The premier airing of the PROFESSOR KINEMA show was broadcast on May 18, 1994, via the facilities of LTV of Wainscott, Long Island. The subject of this first show was part one of a perceptive interview with Robert Parrish. Other shows in this initial series showcased a two-part interview with Cinema Historian William K Everson, an informal talk with cartoonist/author Gahan Wilson and an insight into collecting vintage monster magazines and other fantastic literature with Steve Dolnick. The series is hosted by Cinema Historian and Folklorist Jim Knusch. Currently the series can be viewed on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network on Thursday nights at midnight on channel 56.
Robert Parrish's career stretches back to Hollywood in the late 1920s and early 1930s as a child performer. He speaks fondly of appearing with Charlie Chaplin in CITY LIGHTS as well as being an Our Gang kid. From child performer he moved into film editing, winning an academy award for BODY AND SOUL (1947), and ultimately becoming a film director. His recollections relate stories about John Ford, Dick Powell, Edward Dmytryk, James Wong Howe, Harry Cohen, Robert Mitchum, Joel McRae, Orson Welles and Peter Sellers...to mention a few. His autobiographical books are titled; Growing Up in Hollywood and Hollywood Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Mr Parrish, who was interviewed in his eastern Long Island home, passed away on December 3, 1995.
Considered as one of the top (if not, indeed, the top) Cinema Historians of our day, William K Everson gives some insight into tracking down, preserving and making available for evaluation rare and 'lost' cinema material. He was a Professor of Cinema at New York University. Among his many teaching and lecturing duties were at Columbia University and the New School For Social Research as well as seminars throughout the United States and many parts of Europe. Among his many books are; Classics of the Horror Film, The American Silent Film, The Western and The Detective in Film. He was also the coordinator of the Teluride Film Festival. Professor Everson, who resided in New York City, passed away on April 13, 1996.
To the regular readers of magazines as diverse as Playboy, The New Yorker and National Lampoon, the name Gahan Wilson is very recognizable. Mr Wilson is primarily known for his truly bizarre cartoons (the PROFESSOR KINEMA cartoon/logo rendering was done by him) but has also been proficient in writing. Among his written works are book and film reviews, TV screenplay and short stories. He also has an active interest and fond liking for classic horror films. In the course of his chat on the PROFESSOR KINEMA show he voices his views, likes and dislikes of the genre and relates a story of how he wound up becoming a guest ghoul in the remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. He was interviewed in his home in Eastern Long Island.
Steve Dolnick is a major collector and dealer of vintage monster magazines, other fantastic literature and related items. He appears regularly at horror and nostalgia conventions trading and selling his fantastic merchandise as well as giving presentations. He has been instrumental in establishing collectible pricing and in determining condition. Mr Dolnick was interviewed among his stacks of periodicals in his home in Nassau County on Long Island.
The PROFESSOR KINEMA camcorder next traveled west to California. Among the people interviewed are a Avant Garde filmmaker, a make up maestro of the more memorable (and equally forgettable) grade B horror and science fiction films of the 50s and a heavy duty collector of movie esoterica. Subjects explored are Hollywood in the 'good old days,' celebrity gravesites, creating monsters in low budget movies and innovative experimental cinema. Scanning the grounds and crypts of the many fascinating graveyards in and around Hollywood, many of the famous (and more obscure) gravesites of Tinseltown have been unearthed (pardon the pun). The history of Hollywood (as a town and an entity) as well as the history of American Cinema can be found in these gravesites. Final resting places of megastars like Marilyn Monroe, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power are explored. Big names like Cecil B DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Fritz Lang and Walt Disney as well as ubscure characters like Dwight Frye, Tor Johnson, Florence Lawrence (surely everyone remembers the first 'true' movie star), Douglas Dumbrille and stooge Larry Fine are also found. In addition, a two-part show has recently been completed featuring interviews with authors Judi Culbertson and Tom Randall, authors of the 'Permanent' series of celebrity gravesites.The term Avant Garde is discussed with experimental filmmaker and author of the Hollywood Babylons I & II, Kenneth Anger. Mr Anger is a residence of Palm Springs, California, living on the estate once owned by Al Jolson. In a perceptive interview Mr Anger tells of his early days in Hollywood as a child performer. The mid-1940s saw the creation of his innovative and controversial FIREWORKS (1947). Other Anger (I love that name) works discussed are SCORPIO RISING (1962), INVOCATION OF MY DEMON BROTHER (1969) and RABBIT'S MOON (1972). A hint as to what would be in Hollywood Babylon III is also touched upon.
To anyone with an interest in Sci-Fi, the name Forrest J Ackerman of Horrorwood, Karloffornia, would be immediately identifiable. He, in fact, first coined the phrase Sci-Fi. The Ackermonster (as many affectionately refer to him) fondly recalls early days of Hollywood, his first exposures to (what he terms) imagi-movies and his insatiable passion for collecting. Throughout his long career as author, magazine editor and writer's agent he has encountered many a fascinating personality. Fond memories of encounters with Fritz Lang, Bridgitte Helm, Hugo Gernsbeck, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre are captured in the interview of part one. In the second part he takes the PROFESSOR KINEMA camera on a personal tour of the Ackermuseum. Many of the 300,000 items amassed there are viewed.
In the (maybe not so) golden days of 50s sci-fi and horror movies, someone had to be responsible for the makeup work. This person had to be, in a phrase, the 'monster maker.' This 'monster maker' was Harry Thomas, also of Hollywood, California. This makeup maestro was responsible for the creatures found in such films as FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER, KILLERS FROM SPACE, THE UNEARTHLY, THE NEANDERTHAL MAN and NIGHT OF THE GHOULS. As part of this perceptive interview he also shares memories of working as an actor in the early days (early 30s) of Hollywood, other makeup artists he has worked with and a person he was close to: Ed Wood. Ed Wood has recently been the subject of a major motion picture. Mr Thomas passed away on October 25, 1996.
In the summer of 1997 the PROFESSOR KINEMA camcorder traveled south to the little town of Ligonier, Pa. to lens footage of the Monster Bash. The resultant three part series highlights such personalities as Sarah Karloff (yes, Boris' daughter), Bela Lugosi, Jr (yes, Bela's only son), Ron Chaney (Lon Jr's grandson and Lon Sr's Great-grandson) as well as TV Horror Hosts Cedric the Spooky Spectre, Son of Ghoul and 'Chilly' Billy Cardille. Along with hosting horror films on TV 'Chilly' Billy appeared in the classic fright flick NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968). Along with 'Chilly' Billy was Kyra Schon, who played the little girl in the same film. Her one line was, 'I hurt.'
Other non one-on-one PROFESSOR KINEMA interview shows include a study of vintage filmmaker Frank Wysbar, insight as to the true inventors of cinematography, an exploration of earliest French filmmaker George Melies and a walk around various Chiller Expos. The camera was recently at another Chiller Expo and recorded footage of Kevin (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) McCarthy, Barbara (Vampirella) Leigh, Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman (previous both of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD as Harry and Helen Cooper). Scream Queen Deanna Enoches submitted to an interview and is the subject of the first of a series of specialty shows involving Scream Queens.
Recently finished shows involve a discussion with author Eric Monder concerning the Hollywood Studio System and the art of director George Sidney. Shows in the works include a talk with filmmaker Keith Crocker, Movie Palace historian Orlando Lopes and some insight into the earliest days of the cinema in New Jersey.
The host/interviewer of the PROFESSOR KINEMA series is JIM KNUSCH, an active Cinema Historian, writer, researcher, lecturer and folklorist. His articles have appeared in magazines like FilmFax, Scarlet Street, Psychotronic Video, Screem, Scary Monsters and Atia. He is the co-editor of a book titled The Famous Monsters Chronicles (with Dennis Daniel). On television and radio he has been a frequent guest on such shows as THE JOEL MARTIN SHOW, PSYCHIC CHANNELS, THE JOE FRANKLIN SHOW (TV and radio), ALAN HANDLEMAN SHOW, LURID DETAILS and WHO KNOWS WHAT. He was the co-host (with Mina Green) of THE CABLE AUDIO RADIO CALL-IN TRIVIA SHOW. He has been associated with several film societies including being co-director of the Dowling Film Society and has taught many college level courses in Filmmaking, Video Production and Still Photography. Other published works (including award winning photographs) have appeared in several books; including True Tales of the Unknown Part Two, the Uninvited, Dead Zones and More Haunted Houses, as well as magazines; Holiday Traveler, Long Island Voice and Long Island Nightlife. As a researcher he has been seeking out and documenting the earliest innovators of the development of the Cinema. This ongoing task has taken him, along with his travel buddy and constant companion Elena Saiz, to many cities and locations in Europe and the USA. For the PROFESSOR KINEMA series his duties also include producing and editing.
The PROFESSOR KINEMA series has been mentioned in Psychotronic Video, Horror Biz and Film Culture magazines as well as on the Internet show ILLUMINATION GALLERY and radio show LURID DETAILS. A copy of the two part show spotlighting Professor William K Everson has been accepted into the collection of the Pacific Film Archives of Berkeley California.
