They're coming! The monsters are coming!

Every year the monsters make their appearance at the Chesapeake Central Library in Chesapeake Virginia. For the 13th time, they will invade once again!


On October 1st, this Saturday as I write this entry, Monster Fest 13 will be happening. Every first weekend of October I look forward to visiting and sometimes hosting a discussion panel at this one day free convention.

Rob Floyd and friend.

The convention is organized by Rob and Phyllis Floyd, two great folks who have become good friends of mine. I have been attending the fest and the bi monthly series Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion, for the past seven or so years. Each year the fest gets bigger and better.

One of my favorite things about the fest is the appearances of some of the local t.v. horror hosts from years past. Dr. Madblood, who still has a yearly Halloween special, is always on hand along with a cast member or two from the show. Rick Clark aka The Keeper from Chamber Theater will also be on hand this year as well. These two figures were a staple in my horror t.v. diet growing up. It's always a joy to talk with them as well because they are such nice people.

Dr. Madblood

The fest also features a ton of vendors as well as great panel discussions of genre films and subjects. There is also live music for those who need to get their spooky funk on. For past several years The Cemetery Boys have been playing all day during the fest. There is just so much fun to be had and if you are in surrounding area of Chesapeake Virginia or even if you are a couple of hours away it is worth your while to come check it out.


Don't forget that after the fest at 7pm there will be the Monster Fest episode of Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion. This year's double feature will include the classic Frankenstein (1931) and the classic slasher Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D! Two great films that represent the core of what the fest is about (the celebration of monsters and horror) but also a nice symbol of this being the "13th" year.

A few frightful things you will find at the Celluloid Coffin table.

There's just way too much going on for me to really type up in this entry so I am going to leave some links for you clickity click on. If you come out be sure to drop by the Celluloid Coffin table and say hi to me, Coffindan.

Stay cool ghouls!

Monster Fest the 13th

The Cemetery Boys

Dr. Madblood

Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion

Bloke's Terrible Tomb of Terror

It's almost upon us!

Greetings ghoulies! It's getting very close to that oh so wonderful time of the year! Yes, you know what I'm talking about, HALLOWEEN!

It also means that there is a lot going on at the Celluloid Coffin as well. There are several new releases that are ready for your trick or treat pail and the Celluloid Coffin will be making an appearance at this years Monster Fest in Chesapeake, Virginia! I've been attending the fest for several years now. I've also been part of a couple of discussion panels there as well. One on the magnificent artwork of the old VHS days and another on the history of zombie films. This will be the first time I have been a vendor though. I am extremely excited! Check out the link to Monster Fest 13 won't you? If you are in the Chesapeake area or would just like to spread the word wherever you are, check out the flyer, download print and distribute to all your favorite ghouls and haunts!

Monster Fest is a one day convention that is in, well as you can guess by the number, in its 13th glorious year. Each year the fest has gotten a little bigger and has always been a great time. Once the convention ends the fun times aren't over because there is a double feature that night! This year they are screening Frankenstein (1931) and Friday the 13th Part 3.....wait for it......in 3D! You can't beat that with a stick....or body part! So come on down if you are in the area or if you'd like to make the trek to beautiful Chesapeake, Virginia.

In other news there are two new Celluloid Coffin Video releases ready for all you spooks and goblins to add to your cauldron in preparation for the greatest month of the year!

The Coffin continues it's double feature releases with a double header of shock! Francis Ford Coppola's directorial debut, "Dementia 13(1963)" and the always spooky "I Bury The Living (1958)". 

I have to be honest, I hadn't seen Dementia 13 in quite some time when I decided to pair these two together and I was taken about by how great this film is. It's stark black and white photography pairs incredibly well with the (for its day) ultra violent content. It's low budget doesn't shine through like so many productions that came out of the Roger Corman studios in the 50's and early 60's. A real shocker and a true gem!

I Bury The Living has always been a spooky good time. Richard Boone plays the part of a business man who has to take on the responsibility of running a cemetery for the firm he works for. When he accidentally switches pins in the cemetery map, marking living people for dead......well they end up dead! Soon he is caught in a swirling pool of madness. Well filmed and acted. It's directed by Albert Band whose name you probably don't recognize. He is the father of Charles Band who gave us Media Home Entertainment, Wizard Video, and Full Moon Entertainment! Both prints for these films look really nice to be hanging around in the public domain.

Last year I put together and fun little DVD entitled Coffindan's Haunted Halloween Hootenanny. A fun tribute to the old Super 8mm digests of yesteryear. Well I decided to go back to the grave for some more fun!

Son of Halloween Hootenanny is another trip down Super 8 memory lane. Chock full of classic trailers and spooky fun cartoons plus four great "features" done up in that classic digest format. Prepare yourselves for "The Giant Gila Monster", "The Ape Man", "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space".

All are great fun little films shrunk down to the 10 - 15 minute run time that was the norm for film companies such as Castle Films and Black Hawk Films. A fun time for all and makes a great party DVD to have playing in the background at your next cemetery bash! Both Hootenanny presentations are also a great way to introduce the classic horrors to the little budding monster kids running around your lab too! Son of Halloween Hootenanny also features some great spooky music from Norfolk, Virginia's Cemetery Boys. The Boys created some of the greatest spook rock this side of of the old abandoned sanitarium. Check out the opening credit sequence of Son of Halloween Hootenanny and listen for  yourselves!

These two new titles plus more are available at the Celluloid Coffin Etsy Store as well as the Ebay Coffin so drop on by and check us out! And if you like what you hear from the Cemetery Boys drop by their Bandcamp Mortuary for some more spooky rock!

Stay cool ghouls!!