tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:09:07 +0000Random thoughts on music, cinema, books, cuisine, art, politics, ecology, ecomony and astronomy from Dallas, TXhttp://www.erichscholz.com/noreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)Blogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-5016094999918575914Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:08:00 +00002010-03-10T16:09:07.685-06:00http://www.erichscholz.com/2010/03/oh-hungee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2434617259104540751Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:09:00 +00002010-02-26T12:33:28.986-06:00German DVD company Koch Media -- famous for their reverent collection of Spaghetti Westerns -- have issued one of the greatest SWs on DVD for the first time. Yes, I'm talking about Sergio Corbucci's excellent 1968 effort THE MERCENARY starring Franco Nero, Tony Musante and Jack Palance.I ordered this PAL disc from Amazon.de about two months ago and it just arrived this week. The packaging is http://www.erichscholz.com/2010/02/sergio-cobuccis-mercenary-1968-on-dvd.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-7999425120301970710Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:34:00 +00002010-02-17T01:41:02.910-06:00Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) -- 16mmhttp://www.erichscholz.com/2010/02/film-images-21710.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2570191321850330052Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:47:00 +00002010-02-14T11:56:57.661-06:00A snowstorm dumped over a foot of snow on Dallas this past week. The picture on the right was taken this past Thursday morning. More snow was coming but I ended up at work that day and the photo only captured a little bit of the snow. Unfortunately all that white stuff felled tree branches across the city which then came into contact with power lines and transformers. I believe 200,000 homes werehttp://www.erichscholz.com/2010/02/snowstorm-dumped-over-foot-of-snow-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-6758323582983662666Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:19:00 +00002010-01-26T12:23:47.222-06:00spaghetti westernsmovieswidescreenHDTVhorrorDVDI bought an HD DVD player a couple of years ago but the demise of the format and the relatively high price points of the competing Blu Ray players caused me to shy away from HiDef for a while...until recently.I'd been doing some research -- see, I wanted to go "region free" AND I wanted to go Blu as well. Luckily there turned out to be a bargain-priced option in one box.The Momitsu BDP 899 was http://www.erichscholz.com/2010/01/region-free-blu-ray.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-3314763179569600801Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:28:00 +00002010-01-14T14:49:47.701-06:00moviesDVDPurchased and received my very first DVD from the "hand-made" Warners Archives Collection. They offer up professionally packaged DVD-Rs of obscure films for a pretty steep price ($20 plus shipping). I hadn't had the chance to check them out until I spotted Joseph Losey's THE BOY WITH GREEN HAIR (1948) for sale. I'd been looking for a decent DVD copy of this film for several years.On the surface, http://www.erichscholz.com/2010/01/boy-with-green-hair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2563924092799497533Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:03:00 +00002010-01-07T12:21:21.692-06:00moviesI've done it. I've finally found a film with absolutely no redeeming qualities. I won an auction on eBay ($10) for a 16mm print of the Michael Caine/Elizabeth Taylor bitch fest X, Y & ZEE (aka Zee & Co.) from 1972. I'd never seen the film and it's not available on DVD here in the States so I decided to take a chance. Now I know why no one wanted this. I threaded the first reel through my Elmo http://www.erichscholz.com/2010/01/x-y-zee-1972.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-7676989661927666014Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:02:00 +00002009-12-08T10:05:22.983-06:00I've been so lazy. Haven't updated this thing in...months! Let's see. What have I been up to?OK, first thing's first. For anyone out there who might be interested, DO NOT buy one of those cheap ass turkey fryers from Lowe's or Home Depot. THEY DO NOT WORK. I'm not talking, "Oh, it burned my bird" I'm talking, the burner doesn't work very well. What did I expect for $60?Going to Raleigh, NC this http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/12/whoa-its-holiday-season-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-1245609427754919023Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:31:00 +00002009-10-20T09:50:34.542-06:00Vogue Picture Records were a series of 78 rpm music discs produced between 1946 and 1947 by Sav-Way Industries of Detroit, Michigan. Each 10-inch (as well as an occasional 12-inch) disc featured a colorful illustration sandwiched between the vinyl grooves. The limited production run as well as the visual appeal has generated a small cult of collectors who scour auctions and estate sales looking http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/10/vogue-picture-records.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-1409051570092538799Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:20:00 +00002009-09-22T10:29:17.943-06:00Time to update, no doubt. Where do I begin...Holly and I moved out of Little Forest Hills at the end of last month and into a 3-1/5 nearer to Casa View (I never thought I would write those words). I actually like Extreme East Dallas. I've been exploring some of the nabes over here as well as Garland and Mesquite. I like it. Also discovered a new Sunday afternoon tradition -- the Hollywood http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/09/new-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-1869319989031534151Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:36:00 +00002009-08-09T01:01:34.069-06:00Not much to say, just wanted to mark a moment in time:Thinking about The Monkees. I'm a fan. I've been a fan for nearly 25 years. I make no apologies for it. Part of it is their status as a portal in time for me, both now -- and back in the day, when they opened a door to another era I wasn't really aware of. Sure, The Beatles existed in the '60s, but they occupied a rarified position all their http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/08/more-of-monkees.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-8384923376435791253Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:31:00 +00002009-07-12T13:37:08.512-06:00Spent a little time this hot Sunday morning watching some David Bowie live videos on Youtube. It's interesting that the MSM continues to beat the dead horse of Michael Jackson and the general public laps it up -- ignoring the fact that a REAL performer is out there, 10x the entertainer that Jackson ever was (in the big picture) and he's still performing and engaging and relevant (at least he http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/07/contemplating-david-bowie-live.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2597144883833015948Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:35:00 +00002009-07-02T09:47:24.922-06:00Tomorrowpeople played a private party out in Cedar Hill, TX this past Saturday (6.27.09). It was an outdoor affair with lots of kids running around, adults munching on fajitas -- lots of beer drinking -- and the band sweating in the 100 degree heat in their rock and roll fancy pants.It was our first performance since March at the NX35 Fest in Denton. Despite a few flubs here and there, the http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/07/tomorrowpeople-live-62709-cedar-hill-tx.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-7678997712347032277Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:10:00 +00002009-07-01T18:49:34.455-06:00Landed a near mint vinyl copy of the two platter Morricone comp, I Film Della Violenza, last week. Been checking it out the past couple of days.I'd kinda been in a rock mood lately, so I was surprised how good this sounded to me. The vinyl is in excellent shape and sounds fantastic on a Technics 1200 turntable (old skool Stanton 500 cartridge -- nothing fancy) through my buggy Yamaha AV receiver http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/07/ennio-morricone-i-film-della-violenza.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-720167165386538917Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:45:00 +00002009-07-01T15:57:20.947-06:00Ok, I'm not gonna say anything about MJ...not a peep about Farrah. Ed McMahon -- more like Dead McMahon. Billy Mays -- we hardly knew ye!But this one is different. Not because it was unexpected. Actually, for many baby boomers -- it might even be regrief. But after 97 years on the planet, actor Karl Malden has shuffled off this mortal coil. The actor (who is probably better known for his role as http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/07/karl-malden-dead-at-97.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-6822176614086754306Sat, 02 May 2009 05:41:00 +00002009-05-02T16:28:14.692-06:00OUT OF THE PAST (1947) -- 16mmhttp://www.erichscholz.com/2009/05/film-images-5109.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-5383554110418875638Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:52:00 +00002009-04-13T11:16:06.154-06:00Grooving on the soundtrack music of Ennio Morricone. Bought two vinyl LPs this weekend at Forever Young -- 1971's UNA LUCERTOLA CON LA PELLE and the obscure 1969 LA DONNA INVISIBLE. Both could be comfortably filed under Mondo Morricone material, reflecting a dreamier, slightly loungy side of the Il Maestro...although I wouldn't go so far as saying they're "psychedelic." UNA LUCERTOLA is http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/04/morricone-genius.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-4564943107136707028Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:33:00 +00002009-04-04T00:56:21.215-06:00Watched a bit of the new Midnight Choir DVD release of Mario Bava's THE WHIP AND THE BODY coupled with Fulci's CONSPIRACY OF TORTURE. Ordered it off Amazon after reading a little controversy surrounding the disc's legal status. If you know me, you know I'm a huge Bava fan -- I own Tim Lucas' 1000+ bio ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. You gotta be a fan if you own that! The older VCI disc, which -- I http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/04/mario-bava-and-gestalt-of-cinema.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-6024862683280281730Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:17:00 +00002009-04-03T14:47:28.787-06:00OK, ok. I caught some flak from Head of Press and Publicity for AFI, John Wildman, for my last post. I just wanted to clarify a few points regarding my comments about AFI Dallas' screenings.First off, I in no way wanted to sound ungrateful to the fest organizers. I was an invited guest at this year's fest and I really appreciated being able to be a small part of it. It was pointed out to me by http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/04/notes-from-afi-dallas-part-ii.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-6673429214798790077Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:37:00 +00002009-04-01T20:58:55.511-06:00The past week my film society DALLAS CINEMANIA was invited to participate as a "community sponsor" for the AFI DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST here in Big D. AFI has been more than generous and allowed me to spread my word to a few more people than would otherwise hear about it.There have been tons of docs, short films and new releases. I got to co-host a screening of the new '50s sci-fi send up http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/04/notes-from-afi-dallas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-6531739382383898973Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:12:00 +00002009-03-16T12:04:03.119-06:00Haven't updated this site in a long time...too long. Since the last post, we've gained a new president in the United States. The global economy is apparently slipping into a depression...or something. Who knows? I guess it's a recession until YOU lose YOUR job...then it's a depression. I'm still working fortunately.One of the more interesting things to come out of this economic mess has been a http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/03/legalize-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2964275143942011335Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:38:00 +00002009-01-09T14:52:19.513-06:00I'm particularly broken up today after learning about the death of one of my favorite film makers, Ray Dennis Steckler. The man passed away in his sleep on Jan 7, 2009 at the age of 70. The definitive cult artist, Steckler's work was ignored by the masses but his small group of fans cherished his low budget films for their imagination and almost childlike sense of wonder. I was always amazed at http://www.erichscholz.com/2009/01/ray-dennis-steckler-1939-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-464337964952647462Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:13:00 +00002008-12-12T00:30:26.079-06:00I WANT TO LIVE! (1958) -- 16mmhttp://www.erichscholz.com/2008/12/film-images-121208.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-8286274753174113390Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:14:00 +00002008-12-11T23:20:42.424-06:00RING OF BRIGHT WATER (1969) -- 16mmhttp://www.erichscholz.com/2008/12/ring-of-bright-water-1969-16mm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30259420.post-2990614898732153168Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:44:00 +00002008-12-10T22:51:04.304-06:00GREAT TEXAS DYNAMITE CHASE (1976) -- 16MMhttp://www.erichscholz.com/2008/12/more-film-images.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Erich Scholz)0