Games People Play (The Gong Show)

As urban legend would have it, it’s assumed that back in the 1970′s rock bands had all the best drugs and booze. Some of you might have heard stories about Led Zepplin’s backstage shenanigans.

I concur.

I don’t think it’s true that all the mega superstar rock bands had the best nose candy and liquid courage. No. That ‘honor’ goes to many 1970s game shows.

Ah those wacky hazy ’70s. Only in the 1970s would you have such programs like The Match Game and The Gong Show. The stuff of televised legend.

Cause really, who needs cable when all you have to do is search on YouTube. There you will discover gloriously grainy gems, badly transferred from VHS onto the digital age. Why there’s already many clips from “The Gong Show” to choose from. Who can ever forget the Unknown Comic, The Worms, and of course, Gene Gene The Dancing Machine! Just in time for New Year’s Eve, here’s a clip of Gene doing his thing:

That’s right everybody! Party like its a tacky ’77 game show! You go Gene! Check out his swagger with his trademark green jogging jacket! Have everyone throw crappola at you in wild abandon! That’s how you celebrate.

I’m leaning towards Gene nowadays. Back in my childhood, The Unknown Comic was my favorite. In fact, back in 2008, I kinda-sorta did a tribute to him. A parody of a parody. The one where The Unknown Comic posed for a publicity photo sending up the famous Burt Reynolds shot published in Cosmopolitan magazine:

Actor Burt Reynolds. In his heyday, he did a centerfold for Cosmopolitan magazine. April 1972 (Vol. 172, No. 4)

Parody of the famous Burt pic by The Unknown Comic.

A parody of a parody. My character Psycho Bunny in a similar pose. Created in 2008. Cartoon by Michele Witchipoo.

For those who never heard of the Unknown Comic, here’s a clip via YouTube. If you thought your jokes were bad, try this:

Ah, those wacky 1970s. The jokes were corny as hell. Still, it was a bit of magic captured on the small screen. Dropping F-bombs without hostility in a drug-induced haze. Drinking and smoking as if nothing. This TV party was silliness personified. Yet it’s nowhere as mind-numbing as today’s reality shows.

Another thing that The Gong Show had over today’s so-called ‘talent shows’ such as American Idol or The Voice. Despite half of the Gong Show’s antics being staged, there was an organic realness to the freakishness. Whenever the talented, the not-so talented or just plain bizarre walked on stage, it was all in good fun. If an act was just outright odd, their inner freak was embraced. In no way were they weren’t trying to conform to a manufactured Hollywood fantasy. They were proud of being odd. They owned their inner freak. That was the beauty of The Gong Show.

The real star of course, was the host himself Chuck Barris. Personally I think he’s a genius. On his resume he lists American game show creator, producer, songwriter, and of course the emcee of The Gong Show. Although claims about working for the C.I.A. can be seriously doubted.

As a producer he was responsible for such tacky treasures like The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game and The $1.98 Beauty Show.

The $1.98 Beauty Show logo. Only in the drugged included 1970s could such a show exist.

Back to The Gong Show. To this very day this program remains a cult classic. In fact, there’s a very rare film, created after the first cancellation. In the tradition of The Monkee’s Head movie. It’s not available on VHS, DVD or BluRay. If you’re lucky, you just might catch it on cable or grab scenes from – of course – YouTube.

Oh yeah, the gong itself. Usually the judging panel usually consisted of three b-list celebrities. Jamie Farr and Jaye P. Morgan were regulars. Comedians like Soupy Sales and Joan Rivers also judged.

The studio audience could also be rowdy at times. When I was a kid, I caught a few episodes of The Gong Show here and there. That is, if my mother allowed it. My favorite was usually when the audience would start booing. Meanwhile the judges fought among themselves as to who was gonging first.

Yet strangely, or maybe not strangely enough, many entertainers got their first break being on that show. Many actors appeared under an alias. That was a backup plan because one bad appearance could actually ruin a career. Among the Gong alumni were PeeWee Herman, ’70s Disco singer Cheryl Lynn, musical theater actress Andrea McArdle and a very early incarnation of Oingo Bongo.

No report on The Gong Show would be complete without talking about The Popsicle Twins – a.k.a. “Have You Got A Nickel?” Not only did this segment get Barris and company in trouble with the censors – Phyllis Diller could not comprehend what the hell was going on. She gave the twins a score of zero. Guess she didn’t see Deep Throat.

Since Chuck Barris was a producer, sometimes contestants from his other shows occasionally crossed over to The Gong Show. If you read my blog post from yesterday, you might recognize the name of Cheryl Bradshaw. She was a “bachelorette” from ‘The Dating Game’ – the same one who narrowly missed a date with death. She had won a date with serial killer Rodney James Alcala. (http://witchesbrewpress.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/a-date-with-death/)

Besides another dark incident, (death of a dancer who had won on The Gong Show just hours before) The Gong Show was fun. Over the years The Gong Show has been revived. Yet somehow it always failed to capture the magic that the very original program had. The Gong Show itself is nothing without Chuck Barris as host. Sure, “The Dating Game” could always have a revolving host door. Ditto for “The Newlywed Game.” Come to think of it, the time might be ripe to bring back “The $1.98 Beauty Show.” In this day and age of instant gratification and entitlement this show could work. But “The Gong Show” itself? Nah. In my humble opinion, it could only work with the charms of Chuck. ‘Cause even with all the mayhem surrounding him, he was the glue that kept all the chaos together. He grasped it. He understood it. Like the freaks on stage, he owned it. “The Gong Show” was his show.

I could go on, but the blogging curtains are about to close. Before getting gonged myself, I’ll leave you with one final clip. One of a ‘Punk Rock’ band. Never heard of them until now. They were called Static Cling. And yes, they were gonged.

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Gemini Has Japan On Its Mind

Originally created this when I was putting together Babalon Babes issue 4. Otherwise known as the Astrology issue, I drew this around mid-late 2009.

After watching news footage of Japan, I remembered this piece. So I’ve posted this up in honor of that country.

Gemini. Draw by Michele Witchipoo, late 2009. Originally self-published in Babalon Babes issue 4 (Astrology Issue)

It’s a mixture of the Thoth (Crowley/Lady Frieda) tarot deck, and the old Godzilla movies. Today some of you kids call it a “mash-up.”

Since the Lovers represents Gemini, I took elements from that card. In the background you can see Godzilla and Mothra. As in “Mothra Vs. Godzilla.“

Now some people are probably wondering – “What the hell does Godzilla and Mothra have to do with Gemini?”

I’ll explain. Do you see the twin girls in the front of the illustration? They were known as The Shobijin. The Shobijin could be described as deities, priestesses or faeries who would call to Mothra with either song or prayer. The twin imagery also corresponds to the Gemini sign. The twins is the symbol for Gemini, and it’s element is air. The twins shown here communicate to Mothra with words and song. Air signs deal with communication.

As for Mothra and Godzilla…sometimes they are allies, sometimes they are in conflict with each other. A contradiction of sorts, which can describe Geminis a bit.

In March 2011, I recalled doing this piece. Seeing Japan with the tsunami effects and the nuclear crisis, figured I would post this. It’s not only my tribute to the Japanese monster movie genre, but to Japan as a whole.

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Maria Schneider Portrait

One of my favorite films is the 1972 French drama “Last Tango In Paris.” First saw it during the early 90s on VHS. I currently own the DVD.

The plot grabbed my interest. Marlo Brando technically had the starring role of this movie. Truth be told, I never did care for Brando. Personally I believe the real “star” was a young actress known as Maria Schneider. To quote film critic Roger Ebert: “Maria Schneider doesn’t seem to act her role so much as to exude it.”

Basically it comes to this: Marlo Brando more or less portrayed himself, while Schneider mixed innocence with raw sexuality.

This controversial flick more or less internationally defined Maria Schneider as an actress. Brando continued being what he did best, which was being Brando. Meanwhile, Schneider acted in a few more flicks before real-life drama eclipsed her for the rest of the 1970s. The 80s decade treated her a bit better, as she made a comeback in her native country. In later interviews, she would claim that “Last Tango In Paris” nearly ruined her life.

Maria Schneider died on Feb. 3rd, 2011. Director of “Tango,” Bernardo Bertolucci said this*: “Her death has come too early, before I could give her a tender embrace and tell her that I was as tied to her as I was at the start and apologize to her at least once. The strong and creative relationship that we had during the filming of ‘Last Tango’ became poisoned with the passing of time. Maria accused me of having robbed her of her youth and only today am I wondering whether there wasn’t some truth to that.”

After hearing of her passing, I did this portrait of her. Done in pen & ink, on illustration board. Quill pen, nib either 102 or 104.

Maria Schneider & Joe Dallesandro in Jacques Rivette's film "Merry Go Round." Photo: Photo: Des Filles des Garçons

*Full Roger Ebert quote can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/feb/03/maria-schneider-obituary?INTCMP=SRCH
*Full Bernardo Bertolucci quote can be found here: http://www.france24.com/en/20110203-bertolucci-wanted-say-sorry-last-tango-paris
*Interview with film critic Roger Ebert from 1974: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19750914/PEOPLE/509140301
*http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/maria-schneider-memoirs-of-a-french-whore-a-woman-like-eve/

 

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LaVeyan Doppelgänger

Ming the Merciless: “Klytus, I’m bored. What plaything can you offer me today?”

Been watching the 1980 film ‘Flash Gordon.’ Then it dawned on me…

Ming The Merciless, the villain from Flash Gordon could be considered a doppelgänger for Anton LaVey. Check it out:

Ming The Merciless, villain from Flash Gordon & Anton LaVey, founder of Church of Satan.

Anton Szandor LaVey: Born Howard Stanton LaVey on 11th April, 1930. Founder of Church of Satan and LaVeyan Satanism. Author of The Satanic Bible and other Satanic literature. Other accomplishments are, musician, occultist, celebrity personality. Most of his teachings are claimed to be based on the human nature, individualism, and materialism. Anton died on 29th October, 1997. At that time he was the High Priest of Church of Satan. Associated with: Jayne Mansfield, Susan “Sadie Mae Gultz” Atkins, Sammy Davis Jr., Marilyn Manson, and Boyd Rice. Boyd Rice took over CoS as High Priest, September 2010 (news).

A little help from Anton's friends: Jayne Mansfield & Susan Atkins

Ming From the 1980 film Flash Gordon

Ming The Merciless: (quoted from Wikipedia) fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. He has since been the main villain of the strip and its related movie serials, TV shows and film adaptation.

Both Anton and Ming had hot-looking daughters.

Other cheesy websites have printed pics of Ming & Anton next to each other, with no further explanation.

In the meantime, here’s Shitty Mickey doing his own occultist thing…

Love in San Franscisco. All hail Shitty Mickey. From the webcomic by John Reed & Michele Witchipoo

www.shittymickey.com

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Next Weekend! New York Comic Con 2010!

Before I forget, letting everyone know that I will have a table at the New York Comic Con 2010. The New York Comic Con or NYCC 2010, will be held Oct. 8 -10 at The Jacob Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street. Just find my table, T14, in the Artist Alley section.

http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/NYCC/Artist-Alley/

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A Splendor Of A Life

As per usual, deaths of well known persons comes in threes: this time being George Steinbrenner, Tuli Kupferberg and Harvey Pekar. Okay, even if you hate sports, you have some idea on who Steinbrenner was. Kupferburg was a musician, counterculture poet, anti-war activist and cartoonist. Harvey Pekar was the man behind the ‘American Splendor’ comic series.

Harvey Pekar was very much an unlikely hero of sorts. Born in 1939, Pekar was a quirky Cleveland native who seemed destined for an average filing clerk life. As fate would have it, he befriended a young artist by the name of Robert Crumb. Crumb was inspired to turn Pekar’s musings into a comicbook. As they say, the rest is history. Among the years, Pekar not only became an underground comic sensation, but also an unusual media personality. For a while he was a regular fixture on the David Letterman show, until Pekar reminded the host about being a potential shill to General Electric. For those who are not aware, General Electric is the parent company of NBC, which carried The Letterman Show during this period. Pekar’s rouse wiped off that annoying know-it-all smirk off of Letterman’s face. He was never booked on the show again. This didn’t matter, for Pekar’s life was later to be captured in the art house film hit “American Splendor.”

Harvey Pekar, despite his off-beat personality, was a lot smarter than what professional smart-asses like Letterman gave him credit for. Despite his cult status, success never went to Pekar’s head. He kept his file clerk position at a local V.A. Hospital until retirement, as he continued working in the comicbook medium. In the sequential art world, he had everyone’s respect; he loved comics, and the comicbook people loved him back. Unlike Letterman, the feeling was mutual.

If anything, Pekar proved that comics could be more than just a superhero platform. A working class tale of everyday living could be just as, if not more entertaining than an unattainable fantasy world.

Here’s a sketch that my boyfriend had gotten for me last year at the King Con in Brooklyn. Artist Dean Haspiel did the art here, along with Pekar’s signature. Forgot the reason why I didn’t attend, but was it was a nice surprise to receive this. Upon hearing his death, I was a bit sad on not having met him. However, he lived a full, honest creative life as he left a large body of adored work behind. Most people should be so lucky

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Brion Gysin Video

Here’s a rare video of Brion Gysin:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brion_Gysin

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Demoni (Movie Trailer of The Week, April 19th, 2010)

The year 1985 started out like any other year during that decade. Ronald Reagan was sworn in for a second US Presidential term. Along the way Reagan made a book deal for $3 million. Video gamers took their playing to the next level with the Nintendo Entertainment System. The newspaper cartoon Calvin and Hobbes debuted in 1985. On August 31 in Los Angeles, serial killer Richard Ramirez was captured. Microsoft released Windows 1.0. Entertainment wise, LiveAid and Back To The Future was the talk of the town.

During this year, Dario Argento produced and co-wrote the film Demoni. Also internationally known under the title Demons, the film was actually directed by Argento protege Lamberto Bava.

The film trailer for the week, Demoni:

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Death Of A Favorite Villain (Malcolm McLaren)

Whether you loved him or hated him, Malcolm McLaren did have an impact of music still being felt to this day.

McLaren is best known as the controversial, double handed yet charismatic manager behind The Sex Pistols. After a short stint as a manager for the seminal Glam band The New York Dolls, he went back to his naive U.K. and helped create the British Punk movement. Along with his former girlfriend, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and a dwindling English political climate, McLaren helped shaped the iconic images associated with early U.K. Punk. Let’s just say the notes he took during his time with the Dolls served him well.

Later on he added Adam & The Ants and Bow Wow Wow on his management list. Controversy followed McLaren yet again, particularly with the lead singer of Bow Wow Wow. Annabella Lwin was only 14 years old when she posed for a band publicity photo based the Manet painting The Luncheon on the Grass (Le déjeuner sur l’herbe). The images teenage dreams are made of.

Speaking of controversial album covers, my own mother was outraged. So thanks to Lwin’s nude posing, along with a Nina Hagen album these records were banned from my own household. Ah, the good old days.

Not to outdone, Malcolm went to New York City yet again, and tapped into the budding Hip Hop movement. Mixing Bronx street life, international music and English art school fashion, the result was the hit song ‘Buffalo Gals’ from the album ‘Duck Rock.’ Other solo ventures Malcolm ensued, such as the hybrid of electronic music and opera in the 1984 single ‘Madame Butterfly.’ Later solo projects, although innovative, were not as successful.

Was not aware of this fact, but supposedly Malcolm McLaren was involved with a film project, using a script by comic book writer Alan Moore. The film itself was never made. Later on, Malcolm went on to be one of the producers in the film adaptation of Fast Food Nation.

Why Malcolm McLaren could be considered a “favorite villain” was due to the fact of his questionable manger practices. During the 1980s, former members of The Sex Pistols took McLaren to court over contract rights. Johnny Lydon, formerly known as Pistols’ lead singer Johnny Rotten won and gained complete control from McLaren (and rightly so). After the Pistols’ breakup, Lydon formed the post punk band Public Image Ltd.

Personally speaking, I saw P.I.L. on concert during the mid-eighties. Not only showing my true age when admitting this; I will also humiliate myself when I tell you about accidentally getting kicked in the head by a ‘slam dancer’ (now known as ‘mosher’) during the show. Johnny Lydon insulted everyone during the entire concert, and the audience retaliated by throwing pennies at him. The pennies was the crowd’s physical way of telling Lydon he was a “sell-out.”

Back to Malcolm. My ex-boyfriend from high school met McLaren during his usher shift at a local NYC art film theater. McLaren had gone to see a movie, and my ex took his ticket stub. According to the ex, McLaren was a nice guy.

A few weeks prior to his death, somehow the song “Buffalo Gals” kept on running through my head. It was a song I had remembered from my pre-teen years. This was when I was growing up in Queens, NY. I was a huge Joan Jett fan during this period, but a friend was trying to get me into Hip-Hop. So she played “Buffalo Gals” for me. However, I was too into Rock music at this time and wasn’t willing to budge. Years later, I realized this tune was way ahead of its time.

I’ll end this with two videos posted on YouTube. One is Adam Ant with a spoken tribute, the other is the promo video for Buffalo Gals.

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The Trip (Movie Trailer of The Week, Mon. April 12th, 2010)

One of the most well-known years in American history in regards to pop culture, political, and social history is the year 1967. That psychedelic year where everyone tripped during that “Summer of Love.” People flocked to San Francisco and did more than put flowers in their hair. The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on vinyl in 1967. The Velvet Underground and Nico released their self titled debut album. The Rolling Stones were barely scared with a UK drug bust. That bust over at the Redlands estate gave birth to the urban legend regarding Mick Jagger’s then girlfriend Marianne Faithful, and something about a Mars candy bar.

The Trip was released in 1967, starring Peter Fonda. Directed by Roger Corman, The Trip focused on L.S.D. consumption.

Here’s the movie trailer of the week for April 12th, 2010.

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