We’re kicking off this week with a test shot from the first of this year’s two Radio Free Charleston Halloween shows.  With any luck, you’ll get to see it later today!  This is a photo of me (as Count Rudolph) scolding “Celeste, The Zombie Supermodel” (played by RFC’s official Barista, Chelsea Cook) for wasting the brains she just ate.

You can click the image to enlarge it, but I’m too busy to update the Monday Morning Art Store. Between the two RFC Halloween episodes, and the big RFC Halloween Party/Jam Session at the La Belle this coming Saturday, I don’t have a lot of spare time. After the jump, you can see another preview of RFC 54, and the flyer for this weekend’s show!

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Last week I brought you a ton of cool videos about Captain Action, one of my favorite toys from the 1960s.  In the 1970s, Stan Weston, the licensing wizard who brought all the DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and King Features Syndicate characters to Captain Action struck again.  He took those licenses to MEGO, a small toy company that was struggling with their 8-inch-tall GI Joe knockoff, Action Jackson. The result was “The World’s Greatest SuperHeroes” line, which propelled MEGO to massive success, which dried up a few years later when they passed on the license for Star Wars.

Here’s a great promo film for 1976. Notice how they don’t seem to know the real superpowers of The Fantastic Four, plus the way they refer to The Falcon is…uh…unfortunate.

Coincedentally, Captain Action is now being made in the classic MEGO size.  I just got mine in this week, and I’ll be posting a review in a few days.  After the jump, we’ll look at a few more classic MEGO Toys.

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Back for the first time in a month, it’s your weekly dose of self-indulgence, Monday Morning Art. It might take a few extra days to get this picture up in the Monday Morning Art Store, but we’re kicking off Columbus Day with a digitally-assaulted photograph of my muse, Melanie Larch in profile.  The photo was taken at the dress rehearsal of “Jack The Ripper,” (kick yourself if you missed it) and is an exercise in color composition and dime-store surrealism. Hope you like it.

All right, I’ll admit it. I’m in the tank for Captain Action. I know it’s media bias, but I’m going to take any chance I can to write about one of my favorite childhood toys, especially now that he’s coming back. I’ll put in links to Captain Action Enterprises, and Moonstone Comics.  And you know I’ll send you over to Cast Away Toys,  where they’re bringing the good Captain back as  MEGO-style action figure.  I’ll even write about the new poster from comics legend Murphy Anderson. So, since there are some videos floating around, let’s look at Captain Action, starting with the very first commercial from the 1960s:

Cool, huh? Well, after the jump, you can see what Captain Action is up to these days, in the midst of his big revival!

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L-R: Donnie Smith,Mara Regling , Ryan Hardiman, Kevin Pauley

It’s “Jack The Ripper,” the new musical from Mark Scarpelli and Dan Kehde, and you only have two more chances to see it, tonight and tomorrow, 8 PM at the WVSU Capitol Center Theater.  If you are a fan of musical theater and you don’t see this show, you will be kicking yourself for years.  After the jump, you’ll get to see more photos from last week’s dress rehearsal, plus some of my additional thoughts on the show. (more…)

Radio Free Charleston number 53, “Jack The Ripper Shirt,” is online now!

This episode features alternative rock from Ten Carp Lie, a jam-band tune from Corporate Orange, yet another promo clip for the new Scarpelli/Kehde musical “Jack The Ripper,” plus “Charleston Speed Run #1″ and a sneak peek at the documentary “Weird, Wonderful: The Braxton County Monster,” which will debut at the RFC Halloween Party October 25 at the La Belle Theater.

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Here’s another promo video for the Scarpelli/Kehde original musical “Jack The Ripper” (running Thursday through Saturday at the WVSU Capitol Center Theater next week). This one’s by K.C. Bragg. Check it 0ut!

More details to come.  Needless to say, this will be a memorable night.

The fifty-second edition of Radio Free Charleston, “Captain Crash and The Beauty Queen Shirt” is online now!

This episode features music from Jonathon Glen Wood and Civil State.  We also have a promo video for “Jack The Ripper,” the new musical by Mark Scarpelli and Dan Kehde, which opens this week, and there’s some vintage campaign animation from 1960.

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CYAC Presents the new Scarpelli/Kehde Musical “Jack The Ripper” starting this week at The WVSU Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. in Charleston.  Our video this week is a promo spot I made for the show.

This is an amazing night of theater, featuring original work created by and starring local talent. In the clip above (which I shot last Thursday night) you see Ryan Hardiman as “Jack” and RFC Big Shot Melanie Larch as “Mary Kelly,” the final victim of The Ripper.  There is also a large cast of young talent mixed with area theater veterans such as Kevin Pauley,Greg Garner and Penny Fioravante.  Tickets are $9.50 for adults, and $5.50 for students and seniors. Call (304) 342-6522 for more information.