WAMG goes to Cinema Wasteland 2009

I attended my seventh CINEMA WASTELAND Movie and Memorabilia Convention in Cleveland this past weekend. Run by promoter Ken Kish, Cinema Wasteland is something of anti-mainstream horror movie convention, a smaller-scale event focusing on Drive-In and Grindhouse films, mostly from the 1970’s. CINEMA WASTELAND has a theme every show, often a reunion of some kind. Themes of past shows have included a DAWN OF THE DEAD cast reunion, a LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT “Meet the Killers†� reunion, Biker movies, and even a reunion last year of the star and director of ILSA SHE WOLF OF THE SS. This year’s theme was initially a TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 35th reunion but the addition of Swedish cult starlet Christina Lindberg (THEY CALL HER ONE EYE aka THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE) to the guest list quickly eclipsed that group as Ms Lindberg had the longest autograph lines and most enthusiastic reception I’ve seen for a Cinema Wasteland guest. It was Ms Lindberg’s first U.S. convention. Word of her appearance at the Wasteland spread and fans drove and flew from all over the country to meet her. Christina Lindberg made almost all of her movies between 1970 and 1975 and has not spoken much about her career over the years. Ms Lindberg was kind enough to grant me an exclusive interview for WAMG (watch for it to be posted on this site later this week) and signed all 8 cards from my THEY CALL HER ONE EYE lobby card set. Other guests at this year’s Wasteland included Danny Steinmann, director of the Linda Blair favorite SAVAGE STREETS. Steinmann did a running commentary over a screening of his FRIDAY THE 13th PT 5 which I missed but heard was hilarious. Other guests included Charles Craig from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and three cast members from DAWN OF THE DEAD: David Crawford “Dr. Crawford†�, Leonard Lies “The Machete Zombie†�, and Frank Serrao “The Grey Suit Zombie†�. Lou Perryman, who was a cameraman on THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and played the radio-man-turned-victim in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2, was supposed to attend but was murdered (!) in Austin, TX two nights before the show, which cast a bit of a dark cloud on this year’s celebration.

Whenever I go to Cleveland, folks back home always ask if I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or some such tourist trap. I say “Hell No, I never leave the hotel!†�. There’s too much great programming at CINEMA WASTELAND. Q&A Panel discussions this year included a lively one held by the seven surviving stars of the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface), Marylyn Burns (Sally), Ed Neal (Hitchhiker), Terri McMinn (Pam), Alan Danziger (Jerry), John Dugan (Grampa), and William Vail (Kirk). Swedish film historian Rickard Gramfors, who heads a film society called “Klubb Super-8†� gave an informative and illustrated presentation on the history of Swedish Erotica. The self-proclaimed “King of the Grindhouse†�, 42nd Street Pete, told scary stories about attending rundown NY-area flea-pit movie theaters in the 60’s and 70’s. There was also Scary Karaoke, Horror Trivia Jeopardy, Horror Hosts, and much more. The dealer room always has plenty of movie memorabilia, bootleg DVDs, T-Shirts, monster magazines, and homemade horror trinkets for sale. I told myself I wasn’t going to spend much on collectibles but I brought a big wad of cash “just in case†�, and of course spent it all. I picked up an INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS One-Sheet poster signed by William Smith and Anitra Ford (!), an original lobby card set for ASTRO ZOMBIES, and some DVDs including SWEDEN HEAVEN AND HELL, WICKED WICKED, VOODOO WOMAN, and a whole suitcase-full of stuff more.

CINEMA WASTELAND is not the largest horror movie convention, but it’s the one I most enjoy attending. I like the fact that one weekend admission fee gets you access to everything and you’re not nickel & dimed for every extra screening, panel, or whatever. My favorite thing at Cinema Wasteland are the 16mm screenings. I can remember a time when all Sci-Fi and Horror conventions would screen movies on actual film but it seems that none do any more as it’s much easier to just project DVDs. Sitting in uncomfortable banquet chairs all night, watching faded and scratchy 16mm prints of movies I already own on DVD is something I really look forward to. This year I had the pleasure of watching DAY OF THE ANIMALS, DRACULA VS FRANKENSTEIN, THE CORPSE GRINDERS, and THE FUNHOUSE in this format and it was a great opportunity to bond with some of my favorite schlocky films. When I ran the screening room at St. Louis’s first horror convention last October, I made sure 16mm prints were a part of it. This year was a first in that a 35mm print was shown as part of Cinema Wasteland. The 1973 film ANITA THE SWEDISH NYMPH starring Christina Lindberg was screened at a theatre across the highway from the hotel Saturday night at 11:30. Ms Lindberg stopped by and introduced this Swedish erotic classic and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one her films projected on a big screen.

CINEMA WASTELAND is held twice a year and the next event is October 3-5 so put it on you calendar. Ken already has Hammer horror starlets Martine Beswick and Caroline Munro committed to attend as well as Joel Reed, director of the classic BLOODSUCKING FREAKS. Now that’s some wasteland!

Check out some photos from Cinema Wasteland below…