ROYAL CROWN REVUE NEWS!

ROYAL CROWN REVUE NEWS!

NEWS FROM THE SWIGINGEST ROYAL CROWN REVUE GANG . . .

In the run up to the debut of "Hey, It's Vegas, Baby!",
Bam Bam Danny Glass did a wonderful interview for
Vegas Talk Radio. It's a pretty good listen!

TO CHECK IT OUT CLICK HERE

“Hey, It's Vegas Baby!” is Las Vegas in its heyday, with the showroom jumpin’, the band swingin’ and the audience rockin’- and out comes the singers with the songs you love. The band is Royal Crown Revue, which originated the swing revival and now celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the top retro modern horn band touring today. You can hear the ghosts of Sam Butera, Big Jay McNeely, Gene Krupa, and all the greats through their playing. Eddie Nichols is the guy singer with the band, and he is equal parts Joe Louis (yes, the boxer), Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, and Sam Cooke put in a blender.

Hey, It’s Vegas Baby! Featuring Royal Crown Revue & Jennifer Keith
Date: June 4, 2009
Time: 8 p.m.
Price: From $29 -$39 (plus tax and service charge)
Location: Las Vegas Hilton Theater

FRANK SINATRA JR. @ THE GROVE!

FRANK SINATRA JR. @ THE GROVE!

Frank Sinatra Jr. will perform Sinatra Plays Sinatra at the Grove of Anaheim on Tuesday, September 8 at 8:00 PM. In song and style Frank Sinatra Jr. will pay homage to his father, the singer with the music that defines the Sinatra legend.

Sinatra Plays Sinatra features songs that Frank Sinatra sang in over 50 years of performing, many of which Sinatra Jr. witnessed first hand. A portion of the show includes a photo gallery depicting Sinatra’s ‘look’ throughout each decade while Frank Jr. sings the songs that best represented the times. The show includes such Sinatra classics as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “One For My Baby,” “New York, New York,” “Luck Be A Lady” and “Strangers In The Night.” “With this concert and our wonderful 36-piece orchestra, we feel like we’re visiting old friends again,” says Frank Sinatra Jr. “Some members of my father’s orchestra are playing with us now, including his longtime musical director and accompanist, Bill Miller.”

Frank Sinatra, Jr. was born in New Jersey, raised in California and educated in the showrooms of Las Vegas and on bandstands all over the world. He has performed in major clubs around the world and has appeared on stage with such showbiz greats as George Burns, Phil Harris, and Flip Wilson. A favorite of variety and talk show audiences, Frank Jr. frequently appeared on programs hosted by legends such as Red Skeleton, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin, Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson. He also performed regularly in Las Vegas during the ‘70s and ‘80s, and after his father’s death in 1998, audiences honored Frank, Jr. and his 36-piece orchestra with numerous standing ovations.

Wherever and whenever he performs his music, Frank Jr. always keeps one thing in mind saying, “The people come to hear the music, so I always make sure the music is the real star of the show. I want the spotlight to shine on the individual musicians as well as the singer.”

Frank Sinatra, Jr. is a star that shines brighter year after year. Don’t miss the chance to catch him live at the Grove this September.

HERCULE POIROT TO RETURN TO TV!

HERCULE POIROT TO RETURN TO TV!

The character, played by David Suchet for 21 years, will return to film in The Clocks, the first of four new shows based on the fictional Belgian detective.

The film is named after the four frozen clocks discovered that read 13 minutes past four in the room where the dead body is discovered.

Poirot is meant to solve a murder that occurs at the start of the film.

Suchet said: "After 21 years filming Poirot I am as excited as ever to be returning to the role and very much looking forward to filming with such a wonderful guest cast."

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

THE SWANK PACK!

THE SWANK PACK!

NEWS FROM COCKTAIL NATION’S KOOP KOOPER . . .

For those of you who always wish you were born early enough into the 20th Century so that you are able to experience the thrill, excitement and glamour of the 1950s and 1960s classic Rat Pack shows with Frank, Dean, Sammy and all the other boys, here's your chance. Picking up where they left off in the 60s, Douglas Roegiers, Dave Cox and a variety of performers transform the Pasadena Jazz Institute (in Pasadena, California) into a swingin’ lounge on the first Thursday of every month.

Far from a show full of impersonators, these guys (and dames) pay homage to the great American crooners by bringing their own brand of style and entertainment to the stage monthly. The first show kicks off at 8:30 p.m. on June 4th, don't miss it baby!

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

CAPTAIN HAZZARD!

CAPTAIN HAZZARD!

WORD FROM PULP MAVEN RON FORTIER . . .

Airship 27 Prod. and Cornerstone Book Publishers are thrilled to announced the release of the reprint edition of Captain Hazzard #1, Python Men of the Lost City.

After the first edition of this rewrite pulp classic sold out, it has been sadly unavailable to pulp fans. No longer. This new, affordable edition sports a new cover painting by the amazing Mark Maddox and is now on sale. Simply click the heading above the cover. A sincere thanks to all our pulp fans who have patiently waited for this book to arrive. Believe, the wait was worth it.

DOC MONSTER!

DOC MONSTER!

HERE’S A CHANCE TO FOLLOW THE CREATIONG OF A PULP HERO FROM CONCEPTION IDEA THROUGH FULL BLOWN STORY. DAVE FLORA, CREATOR OF THE PULP/SUPERNATURAL THRILLER GHOST ZERO, HAS CREATED HIS DOC MONSTER BLOG SO EVERYONE CAN FOLLOW THE PROCESS ALONG.

TO CHECK IT OUT CLICK HERE

THE BEST OF WORD JAZZ ~ VOL. 1!

THE BEST OF WORD JAZZ ~ VOL. 1!

THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY DIFFERENT. I ENYOYED EVERY BEATNICK COOL TRACK ~ THANKS TO KELLY’S LOUNGE SOUNZ FOR THE DOWNLOAD . . .

PER KELLY:

When the original "Word Jazz" arrived in our station's Lp library in the late '50s my radio colleagues and I were blown away. What a voice! That mellifluous bass-baritone! Most of us would have almost killed to have just a fraction of Nordine's resonance. But the impact didn't come only from Ken's voice. The surrealistic stories, that stream-of-consciousness style also used by the beatniks of the '50s to express their radical ideas. It was all very new, quite titillating and unique. A treasure trove for those of us who liked to put punchy spoken inserts into our presentations.

Even if you're not familiar with this vinyl you may recognize Ken Nordine by the many voice-overs he recorded for Tv and radio over the past decades. The background jazz was supplied by the Fred Katz Combo which cut a few albums without Nordine. The group also appeared in the movie "Sweet Smell Of Success".

TRACKS:

01) My baby
02) Original Sin
03) What Time Is It?
04) Confessions of 349-18-5171
05) Hunger Is from
06) Vidiot
07) Reaching Into In
08) Adult Kindergarten
09) Sound Museum
10) Bury-It-Yourself Time Capsule
11) Anytime Anytime
12) Whistler
13) Flibberty Jib
14) Faces In The Jazzamatazz
15) I Used To Think My Right Hand Was Uglier Than My Left
16) Looks Like It's Going To Rain
17) Down The Drain
18) You're Getting Better

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

BLOOD ‘N’ THUNDER - NOW AVAILABLE!

BLOOD ‘N’ THUNDER - NOW AVAILABLE!

Blood ‘n’ Thunder returns after a long hiatus with its biggest and best issue yet. The magazine has been redesigned in a new format, and is now a journal-sized trade paperback of 108 pages, with laminated color cover and off-white paper stock.

The Spring 2009 issue boasts several lengthy pieces, including John Locke’s extensive overview of gangster pulps, “Glorifying the American Goon,” and David Saunders’ lavishly illustrated tribute to his father, legendary pulp-cover artist Norman Saunders. Tom Barnett speculates on the inspirations, both real and fictional, for Doc Savage’s archenemy, John Sunlight. This issue also contains a rare BnT foray into comic-book history with the reprint of “The Mask Strikes,” adapted from the first Black Bat pulp story for the first issue of Ned Pines’ Exciting Comics.

A full complement of departments includes “Convention Corner,” with a preview of the upcoming PulpFest; “Tricks of the Trade,” featuring excerpts from a 1921 book in which top pulp editors discussing their story requirements; “Pulp Page to Silver Screen,” covering a 1940 Will Bill Elliott horse opera adapted from one of Walt Coburn’s Star Western novelettes; and “Cliffhanger Classics,” spotlighting the excellent 1943 Universal chapter play, Adventures of Smilin’ Jack.

At $11.95, the Spring 2009 Blood ‘n’ Thunder is twice the price of previous issues but has four times as many pages. With this number the zine goes from four times a year to three, and one-year subscriptions will now cost $30, a savings of two dollars per single copy. The cost of Media Mail shipping is included in the subscription price.

Checks and money orders should be made out and sent to Ed Hulse, 2467 Route 10 East, Bldg. 15, Apt. 4B, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. Ed accepts Paypal payments at bnteditor@yahoo.com.

THE KNIGHTMARE ~ PART 1!

THE KNIGHTMARE ~ PART 1!

IT’S HERE AND READY TO THRILL!

From New Pulp Media Baron Bill Cunningham comes this thrilling tale of adventure in 1940's Hollywood!

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been protected by the shadow warrior known only as The Knightmare. The Master of Fear, he uses his uncanny powers in the defense of justice. But can even The Knightmare resist the sinister powers of Hitler's elite super-soliders... the Murder Legion?

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ TWO WHEELS BY GREG MOODY!

FORGOTTEN BOOKS ~ TWO WHEELS BY GREG MOODY!

Good sports mysteries are hard to come by. Getting the right blend of enough of the sport and finding a solid mystery that fits in with the spotlighted sporting endeavor is a very fine balancing act. In Two Wheels, Greg Moody manages to pull off that balancing act without even the aid of a net.

Diving into the bike racing world, Moody captures enough of the sport to keep those who are barely aware of the Tour de France each year interested, while also giving enough sporting grist for those for whom bike racing is a commanding passion – and, oh yeah, he also throws in a compelling murder mystery set in the heart of the European peloton.

Jean-Pierre Colgan, the world champion, dies in a horrible toaster explosion. He is replaced on the powerful Haven Cycling Team by Will Ross, an aging American mediocrity. As Ross battles the team prejudice against him and slowly regains his form, he realizes that Colgan’s death was no accident, that it is only the first step in a plan to dismantle the entire team, and given that knowledge, that his life isn’t worth the tuppence he might find in corners of your mother’s sofa.

Moody went on to write five cycling mysteries, Two Wheels, Perfect Circles, Derailleur, Deadroll, and Dead Air, each of them enjoyable in their own right, each taking on a different aspect of the cycling world.

TO CHECK OUT THE NOVELS AT VELO PRESS CLICK HERE

Other cycling novels of note include, The Race and The Tour by Dave Shields, and The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne. My favorite cycling/Tour de France novel, however, is Cat by Freya North.

ANN MARGRET BOX SET 1961 ~ 1966!

ANN MARGRET BOX SET 1961 ~ 1966!

THOSE FOR WHOM ANN MARGRET CONTINUES TO BE A SEX SYMBOL, THIS DOWNLOADABLE COLLECTION OF HER SINGING CAREER WILL BRING BACK FOND MEMORIES . . .

TRACK LIST:

VOL. 1
01. Lost Love
02. (Hurrah For) La Pachanga
03. Hideway Heart
04. I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
05. I Should Care
06. More Than You Know
07. Please Be Kind
08. Blame It On My Youth
09. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
10. Teach Me Tonight
11. That's What I Like
12. You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You
13. Lovie Joe
14. Kansas City
15. Bye Bye Blues
16. Chicago
17. I Really Don't Want To Know
18. I Don't Hurt Anymore
19. Let Me Go, Lover
20. His Ring
21. Let's Stop Kidding Each Other
22. I Just Don't Understand
23. There's No Such Thing
24. Every Beat Of My Heart
25. It's Not So Funny
26. Gimmie Love
27. It Do Me So Good
28. All You Had To Do Was Tell Me

VOL. 2
01. Could It Be?
02. Moon River
03. It's Not So Funny
04. My Last Date With You
05. Heartbreak Hotel
06. Fever
07. Oh, Lonesome Me
08. Dance With Me Henry
09. What Do You Want From Me
10. Slowly
11. What Am I Supposed To Do
12. Inka Dinka Doo
13. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
14. Jim Dandy
15. The Rock And Roll Waltz
16. Thirteen Men
17. Tell Me, Tell Me
18. C'est Si Bon
19. Begin The Beguine
20. I Was Only Kidding
21. Make Love To Me
22. There'll Be Some Changes Made
23. Senor Blues
24. The Rock And Roll Waltz
25. No More
26. If You Can't Find Love
27. Blable De Da
28. So Did I

VOL. 3
01. Bachelor In Paradise
02. Never On Sunday
03. Lovin' Spree
04. Something To Remember
05. Hold Me
06. You Took Advantage Of Me
07. Mr. Wonderful
08. Call Me Darling
09. I Wanna Be Loved
10. Let Me Entertain You
11. Paradise
12. Romance In The Dark
13. Ma (He's Making Eyes At Me)
14. Personality
15. Bill Bailey
16. The Best Man
17. Row, Row, Row
18. Just Because
19. Little Boy (Little Girl)
20. 'Tain't What You Do
21. My Baby Just Cares For Me
22. Sister Kate
23. Everybody Loves My Baby
24. Mack The Knife
25. Mama's Gone, Goodbye
26. Mutual Admiration Society
27. Baby, It's Cold Outside

VOL. 4
01 - Bye Bye Birdie
02 - Take All The Kisses
03 - I.m In The Mood For Love
04 - The Best Is Yet To Come
05 - How Lovely To Be A Women
06 - Lips That Lie
07 - Now It's My Turn
08 - I Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool No More
09 - Man's Favourite Sport
10 - Hey Little Star
11 - Love Makes The World Go Round
12 - As Long As He Needs Me
13 - Is It Really Me
14 - Our Language Of Love
15 - You Sure Know How To Hurt Someone
16 - Someday Soon
17 - He's My Man
18 - What Did I Have That I Don't Have
19 - Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
20 - I Just Want To Make Love To You
21 - That Old Black Magic
22 - By Myself
23 - Cute
24 - After The Lights Go Down Low
25 - I Wanna Be Loved
26 - More
27 - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
28 - The Good Life

VOL. 5
01 - Isn't It Kinda Fun
02 - Wiling And Eager
03 - It's A Grant Night For Singing
04 - Ouverture (Bye Bye Birdie-Naib Trail)
05 - One Boy
06 - How Lovely To Be A Women
07 - Hymn For A Sunday Evening
08 - A Lot Of Livin' To Do
09 - Rosie And Bye Bye Birdie
10 - The Lady Loves Me
11 - You're The Boss
12 - Appreciation
13 - My Rival
14 - Pleasure Seekers
15 - Next Time
16 - Something To Think About
17 - Everything makes Music When You're In Love
18 - Paris Lullaby
19 - The Swinger
20 - The Littlest Lamb, 1
21 - The Littlest Lamb, 2
22 - Christmas Greetings

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

THE C.O.B.R.A.S. SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER LEE!

THE C.O.B.R.A.S. SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER LEE!

CINEMA RETRO REMINDS US THIS IS CHRISTOPHER LEE’S BIRTHDAY AND IS CELEBRATING WITH THIS COOL PIECE OF ART BY THE GREAT CARTOONIST PETE EMSLIE COMMEMORATING CHRISTOPHER'S PERFORMANCE AS SCARAMANGA IN THE JAMES BOND FILM THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.

TO SEE MORE OF PETE’S WORK CLICK HERE

NEW LIFE ON VIDEO!

NEW LIFE ON VIDEO!

THIS IS GOOD NEWS (FROM THE MYSTERY BOOK NEWS BLOG) FOR ME AS I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE SHORT LIVED SERIES BOOKER . . .

Video Business is reporting that Mill Creek Entertainment will distribute seven crime dramas from Stephen J. Cannell Productions on DVD beginning this fall. Cannell, at one time one of the most prolific series producers on television, developed and/or wrote The Rockford Files, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hunter, 21 Jump Street, Riptide, The Greatest American Hero, Adam-12, and about 20 or so more series.The seven series mentioned in the deal are (in alphabetical order): Booker, Broken Badges, Cobra, Missing Persons, Palace Guard, Unsub, and Wiseguy. We admit, we'd only heard of one of these, so we did a little research to find out more.

Booker, a spin-off of 21 Jump Street, aired on Fox in 1989 for one season and starred Richard Grieco as Dennis Booker (the same character he played on 21 Jump Street), the head investigator for a large Japanese corporation. 22 episodes were produced.

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

KNIGHTMARE!

KNIGHTMARE!

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE ~

Bill Cunningham and Decoder Ring Theatre network across internet to produce 2-part radio adventure, "The Murder Legion Strikes at Midnight."

Bill Cunningham's New Pulp Media (NPM) announces their Internet radio adventure, THE KNIGHTMARE: The Murder Legion Strikes at Midnight will premiere May 31st, 2009 on Decoder Ring Theatre (www.decoderringtheatre.com). This collaboration marks the first media release for NPM and a new radio adventure program for Decoder Ring which produces The Red Panda Adventures and Black Jack Justice for enthusiastic audiences worldwide.

"The Knightmare is a character originally created by poverty row movie producer Cameron Tyler back in the late thirties. Tyler wanted to create a movie serial and radio drama at the same time so they could promote one another. This is similar famous mystery man The Shadow who leveraged his simultaneous radio and magazine appearances," said Cunningham. "I acquired the rights to the Knightmare character Tyler had outlined, but was never able to complete because Pearl Harbor derailed his plans."

Originally, Cunningham wrote a movie script updating the character, but later decided to lay the groundwork for a new, web-based serial project by recreating the adventures of the original Knightmare for radio. Enter Gregg Taylor, head of Toronto's Decoder Ring Theatre company which had been developing new radio adventures done in a classic style for internet audiences. "We met on the internet and immediately checked each other's 'geek cred," said Taylor. " We kept in touch and followed each other’s projects, often running along parallel lines like the online Astonishing Adventures! Magazine. The day came when we both realized that several seasons and damn near a million downloads later, Decoder Ring had grown into a swell outlet for the mysterious Knightmare… a way to start the ball rolling on a quest to conquer all media and finally get me a ticket to that movie that I wanted to see so badly."

The Knightmare is a hero cut from the same cloth as The Shadow or The Green Hornet. He is "The Master of Fear" whose catch phrase "I know what you fear" clues audiences in to his mysterious power to overcome evildoers. In this 2-part episode, The Knightmare goes up against Hollywood gangsters, the Police and yes, Nazis - the dreaded Murder Legion - who are here to rob a charity event taking place at the famous Griffith Observatory.

"The Knightmare radio adventure is definitely a ride on the fun train for those fans of old time radio, comics, movie serials and pulps. We've peppered the story with plenty of nods to our childhood influences, but what's really fun about the show is that it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the internet," says Cunningham.

This internet radio collaboration is the launch for NPM, Cunningham's company label for pulp-styled material he and other partners create and distribute via the internet. This includes adventure podcasts like The Knightmare; pulp stories and novels for digital and print; Comics and eventually Video serials. "The pulp publishing model was always "Make it fast, make it inexpensive (I won't say 'cheap'), but most of all make it entertaining," smiles Cunningham.

"Thanks to the internet and its myriad possibilities to collaborate, market and distribute we can produce a variety of entertaining pulp media with a high degree of style, quality and fun. I've been very fortunate to collaborate with people like Gregg Taylor, Scott Godlewski and Matt Bennett who publish Mysterious Adventure Magazine (http://mysterious-adventure.blogspot.com), and dozens of other people creating art, stories and other new pulp media."

NPM has already signed a publishing deal with noted author and filmmaker Donald F. Glut (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK novelization, Gold Key comics' THE OCCULT FILES OF DR. SPEKTOR, and the cult motion picture DINOSAUR VALLEY GIRLS. ( www.donaldfglut.com) to release several of his novels for Amazon's Kindle format as well as collector's print editions through Createspace. "We are collaborating with writers and artists to republish classic pulp in new, definitive editions as well as create new adventures based on the pulp template” says Cunningham.

“In addition, NPM is cultivating our fans and our brand very carefully using all of the free web tools at our disposal like our Fans of the Knightmare Facebook Page. We aim to create an interactive, innovative business model that brings the creators and audience together as part of the company.

Scheduled for release later this summer 2009 will be author Glut's 1970's-styled horror blaxploitation novel: BROTHER BLOOD (attached textless artwork by Nik Macaluso) and other higher profile projects to be announced.

KEELEY SMITH ~ BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE!

KEELEY SMITH ~ BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE!

ONE OF THE BEST OF THE ‘GIRL SINGERS.’ KEELEY SMITH COULD AND CAN SWING WITH ANYONE. KELLEY’S LOUNGE SOUNZ BRINGS US ANOTHER COOL DOWNLOAD.

This is a CD reissue of the '59 Dot vinyl. Ms. Smith was never classified as a jazz singer as such. But often lines are blurred between jazz and ballad singers. Whatever label we give her, there's no doubting her ability to put across the type of song on this album popular in the late '50s. The digital remastering of this disc has taken a hammering from audio buffs. It is a bit rough in parts. No comparison with her Capitol reissues. One of the best of these is "Cherokeely Swings" with Billy May. I have this and plan to share it soon.

TRACKS:

01) Because You're Mine
02) Canadian Sunset
03) No Other Love
04) Memories Are Made Of This
05) My Special Angel
06) Please Mr Sun
07) Only You
08) Because
09) Tell Me Why
10) Moments To Remember
11) Prisoner Of Love
12) The Loveliest Night Of The Year

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

BUDDY SHAMUS DARK SWINGIN' IN ENGLAND!

SURROGATES!

SURROGATES!

OTHER THAN BRUCES WILLIS' SURROGATE'S AWFUL HAIR PIECE, THIS LOOKS PRETTY COOL. BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL.

PIRATES DO HAVE THE BEST WENCHES!

PIRATES DO HAVE THE BEST WENCHES!

SCURVYDOGS, THESE BE PIRATE BABES AS YE HAVE ALWAYS IMAGED, BUT NE’ER SEEN. REAL PIRATE WOMEN DRESSIN’ LIKE MEN BE HARDLY SEXY. DAMN YE EYES WITH HALLOWEEN POLYESTER PIRATE, AS THEM BE LOOKIN’ CHEAP N’ FAKE.

MOST BEAUTIFUL WENCHES SCANTLY DRESSED IN AUTHENTIC PIRATE GARB, BE THE TREASURE IN EVERY SEAMEN EYES N’ A FEW LADIES EYES AS WELL. THESE DOXIES BE UNDERDRESSED FARR COMBAT, BARRT WELL ARMED WITH CUTLASS, FLINTLOCKS, DAGGERS N’ RUM BOTTLES.

MANY A PIRATE’S SHARP SEA EYES BE MISTAKIN’ THESE IMAGES HAS PAINTINGS. THEY BE A PHOTOGRAPH OF REAL WOMEN, MASTERFULLY GARBED, ARMED, POSED.

THIS VERY COOL AND DARING PIRATE BABE CALENDAR WAS PRODUCED BY PHOTOGRAPHER TIGER LEE. HE TELLS US THE 2010 CALENDAR WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AROUND SEPTEMBER 1.

BE THERE, MATEY!

TO CHECK IT OUT FURTHER CLICK HERE

THE CAT'S MEOW ~ DOUBLE PLAY!

SPY-FI CHANNEL!

SPY-FI CHANNEL!

BLOG BUDDY CHRISTOPHER MILLS ~ OF FEMME NOIR FAME ~ LOOKS LIKE HE’S BUCKING TO BECOME A C.O.B.R.A.S. MEMBER WITH HIS NEW SPY-FI CHANNEL BLOG. HE’S WHAT HE HAS TO SAY . . .

Yeah, so, I've created yet another blog that I won't post to nearly as often as I'd like to. This one's devoted to one specific fanboy obsession (of many): my love for spy movies and fiction, or as I generally refer to it, "Spy-Fi."

It's called Spy-Fi Channel, and like the Guns In the Gutters blog, it will be updated on an highly irregular schedule, as I feel like I have something to say on the topic. To kick it off, I've cross-posted some older posts from this site – the Lightning Bolt and Return of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. DVD reviews, among others – but I've also started writing about individual episodes of the old 1979 Robert Conrad spy series, A Man Called Sloane, and intend to review spy fiction as well, beginning with the Alan Caillou "Ian Quayle" novels of the mid-80s.

Why another blog? Well, like my crime comics blog, it's a subject I like to write about occasionally and I wanted to have a special place to do so. It doesn't mean that I won't ever post spy-fi reviews and stuff here, because I probably will. But most of that material will be relegated to the new site. Of course, most likely, it will be like the crime comics blog, with infrequent bouts of prolific posting followed by months and months of inactivity. But, hey – that's me.

TO CHECK OUT THE NEW BLOG CLICK HERE

NEVER FORGET!

THE CAT'S MEOW!

WAYNE BERGERON BIG BAND @ VIBRATO!

BTAP #25!

BTAP #25!

HERE’S WHAT EDITOR DAVID CRANMER HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE LATEST OFFERING FROM BEAT TO A PULP . . .

I originally wrote Vengeance on the 18th for Out of the Gutter's Revenge issue, but it required a rewrite I wasn’t prepared to do. So, instead, I submitted the award-winning story Blubber (ok, it's a second place win, but dammit, it's my only prize for writing and I'm going to own it!).

I put 18th on the back-burner for awhile until I could finally face it again. I think this version is stronger and with a more potent ending. And the Editor-at-Large for BEAT TO A PULP gladly accepted my story (don’t laugh – Ms. Ash is no more easy on me than she is with any other submission that rolls in). A big thanks to Elaine for her considerable assistance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Cranmer's fiction has appeared in Out of the Gutter, Powder Burn Flash, Yellow Mama, and A Twist of Noir. He regularly updates his blog The THE EDUCATION OF A PULP WRITER and is currently working with Anonymous-9 on the novel Hard Bite.

Next week: Kieran Shea gives us some Maintenance with a character that will be featured in an upcoming issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Btw, Kieran's brilliant piece of prose was suppose to be featured at BTAP this week but I didn't have the guts to follow this modern-day Hammett.

Coming in June: Paul Brazill's Tut, and Y Not from Travis Erwin.

TO READ BTAP CLICK HERE

HARD CASE CRIME T-SHIRTS!

HARD CASE CRIME T-SHIRTS!

HERE’S THE WORD FROM HARD CASE CRIME EDITOR CHARLES ARDAI . . .

Over the past five years, one of the questions we've heard most often is, "Can I buy t-shirts or posters featuring your cover art?" Well, we don't have posters yet -- but as of Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), you will be able to get t-shirts featuring some of our most popular covers.

We're not producing the shirts ourselves (what do I know about making shirts?); instead, we've hooked up with a company called Poetic License Printing that offers t-shirts featuring the work of major artists, mostly from the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and comic books, through a site called "WORLD OF STRANGE Fantastic Apparel."

And starting May 25, they'll be featuring more than a dozen of our most popular covers by painters Greg Manchess, Robert McGinnis, and Glen Orbik.

I think you'll like the covers we've chosen. And if you do, I hope you'll snap up a shirt or two. In addition to helping you proclaim your love of pulp fiction everywhere you go, a portion of each sale goes to the artist, so it's a great way of saying thank you to them for all the pleasure they've given you; and a portion goes to Hard Case Crime, to help us keep bringing you great fiction month after month. (The rest of the money goes to the Poetic License folks, and they certainly deserve it, too.)

You'll be able to order through their Web site starting May 25 -- but if you get this message before then, you can already go to the site and poke around, see what they have.

Meanwhile, if you want a great book to go with your new shirts, why not give Jason Starr's lost novel, FAKE I.D. a try? This one's a doozy, and it's hitting stores the day after the shirts go on sale...

TO VIEW THE COLLECTION CLICK HERE