WNEW Channel 5: DRIVE IN MOVIE (1981-1988)

November 19th, 2010 by Mr. C

drive in movie

Where were you in the mid 1980’s on a saturday afternoon at 3pm in the New York City area? I know that this young martian(me) had a reoccurring date with the tube on WNEW CHANNEL 5’s DRIVE IN MOVIE at 3pm every Saturday as some of you Gen X robots probably had as well! This kung fu theatre of awesomeness with an occassional sprinkling of hammer horror flicks spearheaded my love for anything chopsocky, vampires, & frankenstein related goodness!
I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Every weekend from 1983 till about 1987, I would work at my pops ghetto fabulous chinese take out resto in south orange-NJ close to the campus of Seton Hall University & not very far from the urban moshpit of Newark & Irvington. This “Cream of Sum young” robot would work his tail off all in the name of family survival but, come 3-5pm on Saturdays I would gently lay down my chinese cleaver, simmer down the boil to the egg foo young gravy, & set aside the WOK utensils to focus in on WNEW’s Channel 5 drive in movie! I was already watching plenty of revolutionary Hong Kong action films at the time with the likes of a young Jackie Chan, Sammo, Chow Yun Fat, Simon Yam, & Anthony Wong, but something about these period piece films from the Shaw Brothers really sucked me in to the vortex. The Venom’s Mob, Gordon Liu, Chang Cheh the Director, Lau Kar Leung & many others from the shaw brother studios were on top of their game in terms of storytelling, martial arts choreography, costume, & set design. It seems like the 70’s & 80’s were the golden era for period piece traditional kung fu films & the mid 80’s to 90’s were all about modern no holds barred Hong Kong action! Getting back to the Drive In Movies, I had come across some treasures of information regarding the programming of WNEW’s Drive in Movies since its birth from May of 1981 to July of 1988 thanks to a great article by CHRIS POGGIALI crediting native new yorker & movie distributor, MEL MARON on orchestrating the movement for getting these kung fu movies out of the grindhouses & into our local TV station for playback!: http://www.dvddrive-in.com/TV%20Guide/driveinmovie5.htm
In honor of WNEW’s Channel 5 Drive in movie programming, Planet Chocko will write a movie review on a previous shown film on channel 5’s DRIVE IN MOVIE every Saturday set to post around 3pm EST to PLANET CHOCKO ZINE! Stay Tuned! Check out a list of the original programming of WNEW’s Channel 5 DRIVE IN MOVIE below:

Intro music to DRIVE IN MOVIE Courtesy of @whatsayak on youtube

1981
5/2/81 3pm BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS
5/16/81 3pm FUNNY CAR SUMMER
5/23/81 3pm DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
6/6/81 3pm THE MASTER KILLER
6/13/81 3pm GRAD NIGHT
6/20/81 3pm FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
7/4/81 1pm SUNSET COVE
7/11/81 3pm THE THREE AVENGERS
7/18/81 3pm HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
7/25/81 3pm DUEL OF THE IRON FIST
8/1/81 3pm HELLS ANGELS ON WHEELS
8/8/81 3pm THE CHINATOWN KID
8/15/81 3pm THE FACE OF FU MANCHU
8/22/81 3pm RUN, ANGEL, RUN!
9/5/81 3pm HARD DRIVER
9/12/81 3pm EXECUTIONERS OF DEATH
9/19/81 3pm SCARS OF DRACULA
9/25/81 3pm DYNAMO
10/3/81 3pm THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
10/10/81 3pm THE SAVAGE FIVE
10/24/81 3pm THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU
10/31/81 3pm THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
11/21/81 3pm THE TATTOO CONNECTION
12/5/81 3pm TO LOVE A VAMPIRE
12/26/81 3pm THE STARHOPS

1982
1/2/82 3pm CUTTING LOOSE
1/9/82 3pm BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS
1/16/82 3pm THE MASTER KILLER
1/23/82 3pm BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE
1/30/82 3pm THE THREE AVENGERS
2/6/82 3pm DUEL OF THE IRON FIST
2/13/82 3pm SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS
2/20/82 3pm TEN TIGERS OF KWANGTUNG
2/27/82 3pm THE CHINATOWN KID
3/6/82 3pm FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
3/13/82 3pm THE LOSERS
3/20/82 3pm EXECUTIONERS OF DEATH
4/3/82 3pm DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS
4/10/82 3pm SWIM TEAM
4/17/82 3pm DYNAMO
5/8/82 3pm STREET GANGS OF HONG KONG
5/15/82 3pm FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH
5/22/82 3pm SHAOLIN HANDLOCK
6/5/82 3pm MALIBU BEACH
6/12/82 3pm THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
6/19/82 3pm THE VAN
7/3/82 3pm SPIDER-MAN: THE CHINESE WEB
7/10/82 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS
7/17/82 3pm THE UNBEATABLE DRAGON
7/24/82 3pm THE MASTER OF KUNG FU
7/31/82 3pm KILLER FROM SHANTUNG
8/7/82 3pm THE MUMMY (Hammer)
8/14/82 3pm BLUE SUNSHINE
8/21/82 3pm THE DEVIL’S OWN
9/4/82 3pm VAN NUYS BLVD.
9/11/82 3pm THE TATTOO CONNECTION
9/18/82 3pm THE SAVAGE FIVE
9/25/82 3pm THE FOUR INVINCIBLES
10/2/82 3pm THE TATTOOED DRAGON
10/9/82 3pm A MAN CALLED TIGER
10/23/82 3pm STONER
10/30/82 3pm THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE
11/6/82 3pm SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO
11/20/82 3pm ROOTS OF EVIL
12/11/82 3pm AVENGING EAGLES
12/18/82 3pm DEATH CHAMBER

1983
1/1/83 3pm DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY
1/8/83 3pm THE HORROR OF DRACULA
1/15/83 3pm FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH
1/22/83 3pm STREET GANGS OF HONG KONG
2/5/83 3pm THE DEADLY ANGELS
2/12/83 3pm KUNG FU CONSPIRACY
2/19/83 3pm A HARD WAY TO DIE
2/26/83 3pm THE NINJA WARLORD
3/5/83 3pm BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS
3/12/83 3pm THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
3/19/83 3pm JADE CLAW
4/2/83 3pm SUPER POWER
4/16/83 3pm THE MASTER KILLER
4/23/83 3pm THE FOUR ASSASSINS
5/7/83 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA
5/14/83 3pm THE FLYING GUILLOTINE
5/28/83 3pm HELLS ANGELS ON WHEELS
6/4/83 1pm SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO; 3pm DUEL OF THE IRON FIST
6/11/83 1pm STREET GANGS OF HONG KONG
6/18/83 1:30pm GRAD NIGHT; 3pm DEADMAN’S CURVE
6/25/83 1pm THE SAVAGE FIVE
7/2/83 1pm RUN, ANGEL, RUN; 3pm THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
7/9/83 1pm CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS; 3pm THE CHINATOWN KID
7/16/83 1pm THE UNBEATABLE DRAGON; 3pm THE THREE AVENGERS
7/23/83 1pm THE MASTER OF KUNG FU; 3pm EXECUTIONERS OF DEATH
7/30/83 1pm STONER; 3pm THE BLOODY AVENGERS
8/6/83 1pm THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU; 3pm AVENGING EAGLES
8/13/83 1pm FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED; 3pm DYNAMO
8/20/83 1pm THE SHUTTERED ROOM; 3:15pm THE TATTOO CONNECTION
8/27/83 1pm TEN TIGERS OF KWANGTUNG
9/3/83 1pm DEATH CHAMBER; 3:15pm THE TATTOOED DRAGON
9/10/83 1pm DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
9/17/83 1pm THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM; 2:45pm THE SPEARMAN OF DEATH
9/24/83 3pm THE DEADLY ANGELS
10/1/83 1pm KUNG FU EXECUTIONER; 3pm A HARD WAY TO DIE
10/8/83 1pm A MAN CALLED TIGER; 2:30pm THE BULLET TRAIN
10/15/83 1pm THE FOUR ASSASSINS
10/22/83 1pm SUPER POWER; 3pm KOWLOON ASSIGNMENT
10/29/83 3pm DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS
11/5/83 1pm KILLER FROM SHANTUNG; 3pm WHEN TAEKWONDO STRIKES
11/12/83 1pm THE NINJA WARLORD; 3pm THE RETURN OF THE MASTER KILLER
11/19/83 1pm THE DESTROYERS
11/26/83 1pm KUNG FU CONSPIRACY; 2:45pm TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH
12/3/83 1pm JADE CLAW
12/10/83 1pm BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS
12/17/83 1pm FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
12/31/83 3:30pm MALIBU BEACH

1984
1/7/84 2pm THE TATTOO CONNECTION
1/14/84 3pm AVENGING EAGLES
1/21/84 3pm FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH
2/4/84 3pm FISTS OF THE WHITE LOTUS
2/11/84 3pm MASKED AVENGERS
2/18/84 3pm INSTRUCTORS OF DEATH
2/25/84 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA
3/3/84 3pm STREET GANGS OF HONG KONG
3/17/84 3pm THE FACE OF FU MANCHU
3/24/84 3pm THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
3/31/84 3pm KUNG FU EXECUTIONER
4/21/84 3pm THE FLYING GUILLOTINE
5/5/84 3pm DIRTY HO
5/12/84 3pm SLICE OF DEATH
5/26/84 3pm MORTAL COMBAT
6/2/84 3pm WHEN TAEKWONDO STRIKES
6/9/84 3pm ROOTS OF EVIL
6/23/84 2:30pm COP IN BLUE JEANS
6/30/84 2:30pm THE SPEARMAN OF DEATH
7/7/84 3pm DUEL OF THE IRON FIST
7/14/84 3pm THE MASTER KILLER
7/21/84 3pm TEN TIGERS OF KWANGTUNG
7/28/84 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS
8/4/84 3pm THE FOUR ASSASSINS
8/11/84 3pm THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
8/18/84 3pm THE MASTER OF KUNG FU
9/1/84 3pm THE UNBEATABLE DRAGON
9/8/84 3pm THE THREE AVENGERS
9/15/84 3pm THE DESTROYERS
9/22/84 3pm THE DEATH CHAMBER
9/29/84 3pm KILLER ARMY
10/13/84 3pm KUNG FU KILLERS
10/20/84 3pm THE DEADLY MANTIS (1978)
11/10/84 3pm SUPER NINJAS
11/17/84 3pm WINNERS AND SINNERS
11/24/84 3pm THE INVINCIBLE ONE
12/8/84 3pm STONER
12/15/84 3pm THE BLOODY AVENGERS
12/29/84 3pm KILLER FROM SHANTUNG

1985
1/5/85 3pm THE YOUNG MASTER
1/12/85 3pm RETURN OF THE MASTER KILLER
1/19/85 3pm RETURN OF THE DRAGON
1/26/85 3pm THE CHINESE CONNECTION
2/9/85 3pm THE GAME OF DEATH
2/26/85 3pm GAME OF DEATH II
2/23/85 3pm THE TATTOOED DRAGON
3/2/85 3pm BREAKER! BREAKER!
3/16/85 3pm SUPER POWER
3/30/85 3pm A HARD WAY TO DIE
4/13/85 3pm THE CHINATOWN KID
5/4/85 3pm FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH
5/11/85 3pm FISTS OF FURY
5/25/85 3pm SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO
6/1/85 3pm HOT RODS TO HELL
6/8/85 3pm DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS
6/15/85 3pm THE DEADLY ANGELS
6/29/85 3pm KUNG FU CONSPIRACY
7/6/85 3pm JADE CLAW
7/20/85 3pm GOLIATHON
7/27/85 3pm THE SAVAGE FIVE
8/3/85 3pm STREET GANGS OF HONG KONG
8/10/85 3pm DUEL OF THE IRON FIST
8/17/85 3pm THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
8/31/85 3pm KUNG FU EXECUTIONER
9/7/85 3pm EXECUTIONERS OF DEATH
9/21/85 1pm THEM!; 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA
9/28/85 1pm TERROR IN THE WAX MUSEUM; 3pm AVENGING EAGLES
10/5/85 1:15pm THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS; 3pm KUNG FU WARLORDS
10/12/85 1pm TO LOVE A VAMPIRE; 3pm ROAR OF THE LION
10/19/85 1pm DISCIPLES OF DEATH
10/26/85 1pm SCARS OF DRACULA; 3pm TWO CHAMPIONS OF DEATH
11/2/85 1pm THE CONQUEROR WORM; 2:45pm KARATE EXTERMINATORS
11/9/85 1:10pm THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH; 3pm LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF KUNG FU
11/16/85 1pm TALES OF TERROR
11/23/85 1pm BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB; 3pm YOR, THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE
11/30/85 1pm THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN; 2:45pm INVINCIBLE KUNG FU BROTHERS
12/14/85 1pm DOCTOR BLOOD’S COFFIN; 3pm INSTRUCTORS OF DEATH
12/21/85 1:15pm JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TIME; 3pm DIRTY HO
12/28/85 1pm THE OTHER; 3pm SLICE OF DEATH

1986
1/4/86 1pm THE BAT PEOPLE; 3pm WINNERS AND SINNERS
1/11/86 1pm THE OBLONG BOX; 3pm BRUCE LEE: THE MAN, THE MYTH
1/18/86 1:15pm TOMB OF LIGEIA; 3pm SHAOLIN HANDLOCK
1/25/86 1pm INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.; 3pm IRON FINGERS OF DEATH
2/1/86 1pm GAMERA – SUPER MONSTER; 3pm STROKE OF DEATH
2/8/86 1pm THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM; 2:45pm THE MASTER KILLER
2/15/86 1pm THE RAVEN; 3pm SEVEN SOLDIERS OF KUNG FU
2/22/86 1pm COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE; 3pm STRIKE 4 REVENGE
3/1/86 1pm SPIRITS OF THE DEAD; 3:15pm BRUCE LEE: THE MAN, THE LEGEND
3/8/86 1pm THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN; 3pm SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS
3/15/86 1pm JENNIFER — THE SNAKE GODDESS; 3pm IRON CHAIN ASSASSIN
3/29/86 1pm MASTER OF THE WORLD; 3pm POWERFORCE
4/5/86 1:15pm THE BLACK CASTLE; 3pm THE FLYING GUILLOTINE
4/12/86 3pm THE SPEARMAN OF DEATH
4/19/86 1pm SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED; 3pm KILLER ARMY
4/26/86 1:45pm CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON; 3:30pm THE NINJA WARLORD
5/3/86 1pm BLACK SABBATH; 3pm THUNDERBOLT FISTS
5/10/86 1pm THE DEVIL WITHIN HER; 3pm DAREDEVILS OF KUNG FU
5/17/86 1pm SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM
5/24/86 1pm THE THING WITH TWO HEADS; 3pm KUNG FU HELLCATS
5/31/86 1:15pm THE ZOMBIES OF SUGAR HILL; 3pm THE DEADLY MANTIS (1978)
6/7/86 1pm THE STRANGER (1972); 3pm FISTS OF THE WHITE LOTUS
6/14/86 1pm DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN; 3pm MORTAL COMBAT
6/21/86 1pm FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD; 3pm THE INVINCIBLE ONE
6/28/86 1pm THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD; 3pm GODZILLA 1985
7/26/86 1pm THE UFO INCIDENT; 3pm THE UNBEATABLE DRAGON
8/16/86 1:30pm IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE; 3:15pm KUNG FU KILLERS
8/23/86 1pm PANIC IN YEAR ZERO!; 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS
8/30/86 1pm PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE; 2:45pm THE FOUR ASSASSINS
9/6/86 1pm MONSTER ZERO; 3pm THE FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH
9/13/86 1:15pm THE INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT
9/20/86 1:30pm GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER; 3:15pm SUPERFIGHTERS
9/27/86 1pm DESTROY ALL MONSTERS; 3pm DEATH CHAMBER
10/4/86 1:15pm TALES OF TERROR; 3pm SHAOLIN MASTERS
10/11/86 1:05pm THE OBLONG BOX; 3pm WARRIOR OF STEEL
10/18/86 1:15pm CONQUEST OF SPACE; 3pm KUNG FU GOLD
10/25/86 1:15pm WAR OF THE WORLDS; 3pm POWERFORCE
11/1/86 1:30pm WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE; 3:15pm THE KILLING MACHINE
11/8/86 1:15pm I, MONSTER; 3pm KUNG FU INVADERS
11/22/86 1:15pm THE WIZARD OF OZ (Toho, 1982); 3:15pm DEMON FIST OF KUNG FU
11/29/86 1:15pm CREATION OF THE HUMANOIDS
12/6/86 1pm THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
12/13/86 1pm THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN; 3pm THE DESTROYERS
12/20/86 3pm THE RETURN OF THE MASTER KILLER
12/27/86 1pm UFOs ARE REAL; 3pm TEN TIGERS OF KWANGTUNG

1987
1/3/87 1:30pm THE WOLF MAN; 3pm THE BLOODY AVENGERS
1/10/87 1pm SCARS OF DRACULA; 3pm SOUL BROTHERS OF KUNG FU
1/17/87 1:15pm THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS; 3pm THE MASTER OF KUNG FU
1/24/87 1pm THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE; 3pm SHAOLIN HANDLOCK
1/31/87 1pm BLACULA; 3pm KILLER FROM SHANTUNG
2/7/87 1pm BEWARE! THE BLOB; 3pm THREE EVIL MASTERS
2/14/87 1:15pm THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION; 2:45pm DYNASTY OF BLOOD
2/21/87 1:15pm THE BLACK CASTLE; 3pm THE KUNG FU INSTRUCTOR
2/28/87 1pm HORROR HOSPITAL; 2:45pm AVENGING WARRIORS OF SHAOLIN
3/7/87 1pm THE KEEPER; 2:45pm STONER
3/14/87 1pm BLACK SABBATH; 3pm WHEN TAEKWONDO STRIKES
3/21/87 1pm THE PUMA MAN; 3pm CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA
4/4/87 12:45pm THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
4/11/87 3pm A HARD WAY TO DIE
4/18/87 1pm THE OBLONG BOX; 3pm INSTRUCTORS OF DEATH
4/25/87 3:30pm SUPER POWER
5/2/87 1pm THE STEPFORD WIVES; 3:30pm SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO
5/9/87 1pm THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN; 2:15pm MARK OF THE VAMPIRE
5/16/87 1pm CATASTROPHE!; 3pm KUNG FU WARLORDS
5/23/87 1pm LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF KUNG FU
5/30/87 1pm HOUSE OF DRACULA
6/6/87 1pm SATURN 3; 3pm THE BLACK HOLE
6/13/87 1pm STOWAWAY TO THE MOON; 3pm KOWLOON ASSIGMENT
6/20/87 1pm THE CONQUEROR WORM; 2:45pm THE FLYING GUILLOTINE
6/27/87 1pm SPIRITS OF THE DEAD; 3pm THE $1,000,000 DUCK
7/11/87 1pm METEOR; 3:15pm KUNG FU CONSPIRACY
7/18/87 1pm THE OUTLAWS IS COMING; 3pm THE SPEARMAN OF DEATH
7/25/87 1pm THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN
8/15/87 1pm JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH; 3:30pm THE NINJA WARLORD
8/22/87 1pm KUNG FU EXECUTIONER
8/29/87 1pm THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD; 3pm ROOTS OF EVIL
9/5/87 3pm AVENGING EAGLES
9/12/87 3pm THE DEADLY MANTIS (1978)
10/3/87 1pm CAPTAIN SINBAD; 3pm BARBARELLA
10/10/87 1pm THE CANTERVILLE GHOST (1986); 3pm THE NAKED JUNGLE
10/24/87 3pm ATRAGON
11/7/87 3pm LOVE AT FIRST BITE
11/14/87 3pm WAR OF THE WORLDS
11/21/87 3pm PIRANHA II: THE SPAWNING
11/28/87 3pm THE MAD MAGICIAN
12/5/87 3pm DYNASTY
12/12/87 3pm GODZILLA VS. THE COSMIC MONSTER

1988
1/2/88 3pm YOR, THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE
1/16/88 3pm DREAMSCAPE
1/23/88 3pm D.A.R.Y.L
1/30/88 3pm ALLIGATOR
2/6/88 3pm WAR GODS OF THE DEEP
2/13/88 3pm TROLL
2/20/88 2:45pm PLANET OF THE APES
2/27/88 3pm CRACK IN THE WORLD
3/5/88 3pm THE PUMA MAN
3/12/88 3pm THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK
3/19/88 3pm BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES
3/26/88 3pm THE BAT PEOPLE
4/2/88 3pm RUSTLER’S RHAPSODY
4/9/88 3pm KING SOLOMON’S MINES (1950)
4/16/88 1pm THE YOUNG RUNAWAYS; 3pm THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
4/23/88 1pm TREASURE OF SAN BOSCO REEF; 3pm YOR, THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE
4/30/88 3pm BUCKAROO BANZAI
5/7/88 3pm THE GREEN SLIME
5/14/88 3pm EXPLORERS
5/21/88 3pm ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES
5/28/88 3pm THE CLAIRVOYANT
6/4/88 3pm THE INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT
6/11/88 2:45pm METEOR
6/18/88 3pm TALES OF TERROR
6/25/88 3:15pm TOMB OF LIGEIA
7/2/88 3pm THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

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zinester’s guide to NYC Release Party at Housing Works

November 16th, 2010 by chocko

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The Zinester’s Guide To NYC Release Party was at Housing Works last Thursday and featured live readings by a bunch of contributors, live music and a mini zine fair. The place was packed with people sitting on the floors and stairs checking out zine writers read their contributions to the book published by Microcosm. The audience was also treated to music by the Bushwick Book Club who performed songs inspired by the guide. There was also a live $2 Pyramid Game Show. The mini zine fair was fun too. There were tables of zines and underground homemade comic for sale. There was a guy there from Microcosm Publishing that took a train there from Kansas just for the event. The book is edited by Ayun Halliday who is the author of No Touch Monkey! and the East Village Inky Zine. The book is a jam packed guide to the greatest city in the world. It’s got something for everybody…listings of things to do, tips on biking in nyc, thrift stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, records shops many off the beaten path…every borough is represented. There’s so much in this book that it’s a bit overwhelming, but I love it! It’s kinda like a punk rock Frommer’s or Fodor’s travel book. There’s lots of illustrations by local artists and the whole book is user friendly and really funny. If you think you know all there is to know about New York City, guess again. Pick up this book and you will be surprised.
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zine
If you missed the event, there will be others featuring many of the guide’s contributors:
Tuesday, November 30 7:00 – 9:00pm at St. Mark’s Bookshop
31 3rd Ave. NYC and
Sunday, December 5 · 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Bluestockings Books
172 Allen Street (between Stanton and Rivington) NYC

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Suzanne Vega performing at Housing Works bookstore & cafe

November 15th, 2010 by Mr. C

Suzanne Vega at housing works bookstore and cafe

Suzanne Vega played at the Housing Works bookstore and cafe in NYC on Sunday, November 14! It’s always a treat to watch her perform live especially in such an intimate setting like Housing Works! Suzanne has been contemporarily folking out in NYC since the 1980’s. She grew up in spanish harlem so lots of her inspiration for songwriting delve into the urban landscapes & the relationships that would ensue from the best freeform concrete jungles known to man called new york city. Most of you folks might know her from her chart buster hits like LUKA & TOM’s DINER which rose to the Billboards in 1987. TOM’s DINER then got remade in 1990 into a dance tune that most of you would recognize. After that she had a few hits here and there like Caramel & 99.9 degrees but, basically dropped into obscurity from the US billboards & mainstream. She continued with her music & I continued to follow her multifaceted lyrics based on her observations & experiences of city life. She is still very popular in europe and thus, tours there quite often, moreso than in the US. So, when Ms. Vega makes an appearance in her hometown of NYC, you best believe a planet chocko martian will be there with antennas propped up scanning the airwaves! Some of my favorite songs besides the obvious include QUEEN and the SOLDIER (sad), GYPSY (her 1st romance), IRONBOUND (which is about the ironbound portugese section of Newark,NJ), BLOOD MAKES NOISE (great rendition of this at the show with crazy distortions from the guitar!), TOMBSTONE (about the funeral procession of her cat which her mom set afloat on a raft in the east river, then incinerated). She also performed a new song called THE BAND WHO PLAYED GOD (a Sparklehorse composed song with Suzanne’s lyrics influenced by Pablo Picasso’s imagination & creativity. The other new song she performed was INSTANT OF THE HOUR AFTER which was based on Carson Mcculler’s short story of the same title. The story was about a husband confronting his wife after a night of heavy boozing. It was great to see Suzanne Vega perform in such a small venue at Housing Works! I think she is one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of our time! If you get a chance & she is playing at a performance space near you, go check it out! Suzanne Vega is definitely one of NYC’s contemporary folk music treasures!

Suzanne Vega set list
marlene on a wall
when heroes go down
caramel
small blue thing
bonnie & clyde
gypsy
ironbound
tombstone
blood makes noise
The band who played god
queen and the soldier
rock in this pocket
some journey
instant of the hour after
rosemary
luka
tom’s diner

Suzanne Vega at Housing Works

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Girl In A Coma played Best Buy Union Square NYC

November 14th, 2010 by chocko

Girl In A Coma are a band from San Antonio, Texas and consists of Jenn Alva (bass), Phanie Diaz (drums) and Nina Diaz (vocals and guitars). They have recorded 2 albums “Both Before I’m Gone” and “Trio B.C.” and have traveled the world opening up for bands such as Morrissey, Social Distortion and Tegan and Sara. The band is on Joan Jett’s Black Heart Records’ label and just released their latest album titled, “Adventures in Coverland” which features the bands take on songs by Velvet Underground, Joy Division and The Beatles…I’m surprised there wasn’t an Elvis cover on the album because Jenn is such a huge fan. My favorite track is their cover of Selena’s “Si Una Vez” a song entirely in Spanish which is guaranteed to make you move. They stopped by Best Buy in NYC to play an acoustic set which sounded great mixing originals and covers. I love their usual show with the electric guitar and loud bass and drumming, but the acoustic sets really showcase Nina’s voice which can get lost in the mix during shows. The bass is clear, you can hear the lyrics and I think they should incorporate this more in their live show. They definitely rocked…can’t wait to see them again!

G.I.A.C. Setlist
BB
Static Mind
Walkin’ After Midnight (made famous by Patsy Cline)
El Monte
Pink Lemonade
As The World Falls Down (David Bowie)
Road To Home
For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
Transmission (Joy Division)
Pink Lemonade

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Allison Weiss and Lauren Zettler at the Pumpkin Jam

November 12th, 2010 by chocko

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A couple weeks ago, on a blustery Halloween day (seems so long ago) Allison Weiss and Lauren Zettler played their second annual Pumpkin Jam in Washington Square Park. They are two lovely and talented singer/songwriters who live in NYC. Allison was dressed as “Allison W.K.” complete with a bloody white t-shirt. ewwww! Lauren was dressed as Allison in a red hoodie, glasses and a 100% tattoo. She was a spittin’ image. They played for a crowd under the Arch and we were treated to nearly an hour of songs and free candy. I picked up Lauren’s latest CD, titled “On Your Back Porch” which featured 7 great songs….my favorite is the catchy, and fun “shapes.” Allison had her latest for sale as well and that’s titled, “Allison Weiss Was Right All Along” and features 10 tracks which range from pop songs that rock “fingers crossed” and sad songs like “why bother” that will have you crying and curled up in the fetal position under a table. Check out the video below…it’s a fun cover of a song by a certain teen pop superstar.

IMG_7487 be sure to check out their websites for more info and merch Lauren Zettler
 Allison Weiss

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The Pee-Wee Herman Show in NYC

November 11th, 2010 by chocko

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Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is back and he’s brought along lots of his friends from the Playhouse. If you were a kid growing up in the 80’s (or a kid at heart) and remember watching “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and waking up Saturday mornings for “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” then this show is for you. All the characters from the Playhouse are back including Jambi, Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, Chairry, Conky and the King of Cartoons. I was lucky to get tickets to the first NYC show on October 26 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre and sat in the center of the balcony which had a great view. There was a huge curtain in front of the stage and as soon as Pee-Wee came out to start the show, the crowd went wild. When the curtains opened to reveal the Playhouse, the crowd cheered even crazier. It was insane! It was great to see Lynne Marie Stewart reprise the role of Miss Yvonne and John Paragon is back as the genie, Jambi. Mekalekahi Meka Hiney Ho! The show is well written, funny and there are even jokes for the adults snuck in there too. Don’t you worry, there is a secret word and don’t forget when you hear it…scream real loud! I don’t want to give much of the plot away, but It’s just another day in the Playhouse for Pee-Wee who wishes one day to be able to fly. There are plenty of laughs and one of my favorite scenes happens when the lights go out. You will love this play so much you’ll want to marry it! Hurry and get your tickets, the show ends on January 2, 2011. Welcome back Pee-Wee. We missed you!

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Chiller Theatre Convention 2010

November 10th, 2010 by Mr. C

Toy models of wolverine & the hulk!
Jack Nicholson in the Shining w Freddy lurking in the back
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The 5 DEADLY VENOMS & 1 bad ass MOFO with a FRO

November 7th, 2010 by Mr. C

Just wanted to share some cool posters that I’ve been stashing away in that tube for quite some time. I finally got some frames to unearth these bad boys! I was smiling from one end of my ‘chi-neez’ jeri curls to the other end of my fu-manchu because I’m able to finally display this beautiful artwork in all it’s kickass glory! Jim Kelly also signed one of my posters at the Chiller Theater convention! Can you dig it?! Find upon you, the 5 DEADLY VENOMS including the Toad, The Scorpion, The Lizard, The Snake, & the Centipede! And I can’t forget one bad azz mofo, Jim Kelly! The artwork is sick! The photos definitely does NOT give it its due justice! The artwork pops & locks in ya’ face in person! You can feel the speed of the Centipede rippin’ up those ceramic plates, the Toad’s extraordinary strength to absorb punishment, the devastating kicks of the Scorpion, the venomous strikes of the Snake, the Lizard scaling the wall like some possessed gecko, & Jim Kelly smashing faces & doing his signature exhale rebel yell when his fists & kicks meet flesh! Much respect, mang to the artist ROBERT O’BRIEN aka “Kung Fu Bob” from Philadelphia. You can find him on the KUNG FU CINEMA COMMUNITY better known as KFC and formerly known as KUNG FU FANDOM!

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Sophie Crumb at DCKT

November 6th, 2010 by chocko

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Getting to Sophie Crumb’s opening reception last night was an ordeal to say the least….traffic was a mess in and around the GWB and the tunnels and it took me 2 hours to get to the Bowery from my place in Jersey. Enough of my whining, I made it and it was well worth the wait in rush hour gridlock. Sophie Crumb, the daughter of R. Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb was present at the opening of her debut solo exhibition at the DCKT Contemporary, proudly pointing out her work with a bunch of friends and fans that crowded around her in admiration. The exhibit was comprised of painted portraits, panels of comic book art and watercolor paintings…some depicting celebrities in a warped perspective of reality. When I last saw Sophie 6 years ago, she was selling her Belly Button Comix at the a local Comic Book show called MOCCA. I was floored by her comics and was really excited she was carrying on the tradition of creating crazy Crumb comic books and characters. I saw a lot of her father’s influence in her work at the time. This new solo exhibition proves that as an artist, she is maturing, improving and developing her own style. The exhibition coincides with the release of the book, “Sophie Crumb: Evolution of a Crazy Artist” filled with drawings and art from her younger years to the present. The book also features Sophie’s commentary explaining the art and what inspired it and also her point of view on growing up the daughter of two revered artists while searching to find her own voice.

The exhition will be on view at DCKT Comtemporary, 195 Bowery (at Spring Street) from November 5-December 30, 2010
hours are Tuesday through Friday 11 am – 6pm; Saturday, noon-6pm; Sunday, noon-5pm.
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OFF! played Generation Records

November 4th, 2010 by chocko

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OFF! was at Generation Records in New York City on October 22 to promote their debut 7″ featuring 4 tracks of smoldering hardcore punk. OFF! features the insane and always energetic former lead singer of Black Flag and Circle Jerks, Keith Morris along with Steven McDonald (Redd Kross), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) and Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes). The well behaved crowd packed in the basement of Generation Records and surprisingly nobody started any circle pits. The band was phenomenal and Keith’s vocals were amazing. Keith shared stories with the crowd in between songs including one involving his favorite Black Flag member, Robo and the Colombian Cartel! A highlight from the fast and furious set of songs was “Jeffrey Lee Pierce” a song about the lead singer of the Gun Club who passed away in 1996. He and Keith were best friends and were about to start a band together before he died. The energy in the room was definitely inspiring. Go see OFF! when they come to your town and pick up the new single on Vice Records. The cover and poster that comes with it features some really cool art by Raymond Pettibon. Shout out to Glen E. Friedman who was also at the in store snapping pics of the event. Google him if you don’ know who he is…the dude has been taking photos and documenting the punk, hip hop and skateboard scenes since way back. Set list: black thoughts, darkness, i don’t belong, poison city, now i’m pissed!, full of shit, sexy capitalists, killing away, jeffrey lee pierce, crawl, rat trap, blast, panic attack and upside down.


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THE STORY OF RICKY: RIKI OH (1991)

November 1st, 2010 by Mr. C

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THE STORY OF RICKY aka RIKI OH starring Louis Fan Siu Wong always manages to find its way off my dusty shelves usually during Halloween time to get some tube play! The Story of Ricky is one of Hong Kong’s best gory superhero kung fu films that is SO, SO BAD which makes it SO, SO GOOD! The script is horrible & the effects look ridiculous most of the times. The characters in the movie comprise of a compilation of HK’s rendition of a cyclops version of boss hog from the Dukes of Hazzard with a captain hook accessory, a heavily tattooed triad leader from a Chow Yun Fat movie, some rejects from Big Trouble in Little China, & a gay chinese version of a villain from Superman. Despite the bad selling points in my description of this film, this movie remains one of my favorite & most entertaining HK films in my database! The Story of Ricky is based on a Japanese Anime called Rikki O who has extraordinary kung fu powers! I think I reviewed this movie a decade ago in the print version of PLANET CHOCKO , but you online martian geeks will get another dose of this grotesque badass flick! Without divulging too much, this film is about Ricky played by Fan Siu Wong(awesome martial artist in real life) who is incarcerated for manslaughter in the confines of this prison of horror with a corrupt warden and assistants. This jail is kept in check with the likes of a captain hook inspired boss hog with one eye, & his band of badazz trailer trash inmates including a meathead triad member, a sumo looking monster, & the “gang of four”, including the gay version of a villain from crypton, & a chinese tarzan. What these bad guys don’t know & will soon come to find out is that Ricky is one badass mofo himself with superhuman powers. Riki Oh is a master of kung fu & chi gung. He can basically punch through anything in his way…anything! Ricky battles his way through the prison in the name of justice! Yes, I know that sounds contradicting! But, inmates have rights, too! The end of the movie involves a meat grinder & some poppy seeds, say what?! Louis Fan Siu Wong does a great job in performing the martial art sequences for his character RICKY because he is a tremendous martial artist in real life with a great physique & screen presence! THE STORY OF RICKY was one of the breakthrough movies for Fan Siu Wong in 1991. Most of you should be familiar with Wong’s other films like Supercop 2, IP Man 1 & 2, & Kung Fu Chefs amongst many others. If y’all haven’t laid your 3rd eye on this movie yet, then what the bluck are you waiting for? How can you not like a movie that has a villain who kills himself & then pulls out his own intestine to try to choke RICKY with?

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screaming females

October 26th, 2010 by chocko

Screaming Females is a female-fronted DIY band straight outta New Brunswick, New Jersey who have been playing basements, clubs and festivals relentlessly for the last 5 years and recently released their fourth album, “Castle Talk.” Their songs are loud and inspired by punk , funk and music from the Riot Grrl era. Actually, it’s really hard to describe the music they play, but it is a must to check them out. Marissa and her guitar solos are SICK! She is also an amazing artist who does all the band art work for their albums and flyers. The band recently made heads explode during CMJ week and now they’re off doing their first tour overseas in Europe. Here’s an interview with the band. Thanks to Jarret Dougherty (drums), King Mike (bass) and Marissa Paternoster (guitar and vocals) for taking the time out to answer a couple of questions!

How did you all meet and form the band?
Marissa: Mike and I were playing in a different band in high school called Surgery on TV. I met Jarrett at college at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. He played in Surgery on TV for a while until that band broke up, then we started Screaming Females. That’s the abridged version, but that is generally all that happened.

What were your initial expectations as a band?
Jarrett: Surgery on TV were a funk band and I always wanted to play in a funk band. Somehow we turned into a punk band. I wanted Screaming Females to be the most significant artistic statement I’d ever made.

Tell us a little bit about the new album, Castle Talk.
Mike: It’s yellow and it has a horse on it.
Marissa: Yes! That is exactly what I was thinking.
Jarrett: Marissa tells people this every night at our shows. The only other thing she says is “We are Screaming Females and we are from New Brunswick, NJ.” So it must be important.

Where are some of your favorite places to play?
Jarrett: Hopefully a bunch of places in Europe because we are going to be playing a show almost every night here for the next 5 weeks. If it doesn’t have a few new favorite places then I might lose it.

Are you feeling nervous about the upcoming tour in Europe?
Mike: We’re there now.
Jarrett: Yeah, its not upcoming anymore. I guess we shouldn’t be nervous now because there is no way out! We play our first show tonight in Amsterdam.

Do you all have other interests or hobbies outside of music?
Jarrett: I have a box of worms that live in my closet. I feed them my food scraps and they turn it into compost (poo). I check on them everyday to make sure they are happy.

What are some of your favorite bands to listen to at the moment?
Mike: Fall Out Boy. But just “From Under the Cork Tree.”
Marissa: You should just say Fall Out Boy because you might start to like the other albums, like me. Don’t put your foot in your mouth.

What is everybody’s favorite movie?
Jarrett: I just remembered that it is “Cool Hand Luke.” Before I remembered that I thought it was The Room.
Marissa: My favorite movie… um… I have a bunch. Freaks, Brazil, Sid & Nancy, Biodome, Tank Girl…
Jarrett: That’s enough.
Mike: No, list all of them.
Marissa:.. Homeward Bound…
Mike: Keep listing them.
Marissa:… Clockwork Orange…

What can we expect from Screaming Females in the near future?
Marissa:…Home Alone…
Jarrett: Well, we will be in Europe for the next 5 weeks. After that I think we get to take a break. We’ve been touring more days this year than we’ve been home. We released a record. Did 2 full national US tours. A 5 week European tour. Had a van break down in New Mexico. Recorded a new record. Toured with Ted Leo 3 times.
Marissa: …Christmas Story…

Any closing comments?
Marissa: …Mommy Dearest and Mildred Pierce.


baby_teeth_coverwhat_if_cover185893 CDF161castle_talk_cover click here for more info on screaming females.

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