, “Monster Kid of the Year” for her tireless work preserving her late father’s legacy in film, along with his work in culinary and fine arts.

“I have been dedicated to preserving and promoting my father’s legacy of love (and) joy,” Victoria wrote on Facebook during the vote. “He was an amazing human being who deserves not only to be remembered but also to be celebrated.”

That celebration extended to London where she and film historian Peter Fuller helped lead a walking tour of Vincent Price’s favorite London stages, restaurants, art galleries and haunts. Fuller was named International Fan of the Year for his efforts.

The Rondo Awards, named after Rondo Hatton, an obscure B-movie villain of the 1940s, honor the best in classic horror research, creativity and film preservation. This year’s e-mail vote, conducted by the Classic Horror Film Board, a 21-year old online community, drew more than 3,400 ballots. The Rondo vote is the largest survey of the classic horror genre held each year.

 

ASH VS EVIL: DEAD: ‘Brujo’

Runner-up: THE WALKING DEAD
Honorable mentions: PENNY DREADFUL; DOCTOR WHO

BEST CLASSIC DVD OF 2015

ARMY OF DARKNESS: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Shout!)

Runner-up: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Kino);
Honorable mentions: BLACK SABBATH (Kino);
DON’T LOOK NOW (Criterion)

BEST RESTORATION

ARMY OF DARKNESS: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Shout!)

Runners-up: BLACK SABBATH (Kino);
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (Twilight Time);
BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (Arrow)

BEST COMMENTARY

TIM LUCAS for BLACK SABBATH
and BLOOD AND BLACK LACE

Runner-up: Francis Ford Coppola (BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA)
Honorable mentions: Wes Craven (PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS); Tom Weaver, David Schechter (MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD)

BEST DVD EXTRA

MEDIEVAL TIMES: THE MAKING OF ARMY OF DARKNESS

Runners-up: ‘Cuadecuc, Vampir’ (COUNT DRACULA); Excerpts from sound version (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA); ‘The Host,’ Jack Hill, Sid Haig film (SPIDER BABY)

BEST INDEPENDENT FILM

TALES OF HALLOWEEN, anthology film

Runners-up: TURBO KID; WE ARE STILL HERE
Honorable mention: DRACULA A.D. 2015

BEST SHORT FILM

TAILYPO, directed by Cameron McCasland

Runner-up: INNSMOUTH
Honorable mentions: CONVENTIONAL; HEIR;
THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: A POEM OF POE; SEEKING VALENTINA

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

CREATURE FEATURE: 60 YEARS OF THE GILL-MAN, directed by Matt Crick

Runner-up: LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU
Honorable mentions: THAT GUY DICK MILLER; IT WAS A COLOSSAL TEENAGE MOVIE MACHINE: THE AIP STORY; HAIL TO THE KING: 60 YEARS OF DESTRUCTION (Godzilla)

BOOK OF THE YEAR

MONSTER MASH: The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze in America, 1957-1972, by Mark Voger

Runner-up: 70s MONSTER MEMORIES; THE ART OF HORROR, by Stephen Jones;
TOD BROWNING’S DRACULA, by Gary Don Rhodes
Honorable mentions: ITALIAN GOTHIC HORROR FILMS, by Roberto Curti; SO DEADLY, SO PERVERSE: Fifty Years of Italian Giallo Films, by Troy Howarth; CURIOUS GOODS: Behind the Scenes of Friday the 13th (The Series), by Alyse Wax)

 

BEST MAGAZINE

RUE MORGUE

Runners-up:  FANGORIA, VIDEO WATCHDOG; HORRORHOUND

 

BEST MAGAZINE (classic)

FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND

Runner-up: SCARY MONSTERS
Honorable mentions: CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES;
LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS; DIABOLIQUE; FILMFAX; SCREEM

 

BEST ARTICLES (two Christopher Lee articles)

1) ‘Christopher Lee: He May Not Have Been Who You Might Have Thought He Was,’ by Tom Johnson,
LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #35.
2) ‘Remembering Christopher Lee,’ by Justin Hamelin, RAVENOUS website.

Runner-up:  ‘Vincent Price: I Like What I see,’ by Tim Lucas, VIDEO WATCHDOG #179.
Honorable mentions: ‘Take Me to the Other Side/Ghost Writers,’ by April Snellings, RUE MORGUE #160; ‘The Greatest Old One,’ by Dejan Ognjanovic, RUE MORGUE #161; ‘Barbara Steele, The Beauty of Terror,’ by Daniel Riccuito, David Cairus and Jennifer Matsui, FANGORIA #342; ‘Forrest J Ackerman: The Wizard
of Glendower Avenue,’ by Deborah Painter, CLASSIC IMAGES #480.

 

BEST INTERVIEW (Award goes to interviewer)

David Weiner interviews Mel Brooks about YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #277)

Runner-up: Chris Alexander interviews John Carpenter, FANGORIA #339
Honorable mentions: Max Weinstein interviews Alejandro Jodorowsky, DIABOLIQUE #24; Jessica Dwyer interviews Bruce Campbell, HORRORHOUND #54; Rod Labbe interviews Sharon Smythe, SCARY MONSTERS #95.

BEST COLUMN

Larry Blamire’s Star Turn, VIDEO WATCHDOG

Runners-up: They Came from the Crypt, by Jon Kitley, HORRORHOUND; Diary of the Deb, Debbie Rochon, FANGORIA; The Doctor Is In-Sane, by Dr. Gangrene, SCARY MONSTERS
Honorable mentions: Fright Gallery by Gary Pullin, RUE MORGUE; Scare-News, by John Skerchock, SCARY MONSTERS

BEST COVER

FAMOUS MONSTERS #281 by Rick Baker

Runners-up: RUE MORGUE #161 by Jason Edmiston; WE BELONG DEAD #17 by Paul Watts
Honorable mentions: MAD SCIENTIST #30 by Mark Maddox; DIABOLIQUE #24 by Mark Spears; FANGORIA #342 by Marc Schoenbach; HORRORHOUND #52 by Mark Maddox

BEST WEBSITE

RAVENOUS MONSTER

Runners-up: Dread Central; Collinsport Historical Society
Dr, Gangrene’s Mad Blog
Honorable mentions: Shock Til You Drop; Universal Monster Army

 

BEST MULTI-MEDIA SITE

KILLER P.O.V.

Runners-up: Trailers from Hell; The Fantastic Films of Vincent Price; Monster Kid Radio
Honorable mentions: Count Gore De Vol’s Creature Features; Horror Happens Radio Show

BEST CONVENTION

MONSTER BASH (suburban Pittsburgh)

Runner-up: Monsterpalooza (Burbank)
Honorable mentions: HorrorHound Weekend (Cincinnati);
WonderFest (Louisville); Chiller (Parsippany, NJ); G-FEST (Chicago)

BEST FAN EVENT

VINCENT PRICE LONDON LEGACY TOUR (Walking tour celebrating his films and love of art and food)

 Runner-up: Tribute to Wes Craven at HorrorHound Weekend
Honorable mentions: Maskfest; Blob panic re-enactment at Blobfest;
Swim with the Creature at Monsterama; Etheria Film Festival

FAVORITE HORROR HOST

SVENGOOLIE

Runner-up: Penny Dreadful
Honorable mentions: Count Gore De Vol; Dr. Gangrene; Son of Ghoul

BEST HORROR COMIC BOOK

JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Runner-up: Haunted Horrors
Honorable mentions: Godzilla in Hell; Frankenstein Underground; Bloke’s Terrible Tome of Terror

WRITER OF THE YEAR

Gary Don Rhodes

A leading scholar into the origins of the horror film,
Rhodes’ fact-based approach has exploded myths surrounding some of the genre’s most beloved works. His books about Bela Lugosi have kept the complicated legacy
of the horror icon alive.

——————————

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

               

Runners-up: Daniel Horne, William Cope, Gary Pullin,
Joel Robinson, Jason Edmiston

———————————

 LINDA MILLER AWARD
FOR FAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(In memory of the late Linda Miller)

JASON BROWER

Runner-up: Malcolm Gittins,. Honorable mentions: Jerrod Brown, John Sargent, Heather Paxton
———————————

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

‘The Only REAL Rondo Award’

Dennis Druktenis
for the amazing achievement of
SCARY MONSTERS #1-100

   Peter Fuller, shown here in a promotion for the November 2015 Vincent Price Festival, which included a walking tour of Price’s favorite London haunts, has been one of the world’s foremost researchers into Price’s life and legacy.

His work with Victoria Price and others in mounting
the Price Festival was a landmark for the beloved actor’s legacy on both sides
of the Atlantic.

A true “monster kid,” Victoria Price helps
remind new monster fans that chills and thrills began long ago, and will live on.

 

MARK REDFIELD

Keeping Poe’s legend alive

This Baltimore native knows Edgar Allan Poe better than most. He helped fight to preserve Poe’s
Baltimore residence, portrayed the doomed writer in the film, THE DEATH OF POE, and has mounted stage and radio productions of the horror bard’s work at the Poe Forevermore Radio Theatre.
An actor, a scholar, an editor, an activist, Redfield is responsible for much of the renewed interest in America’s most haunted poet.

STEVE VERTLIEB

Seeking the creators

  One of the earliest genre enthusiasts and writers, Steve Vertlieb’s interest has always
been in the creators behind the scenes — the men who animated King Kong, the composers
like John Williams, Bernard Herrmann and Miklos Rozsa whose music stirred moviegoers, and the writers like Ray Bradbury whose words sparked a generation of dreamers.
Soon to be the subject of a documentary, Vertlieb’s gentle touch in his writing reminds readers why they
loved many of the classic films in the first place.

DAVID DEL VALLE

Dishing with the horror stars

Few can match the energy and wide-ranging interests of David Del Valle, a cinema insider
who knows just about everyone involved in films past and present. Whether drawing out little-known
tales from horror icons such as Barabra Steele, moderating panels or enriching DVD commentaries, the
outspoken Del Valle has spent a lifetime compiling the backstories, the insanity,
and the joy of Hollywood and European horror factories.

BILL ‘CHILLY BILLY’ CARDILLE

The unforgettable horror host

   There were many “Chiller Theatres,” but few like the one Bill “Chilly Billy” Cardille hosted in Pittsburgh from 1963 to 1982.
So “chilling” was his delivery that Second City’s Joe Flaherty
says his horror host parody on SCTV was based on Cardille’s spooky character. Squeaking doors, howling wolves, a beating heart and a creepy organ signalled his pioneering, smart and influential horror show. A true horror original.

Copyright 2016 Rondo Awards, David Colton

—————————————————————————————————————————-

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED

BELOW WAS THE OFFICIAL BALLOT
FOR THE (GASP!)
14TH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS 
This year’s awards are dedicated to Sir Christopher Lee

1. BEST MOVIE OF 2015

— AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
— BONE TOMAHAWK
— BURYING THE EX
— CRIMSON PEAK
— EX MACHINA
— INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 3
— IT FOLLOWS
— JURASSIC WORLD
— KRAMPUS

— MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
— THE MARTIAN
— STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
— VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN
— THE VISIT
— WE ARE STILL HERE
— THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH
— Or write in another choice:

2. BEST TELEVISION PRESENTATION OF 2015

— AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL, ‘The Ten Commandments Killer,’ 12.2.15, FX. With Lady GaGa vamping, the killer is revealed.  ‘With those blue eyes, I’ll be the Countess of whatever you like, baby.’

— ASH VS. EVIL DEAD, ‘Brujo,’ 11.21.15, STARZ. Ash and company seek the help of a witch-healer. ‘Thirty years ago I took this girl up to a cabin. My life hasn’t been the same since.’

— CHILDHOOD’S END, ‘The Children,’ 12.16.15, SyFy. The final plan of the Overlords. ‘You were about to discover interstellar travel. That would have destroyed you.’

— DOCTOR WHO, ‘The Husbands of River Song,’ 12.25.15, BBC America. The Twelfth Doctor is reunited with River Song. ‘When you love the Doctor it’s like loving the stars themselves. You don’t expect a sunset to love you back.’

— PENNY DREADFUL, ‘The Nightcomers,’ 5.17.15, SHOWTIME. Patti LuPone guest stars as a Cut-Wife with dreadful prophecies. ‘Such incantations are dangerous. You must never speak the Devil’s language idly.’

— SCREAM QUEENS, ‘Mommie Dearest,’ 11.10.15. FOX. College dean Jamie Lee Curtis encounters the PSYCHO shower scene. ‘I saw that movie FIFTY times!’

— THE STRAIN, ‘The Born,’ 8.23.15, FX. New vampires raise the stakes.  ‘There are no myths, professor. Only exaggerations.’

— SUPERNATURAL, ‘About a Boy,’ 2.3.14, THE CW. A witch turns Dean into a teenager. ‘Word on the street is people kinda taste like chicken.’

— THE WALKING DEAD, ‘Start to Finish,” 11.29.15, AMC. Moving a horde of zombies takes a sudden turn. ‘Your property belongs to Negan.’

— Or write in another choice:

3. BEST CLASSIC DVD/BLU-RAY

— ARMY OF DARKNESS: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (1992, Shout!)
— BLACK SABBATH (AIP version, Kino)
— BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1964; Arrow)
— BURN WITCH BURN (1962, Kino)
— COUNT DRACULA (1970; Severin)
— DON’T LOOK NOW (1973, Criterion)
— FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM (1987; Scream Factory)

— HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS (1983, Kino)
— HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939; Warner Video)
— KWAIDAN (1964; Criterion)
— NIGHTMARE CASTLE (1965; Severin)
— PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925, 1929; Kino)
— THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MISS OSBOURNE (1981, Arrow)
— VOODOO MAN (1944; Olive)
— Or write-in another choice:

4. BEST RESTORATION OR UPGRADE

— ARMY OF DARKNESS: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (1992, Shout!) Four versions, including original opening and ending.
— BLACK SABBATH (Kino), American AIP version includes Karloff’s voice.
— BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1965; Arrow),restored from original negative.
— COUNT DRACULA (1970, Severin), Much improved transfer restores scene of mother seeking her baby at castle.

— HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS (1983), much improved transfer from earlier versions.
— JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1959; Twilight Time). 4K upgrade.
— THE MASK 3D (1961, Kino), Offered in 3D version.
— TALES OF TERROR (1963, Kino), pristine high-definition version.
— VOODOO MAN (1944; Olive), original title card, high-definition upgrade
— Or write-in another choice:

5. BEST COMMENTARY

— BLACK SABBATH (AIP version); BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1964, Arrow), Tim Lucas
— BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (Sony), Director Francis Ford Coppola.
— BURNT OFFERINGS, Richard Harland Smith
— HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS, director Pete Walker
— INVADERS FROM MARS (1986, Shout!), director Tobe Hooper, Michael Felsher.
— JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, actress Diane Baker, Nick Redman, Steven C. Smith

— KWAIDAN, Stephen Prince
— THE MASK (1961), 3D historian Jason Pichonsky
— THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD, Tom Weaver and David Schechter
— NIGHTMARE CASTLE, Barbara Steele and David DelValle
— THE OBLONG BOX (1969, Kino), Steve Haberman
— PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (1991, Scream Factory), director Wes Craven
— SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN, David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan
— THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MISS OSBOURNE, director Walwrian Borowczyk
— Or write-in another choice:

6. BEST DVD EXTRA

— ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992, Shout!). ‘Medieval Times’ making-of documentary.
— BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, ‘Psycho Analysis,’ 55-minute documentary.
— BURN WITCH BURN (Kino), interview with actor Peter Wyngarde
— COUNT DRACULA (1970), ‘Cuadecuc, Vampir,’ an experimental film of Christopher Lee and other on-set images and effects.
— COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1969, Twilight Time) Tim Sullivan, David DelValle recreate lost Robert Quarry interview.
— FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM (1987, Scream), ‘Return to Oldfield,’ making-of documentary directed by Daniel Griffith.

— GHOULIES (1985; Scream Factory). ‘From Toilets to Terror,’ making-of documentary.
— PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (silents, Kino). Excerpts from 1930 sound version.
— QUEEN OF BLOOD (1966, Kino), ‘The Russians Are Coming: Robert Skotak on ‘Queen of Blood.’
— SPIDER BABY (Arrow), ‘The Host,’ 30-minute film with young Sid Haig directed by Jack Hill.
— VAMPYROS LESBOS (1971, Severin), interview with director Jess Franco
— Or write-in another choice:

7. BEST INDEPENDENT FILM (To find out more, Google titles to see trailers or video clips)

— BACKCOUNTRY, directed by Adam MacDonald. Terrors in the Canadian wilderness.
— DANNY JOHNSON SAVES THE WORLD, directed by Christopher M. Mihm. Suburban Danny battles robots, aliens
— DRACULA A.D. 2015, directed by Joshua Kennedy. The Count is resurrected in this homage to Hammer films.
— EXTRAORDINARY TALES, directed by Raul Garcia. Five animated Poe stories; narrators include Lugosi, Lee, Corman.
— FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE MUMMY, directed by Damien Leone. Brain swaps and classic monsters in New York City.
— THE HALLOW, directed by Corin Hardy. Irish forests yield unspeakable horrors.

— KILLING POE, directed by Nathan Andrew Jacobs. Five students must conjure up ways to defeat a crazed professor.
— TALES OF DRACULA, directed by Joseph P. DeMuro and Thomas E. Rice. An homage to Universal and Hammer.
— TALES OF HALLOWEEN, 10 tales featuring genre talent such as Joe Dante, Adrienne Barbeau, Stuart Gordon.
— TURBO KID, directed by  Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell. The apocalypse meets the X-Games.
— WE ARE STILL HERE, directed by Ted Geoghegan. Inside a house of evil.
— WYRMWOOD, directed by Kiah Roache-Turner.  Zombies plague road warriors.
— Or write-in another choice:

8. BEST SHORT FILM

— CONVENTIONAL, directed by Karen Gillan (9 mins). A haunting look at an aging scream queen.
— HEIR, directed by Richard Powell (14 mins). Family secrets unfold on a road trip.
— INNSMOUTH, directed by Izzy Lee (11 mins.) Fleeing the reach of Lovecraftian terror.
— ONCE WHEN I WAS DEAD, directed by Scott W. Perry (19 mins). Struggles of a young artist turn deadly.
— THEATRE FANTASTIQUE: A POEM OF POE, directed by Ansel Faraj (12 mins). A Halloween special.

— SEEKING VALENTINA, directed by Armin Nasserri (21 mins). An Iranian writer takes in a mysterious tenant.
— SLASH HER, directed by Jerry Lentz (3 mins).  A woman alone, haunted.
— SLUT, directed by Chloe Okuno (21 mins). Coming of age takes a horrific turn.
— SOBREVIVO, directed by Matt Sullivan (34 mins). A woman’s battle for normalcy in an apocalyptic world.
— SPAMMER, directed by John Iwasz and Sanj Surat (8 mins). ‘Be careful what you phish for.’
— TAILYPO, directed by Cameron McCasland (15 mins). Terror in the woods takes a sharp turn.  
— Or write-in another choice:

9. BEST DOCUMENTARY

— CREATURE FEATURE: 60 YEARS OF THE GILL-MAN, directed by Matt Crick. Revisiting the Lagoon after all these years.
— THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA, directed by Pete Schermann. The making of THE CREEPING TERROR.
— HAIL TO THE KING: 60 YEARS OF DESTRUCTION, directed by Kyle Yount. The Japanese side of Godzilla and kaiju.
— IT WAS A COLOSSAL TEENAGE MOVIE MACHINE: THE AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL PICTURES STORY, directed by Daniel Griffith. How AIP changed Hollywood.
— JACK PIERCE, THE MAKER OF MONSTERS, directed by Strephon Taylor. Detailed biography goes beyond horror films.
— LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, directed by David Gregory. The film that wasn’t.
— THAT GUY DICK MILLER, directed by Elijah Drenner. Hanging with the B-movie’s everyman.
— Or write-in another choice:

10. BOOK OF THE YEAR

— THE ART OF HORROR: An Illustrated History, by Stephen Jones (Applause; hardcover, 260 pages, $40). Frightful images from film, pulp and more.
— ATOMIC DREAMS AND THE NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE: The Making of Godzilla, by Peter H. Brothers (CreateSpace, softcover, 348 pages, $20). From allegory to special effects and Japanese sources, the monstrous story.
— THE BLACK CAT, by Philip Riley and Gregory Mank (BearManor Media, softcover, 124 pages $19.95). Production notes and analysis of Edgar Ulmer’s profane classic.
— BRIDE OF HA-HA HORROR, by Monstermatt Patterson (Mystery&;Horror, softcover, 216 pages, $12.95). Old-fashioned monster laffs.
— BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, by Gary D. Rhodes with Tom Weaver (BearManor Media, softcover, 292 pages, $24.95). A ‘Scripts in the Crypt’ look at Ed Wood’s Lugosi feature.
— CLASSIC HORROR FILMS AND THE LITERATURE THAT INSPIRED THEM, by Ron Backer (McFarland, softcover, 372 pages, $45). Exploring the literary roots of 43 monstrous legends.
— CURIOUS GOODS: Behind the Scenes of Friday the 13th, the Series, by Alyse Wax (BearManor Media, hardcover, 490 pages, $37). A look back at Crystal Lake of the 1987 TV series.
— FORGOTTEN FACES OF FANTASTIC FILMS, by James T. Coughlin (Midnight Marquee, softcover, 258 pages, $25). Profiling 22 familiars who breathed life into classic horrors.
— FORGOTTEN HORRORS VOL. 7: Famished Monsters of Filmland, by Michael H. Price with Jan Alan Henderson and John Wooley (CreateSpace, softcover, 280 pages, $25). Obscure and atomic monstrosities from the 1950s exhumed.
— ITALIAN GOTHIC HORROR FILMS 1957-1969, by Robert Curti (McFarland, hardcover, 220 pages, $39.95). Director by director, the golden age of giallo and more.

— MONSTER MASH: The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze in America, 1957-1972, by Mark Voger (TwoMorrows Publishing, hardcover, 192 pages, $36). Revisiting the colorful first wave of the monster boom.
— RECOVERING 1940s HORROR CINEMA, edited by Mario DeGiglio-Bellemare, Charlie Ellbe, Kristopher Woofter (Lexington Press, hardcover, 378 pages, $100). Essays probe the noir-tinged world of midcentury horror.
— 70S MONSTER MEMORIES, compilation (WeBelongDead, softcover, 400 pages, $50). More than 70 photo-filled chapters on horror’s day-glo decade.
— SKETCHY THINGS: The Art of Frank Dietz (sketchythings, softcover, 176 pages, $50). Classic horror rendered in classic styles.
— SO DEADLY, SO PERVERSE: Fifty Years of Italian Giallo Films Vol. 1 and 2, by Troy Howarth. (Midnight Marquee,softcover,  228, 234 pages, $45 each). Analysis of Italian chillers from 1963-2013.
— TASTE THE BLOOD OF MONSTER SERIAL VOL. 3, compiled by Wallace McBride (CreateSpace, softcover, 222 pages, $11.99). Collinsport Historical Society’s look at vampires.
— TOD BROWNING’S DRACULA, by Gary D. Rhodes (Tomahawk Press, softcover, 376 pages, $35). A Lugosi scholar’s examination of the power and myths behind the classic film.
— WILLIAM CAMERON MENZIES: The Shape of Films to Come, by James Curtis (Pantheon, hardcover, 432 pages, $40).  Biography of the art director who changed the movies.
— Or write in another choice:

11. BEST MAGAZINE OF 2015

–– Cinema Retro
— Classic Monsters of the Movies
— Delirium
— Diabolique
— Famous Monsters of Filmland
— Fangoria
— Filmfax
— Freaky Monsters
— G-Fan
— HorrorHound

— Little Shoppe of Horrors
— Mad Monster
— Mad Scientist
— Monster!
— Monster Bash
— Phantom of the Movies Videoscope
— Rue Morgue

— Scary Monsters
— Scream (UK)
— Screem
— Shock
— Shock Creatures
— Video Watchdog
— We Belong Dead
— Or write in another choice:

12. BEST ARTICLE (Please choose two; one will win)

— ‘Along Came a Spider,’ by Tom Weaver. CLASSIC IMAGES #487. 60th anniversary look at Tarantula.

— ‘Barbara Steele: The Beauty of Terror,’ by Daniel Riccuito, David Cairns and Jennifer Matsui, FANGORIA #342. A spotlight on horror’s dark presence.

— ‘The Carradine Ten,’ by Gregory Mank, MONSTER BASH #25. How the actor used B-movies to finance his ‘Shakespearean Players.’

— ‘Christopher Lee: He May Not Have Been Who You Might Have Thought He Was,’ by Tom Johnson, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #35. Personal encounters by a Hammer historian.

— ‘The Family Is Toast: The Making of Burnt Offerings,’ by Richard Harland Smith, SCREEM #31. From Bob Fosse to Bette Davis.

— ‘Female Characters in Kaiju Films,’ by Peter Lovold, G-FAN #109. Timid Emiko and the Twins gave way to aliens and G-fighters.

— ‘Forrest J Ackerman, The Wizard of Glendower Avenue,’ by Deborah Painter, CLASSIC IMAGES #480. Remembering the man behind the monster boom.

— ‘Frankenstein: The Australian Connection, Pts. 1-3,’ by Daniel Best, MONSTER! #15, 17-18. The battle to air the classic films on TV down under.

— ‘The Greatest Old One,’ by Dejan Ognjanovic, RUE MORGUE #161. In three articles, including an expert roundtable, H.P. Lovecraft’s work is invoked anew.

— ‘It Ain’t Legend: Mangling Matheson,’ by Stephen R. Bissette, MONSTER! #13. The failed attempts to bring I Am Legend to the screen.

— ‘The Last Days of the Deuce,’ by Joe Kane, VIDEOSCOPE #94. Recalling the demise of grindhouse double-bill moviehouses on 42nd Street.

— ‘Life, Death and Tasha Yar,’ by David McDonnell, STARTREK online.  The former editor of STARLOG’s poignant encounter with Denise Crosby.

— ‘The Making of The Phantom of the Opera,’ by Bruce G Hallenbeck, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #34. The fight to film Hammer’s 1962 opera house ghost.

— ‘The Melody Is a Scream! Horror Musicals,’ by Jessica Dwyer with Nathan Hanneman, HORRORHOUND #52. From Sweeney Todd to Re-Animator, a survey of more than 30 musical horrors.

— ‘Pale Gaze,’ by Christopher Bruno, DIABOLIQUE #23. Look into the French madness of ‘Eyes Without a Face.’

— ‘Remembering Christopher Lee,’ by Justin Hamelin, RAVENOUS MONSTER ONLINE. Detailed look at horror icon’s career.

— ‘Reunions in the Dark,’ by Jerry Boyd, SCARY MONSTERS #95. The sometimes tortured history of Dark Shadows conventions.

— ‘Rodan, The Flying Monster,’ by Martin Arlt, MAD SCIENTIST #30. How Toho’s second great kaiju was hatched.

— ‘The Shining/Room 237,’ by Eric Somer, VIDEO WATCHDOG #178. Checking in again to Kubrick’s haunted hotel.

— ‘The Skinny on Scary Skin,’ by Mark C. Glassey, SCARY MONSTERS #99. The science behind synthetic flesh, alligator skin and faces of marble.

— ‘Stop-Motion in Motion,’ by Allen A. Debus, SCARY MONSTERS #95. Examining the earliest monster animations (Evolution and Slumber Mountain).

— ‘Take Me to the Orher Side/Ghost Writers,’ by April Snellings, RUE MORGUE #160. The true and fanciful history of the Ouija board.

— ‘The 12 Biggest Myths of Classic Horror Films, Parts 1-3,’ by Gary Don Rhodes, FILMFAX #140-142.  From Dracula to censorship, puncturing long-held beliefs.

— ‘Vincent Price: I Like What I See,’ by Tim Lucas. VIDEO WATCHDOG #179. A watchdog’s look at the flood of Price films on disc.

— ‘What Bride of Frankenstein Can Teach Today’s Filmmakers,’ by Peter Martin, FAMOUS MONSTERS #281. How James Whale invented a new take in his sequel.

— ‘When Famous Monsters Gave In to the Force,’ by John Harrison, MONSTER! #23. How Star Wars mania pushed monsters to the back pages.

— Or write-in another choice:

— PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VOTE FOR TWO ARTICLES ABOVE (one will win)

13. BEST INTERVIEW (Award goes to interviewer)

— Mel Brooks, on Young Frankenstein, interviewed by David Weiner. FAMOUS MONSTERS #277.
— Bruce Campbell on ASH VS EVIL DEAD, interviewed by Jessica Dwyer. HORRORHOUND #54.
— John Carpenter, on his movie soundtracks, interviewed by Chris Alexander. FANGORIA #339.
— Roger Corman on Frankenstein Unbound, interviewed by Michael Doyle, RUE MORGUE #160.
— Jamil Dehlavi, director of Christopher Lee’s Jinnah, interviewed by Tony Earnshaw. WE BELONG DEAD #17.
— Donnie Dunagan, interviewed about Karloff, Rathbone and Bambi, by Jan Alan Henderson, FILMFAX #141-142
— Drew Friedman, artist, interviewed by Thom Shubilla, SCREEM #30.
— Laurel Goodwin, the original yeoman in Star Trek pilot, interviewed by Mark Berry, VIDEOSCOPE #93

— Alejandro Jodorowsky, cult director on his career and terror, interviewed by Max Weinstein, DIABOLIQUE #24,
— Doug Jones, on playing monsters and aliens, interviewed by Don Vaughan, VIDEOSCOPE #94-95.
— Koichi Kawakita, effects work on numerous G-films, interviewed by J.D. Lees, G-FAN #108.
— John Logan, creator of Penny Dreadful and others, interviewed by Joe Moe. FAMOUS MONSTERS #279.
— Terry Moore, on Mighty Joe Young and Howard Hughes, interviewed by Anthony Petkovich. FILMFAX #140.
— Sharon Smyth, Dark Shadows’ youngest ghost, interviewed by Rod Labbe, SCARY MONSTERS #95.
— Or write-in another choice:

14. BEST COLUMNIST

— Diary of the Deb, by Debbie Rochon, FANGORIA
— The Doctor Is In-Sane, by Dr. Gangrene, SCARY MONSTERS
— File 770 columns, by James H. Burns, FILE 770 online
— Fright Gallery, curated by Gary Pullin, RUE MORGUE
— Grey Matters, by Richard Schellbach, MONDO CULT ONLINE
— It Came from Bowen’s Basement, by John W, Bowen, RUE MORGUE
— Larry Blamire’s Star Turn, VIDEO WATCHDOG
— Ralph’s One and Only Traveling Reviews, by Richard Klemensen, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS
— Rondo Remembers, by Ron Adams, MONSTER BASH MAGAZINE
— Scare-News, by John Skerchock, SCARY MONSTERS
— They Came from the Krypt, by Jon Kitley, HORRORHOUND
— Or write in another choice:

15. BEST MAGAZINE COVER

DIABOLIQUE #24, by Mark Spears	FAMOUS MONSTERS #281, by Rick Baker
FANGORIA #342, by Marc Schoenbach	FILMFAX #141 (classic still)
G-FAN #109, by Gabe McIntosh	HORRORHOUND #52, by Mark Maddox
LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #35, by Jim Salvati	MAD MONSTER #4, by Wolfinger
MAD SCIENTIST #30, by Mark Maddox	MONSTER! #21, by Jolyon Yates
RUE MORGUE #161, by Jason Edmiston; design by Andrew Wright	SCARY MONSTERS #99, by Terry Beatty
SCREEM #30, by Drew Friedman	SHOCK CREATURES #1, by Jack Theakston
VIDEOSCOPE #93 (Kino Lorber)	VIDEO WATCHDOG #178, by Charlie Largent
NOTE: YOU CAN VOTE ON A COVER BY PLACING AN X BY THE IMAGE, OR TYPE IN CHOICE HERE:	WE BELONG DEAD #17, by Paul Watts

16. BEST WEBSITE OR BLOG OF 2015

— ALL SCI-FI  The talk is pure science fiction.
— BLOODY PIT OF ROD  From Naschy to gnashing teeth.
— CLASSIC MOVIE MONSTERS  A resource for archetypal horrors.
— COLLINSPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY  Piercing the Shadows left by Barnabas Collins.
— DAY OF THE WOMAN  The feminine side of fear.
— DREAD CENTRAL    Horror’s daily front page.
— DR. GANGRENE’S MAD BLOG  Nashville’s mad doctor.
— FILM NOIR FOUNDATION  Footseps and rain in black and white.
— FINAL GIRL  Stacie Ponder ponders the peril.
— FRANKENSTEINIA  Pierre Fournier’s journal of all things Frankenstein.
— THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE GODZILLA  August Ragone’s monster-sized blog.

— GRAVEYARD SHIFT SISTERS  Women of color are horror fans, too.
— GROOVY AGE OF HORROR  Fearless comics and fumetti of the past.
— THE HORRORS OF IT ALL  The amazing 50s horror comics revival lives here.
— ICONS OF FRIGHT  Horror’s online collective.
— KAIJUMATIC  Home of 1,000 giant monsters. 
— LATARNIA: FANTASTIQUE INTERNATIONAL  Of Euro and world horror.
— MONDO CULT  Horror is just part of the edgy culture there.
— MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD  Always updated with the latest in print monsters.
— MONSTERS FROM HELL  The UK’s Hammer headquarters.
— RAVENOUS MONSTER  Consuming horror from books to film.
— SCARED SILLY  Paul Castiglia’s compendium of classic horror comedies.
— SCIFI JAPAN  The home of Monster Zero News.

— SERIAL SQUADRON Cliffhangers of the past, discussed and restored.
— SHOCK TIL YOU DROP  Horror journalism and previews.
— SIN STREET SLEAZE  John Harrison’s blog of pulp and pop.
— TERROR FROM THE DAVES  The Mike and Mike of monsters.
— UNIVERSAL MONSTER ARMY  The ultimate collectors of monstrous toys, models and collectibles.
— VAMPIRE OVER LONDON  The Bela Lugosi blog.
— VIDEO WATCHBLOG  Tim Lucas on the magic of movies, music and life.
— WICKED HORROR  News and grue, but with a wink.
— WITCH’S DUNGEON  Preserving Hollywood’s horrific legacy.
— ZOMBOS CLOSET  Horrors on the loose.
— Or write-in another choice:

17. BEST MULTI-MEDIA HORROR SITE 

— Bloody Good Horror  Podcast reviews hold sway.
— The B-Movie Podcast  Talk and horror history.
— Count Gore De Vol’s Creature Features  Weekly web program from a classic horror host.
— Creature Features  Marking thed 45th anniversary of Chicago’s monster show.
— Cult Radio A Go-Go!  Pioneers of the horror-talk genre.
— Damn Dirty Geeks  Hollywood pros and fans talk shop every month.
— Dark Discussions  Timely talk of horrors old and new.
— Deadpit Radio  Monster talk from bigfoot country.
— Doctor of the Dead  Podcast of zombies, by zombies, for zombies.
— The Fantastic Films of Vincent Price   Dr. Gangrene revisits Price, film by film.

— The Flicks That Church Forgot  Horror from a spiritual point of view.
— From Dusk Til Con Radio  Convention coverage and more.
— Horror Happens Radio Show  The world of horror in real time.
— Horror Rises from Spain  Video, soundtracks of Spanish Fear.
— Kaijucast  Godzilla’s early warning sysytem.
— Killer POV  No-holds-barred takes on horror.
— Kreepy Kastle  Find streaming horror host videos and more.
— Monster Kid Radio  Derek Koch talks to fans and pros.
— 1951 Down Place  Home of Hammer talk.
— Poe Forevermore Radio Theater  Keeping the legend alive.
— The Projection Booth  Guests take charge of the projector.

— The Slaughtered Bird Horrors and interviews from Liverpool.
— Tea and a Trailer  From his kitchen, Victor Von Psychotron offers, yes, tea and a trailer.
— Tomb Dragomir  Tune in, drop dead with Rue Morgue’s Tombster.
— Trailers from Hell  Joe Dante and gang comment on vintage trailers.
— Welcome to Nightvale  Strange doings from the desert.
— Or write-in another choice:

18. BEST CONVENTION OF 2015

— BLOB FEST (Phoenixville, Pa.)
— BONE-BAT COMEDY OF HORRORS (Seattle)
— CHILLER (Parsippany, NJ)
— CINEMA WASTELAND (Strongsville, Oh.)
— CTHULHUCON (Portland, Or.)
— DON-CON (Burbank; Post masks)
— DAYS OF THE DEAD (Indianapolis)
— DRAGONCON (Atlanta)
— CRYPTICON (Seattle)
— FLASHBACK WEEKEND (Rosemont, Il.)

— G-FEST (Rosemont, Il.)
— HORRORHOUND WEEKEND (Cincinnati)
— HORROR REALM SPRING BREAK MASSACRE (Pittsburgh)
— MAD MONSTER PARTY (Charlotte, NC)
— MONSTER BASH (Mars, Pa.)
— MONSTERFEST (Chesapeake, Va.)
— MONSTER-MANIA (Cherry Hill, NJ)
— MONSTERPALOOZA (Burbank)
— MONSTERAMA (Atlanta)

— NECRONOMICON (Providence, RI)
— ROCK AND SHOCK (Worcester, Ma.)
— SCAREFEST (Lexington, Ky.)
— SCARES THAT CARE (Williamsburg, Va.)
— SPOOKY EMPIRE (Orkando)
— TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND (Dallas)
— WONDERFEST (Louisville)
— Or write in another choice:

19. BEST FAN EVENT

— BLOB PANIC RE-ENACTMENT. Fans run out of the same theatre attacked by The Blob (Blobfest)
— CLASSIC MONSTERS ON DISPLAY. Highlights from Kirk Hammett’s monster collection presented at San Francisco airport.
— ETHERIA FILM NIGHT, L.A.-based film festival highlights women filmmakers.
— HOLY PHOTO-OP! CHUBBY CHECKER JOINS ADAM WEST AND BURT WARD at Mad Monster Party.
— LAUGHING OURSELVES TO DEATH, Sara Karloff and Victoria Price recall their fathers’ funniest roles. WonderFest

— RON CHANEY is made up as The Phantom and London After Midnight by Casey J. Wong. Mad Monster Party.
— SWIMMING WITH THE CREATURE. Ricou Browning on hand as fans take to the pool with Kyle Yaklin in a full-size Creature suit. Monsterama
— TREMORS 25TH ANNIVERSARY reunion, sponsored by Creature Featires and Famous Monsters
— TRIBUTE TO DICK SMITH, including Linda Blair, Tom Woodruff, Scott essman.Monsterpalooza.
— TRIBUTE TO WES CRAVEN at HorrorHound.
— VINCENT PRICE LONDON LEGACY TOUR. Five days of UK walking tours, cooking, film showings, live music and panels, hosted by Peter Fuller.
— Or write-in another choice:

20. FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2015

— The Bone Jangler (Illinois)
— Dr. Gangrene (Nashville)
— Dr. Madblood (Virginia)
— The Ghouligans (Calif.)
— Count Gore De Vol (D.C.)
— Count Gregula (Count Gregula’s Crypt)
— Ghoul a Go-Go (NY)
— Karlos Borloff (Monster Madhouse)
— Mr. Lobo (Calif.)
— Nigel Honeybone (Australia)
— Ormon Grimsby (NC)
— Penny Dreadful (New England)
— Son of Ghoul (Ohio)
— Svengoolie (Berwyn)
— Wolfman Mac (Chiller Drive-In)
— Or write in another host:

21. BEST HORROR COMIC

— BLOKE’S TERRIBLE TOMB OF TERROR (Indy). Anthology of horrors.
— FRANKENSTEIN UNDERGROUND (Dark Horse). Mignola’s Hellboy world gets darker.
— GODZILLA IN HELL (IDW). Bob Eggleton among artists in five-issue miniseries.
— HAUNTED HORRORS (IDW/Yoe). Restoring the lost shudders of obscure 1950s horror comics.
— JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGHT (Storm King). Horrors with an edge.
— MONSTER WORLD (American Gothic Press). FM’s Philip Kim joins Steve Niles in a hard-boiled horror.
— RAT GOD (Dark Horse), by Richard Corben. Arkham meets Native American horrors.
— THE SHRINKING MAN (IDW), Ted Adams and Mark Torres adapt  Richard Matheson’s classic.

WRITE-IN CATEGORIES

22. BEST WRITER OF 2015 (includes reviewers)

23. BEST ARTIST OF 2015 (all formats, including paint, sculpt or design)

24. BEST FAN ARTIST OF 2015 (The Linda Miller Award)

25. INTERNATIONAL FAN OF THE YEAR

26. MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR (Who did the most to advance the cause of classic horror scholarship, film preservation or genre fun).

27. AND FINALLY, THE MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME*

— Which fans, pros, writers, researchers, horror hosts or others should be inducted into the Rondo Awards Mionster Kid Hall of Fame?  Suggest up to six names. Previous inductees are listed alphabeticvally below.

*ALREADY INDUCTED ARE: Forrest J Ackerman, Julie Adams, Rick Baker, James Bama, Calvin Beck, Stephen Bissette, Paul and Jackie Blaisdell, Ray Bradbury, Bob and Kathy Burns, Ben Chapman, Frederick S. Clarke, Jim and Marian Clatterbaugh, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Jack Davis, Gary Dorst, Dennis Druktenis, William K. Everson,, Mark Frank, Frank Frazetta, Ghoulardi, Don Glut, Basil Gogos, Archie Goodwin, Alex and Richard Gordon, Count Gore De Vol, Ray Harryhausen, Del and Sue Howison, Cortlandt Hull, Larry Ivie, Sara Karloff, Ken Kelly, Dick Klemensen, Verne Langdon, JD Lees, Bob Lemon, Jessie Lilley, Lux Interior, Tim and Donna Lucas, Gregory Mank, Jose Mojica Marins (Coffin Joe), Ray Meyers, Morgus, Ted Newsom, Paul Naschy, Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, Don Post Studio, Gary Don Rhodes, German Robles, George A. Romero, Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth, David J. Skal, Michael Stein, Bhob Stewart, William Stout, George Stover, Gary and Sue Svehla, Sammy Terry,  Vampira, Mike Vraney, Bill Warren, James Warren, Tom Weaver,Michael Weldon,  Bob Wilkins, Bernie Wrightson, and, of course, Zacherley

Whew! That’s it!!!

 
“I remember what Boris Karloff said to me, something Lon Chaney had told him:
Find something other actors will not do, and if you do it, you will never be forgotten.”
— Christopher Lee

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Rondo Awards copyright David Colton  taraco@aol.com