Special Edition: Black Sabbath go ‘Back to the Beginning’ in the End By Jesse Striewski

There’s a reason why I chose the specific, early ’70s backstage photo of Black Sabbath above that I did to be the starting point for this article; it was the first image of the heavy metal originators that I can recall ever seeing, adorning the walls of my bedroom throughout most of my high school years and beyond.

Sabbath were indeed the starting point for many a new fan of rock music, and I was no exception. As a young bass player, I spent countless hours cutting my teeth to Geezer Butler’s bass lines, especially from the first two albums, Black Sabbath and Paranoid (each released in 1970), which were my own introductions to the metal legends (I can’t honestly remember which one was first exactly, though I’m fairly certain I obtained each within a short period of time of one another).

The roots of Black Sabbath as we all know now can be traced back to Birmangham, England in 1968, when guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward enlisted wild card frontman Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. The foursome went through several name changes – first going by The Polka Tulk Blues Band and then Earth before wisely settling on Black Sabbath after the Boris Karlof film of the same name, by 1969.

After relentlessly working the regional club circuit, the band released their aforementioned debut effort in 1970, quickly followed by Paranoid, each laying the groundwork to what we now call heavy metal, with respective classics such as “Black Sabbath,” “N.I.B.,” “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and of course, “Paranoid” contained on each.

1971’s Master of Reality found the band further perfecting their sound with the likes of “Sweet Leaf,” “Children of the Grave,” and “Into the Void,” while the production of 1972’s Vol. 4 was fueled by drug-induced studio time (see, “Snowblind”), though saw the band at their lighter side with “Changes” (a track Osbourne would later duet on with his daughter, Kelly, many years after in 2003).

It can be argued the band peaked by 1973’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album, which contained such gems and heavy-hitters as “A National Acrobat,” “Sabbra Cadabra,” and its unforgettable title track.

By 1975’s Sabatoge album, cracks at the seems were becoming more and more noticeable, punctuated further by 1976’s experimental Technical Ecstasy album, an effort Butler would later describe in a 2001 interview as “The beginning of the end, really.”

By 1978’s Never Say Die! album, the ongoing substance abuse and management/legal issues had finally taken their tolls, culminating with Dave Walker of Fleetwood Mac/Savoy Brown briefly taking over for Osbourne before his eventual return to finish the album/tour (most notable for having then-up-and-comers Van Halen as openers outshining their own headliners). Regardless, Osbourne would be out before the turn of the new decade.

By 1980 Sabbath were primed for a comeback with former Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio in Osbourne’s place for the Heaven and Hell album, while Ozzy was being brought back to life for a solo career via manager and future wife, Sharon. The resulting album Blizzard of Oz, featuring guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoades (R.I.P.), quickly became one of metal’s greatest albums of all time.

While Ozzy continued to grow his solo career with more hit records in the form of 1981’s Diary of a Madman and 1983’s Bark at the Moon, Sabbath struggled and declined after one more album with Dio (1981’s Mob Rules), which marked a succession of singers and lineups throughout the 1980s and early ’90s that included the likes of Ian Gillan, Glen Hughes, and Tony Martin (just to name a few) at the forefront, while Iommi remained the only consistent original member throughout each and every one of these incarnations.

A brief comeback with Dio and drummer Vinny Appice would produce the admirable Dehumaninzer album in 1992, but that lineup again fizzled out again before it ever really got started. After a couple more mediocre efforts with Tony Martin on vocals (1994’s Cross Purposes and 1995’s Forbidden), Iommi likely finally saw the writing on the wall and came to his senses.

Then in 1997, the unthinkable happened – Iommi reunited with Osbourne and Butler for a partial reunion (Ward was not physically up to the task at that moment in time, so the band enlisted Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin instead) to co-headline the ’97 Ozzfest alongside of Ozzy’s solo band.

I was a freshmen in high school at the time, and even then I knew how monumental of an event this was. So it was surreal to find myself there with my friends and bandmates at the West Palm Beach, FL show that Memorial Day for only my second concert ever (I had caught AC/DC at the same venue the year prior).

A live album, fittingly titled Reunion, was released the following year in 1998 as the band continued to tour into the 2000’s and rebuild their fanbase. By 2004, I found myself at another Ozzfest, this time in Tampa, FL (with Judas Priest and Slayer in direct support, each with their own reunions of sorts), and this time the entire original lineup of Iommi/Butler/Osbourne/Ward intact.

Ticket stubs from the two Ozzfests the author attended in 1997 and 2004, respectively, with noticeable damage to the former stub from smoke/incense.

The 2004 show particularly stands out as one of the better concerts I’ve seen in my lifetime. I had met my girlfriend at the time there with some of her friends, who decided to leave the show – and effectively me – early before Sabbath’s set.

As I sat by my lonesome on the lawn watching the show, a worker for the venue – who must’ve sensed my despair – very generously handed me an upgraded ticket stub closer to the stage in the seated area (I was convinced whoever this person was, had to have been sent there by the rock Gods). It felt somewhat like the ending scene of Detroit Rock City, where the group of teens finally make it to the KISS show after everything they had been through.

But I digress; I got to the closer seat, which was positioned right next to a couple who were having the time of their lives, and welcomed me with open arms to the party. I was in awe watching the legends before me on the stage with my newfound friends that night, way closer than I had ever imagined I would be (I might’ve even got a little misty-eyed at some point, most likely during “Snowblind”).

Yet I can’t say for sure if that was my favorite personal Sabbath moment, or if it was the next one. In 2010, I was still going to school for Journalism and rapidly growing my portfolio as a freelancer in music-related writing. I had already done a couple major interviews when the chance to interview Bill Ward – who was actually writing a monthly column in the very same national magazine that I was contributing to at the time – presented itself to me.

I couldn’t believe it as I sat there on the phone beside myself with one of the originators of heavy metal. There were so many things I couldn’t wait to pick his brain about (and even more that I wish I had in hindsight), and it still remains one of the friendliest, most easy-going interviews I’ve done to this day.

Partial excerpt from the author’s 2010 interview with original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward for Hails and Horns Magazine.

So I was a little more than disappointed to see the band would be putting out a final album (2013’s 13) and embarking on a “final” tour that each did not feel right without Ward included. Like many, I watched clips of the band performing their last show in Birmingham, England from afar on February 4, 2017, but felt just a tad cheated (and no offense to drummer Tommy Clufetos, who did his best with the given situation).

So when it was announced last year that the band would finally be doing it properly, with all four original members in tow once again, I was more than happy to hear it.

Official flyer for the bands final show in Birmingham, England today, Saturday, July 5.

As we soon watch the band take their final bows together today, I know my mind will be racing with my own memories of them as previously mentioned. I know I’m not just saying goodbye to a group of strangers, but rather some of the guys who actually helped mold and shape me into the man I am today, while also saying goodbye to yet another era, and another part of myself, now long gone.

Together again; the original Black Sabbath (left to right, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) reunited ahead of their final show in Birmingham, England on Saturday, July 5, 2025 (Photo by Ross Halfin).

To Tony, Geezer, Ozzy, and Bill…thank you for everything gentlemen.

Special Edition: The Lynn Family Stadium Gets the Biggest ’80s Weekend Since…The ’80s! By Jesse Striewski

Typically Rewind It Magazine have stayed a fairly regional Florida-based publication, covering events everywhere from Daytona Beach to Tampa/St. Pete since the get-go. However, the upcoming Stadium Rock ’80s Festival in Louisville, KY on August 3rd and 4th is an exception we couldn’t pass up! This event features a killer lineup of ’80s acts (many of which we’ve covered over the years) including Florida rockers and our friends Nova Rex. So this unique occasion called for a special write-up (no matter what the distance might be!)!

Hosted by comedian and beloved metalhead Don Jamieson (formerly of That Metal Show), the event was first announce in May, and will coincide in what the major of Louisville has officially declared as “80s Week” from August 1st to 7th. In addition to live music, the festival will also feature everything from ’80s merchandise, fan zones, trivia, classic arcade games, and even a DeLorean straight out of Back to the Future! Below we provide a detailed break down of each act to play over the course of the festival in consecutive order.

Don Jameison (seen here at The Lynn Family Stadium on May 8) of That Metal Show fame will host the upcoming event this August in Louisville, KY.

Nova Rex:

Going strong since 1985, Nova Rex have been bringing the party with them wherever they go for nearly four decades. Anthems like “Bring the House Down Tonight” and “Turn It Up Loud” will no doubt be heard blaring throughout the stadium to kick things off at the massive festival. Check them out on stage, and in their new documentary, Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Staying Cheesy.

Kenny Wilkerson, Nova Rex bassist/co-founder and star of the film Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Stayin’ Cheesy, at The Lynn Family Stadium on Wednesday, May 8.

Pretty Boy Floyd:

Good old Pretty Boy Floyd are one of those bands who emerged from the late ’80s that never lets down. And speaking of Nova Rex, I actually saw both bands live for the first time together on the same bill in Daytona Beach back in 2018. Their hits “Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)” and the power ballad “I Wanna Be With You” are enough to get any crowd moving no matter the location.

Enuff Z’Nuff:

One of the many bands playing I have still yet to cross off the old bucket list (though I did manage to catch and even meet former guitarist Tony Fennell – who has served two terms with the band since 2016 – at a When In Rome II show in Orlando back in 2020). Yet, hearing such classics as “New Thing” and “Fly High Michelle” live has still alluded me all of these years (but hopefully not for much longer!).

Trixter:

Hailing from my home state of New Jersey at the tail end of the wave of ’80s metal, Trixter were notable for such infectious hits as “One In A Million” and “Give It To Me Good,” which no doubt the band will soon unleash on Louisville for sure. Just last year I was able to catch bassist P.J. Farely on stage with Fozzy, and if the rest of the band’s energy is anything like his, they surely will not disappoint!

Ron Keel Band:

In my book, Ron Keel and his band Keel were a criminally underrated act at the height of the ’80s heyday, and I’d still love to catch him live in concert some day. I actually revisited the first couple of Keel albums recently, and there’s a lot of great material still to be found within. Audiences can be sure to hear such classics as “Don’t Say You Love Me” and Keel’s version of “Because the Night” over the course of this rocking weekend!

Vixen:

Without a doubt this is one of the most talked-about acts on the bill right now; after recently announcing via their social media platforms that they had parted ways with singer Lorraine Lewis, Vixen are keeping things extremely “hush hush” about who their new “mystery” vocalist might be. But one thing’s for sure, these ladies will have nothing to worry about as long as they maintain the same dedicated level of high energy they did when Rewind It covered them back in 2019!

Vixen performing in Orlando, FL on 10/30/19 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

John Corabi:

When Motley Crue released their one and only album with John Corabi on vocals in place of Vince Neil in 1994, many fans didn’t quite grasp it at the time…but I was fully there for every minute of it! To this day it remains one of the heaviest albums the Crue have ever put out, and I would love to hear Corabi’s raspy voice singing tracks from both it, and his solo catalog as well. (Side note: if you’ve never actually listened to the self-titled Crue album, start with the track “Hammered;” not only does it feature some of Corabi’s best vocal work ever, but it remains my favorite track from the album to this very day). Aside from his previously-mentioned work with the Crue and solo work, Corabi has also done time with The Scream and Ratt over the years as well (among many others).

L.A. Guns:

What more can be said about L.A. Guns that hasn’t already been said before? Without them, there’d simply be no Guns N’ Roses, and the entire ’80s Sunset Strip scene as a whole might have looked much differently. Earlier this year I was finally able to catch the band live for the first time after many previous missed opportunities, and I can confirm they were definitely worth the wait. Tracks like “Never Enough,” “Rip and Tear,” and “The Ballad of Jayne” are just a few staples of theirs worth noting, and any true fan of ’80s hard rock and heavy metal should try to see the band at least once in their lifetime.

L.A. Guns performing in Mt. Dora, FL on 3/8/24 (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

Aldo Nova:

Here’s one of those unique acts on the bill that often gets overlooked, Aldo Nova. This Canadian guitar virtuoso has been knocking out hits like “Foolin’ Yourself” and “Fantasy” since the early ’80s, and is a must-see for any serious fan of rock guitar. Nova is also an award-winning producer and songwriter who has collaborated with the likes of Blue Oyster Cult to Celine Dion over the years.

Slaughter:

Who wasn’t rocking along to some Slaughter in the late ’80s/early ’90s? It was nearly impossible to escape such anthems as “Up All Night” and “Fly to the Angels,” as well as their track from the 1991 Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey soundtrack, “Shout It Out Loud” (a completely infectious number!). Mark Slaughter and company have been going strong for a long time now, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Great White:

Another sorely underrated act, Great White have earned second-billing on the festival bill at The Lynn Family Stadium. Largely remembered for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” the band also has a host of other notable hits in the form of “Save Your Love,” “Rock Me,” and “House of Broken Love” that will surely get fans moving from their seats. I’ve been lucky enough to both see the band live, and even interview former frontman Jack Russell over the years. Definitely make some time for these guys if you haven’t yet by now!

Queensryche:

There’s simply no mistaking the distinctive sound of Queensryche (no matter what era of theirs it might be), nor is there any overlooking the band’s achievements over the years. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the band twice (three times if counting a solo performance by former lead vocalist Geoff Tate just earlier this year) since 2013, even covering the band’s Orlando show for Rewind It back in 2019. From “Queen of the Reich,” “Jet City Woman,” and “I Don’t Believe in Love,” to the timeless power ballad “Silent Lucidity,” there is no shortage of epic music to be heard at any given Queensryche show; don’t pass this one up if you haven’t already seen them before!

Queensryche performing in Orlando, FL on 3/2/19 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

To wrap things up, The Lynn Family Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue primarily used for sporting events. Opened in 2020, it serves as the home for the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC. The stadium boasts a seating capacity of over 15,000 and features modern amenities, including premium seating options, hospitality suites, and a fan-friendly design. Its central location and advanced facilities make it a prime destination for sports events and concerts, and is located at 350 Adams St., Louisville, Ky. USA.

Special Edition: Jack Nicholson: A Life Made for the Screen By Shawn McKee

Good actors deliver convincing performances. Great actors transcend and connect, evoking a wide range of emotions that linger long after the credits roll. Few actors have made more of an impact in their field than legend of legends, Jack Nicholson.

As a three-time Academy Award winner and the most nominated actor in film history, Nicholson has dominated the scene since the 1970s. But getting there was no easy feat. His ambition, drive, raw-talent, and dedication to the craft were keys to his incredible success. He also happened upon a time when Hollywood was undergoing a tremendous artistic revival.

A New Era of Film

The social upheaval and political unrest at home during the Vietnam War gave birth to the New Hollywood movement of the ’60s and ’70s, pushing the industry toward artist-driven films. This brief renaissance era introduced a new generation of filmmakers, actors, and writers who helped redefine cinema in new and exciting ways.

Their films emulated a new realism seen in similar movements in European and Asian cinema while establishing unconventional narratives, anti-establishment themes, and clever subversion of the status quo. The emerging works of directors Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Brian De Palma, Sam Peckinpah, Sidney Lumet, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Zemeckis (to name a few) provide a glimpse of the groundbreaking work on display in a time of fresh, emerging talents unprecedented in their numbers.

Born to Be Wild

Throughout the 1960s, Jack Nicholson worked tirelessly on stage, screen, and television across genres to little success. He then turned to screenwriting, which led to his working with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on the Roger Corman-directed psychedelic nightmare hippie movie The Trip (1967). His big break, however, was yet to come.

The 1969 counterculture milestone Easy Rider was at the forefront of New Hollywood independent filmmaking. Its financial success ($60 million on a $400,000 budget) stunned major studios and gave rise to the commercial possibilities of artist-driven works outside the studio system.

Among its lasting impact, Easy Rider also introduced wider audiences to a young, charismatic actor seen previously in several low-budget Corman films. Nicholson’s supporting role as a boozy lawyer accompanying motorcyclists Hopper and Fonda across the vast American landscape helped launch his seemingly unstoppable career. Easy Rider also garnered his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Nicholson remained prolific throughout the ’80s and ’90s. Audiences marveled at his iconic performance as The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), which saw a career resurgence among a new generation of moviegoers. It was a role he was born to play and one that would cement his status as one of our greatest living actors. This is further evidenced by an exceptional career of unforgettable films from the New Hollywood age to his retirement in 2010.

The 1970s

Five Easy Pieces (1970) set the stage for Nicholson’s career choices, embodying the type of challenging films he would embrace throughout his distinguished career. This quiet character study further established Nicholson in his first major leading role. In the film, he plays aimless drifter and blue-collar oil rig worker Bobby Dupeae who returns home to visit his dying father with his ditzy girlfriend (Karen Black) in tow. His character remains an enigma of hidden complexities and failures behind a façade of arrogance.

Already a bankable star, Nicholson elevated the subversive comedy-drama The Last Detail (1973) to new heights as an as an angry, insubordinate Navy sailor assigned to escort a young Seaman (Randy Quaid) to prison for theft. The film reflected the growing cynicism of the time against the U.S. Government and its military. It was written by Robert Towne who would later present Nicholson with a screenplay for a post-modern film noir classic the actor could not pass up.

In 1974, the Roman Polanski-directed Chinatown captivated audiences with its bleak atmosphere and multi-layered Oscar-winning screenplay. As private investigator Jake Gittes, Nicholson drew additional praise in this engrossing tale of political corruption in 1930s Los Angeles. Gittes is hired by a mysterious woman (Faye Dunaway) to investigate the death of her husband, a safety engineer at the Department of Water and Power. The case pulls him into a dangerous world of conspiracy and murder, where nefarious forces battle for control of L.A. public utilities.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) remains a landmark film that became Nicholson’s greatest achievement to date. The Ken Kesey novel on which it was based had already been adapted to the stage years before and went through years of development until everything fell into place. Nicholson was recommended through Hal Ashby who directed him in The Last Detail. In the film, Nicholson portrayed headstrong lowlife Randle McMurphy—a role that encapsulated his wildest qualities.

In prison for statutory rape, McMurphy feigns insanity for a transfer to an Oregon mental institution, where he assumes time will be easier. He unwittingly enters the crosshairs of the tyrannical Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) who is appalled by his rebellious nature and nonconformity. Their tense battle comprised a sprawling examination of the human condition; tragic, moving, and profound. It would win all five major Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Miloš Forman), Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Fletcher), and Best Screenplay.

The 1980s

Stanley Kubrick’s epic adaptation of the Stephen King best-seller The Shining (1980) easily ranks as one of the greatest horror films ever made. For Kubrick, Nicholson was his first and only choice for the lead role of Jack Torrance, schoolteacher, writer, and recovering alcoholic.

The well-known setup involves a winter caretaker position at the remote Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains and its long-buried history of violence. We witness the destruction of the modern American family with wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) at the hands of the very monster who is supposed to protect them.

Nicholson’s hasty descent into madness reflects his isolated surroundings and personal demons. The hidden evilness within the Overlook Hotel is further amplified by the film’s grand cinematography and Nicholson’s gleefully insane performance. The Shining remains one of his most famous roles for good reason, he’s captivating from start to finish.

Terms of Endearment (1983) was the first of four collaborations with director James L. Brooks, which gained Nicholson his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as sleazy bachelor and retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove. While the story mainly focuses on the mother/daughter relationship between Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger, Nicholson shines as an unexpected grifter who brings romance and excitement into lonely wdow MacLaine’s life…for a moment.

By the time George Miller’s adaptation of John Updike’s novel The Witches of Eastwick (1984) novel hit the big screen in 1987, Nicholson was at the height of his pre-Batman star power. His wild performance as Daryl Van Horne, mysterious newcomer to an idyllic Rhode Island town, is equal only to the talent of his formidable cast, including Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer who portray the “witches” whose plan to conjure up the ideal man backfires.

The summer of ’89 was an event for the ages. Warner Brothers released a gothic big-budget re-imagining of the famed Caped crusader, heavily influenced by the Frank Miller and Alan Moore comics of the 1980s. Batman (1989) was a massive hit that elevated the careers of director Tim Burton, composer Danny Elfman, and all involved.

It also revamped the entire comic book genre in ways that continues today. As the psychotic Joker, Nicholson gleefully embraced the role he seemed destined to play, leading to a new generation of fans with Batman movie posters in their rooms. He would also team up with Burton again, playing two comedic roles in the madcap big budget b-movie satire Mars Attacks! (1996).

The 1990s

A long-overdue sequel to Chinatown titled The Two Jakes was directed by Nicholson in addition to starring in it in 1990, but thankfully was not a sign of things to come for the new decade as the uneven film flopped at the box office.

But A Few Good Men (1992) remains a spellbinding military courtroom drama courtesy of director Rob Reiner, writer Aaron Sorkin, and excellent cast at the top of their game. Nicholson’s mesmerizing performance as the domineering Colonel Jessup remains a masterclass of acting. Tom

Cruise plays a self-centered Navy JAG officer defending two Marines for the murder of one of their own. The case seems clear cut until Cruise’s superior (Demi Moore) insists otherwise, leading to their discovery of a conspiracy that goes straight to the top.

The bombastic Jessup easily stands out as the film’s main highlight. No one else could have so convincingly demonstrated the pettiness, arrogance, and indignation of a man believing his actions to be justified. Endlessly quoted, the thunderous courtroom finale between Cruise and Nicholson ranks among the most gripping courtroom scenes in recent memory, and for good reason.

In As Goods as It Gets (1997), Nicholson won his third Best Actor Academy Award for his role as a misanthropic romance novelist who lives a solitary life in the big city. The hugely successful romantic comedy-drama was his third collaboration with writer/director James L. Brooks. Melvin Udall suffers from a dozen unspecified disorders, unable to connect with a single person around him.

His obsessive-compulsive behavior, bigoted comments, and general unpleasantness repels all who cross his path. He soon finds unlikely solace and eventual redemption in a waitress named Carol (Helen Hunt), the only person who can stand him. Nicholson’s performance makes Udall both engaging, relatable, and human. Helen Hunt holds her own and won Best Actress for her role opposite Nicholson in this truly engaging and entertaining modern classic.

The 2000s

In About Schmidt (2002), retired insurance actuary Warren Schmidt had high hopes for his future. From youth, he felt destined for greatness and dreamed of starting a Fortune 500 company. Reality, however, is not what he imagined. His crisis worsens when adjusting to retirement life and the lingering fears that come with it. So begins the heartwarming, tragic, and often hilarious odyssey of one man’s search for meaning in his twilight years.

About Schmidt was a critical and financial success, nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Actor. In accepting the Best Actor Golden Globe for a Motion Picture Drama, Nicholson said, “I don’t know whether to be happy or ashamed, because I thought we made comedy.” In some ways it was and so much more.

The Departed (2007) remains Nicholson’s only collaboration with director Martin Scorsese and one of the finest crime films of its kind. His over-the-top performance as the real-life South Boston mob boss Frank Costello resonates because he appears to be having so much fun with it. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon star as opposite police officers of the same coin. Damon has been groomed by Costello as an insider while DiCaprio has been groomed by a Special Investigations Unit to infiltrate Costello’s gang.

Deceit, murder, and vigilante justice round out this relentless, epic crime thriller. Famous for the visceral landmark mobster films Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995), Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker both won well-deserved Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Film Editing. Nicholson’s Costello is a depraved lunatic who terrorizes his community and leaves misery in his wake. No one else could have made him such a blast to watch.

A Hard Swan Song to Swallow

Jack Nicholson’s lifetime of work has immortalized him as one of the greatest actors of all time. Since retirement, his fearless screen presence is sorely missed. There is no doubt, however, that he gave the best he could in nearly every role he took on. His significant contribution to films that challenged, moved, and entertained generations of audiences lives on.

This year, he celebrates his 87th birthday. He hasn’t been seen out in public or courtside at a Lakers game in some time. His children have stated that Nicholson prefers to remain close to home with family. In response, generations of grateful movie lovers send their best wishes to this titan of cinema.

During his AFI Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech in 1994, an emotional Nicholson said, “I love this work. It’s dangerous, you give your life to it. The truth is, I’m proud of all my collaborations. The work that this is about has set my life free.” He closed by saying, “All these things about age or time and everything is… you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

And he was right.

Retrospective: 40 Years since ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ Turned it Up to Eleven By Jesse Striewski

I’ve never been one for the standard “What’s your favorite movie/band/album/etc…” question as I’ve always found it near-impossible to answer. However, certain titles will almost always instantly pop up when pried, and in the case of films, 1984’s This is Spinal Tap usually is my go-to answer as far as personal favorites go (without a doubt at least in the comedy genre, if not overall).

Originally released on March 2, 1984, there’s simply something comforting about the movie and its characters that will almost always make me stop if it’s playing somewhere. I can’t really recall the first time I ever watched it in full, but I definitely remember many a times watching it; sometimes with friends while sharing drinks and laughs, other times alone in the middle of the night while simply battling insomnia. Either way, the ‘Tap have just always been there for me, one way or another.

Set up as a documentary (or “mockumentary,” if you will) with actual director Rob Reiner portraying a filmmaker chronicling the fictitious band Spinal Tap’s storied history within the film itself, it’s so realistic it almost feels real as he interviews David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), and the numerous drummers that came and passed throughout the years (one of many running gags).

Copy of This is Spinal Tap on DVD and the band’s 1992 album Break Like the Wind on CD from the author’s personal collection.

From getting lost on the way to the stage, to Stonehenge and amps that “go to eleven,” there’s no shortage of genius classic moments and quotable lines that can be found. Even the companion soundtrack, with such masterpieces as “Big Bottom” (with lines like “Talk about mud flaps, my gal’s got ’em!”), “Hell Hole,” and “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” are all brilliant in their own ways.

The lasting impact of the film cannot be understated. From McKean and Shearer appearing as their respective characters St. Hubbins and Smalls on the charity group Hear ‘n Aid’s 1986 single “Stars,” to the band appearing on a 1992 episode of The Simpsons (not a far stretch considering both McKean and Shearer had each already done voice work on the show prior). The “band” themselves have also since occasionally performed live and even released the albums Break Like the Wind (1992) and Back From the Dead (2009).

Plans of a sequel were first announced in 2022, with reports that filming had started (with Reiner and the core cast members all attached) early this year. Whether or not the new film will be a worthy follow up or not still remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure there’s no denying the legacy the film – and Spinal Tap themselves – have created. Turn it up to eleven, and enjoy.

Napoleon Dynamite 20th Anniversary Live at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL on 2/21/24 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Jacob Striewski

I can recall the first time I ever watched 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite some two decades ago, with its subtle, off-the-wall humor striking a nerve with me instantly. I’ve since shown the now-cult classic to both my wife Brooke and son Jacob, who equally appreciate it for the unique moment in time that it was. So catching a twentieth anniversary showing of the film, with the presence of such core cast members as Efren Ramirez (Pedro Sanchez), John Gries (Uncle Rico), and Napoleon Dynamite himself, Jon Heder, at The Plaze Live in Orlando last Wednesday, February 21, was a no-brainer for all of us.

The evening started off promising enough; plenty of fans in attendance had on their best attire, with fanny packs, side pony-tails, and “Vote for Pedro” shirts in abundance. It was near-impossible to not feel the excitement flowing throughout the venue prior to the film, and the applause was infectious by the time the opening credits rolled.

For those who have never seen it before, Napoleon Dynamite follows the day-to-day life of a geeky high school student (Heder as the titular character, as previously noted), who navigates through everything from dating, to assisting his new classmate and friend Pedro (Ramirez) run for class president against the popular school cheerleader, Summer Wheatly (Haylie Duff).

Whether or not the film is “flawless” is no doubt debatable, but nonetheless it certainly draws its viewers into its story, making for sheer escapist entertainment. The ending shot alone of Napoleon and Deb (Tina Majorino) “riding off into the sunset” of sorts while playing tetherball together with the 1989 When in Rome hit “The Promise” closing the scene out is one of pure movie perfection (it should also be noted, the song itself has since become significant to my wife and I, having both heard it live and interviewed When In Rome Keyboardist Michael Floreal on our anniversary in January of 2020).

Jon Heder (a.k.a. Napoleon Dynamite) in the midst of the crowd last Wednesday evening, 2/21/24 at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL.

Immediately following the showing, Gries and Ramriez appeared on stage with a guitar and harmonica, respectively, in hand for a musical number, before Heder barreled down a ramp towards the stage on a bike, igniting a roar from the crowd. It was right then and there that you knew you were in the right place if you were in attendance.

Heder was no doubt the leader of the pack, while Ramierz took more of a laid back, backseat approach, and Gries played the more goofy old man role (having grown up watching many of his films back in the day such as ’80s gems like 1985’s Real Genius and 1986’s TerrorVision, I may have been in awe of him more so than any others).

Aside from the occasional awkward question from a fan or two (the fairly obnoxious mom-out-way-past-her-bedtime heckler had obviously not been out in public in awhile), the Q&A with the crowd went fairly smooth, with many an enlightened answer regarding the films production. And bringing those dressed in their very best Napoleon Dynamite-inspired gear on to the stage at the end for a best-dressed contest (and even giving everyone a tater tot on their way out!) was the perfect cherry on top to the evening.

The cast of Napoleon Dynamite (from left to right, Efren Ramirez, Jon Heder, and John Gries) performing at the start of the night at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL on 2/21/24.

Guns and Garland: A Guide to the Top Ten Essential Christmas-Themed Action Films of the ’80s/’90s By Jesse Striewski

When it comes to modern action films, I’m so far out of touch with what’s going on these days that many would probably find it laughable. But for my money, I’ll take the near-perfection that was produced in that beloved decade we call the ’80s (and also spilled over into much of the ’90s) over the uber fast-paced and often mindless romps that pass as “action” cinema these days.

Along with the horror genre, there was simply something so exciting and appealing being a kid in the ’80s when coming across that elusive, forbidden R-rated tape in your older brother’s VHS collection. And there was just something even more relate-able when that R-rated flick, often filled with gratuitous sex and violence, contained the themes of the Christmas season in its backdrop.

Over the years Rewind It has no doubt done similar pieces on horror-based and/or more obscure holiday films, but this is the first one dedicated solely to the “tough guys” of the ’80s and early ’90s (some other honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the list also include Night of the Comet (1984) and Batman Returns (1992), excluded for the sake of trying to stay within the more classic “shoot ’em up” variety action flick. So kick off your shoes, spike that eggnog, and enjoy…

10. Dead Bang (1989):

By 1989, Don Johnson was a bona-fide star thanks in part to the hit show Miami Vice, and on paper his first shot as leading man in a feature film should’ve been just as big of a hit. But Dead Bang, based on the real life story of LASD Jerry Beck’s pursuit of revenge of a fellow Sheriff’s Deputy’s murder, was more “dead” in the water than a “bang.”

The film actually starts off promising, with Beck’s fellow officer being mysteriously killed in his home on Christmas Eve (hence the holiday connection). But what could’ve been a strong cat-and-mouse hunt, quickly gets muddled down by themes of white supremacy and hate crimes that leads up to an unrealistic one-man showdown. Skip it unless totally desperate.

Penelope Ann Miller listening to Don Johnson ramble on in a scene from 1989’s Dead Bang.

9. I Come in Peace (1990):

Also known in some territories as Dark Angel (the film’s original title), this is one I only vaguely remember after catching scenes from it on cable at a friend’s house back in the day. Basically Dolph Lundgren plays a vice cop in Texas already up to his neck dealing with violent drug crimes when a dealer literally from another world comes to ruin his Christmas cheer.

I wish there was more I could say on behalf of this feature, but it’s been so long there’s not much I even remember now. Perhaps time for a revisiting of the film myself.

8. Cobra (1986):

Sylvester Stallone plays LAPD Lt. Marion “Cobra” Cobretti in this over-the-top ’80s vehicle that’s heavier on hits than it is heart (or plot for that matter). Brigitte Nielsen plays the fashion model who witnesses some serious crimes committed by a dangerous cult, leading to be put under Cobra’s protective care (during the holiday season too, nonetheless).

Watch for the supermarket shootout scene towards the beginning of the film – a definite highlight along with the 1950 Mercury Stallone sports in the film (and of course Nielsen’s famous long legs at the time too, naturally!).

7. Maniac Cop 2 (1990):

Granted more on the horror than action side, this gritty, direct-to-video sequel to 1988’s Maniac Cop once again finds the late Robert Z’Dar as the titular anti-hero on a rampage in New York City during Christmas time.

The cast is actually rounded out nicely, with Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Bruce Campbell, and Michael Lerner all appearing in roles and doing their best to put an end to the killing spree. This is also the only film to the best of my memory that actually features pole dancing at a strip club on Christmas; that alone deserves a spot on this list.

Paula Trickey prior to spreading some adult yuletide cheer in 1990’s Maniac Cop 2.

6. Die Hard 2 (1990):

In the spirit of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Die Hard 2 (a.k.a. Die Harder) takes what the original did so well and moves Bruce Willis from a building to an airport, fighting ruthless terrorists with evil agendas on Christmas Eve.

This is standard early – ’90s action viewing with blockbuster written all over it, and even features a pre-Terminator 2 Robert Patrick, as well as a young John Leguizamo. While the original Die Hard will always get the most recognition as a Christmas movie, there’s no doubt the first sequel in the franchise is just as worthy of a winter’s watch.

5. Rocky IV (1985):

Going all the way back to the 1976 original, the Rocky films have never been distant from holiday fare, with the first two films centering around Thanksgiving (in fact, the only one I can really think of without some sort of mention of a holiday is 1982’s Rocky III). But by 1985’s Rocky IV, there was no denying the Christmas connection, with the main event taking place on Christmas day itself.

Sylvester Stallone had perfected the role of the “Italian Stallion” by this point, and Dolph Lundgren as his nemesis Ivan Drago is at his menacing best as the two prepare for their bout in the USSR. And there’s no doubt this entry contains not one, but two of the greatest montages spawned by an ’80s movie (how can you go wrong with the famous shot of Syl screaming “Dragooo!!!” from the top of a mountain at the end of the latter one?).

I also contemplated putting another PG-rated hit in this very same slot, 1984’s The Karate Kid, but decided against it after remembering a large portion of it was also set during Halloween in addition to Christmas.

4. Invasion U.S.A. (1985):

Chuck Norris. Terrorists trying to take over America during Christmas. Need I say more? This was one of those Cannon films often played in regular rotation on cable TV back in the day that was near impossible to pass up on. For my money there’s nothing more festive than the image of Norris holding two Uzi’s in his hand in a shopping mall at Christmas (see photo below).

No one messed with Chuck’s Christmas then, and they sure as hell still wouldn’t dare to now; watch the movie and find out why for yourself.

Chuck Norris gives ’em hell in 1985’s Invasion U.S.A.

3. First Blood (1982):

The one that by all means started it all on this list. Sylvester Stallone (for those keeping count he’s now featured in three of the films on this list) stars as John Rambo, a down and out Vietnam vet just trying to pass through small town America when he’s hassled by the local sheriff (played brilliantly by Brian Dennehy). What ensues is nothing short of mayhem.

There’s no denying this is definitely one of the more “dreary” films on the list, with the setting taking place in a rain-filled Hope, Washington (although actually filmed in British Columbia). But by its conclusion, Rambo is fully lighting up the town (with an arsenal of explosions of course), and just in time for Christmas, too.

2. Lethal Weapon (1987):

Without a doubt one of my favorite action/buddy films of all time, I legitimately struggled with putting 1987’s Lethal Weapon at number one on this list. Viewers are instantly drawn in at its very first sequence, as the tune of “Jingle Bell Rock” introduces us to the image of a beautiful young girl, under-dressed and alone in a hotel room, who quickly throws herself to her own sensless death from the top of a balcony.

The mysterious event sparks an investigation, putting two cops on the total opposites of of the spectrum – Danny Glover as the seasoned cop Roger Murtaugh on the verge of retirement, and Mel Gibson as the loose cannon with a death wish, Martin Riggs – together as partners. The film set the standard for the “buddy cop” sub genre of action films, soon to be duplicated with endless imitations. It’s an all-round flawless picture, with or without Christmas playing any part of it.

And few other movies on this list actually rival the very scene where Tom Atkins’ character is gunned down while holding a carton of eggnog, the bullet simultaneously piercing both (when I met Atkins in 2021, he actually had 8×10’s of this scene available to sign; passing on this shot in favor of a Halloween III-related signature instead was a tough decision indeed). If you’re not already familiar with any of this material, then do yourself a favor and add it to your Christmas list this year a.s.a.p.

Tom Atkins goes out with a seasonal bang in 1987’s Lethal Weapon.

1. Die Hard (1988):

Not the film that started it all, but indeed the one that opened the conversation to begin with. We all know by now that yes, Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie (along with its 1990 sequel as previously established in this article), and there should be no question about it by now, with most of us surely having heard the phrase “It’s Die Hard in a (fill in the blank…),” referring to its many copycats since.

If you somehow still haven’t seen it yet, here’s the rundown; Bruce Willis plays NYPD Detective John McClane, who flies out to LA to join his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at a company Christmas party in LA. But before the two can even reconcile, the tower is seized by a group of terrorists, lead by the cut-throat Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. But having not been seen by the group, McClane is able to fight them from within, while informing outside agencies of everything happening on the inside, establishing another famous “buddy cop” relationship between McClane and LAPD Sergeant Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson).

Between the inclusion of Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” and the oft-quoted “Now I have a machine gun, Ho-ho-ho” scene, there’s no shortage of Christmas spirit among the many gun fights and explosions throughout the film. It’s first-rate action with plenty of emotional depth tied into it much like Lethal Weapon. Definitely essential viewing this (and every) holiday season.

Terrorist Tony Vreski (portrayed by actor Andreas Wisniewski) is the first of John McClane’s kills in 1988’s Die Hard.

Retrospective: 35 Years Since “Ernest Saves Christmas” By Jesse Striewski

I recently had a conversation with a friend who had noted the theatrical family Christmas film has all but disappeared from the mainstream. Sure, you can still get your fair share of the romantic Christmas movie each holiday season via the Hallmark channel. Or plenty of over-the-top seasonal slashers or stoner buddy comedies, but all of these are a dime a dozen. Where are all the Christmas Vacation’s, the Home Alone’s, and the Ernest Saves Christmases‘ at now?

When Jim Varney hit the big screen as Ernest P. Worrell again for the John Cherry-directed Ernest Saves Christmas (which originally dropped in theaters on November 11, 1988), I was there to catch it with all four of my older brothers and sisters in a New Jersey theater, for the one and only time I can recall the five of us ever going to all see a movie together (if memory serves correct, this may or may not have also been when us kids all stopped by the photography studio of a mall department store to have a portrait taken for our parents that Christmas).

But I digress, back to the movie itself. This time around, Ernest is an Orlando-based cab driver who happens to pick up the one and only Kris Kringle himself (played perfectly by the late Douglas Seale) at the airport, who’s in town searching for a replacement Santa for his inevitable retirement, setting his sights on a local children’s show host name Joe (Oliver Clark) who checks all the marks on the “good guy” list.

But it wouldn’t be an Ernest flick without some complications; Santa leaves his bag of toys in Ernest’s cab, and he and a troubled teenaged runaway who calls herself Harmony Star (Noelle Parker) must not only get it back to him, but also spring him from jail after being incarcerated/written off as just another crazy old man.

Granted, we’re not talking Academy Award worthy material here by any means; but as far as harmless, family-oriented holiday films go, Ernest Saves Christmas is easily a top ten pick on many a list. And having since moved to the central, FL area since originally seeing the film all those years ago, I’ve been lucky enough to have visited many of the locations where it was filmed, including the Orlando International Airport (see photo), making it all the more personal for me. Though it might not be a holiday classic in everyone’s eyes, it remains one in my book to this day.

The Orlando International Airport where Ernest (Jim Varney) picks up Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) at the beginning of Ernest Saves Christmas (from the author’s personal collection, taken on 10/9/23).

Spooky Empire’s 20th Anniversary at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, FL 10/27-10/29/23 Words and Photos By Shawn McKee

Spooky Empire recently celebrated its 20th year of delivering horror fandom to the masses with a monstrous weekend extravaganza that stared on Friday, October 27, and concluded on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

The renowned convention dominated the Hyatt Regency Orlando with a star-studded guest list of horror icons. And for the first time, Jason Vorhees (Kane Hodder), Freddy Krueger (Robert England), and Pinhead (Doug Bradley) were in the same room together! I don’t know if that’s true, but it sounds cool.

The long-running convention bills itself as the “Dark Side of Comic Con.” It was my first time ever attending, and the event didn’t disappoint. The 3-day weekend featured an extensive list of panels with actors, creators, and industry insiders, a horror film festival, an onslaught of vendors, a massive tattoo festival, special effects exhibitions, and costumes galore from staff and attendees. Of course, the event’s biggest draw was the sheer amount of horror icons in attendance.

The convention boasted a roster of over sixty guests from various decades of horror films and television. Their top draws were Kiefer Sutherland, Robert Englund, and Cassandra Peterson of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark fame. Having recently read her memoir, I was excited to meet the queen of haunts, but the list didn’t stop there.

In addition to the aforementioned greats, they had Jason Patric, Lou Diamond Phillips, special effects legends Greg Nicotero and the Chiodo Brothers, A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Heather Langenkamp, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2‘s Bill Moseley and Bill Johnson, An American Werewolf in London‘s David Naughton, Alex Vincent from Child’s Play, the voice of the Crypt Keeper himself, John Kassir, Nick Frost, Danielle Harris, Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, and many more.

The catch was that you’d have to be a millionaire to get all their autographs (more on that later). Admittedly, I wasn’t all that prepared for the big event. I didn’t attend Friday and opted for the weekend. The entire three days, I soon learned, were a necessity to make headway.

I arrived close to noon on Saturday and contended with a large crowd. The staff, however, kept the lines orderly and moving. Once inside the Hyatt resort and through the festival entrance, I witnessed a barrage of sights and sounds. Massive monster inflatables, an empty stage adorned with banners and blasting music, and a gaggle of lines were my introduction.

Countless eye-catching costumes were on display, some more impressive than others (the less said about the guy wearing the foam Lego brick the better). Jason, Michael Myers, and Leatherface were everywhere, and it was interesting to see all their different variations. There were a lot of Elviras there as well.

Perhaps most interesting were the couples costumes. I saw Beetlejuice and Lydia, Edward Scissorhands and Kim (both of which the female characters were portrayed by Winona Ryder), Candyman and Helen, and even a spot-on Hellraiser duo with Pinhead and female Cenobite.

Gore galore was displayed in many costumes. I felt under-dressed in my regular, boring non-costume attire. But I didn’t have time to sit around admiring costumes all day. I had a noon panel to attend with John Kassir, the Crypt Keeper.

They had no shortage of exciting panels on the schedule, but no matter how well I tried to plan, most of my time was spent waiting in lines for celebrity autographs. Out of the six panels I planned for that weekend, I only made it to two.

The John Kassir panel featured an insightful Q&A, where he detailed his early career and breaking into the business as a comedian “with no act” but lots of impressions. Growing up with HBO’s Tales from the Crypt, I felt my childhood come to life. And when it came time for audience questions, I wasted no time getting in line.

Panel on 10/28/23 featuring John Kassir of Tales From the Crypt fame.

I asked Mr. Kassir about the evolution of the Crypt Keeper from a restrained, quiet ghoul in the first season to the wisecracking, pun-making maniac in the later seasons. Kassir explained that advancements in the animatronic puppet over the years allowed for a more animated and expressive host. He also stated that showrunners wanted to explore what else the Crypt Keeper might do outside of living in a Crypt, hence the gleefully cartoonish persona he evolved into. To talk to an actor from a cherished show was worth the price of admission alone. But my day was only getting started.

I ventured into the vast autograph room, fully adorned with tables, banners, and celebrities. Some friends of mine were there who knew the general layout and had already done a bunch of stuff on Friday. The lines for Robert Englund, Cassandra Peterson, and Kiefer Sutherland wrapped outside the doors and were up to two hours long.

As I tried to take in the flurry of celebrity tables encircling me, I saw Greg Nicotero of The Waking Dead fame seated nearby. He was on my list. I asked him to sign my Blu-ray copy of Creepshow 2, a film he did special effects for before the establishment of KNB EFX Group. I thanked him forkeeping the Creepshow legacy alive with the current Shudder series, which I genuinely enjoy.

Author Shawn McKee (right) with Special F/X wiz Greg Nicotero.

Next up was a panel featuring cast members of 1987’s The Lost Boys. Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, and Billy Wirth addressed the packed room, recounting insightful behind-the-scenes stories, including paying tribute to their late great director, Joel Schumacher.

The Lost Boys panel on 10/28/23 featuring (from left to right), host Riki Rachtman, Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, and Billy Wirth.

I scheduled a photo op on a whim with Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, and Marley Shelton from Planet Terror, the first half of the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino magnum opus Grindhouse (2007). The photo cost me about what I had left to spend that day, so I proceeded to tour the vendor room for the remainder of the time with my delicious Nightmare on Elm Street rum and ginger beer mix in hand.

By Sunday, I arrived early with hopes of meeting Elvira and Kiefer Sutherland. Most of everyone else, however, had the same plan. Neither celebrity had arrived yet, which freed me up some time to see Doug Bradley, who just set up. I also had a busy panel list of separate Q&As with Kane Hodder, Rose McGowan, Robert Englund, and others. It all seemed doable…until it wasn’t.

Meeting someone of Doug Bradley’s stature was a bit unnerving. Even without the extensive Pinhead makeup, you could see the character in his startling, gray eyes. He was ever the English gentleman though, calm, and friendly.

I mentioned Anthony Hickox, director of the Waxwork films and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth who recently passed away. Bradley seemed to recall him with fondness. I felt thrilled upon getting a signed 8×10 Pinhead glossy and a picture with the actor. That was what it was all about. All the lines, expense, and planning came down to those brief moments where it was just you and the star of the films you love.

My excitement soon turned to trepidation when I learned that Elvira and Kiefer Sutherland had arrived. Their lines were long, their autographs cost $100, and they weren’t taking selfies. Pictures were, in fact, another commodity to be paid for separately in the designated photo op room. I passed both out of principle and financial necessity.

Besides, I had already scheduled a photo op with Danielle Harris, Jamie Lloyd from Halloween 4 and 5. I also knew Harris from her role as Bruce Willis’s smartass kid in The Last Boy Scout (1991) and many movies or TV shows she popped up in back then. She was incredibly kind in person and equally reciprocal when I thanked her for being there.

McKee with actress Danielle Harris, best known for her involvement in the Halloween franchise, including Halloween 4 (1988), Halloween 5 (1989), and Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007).

During The Lost Boys panel, Kiefer Sutherland made similar appreciative remarks toward the fans. “We’re only here because of you,” he said. “We owe all of our success to you and your interest in our work.” For such a big star, he showed the utmost humility. It was those moments that suggested it wasn’t just work for them. Some of them actually wanted to be there.

As the day ended, I had only the time and money to meet one more celebrity. Why not Kane Hodder? The actor and legendary stuntman who portrayed Jason Vorhees an unprecedented four times had me nervous in line. Would he crush my skull if I asked for a selfie?

He was candid, friendly, and funny despite being clearly exhausted by the end of the long weekend. When most others had packed up, Hodder remained even as his line grew. We all watched, starry-eyed and infatuated, as the supernatural serial killer from our youth sat only a few feet away. Our words exchanged with Hodder and the signed Jason picture said it all, we love these damn movies.

Author McKee with actor/stuntman Kane Hodder, best known for his portrayal of Jason Voorhees.

Spooky Empire and similar conventions have their fair share of headaches. At times, my impatience at long lines and disappointment of missing panels grew, along with anxiety toward my diminishing finances. Ultimately, the experience gave me a deeper appreciation for horror films and the talent behind them.

It is both a community and an art form for people to express themselves through. To truly enjoy these conventions is to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Next time, I’ll be more prepared.

Retrospective: 45 Years Since The Night He Came Home on ‘Halloween’ By Jesse Striewski

In the late ’70s, the face of horror and overall cultural landscape of American films as we knew it was changed forever when co-screenwriters John Carpenter and Debra Hill unleashed Michael Myers upon an unsuspecting world via the original Halloween, effectively launching a seemingly never-ending franchise and media machine.

Directed by Carpenter and released on October 25, 1978, the film centers around the aforementioned Myers (played primarily by Nick Castle in this entry), who stalked and killed his older sister Judith (Sandy Johnson) on Halloween night 1963. Fast forward to 1978, when after serving fifteen years in a mental facility under the care of Dr. Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasence), he suddenly makes a break for it, just in time to return to his home town of Haddonfield, IL on (you guessed it), Halloween.

It’s there he encounters three unsuspecting babysitters whose fates will all be drastically changed; Annie (Nancy Loomis), Linda (P.J. Soles), and of course, the lone survivor (and epitome of heroines), Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). Meanwhile Loomis enlists the help of local sheriff Leigh Brackett (Charles Cyphers) to track down and prevent Myers from seeing through his devious acts.

Rewind It’s (l to r) Jacob, Jesse, and Brooke Striewski with actress P.J. Soles – who portrayed Lynda Van Der Klok in the original Halloween – at Fantasm in Orlando, FL on 10-3-21.

With a budget of larger than $325,000, the film quickly became one of the most successful independent films of all time after earning over $70 million at the box office, and is considered groundbreaking horror, and the go-to example to the slasher genre. Every last detail from its isolated, dark suburban setting, to the simplistic yet eerie music score by Carpenter, struck a lifelong nerve with audiences and non-horror fans alike.

Of course one can no longer talk about Halloween without mentioning its various sequels, remakes, and overall retreads. While 1981’s Halloween II directly followed the first film (and admirably at that), few that came after were able to re-capture that same “feel” as the original. 1982’s stand alone Halloween III: Season of the Witch (which I’ve mentioned before in previous articles was my introduction to the Halloween films, and still my personal favorite of them all to this day) saw filmmakers attempting to try something different, yet audiences were not ready for such drastic changes at the time.

After 1988’s Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, the series began declining considerably, with many of the entries released since being nearly unwatchable (most notably the latest “requels” that began in 2018 and concluded with last year’s notorious Halloween Ends). Yet whatever rehashes that have come and gone since, nothing can ever take away from the original “night he came home.”

Special Edition: Kmart – And then there were Three By Jesse Striewski

This past Saturday, April 16, yet another Kmart met it’s demise as the Avenel, NJ location shuttered its doors for good. Being a New Jersey native originally myself, the news struck a nerve for me personally, causing me to reflect on my own childhood memories of the once giant corporation, as well as its history.

The roots of Kmart can be traced as far back as 1899, when Pennsylvania-born business man Sebastian Spering Kresge founded the S.S. Kresge Corporation, which would ultimately evolve into Kmart in 1962 (four years before Kresge’s death in 1966), opening it’s first location in Grand City, Michigan. During the ’60s and ’70s, the Kmart brand became one of the dominant retail forces in the United States and Canada, with the phrase “Attention Kmart shoppers” etching its place in pop culture history after the Blue Light Special was first introduced in 1965.

By 1977 the S.S. Kresge Corporation had officially become the Kmart Corporation, and the company continued to thrive throughout the 1980’s. Many store locations already had cafeterias inside them, but by 1985 Kmart began co-branding with major fast food companies, beginning with adding a Wendy’s to their Canton, Michigan location that same year. These would continue to expand with other big-name restaurants, Little Caesars being one of the more prominent ones used.

Daytona Beach, FL Kmart location on 1/26/16 during its final store closing days (photo by Brooke Striewski).

During this time frame of the mid-to-late ’80s, Kmart became one of the places to be. As a kid myself during the ’80s, there were few places I looked forward to stopping at more (other than maybe MacDonald’s) than Kmart. Our specific location in Clementon, NJ had a cafeteria that sold Churros, soft pretzels, and Icee’s, and there seemed to always be kids just “hanging out.” And for a moment, the toy aisle, lined from top to bottom with G.I. Joe’s, Transformers, and Ninja Turtles, seemed like the most magical place on Earth to me. And in my teens, Kmart (along with Blockbuster) was one of the first places I ever drove to on my own after first getting a driver’s license.

Kmart thrived throughout the ’90s, reaching its peak by 1994 with 2,486 store locations open worldwide. But seemingly overnight things began to wane, with competitors like Wal Mart, Target, and eventually Amazon, dominating the retail world. Kmart filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2002, and only continued to decline from there on out.

A lone Kmart shopping cart sits outside of what used to be a Kmart (now an Ollie’s) in Orange City, FL on 4/18/22 (Photo by Jesse Striewski).

In late 2004, Kmart began the process of purchasing Sears, and by 2005, both Sears and Kmart stores would be operated under the new Sears Holdings Corporation. Over the years, more and more stores began liquidating assets and closing their doors, even with later CEO Eddie Lampert promising to bring these stores back to their prime, something that indeed still yet to come to fruition.

At the start of 2022, Kmart still had ten locations operating in the U.S. But with this past weekend’s most recent closure, there is merely three stores left in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. The last time I was in a Kmart myself was over six years ago when the Daytona Beach, FL location was in the process of closing. It was a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and a clear reminder of what once was. Hopefully one day I can again walk through the doors of a Kmart store and hear the words “Attention Kmart shoppers” uttered again. Until then, I think I’ll go order something off of Kmart’s site, just to keep them around a little bit longer.