Zach Galligan and Gremlins

Zach Galligan has had a 30 year acting career, but he is probably best known for his first movie role.  Gremlins made Galligan a familiar name and launched his career.  It also makes him the perfect guest for a celebrity convention.

Everyone fondly remembers Gremlins (even if the "rules" didn't really make sense).  It came out over 30 years ago, but everyone remembers "not to feed them after midnight."  Everyone also remembers Galligan as Billy, the main character.

Despite many roles since then, it is this iconic role which makes him very popular at conventions.  One such memorable role is really all you need to be in demand at these conventions.

With all due respect to Galligan, not many people will approach him asking for an 8x10 from Cupid.  There is absolutely no shame in that either.  Most actors would kill for one such role.  If nothing else, it puts you in a position to make a nice living onm the convention circuit.

I met Galligan at Flashback Weekend.  He signed and posed for three days and always had a solid line waiting for him.  For his part, Galligan was modest, funny and seemed happy to be there.  This also makes for a great con guest.

Kudos to the folks at Flashback for getting Galligan.  Thanks to him, too, for being a great guest.

Zach Galligan and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Brent Sopel and Pierce Corter

This is a weekly feature about friends who have met celebrities.

This Friendly Encounter really makes me feel old.  It has been over twenty years since I have worked with Darryl Corter.  That was back in the dark years of Lerner Newspapers.
Since then, the knucklehead I called "Hoss" (among other more colorful names) has become Officer Corter.  I have to admit, I am proud of my friend.
Since then, he has also gotten married and started a family.  Wow.  Somewhere along the line, my friend has really grown up.
Darryl is a big fan of the Chicago Wolves.  Recently, he brought his son Pierce to a game.  The little guy got a picture with Brent Sopel, who was inactive for the game.  It seems like just yesterday that Darryl and I were at a Wolves game.
Time does fly by.  It's great to see Darryl doing great things with his time and enjoying the journey.

Brent Sopel and Pierce Corter in Chicago, IL-January 2015.

Cards That Never Were: Dale Tallon 1979-80 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series featuring card creations for players missed in various sets.  I borrowed this idea from too many other creative bloggers to mention.

Dale Tallon was one of my first favorite hockey players.  After three years with the Vancouver Canucks, Tallon was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jerry "King Kong" Korab and Gary Smith.  Tallon played five seasons in Chicago, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a draft pick.  He played his final two seasons in Pittsburgh.

After his playing days, he became a very popular broadcaster for the Hawks.  He later became their GM and played a big part in the team winning their first Stanley Cup in many years.  Tallon went on to become the GM for the Florida Panthers.

Tallon had hockey cards for each of his first eight seasons.  His last card was a Penguins card, although he was pictured wearing the Hawks uniform.  No card exists of Tallon in a Penguins sweater, until now.

I found a posed shot of Tallon in the Penguins sweater and used that for a 1979-1980 card.  Unfortunately, I found only one picture of him with the Penguins.  He is still missing a 1980-81 Topps creation, but at least I corrected part of the problem.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #210 Harrison Ford & Bruce Willis

Athletes get trading cards.  Why not celebrities?  At least celebrities wearing athletic jerseys should get cards.  I am doing my best to create cards for jersey-clad celebs.  Today, I feature two iconic actors showing their basketball fandom.

Born in Chicago, IL, Harrison Ford's first big role was in "American Graffiti."  Since then, he has starred in some of the most successful movies ever made.  For his Celebrity Jersey Card picture on the very frustrating "tall" Topps cards, Ford is sporting Kobe Bryant's #24.  I would have preferred he went old school wit a Jerry West jersey, but Ford seems to be trying to be hip these days anyway.

 Born in Germany, Bruce Willis gained fame from tv's Moonlighting."  Since then, he went on to star in some of the most successful action films of all time.  For his Celebrity Jersey Card picture on the much-disliked tri-paneled Topps card, Willis is wearing #15 for Vince Carter.  I would go old-school for Willis, except the previous players wearing #15 were not too impressive.

The Chicago Bliss and Kids

It is easy to dismiss the Chicago Bliss as beautiful girls playing football in lingerie.  While I cannot argue with that definition, I can argue that the Bliss go well beyond just that.

I have previously written about how tough these ladies are.  I have also written about how much fun the games are.  The games are as competitive as any football games I have ever seen.

Another side of the women of the Bliss was seen when they invaded Resistance Pro wrestling last year.  Sure, they took pictures with the many male fans who were smitten by their charm, beauty and personalities.  They posed with those fans and signed autographs for them.

What might have gone unnoticed though was their interaction with the young fans.  My friends Louie and George brought their kids to the show and the kids had a ball meeting these women athletes.  Especially since they were not in game-day mode, the Bliss ladies were able to interact a bit more than usual with the young fans.

The Bliss is not just for men.  A Bliss game is several hours of fun and great sport.  Men, women and children will enjoy a Bliss game.  The season opener is on Saturday, April 25 at Toyota Park.  For more information, check out LFLUS.com.

Katy Massey, Jess Price, Jamie Barwick in Willowbrook, IL-April 2014.

Lou Ferrigno Loves Johngy's Beat

I couldn't ask for much more than to have "The Incredible Hulk" supporting Johngy's Beat.  Last year, at the Wizard World Media Session, Lou Ferrigno was kind enough to send a shout out to us.

I also had the please of interviewing Ferrigno.  I have met and talked to him at conventions many times before, but it was very cool to sit down with Ferrigno and basically just talk.  I asked him about his motivation, his acting (including his role on King of Queens) and more.  That interview can be found at On the Beat with Lou Ferrigno at Wizard World.  He followed the interview by giving us the promo below.

The promo has now taken its rightful place in the right column of Johngy promos.  Thank you Lou!

Culture Shock With Terence Muncy

At Days of the Dead in Indianapolis last July.I first met and interviewed writer-director Terence Muncy.  That interview can be found at On the Beat with Terence Muncy at Days of the Dead.  I am looking forward to getting an update from Muncy at the debut of Culture Shock in Indianapolis.
Culture Shock is running from February 27 through March 1 in Indianapolis, IN.  It is brought to you by the same fine folks who run Days of the Dead.  With that crew in charge, you know Culture Shock will be a great one.
The talented Muncy is responsible for Bikini Monsters and Midnight Matinee Psychos.  He is also an artist.
Johngy's Beat will be at Culture Shock and we are hoping to get an update from Muncy.  We also hope to see a lot of friends there.  For more info on Culture Shock, check out CultureShockCon.com.

Terrence Muncy and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2014.

On the Beat with John Borowski at Mad Mobster Con

I first met filmmaker John Borowski at Days of the Dead.  I was intrigued by his chosen subjects.  Three of his documentary films focused on late nineteenth and early twentieth century serial killers.  Borowski delved into the worlds of HH Holmes, Albert Fish, and Carl Panzram in producing fascinating documentaries.
Recently, I reconnected with John at Mad Mobster Con.  We did the update interview below, but I held it until his latest project was announced.
John is making a feature documentary film on the life and art of Vincent Castiglia, who paints in his own blood.  Castiglia's story is one of troubles and triumphs.  It is a unique success story, directed and produced by the award-winning filmmaker.
There is a funding campaign on Kickstarter for this project.  There are various levels of funding and their respective rewards.  You can find more information and donate to the cause on the Kickstarter page at Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent Castiglia.  Of course, you can also get info and updates from John's site at JohnBorowski.com.
John is a great guy and a talented fillmmaker.  Castiglia's work is unique, beautiful and powerful.  Together, they are combining to make a film, which will certainly be intriguing.  I will be updating John's progress along the way.  When you watch the video and check out the pages, you will find John and his project as interesting as I do.  Hopefully you will jump onto his Kickstarter project and become part of the process.

Friendly Encounters: Ric Flair and Eugene Cresto

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

There he is again.  Eugene Cresto is seen with wrestling legend Ric Flair.  Does Cresto meet everyone?
I have written many times about the celebrities who Cresto meets.  He could start Eugene's Beat (but I shouldn't give him that idea)  Seriously, he has met pretty much every wrestler alive and many other celebs, too.
Meeting "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair has to be one of his crowning accomplishments.  Flair is wrestling royalty.  Flair is unquestionably on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling.  It doesn't get any better than meeting Flair.
I can't be too jealous though, because I did get to meet Flair once, too.  I remember feeling his presence.  He is one of a handful of celebrities who just have that aura around them.  I am sure Cresto felt it, too, no matter how many other celebs he has met.
As convention season starts to kick in gear this year, I know I will run into Cresto at some events.  My goal is just to keep up with him.

Eugene Cresto and Ric Flair in Rosemont, IL-December 2014.

On the Beat with Ivan Cryptosis at Mad Mobster Con 2015

I originally met Dr. Ivan Cryptosis a few years ago at a comic con.  Since then, I have seen him at a few other cons and he is always good for some entertainment.

Dr. Cryptosis is a classic horror host.  He is also the "center square of pop culture."  That makes him a perfect fit for Johngy's Beat, your 316th best source for pop culture nuggets.

At Mad Mobster Con, Dr. Cryptosis debuted the new Cryptosis lighters, accompanied by a series of puns and jokes.  These are sure to be hits and eventually collectors items.

Cryptosis was also selling the films of Christopher Mihms.  Mihms goes for the old school feel in his films.  They are described as "new old, good bad movies."  They recall classic monsters, science fiction and horror films.  Quoting The Christopher Mihms Facebook page, "The films  are award-winning, as-authentic-as-possible 1950's-drive-in-style B-movies."

I love the concept and the execution.  This is great entertainment.  It is easy these days to make high-budget, high tech movies.  Those movies might be impressive, but they lack heart like the films of Mihms.  Give me a few of his dvd's, a big pizza and a Coke and I am happy for a lzy Saturday.

After you watch our interview below, you can get more info about Mihms and his movies at SaintEuphoria.com.  Check him out.  You will not be disappointed.