JESSIE LILLEY ENTERS RONDO HALL OF FAME

In a working life that can only be considered All World, it is of great honor that I can type the heading above.

For those who may be unaware of her acheivements in the field of fandom and beyond, it may come as a suprise to learn she had part in what many of you likely have read, or are presently spending your leisure time perusing. It is a long and impressive list but to give you just a glimpse of her amazing career consider this list compiled by nominator and writer Richard Schellbach as it first appeared on the Classic Horror Film Board:

She was co-Creator and Original Publisher of Scarlet Street: The Magazine of Mystery and Horror. As Publisher, she sat on panels at the legendary Fanex Conventions, the Famous Monsters Convention in Crystal City, VA and was a contributor to Midnight Marquee. She received a joint accolade as Publisher of Scarlet Street from the Fanex Convention for Best Semi-Pro Fanzine in the horror genre. She was a regular attendee at Chiller Con and twice was a guest on the NYC based television talk show, Joe Franklin Show.

Managing Editor of RetroVision

Publisher of Worldly Remains

She worked closely with William Campbell for his science fiction and horror based conventions which helped to raise desperately needed funds for the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Editor-In-Chief of Cult Movies. When Barnett and Copner parted ways, Buddy Barnett and Brad Linaweaver suggested a merging of WR and Cult Movies, resulting in Jessie sitting as:

Editor-In-Chief of Mondo Cult

Jessie has also contributed articles to Richard Klemensen’s Little Shoppe of Horrors.

Editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, where she and Phil were responsible for my dream gig. She edited #250, which spotlighted the cinematic moments in the life of FJA. (Forry's pet name for her was Wonder Woman.) She held that chair until her resignation on 2011, to pursue that big wankin' 160 page issue of Mondo Cult Magazine.

Editor at Cinefantastique Publishing.

With Joe Sena of Fourth Castle MicroMedia, Jessie put out The Cinefantastique Ultimate Guide to Zombies (in 3D) and the two Monsterpalooza Souvenir Programs, with the third in the works for April.

Seriously folks, not even Transylvanian dirt in the bottom of Dracula's coffin can compete with how much this lady belongs in the hallowed halls she now inhabits.

A title long deserved has finally found its way home to Jessie Lilley, Rondo Hall of Famer.

ROBERT REDFORD; FANBOY?

Robert Redford has confirmed he is joining the cast of Captain America: Winter Soldier.

Redford, one of Hollywoods greatest icons, actors, and humanitarians, made his announcement during a question and answer session at a screening of his latest film The Company You Keep.

Said Redford "I'm doing this film because it's different. It's a new thing for me. I think these films are really powerful. I think they're great. This is the kind of film I would have loved as a kid"

One of my favorite actors from the first time I saw him in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, it brings me some kind of surreal special joy knowing the he, deep down, is a Fanboy all the way!

Way to go Redford. Now I REALLY can't wait for this to open.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

It's safe to assume that David Bowie did not have this event in the future in mind when he sang "Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.." but he may well have had, because that seems to be the case for 'Dawn...'.

Follow up to last years sensational and extremely popular Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn was initially intended to be a direct followup with Director Rupert Wyatt and actor James Franco reuniting to continue the soon to be saga.

Instead Wyatt has been replaced with Cloverfield director Matt Reeves, with Franco now out of the picture. In the lead role will now be Judy Greer, talented actress from Arrested Developement and The Descendents. She joins the film as Ceasars love interest Cornelia, the name an obvious dirivitive to the original saga's Cornelius, who was played masterfully by the late, great Roddy McDowell.

Gary Oldman is also on board in the sequal supposedly set 15 years after the original, as is child star Kodi Smit-McPhee. Kodi was the tortured boy in the excellent vampire film Let Me In.

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' is scheduled to hit theaters in May of '14. 

GODZILLA

Everyone's favorite radioactive dino gets a new reboot this month as Godzilla is scheduled to begin shooting in Vancouver March 2013.

The films script, originally written by David Callaham (The Expendebles, Doom), has undergone rewrites by David Goyer (Puppet Masters, Chris Nolans Batman trilogy, Man of Steel), Max Borenstein, and Drew Pierce (Iron Man 3, Sherlock Holmes 3).

The final rewrite has been given to the emmensely talented Frank Darabont, whose credits go far beyond The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, and The Walking Dead. This alone gets my saliva glands in overload.

Godzilla is currently expected for theatrical release sometime in May of 2014.

IT'S RONDO TIME

Watch out horrorheads, it's coming to get you!!

No, not Frankensteins monster. Not the Wolf Man. The Mummy? No unwrapping needed. And you won't require any tana leaves either.

It's the Rondo's, and they are knocking thru the cellar door!!!

Ready to pounce on us like a ravaging Wolfman, it's the 11th Anniversary of this coveted award.

While every year is filled with excellence in the nominated fields, this year brings something a little extra special for me. Several nominations were personal favorites of mine thru the year, making this pages Latest News.

Still on this page is Mondo Cult #3, which has that glorious Rondo Hatton cover. Both mag and cover have made the nominated list in their respective categories, as well as the article Black Zoo, written by Mondo headmaster Jessie Lilley.

Another of my favorites is the talented Richard Schellbach, who is nominated for his witty column 'In My Write Mind' which appears in Famous Monsters of Filmland. FM also receives several nominations including but not limited to Best Magazine of the Year and Best Cover (the sensational Rick Baker wolfman cover).

The documentary The Shark is Still Working, much trumpeted on this site, has also received a Rondo nomination. While the Rondo site specifically mentions Erik Hollander as director, it must be said that this was a collaberative effort by many men, namely Erik, James Gelet, Jake Gove, and J. Michael Roddy. And its likely we would never have gotten to this point had it not been for Associate Producer Roy Scheider, who was hugely in favor and a solid supporter of this project, which clearly illustrates the legacy and impact of JAWS beyond the iconic film itself.

I am once again humbled myself to receive a nod for Best Website.

Best Movie of the Year is possibly the most difficult selection to choose from in the history of the award, with Avengers, Dark Knight Rises, and Prometheus amoung numerous choices.

Yepper...it's a toughy. But it sure will be fun!!

Get ready, be steady, think heady, and do like Horrorhead Freddy...and VOTE!!!

UNIVERSAL RESTORES THE CLASSICS!!!

At long last fellow fiends, we are treated to our monster brethren in the coveted blu hue, as Universal has released a comprehensive monster montage of movie history.

Universal Monsters:  The Essential Collection gives us 8 iconic horror classics in the high definition splendor of blu ray.

                     (The UK set)                                  (US version)

Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. The latter of which comes with an enhanced 3D version.

Make no mistake, these arent your fathers classics. These are completely digitized and restored to the most complete brilliance available today. Jaw dropping in their clarity, and full in sound. Finally a version of Dracula that I'd be happy showing to Lugosi himself. Yes..you not only get Renfields demise, but Dracula's dust biting groan. I tell ya...tears will be shed with the love shown these classics.

As if this is not enough the set also comes with miniturized posters renditions of all 8 films, as well as a most excellent pamplet The Original House of Horror by Scott Essman, which would be a worthy purchase as a stand alone on any monster rack.

The US version has been pricey so I went with the UK edition which is region free and much more affordable. Best place to find these is Amazon.com.

Get yours today!!!

MONDO CULT 3

READY TO EXPLODE ON THE SCENE!!!

I don't want to take away any thunder from Cyberschizoid's Classic Horror Campaign, so I'll refer you all there for the skinny and the fat and the concoctions in the vat regarding Jessie Lilley's Mondo Cult return, but the cover igniting this return is just...just..Rondoliscious. Feast your eyes.......

...and head over to Mondo Cult and order today!!!