"Diamonds in the Rough" Progress Report

New Casey Scott Spot

2006-01-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

If anyone still checks this thing (sorry for lack of updates, long story which I'll probably tell someday down the road), I've relocated to:

http://www.myspace.com/solid_blue

If you wish to follow me there, I will be posting there more regularly on all things film and a few other things not-so-film.

Thanks for the continued support and Happy 2006 to all,
Casey Scott

New Developments

2005-02-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

First and foremost, my apologies for 2 weeks of no updates. I may have mentioned it before, but I've returned to college to pursue a degree in library sciences. This degree is needed to become an archivist/curator, which I believe I've decided is my reason to be on this earth. So with that out of the way, on with the developments!

KIT GAVIN

Kit has been very busy lately so has not had a chance to write anything for the blog, but I believe he is still working on a list of people who will definitely be appearing in the book. Stay tuned, this should be good! I don't even know 100% of it!

BILL GEORGE

Chris Barbour, the talented fellow currently working with me to create a special commemoration to the late Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith, and his friend Larry Spears, who knew Cheryl during her last years alive, forwarded to me an expired eBay auction for a handwritten notebook sheet written by Cheryl herself, revealing her memories of shooting the cult classic REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS. I immediately wrote the seller and asked if it would be possible to obtain photocopies of these and any other diary entries in his possession. Because memoirs by Cheryl are extremely scarce

The seller turned out to be Bill George, the former editor of "Femmes Fatales" magazine. Now, I was a big fan of the magazine because of its extensive coverage of many B-movie drive-in queens. They were the first (only?) magazine to publish interviews with Roberta Collins, Candice Rialson and many other greats from the Golden Age of Exploitation. The magazine is now a pale copy of what it used to be, but George became interested when I told him of my intentions with this book and has agreed to help me out the best he can! This book would be nothing without Bill, as in only a handful of e-mails so far, he has already given me so much information!! In another stroke of luck, Bill is very close to where I live, making communication that much easier. Stay tuned for exciting developments thanks to Bill George!

Bill has left "Femmes Fatales", but has his own website now which is dedicated to discovering new talent. Namely beautiful women who can act, have brains and aren't braindead tarts like so many so-called "B Queens". Check out his website:

http://www.redhotplanet.net

JUSTIN STERLING

In relation to the angelic Ms. Smith, I must add this. Around the time of Cheryl's passing, I was in touch with her son, Justin Sterling. Justin was handling his mother's death in a mature fashion, but I believe he was having problems discovering the sordid past of his mother's post-Hollywood existence. I have since lost touch with Justin, and every person I know who was similarly in touch with him have told me he has just disappeared off the face of the earth. If anyone out there knows what became of Justin Sterling, please drop me a line and let me know. The last I heard, he was a commercial model who appeared in several major national car commercials and was also a part-time DJ at a club in Los Angeles.

That is about it for now, but I am moving full steam ahead on this book right now. It will be the definitive story of so many talented people and underrated films, and I know you all will be happy with it. :)

With all my best,
Casey Scott

Major correction to previous update

2005-01-27T19:05:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

A small post to make a major correction to an error in my previous update: I meant to thank ANDREW KIDD, not Anthony Kidd. Andrew provided me with info regarding two actors who I've been seeking out for the book, and to get his name wrong (!) makes me feel just horrible. So, ANDREW KIDD, thanks for your help and expect to see your name in our book!

Until soon,
Casey Scott

Many thanks and an update

2005-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

First things first: as I was so excited about the American subjects for the book, I neglected to mention that Kit and I are also working on a number of European films. Wether this will bloom into two separate books or morph into one is something we're discussing right now, but to those who were wondering if we would include films like Eugenie...the Story of Her Journey Into Perversion and The House That Screamed, never fear. We are indeed working on international films, too.

COVER ART:

I have received a number of e-mails from graphic design arts and pop culture artists who have expressed interest in providing their work for the book. In fact, we may include everyone: one artist will do the cover, another borders around photos or sidebars, another the table of contents, etc. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and aid from so many people.

CONFIRMED INTERVIEW SUBJECTS:

The incredible Kit Gavin is currently working on a list of performers and filmmakers he has confirmed for the project. Kit is the #1 person to go to for contacts for European exploitation films, and in addition to a list, he is also preparing a greeting to all our supporters! Expect another update on Monday from the two of us!

TO BE CONTACTED THIS WEEK:

For a variety of reasons, I have not been able to call any of the listed talent from the previous post. I fear I may have bitten off too much with that list, so have shortened it to these people:

VERNON BECKER (producer of Seduction of Inga, Thriller, Swedish Wildcats, Nocturna)
ELAINE GIFTOS (Gas-s-s-s!, The Student Nurses, Angel)
STEPHANIE ROTHMAN (The Student Nurses, Terminal Island, Sweet Sugar)
BEVERLY SEBASTIAN (The Hitchhikers, Gator Bait, The Single Girls, Red White and Blue)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Here are several additional names which will be appearing in several places in our book as thanks for their help and contributions to the project:

Chris Barbour
Joe Cerniglia (http://www.mightytiki.com)
Ted Cogswell
Marshall Crist
Dean DeMarco
Jeff Dolniak (http://www.ban1productions.com)
Dave Fredriksen
Greg Goodsell
Todd Harbour (http://www.mhvf.net)
Anthony Kidd
Bill Picard
Robert Plante
Danny Shipka
David Szulkin
Eric Weber
Richard York

Introducing "Diamonds in the Rough"

2005-01-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

This is Casey Scott, writer for DVD Drive-In and a genuine fan of exploitation films from the 1930s through the 1980s. I've begun this blog to allow people to view my progress as I write my book "Diamonds in the Rough: The True Stories Behind Underrated Gems of Exploitation Cinema". I am co-writing this book with my good friend and fellow genuine fan, Kit Gavin, who has provided supplements to DVD companies such as Shriek Show/Media Blasters, Mondo Macabro, Synapse, Redemption and Blue Underground.

A SNEAK PEEK AT THE FILMS:

To provide a glimpse into the type of film we are looking to commemorate, here is an alphabetical listing of the movies selected for the year 1971.

THE BIG BIRD CAGE
BLOOD AND LACE
BURY ME AN ANGEL
GAS-S-S-S!
THE HITCHHIKERS
JANIE
LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH
MATINEE WIVES
THE PEACE KILLERS
A TOUCH OF SWEDEN
THE TOY BOX
WOMEN IN CAGES
WOMEN IN REVOLT

Looking at that list, one can see that all genres, including sexploitation, action films, comedies and softcore porn, are game. If the film is better than the usual entries in the subgenre, it has a good chance of being included. I don't want to give away too many others, but let's just say that there are lots of popular cult films I think need to have their stories told. If you have suggestions, please e-mail me as I'm very open to including films from 1960-1985.

COVER ART:

I have asked Something Weird Video's Lisa Petrucci if it would be possible for me to commission her to create the artwork for the book. Lisa responded, saying she was very busy at the moment with SWV's Big Book and some of her personal artwork; I will try again once I am closer to completing the project. If you are interested in perhaps providing artwork for the book, please feel free to e-mail me. I am looking for someone who is well-versed in the classic posters of the drive-in era, especially those which mixed sex and violence to really sell a film, even if it was boring as hell.

I don't want to give away every detail of the project, as it simply wouldn't be as exciting to read the book once it is published! In the phone calls I have made, I have already heard some amazing behind-the-scenes tales before officially interviewing the talent!

DISCARDED TITLES:

Here is a list of titles which were under consideration but were eventually dropped due to a variety of reasons. The most frequent reason is that there are too few people alive that were involved with the film to talk about it. Also, if a film has been covered to death in other publications, there was no reason to tread old ground, either.

THE ANIMAL (1968)
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1970)
THE BIZARRE ONES (1968)
BLACKSNAKE! (1973)
CHANGES (1970)
HELP WANTED: FEMALE (1968)
LOVE ME LIKE I DO (1970)
MANTIS IN LACE (1968)
MONDO TRASHO (1969)
MULTIPLE MANIACS (1970)
THE PICK-UP (1968)
PRIVATE PARTS (1972)
THE SCAVENGERS (1969)
THE SHAME OF PATTY SMITH (1961)
SHE-DEVILS ON WHEELS (1968)
SHE MOB (1968)
SPIDER BABY (1964)
SUPERVIXENS (1975)
A THOUSAND PLEASURES (1968)
THE ULTIMATE DEGENERATE (1969)
VIXEN! (1968)

CONFIRMED INTERVIEW SUBJECTS:

Because of the holiday season and various other roadblocks, I haven't been able to make as many phone calls as I had hoped. Here is an alphabetical listing of those who have agreed to be involved with the book and the film(s) they will be discussing for the book:

BARBARA LEIGH (The Student Nurses, Terminal Island)
HARLAN CARY POE (Toys Are Not for Children!)
JOE SARNO (countless films of the 1960s and 1970s)
C. DAVIS SMITH (cinematographer of Teenage Gang Debs)
PEGGY STEFFANS (countless Joe Sarno films)

AWAITING RESPONSE:

I have made contact with the following people and am awaiting a response. They will be discussing the films in bold.

BRIONI FARRELL/XENIA GRATSOS (The Student Nurses)
ANTON HOLDEN (Aroused)
LAURIE ROSE/JENNIFER BROOKS (Policewomen, The Hot Box)
SABRINA (Satan in High Heels)
FRAN WARREN (Toys Are Not for Children!)

POLITELY DECLINED:

I have made contact with the following people, who for one reason or another didn't want to discuss their film career. I may have caught them at a bad time, so will try again later.

GARY GRAVER (Wanda the Sadistic Hypnotist, The Hard Road, Invasion of the Bee Girls, Girls for Rent) {Gary is writing an autobiography so didn't want to spoil any stories which may appear in his work; completely understandable}
ROSIE HOLOTIK (Don't Look in the Basement, Twisted Brain)
BARBARA MILLS (Matinee Wives)

TO BE CONTACTED THIS WEEK:

I have plans to contact the following people this week sometime to discuss the films in bold. Wish me luck! :)

SHERRY ALBERONI (Sisters of Death)
BONNIE BOLAND (The Candy Snatchers)
TIFFANY BOLLING (The Candy Snatchers, Kingdom of the Spiders, Bonnie's Kids)
ROBERTA FINDLAY (Janie)
ELAINE GIFTOS (Gas-s-s-s, The Student Nurses, Angel)
STEPHANIE ROTHMAN (The Student Nurses, Terminal Island, Sweet Sugar)
BEVERLY SEBASTIAN (The Hitchhikers, Gator Bait)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

There are so many people who have already helped me out with this book:

Walter Olsen, who has provided me with a wealth of phone numbers
Chris Barbour, who is currently helping me create a commemorative piece for Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith
Michael Patrick Carney of Reuters, who taught me how to FIND people. :)
Chris Poggiali, who is a big inspiration when it comes to interviewing cult film personalities
Marshall Crist, who turned me onto Rosie Holotik and keeps me posted on his book's progress
William Wilson, who enthusiastically helped me on my previous Brownrigg project
George Reis, who continues to encourage my writing at DVD Drive-In
Robin Bougie, who published my review of The Candy Snatchers in his excellent mag "Cinema Sewer"
Nathaniel Thompson and David Szulkin, who influenced me to attempt this book in the first place
Tim and Donna Lucas, who influenced me to go back to school while I write this book
Richard Bartram, who forwarded to me information on the 90s re-release of Teenage Strangler
Greg Goodsell, who told me some great Susan Tyrrell stories to warn me about her odd behavior
Mike Accomando, publisher of the excellent "Dreadful Pleasures" magazine
Siouxzan Perry, the manager of many cast members from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Mark Kelly, the webmaster of the SabrinaStuff website
David Kenney of the radio show "Everything Old is New" at 99.5 FM in New York City, NY
Eric Weber of Turner Classic Movies
Mike Vraney and Lisa Petrucci of Something Weird Video
Michael Raso of EI Independent Cinema/RetroSeduction Cinema
Spencer Savage of Image Entertainment
Don May, Jr. of Synapse Films
Richard York of Media Blasters
Pete Tombs and Andy Starke of Mondo Macabro
Tony Simonelli of Xploited Cinema
and Barbara Leigh, Peggy Steffans, Joe Sarno, Harlan Cary Poe, Bill Osco, C. Davis (Chuck) Smith, Tura Satana, Christopher Speeth, Hal Borske, Cynthia Myers, Sherry Alberoni, Rosie Waters, Gary Graver, Barbara and Frank Mills, Laurie Rose (Mesmera), David F. Friedman, Frank Henenlotter and Marc Edward Hueck.

And of course, my dear friend Kit Gavin, who is co-writing this lengthy tome with me.

If you'd like to help me tell the definitive stories of these unsung cult classics, please e-mail me at caseylscott2001@yahoo.com. I always give 100% credit where credit is due.

Until next time, with all my best,
Casey Scott