Breaking News from BlabberMouth: Eric Carrs Heirs sue KISS over unpaid royalties.

I just caught wind of this article on Facebook and decided to share it here on my blog. The original article: http://www.metalwani.com/2014/03/news-eric-carrs-heirs-sue-kiss-over.html According to this article, an heir to the Carr family, is suing KISS for unpaid royalties. The family of Eric Carr denies this. There will be an official statement from the Carr family and KISS very shortly over this. From all the sources that I've been reading up on (four, to be exact), repeat this is a FALSE lawsuit. Whoever originally wrote up this, is likely out to get instant publicity and little else. At least that's my assumption. For more information check out http://www.ericcarr.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/EricCarrOfficial More to post as this story develops.

Making a cloth doll body from scratch.

It's finally finished and it only took me one night to make a cloth body from period appropriate fabric for a tiny Civil war era China head doll head. This was my first attempt at making a doll body from scratch. I think I didn't do too badly. Creating the small clothes was time consuming, but interesting since I created the dress using different scraps of fabric.

This doll head needed a body, so I created one from an old flour sack. Next, I made the arms and legs and sewed them to the body and stuffed them with clean cut up strips of cloth.

And finally, the clothes. Why it took me forever to create them is because I wanted this doll to have a petticoat, layers of lawn cotton undergarments... (c'mon, its just a doll!), and then I wanted to make a two piece dress, of which, really didn't turn out, but it'll do.

When rug beaters, butter churns and butter molds were all in a day's work; living old-fashioned part 2

I can beat rugs to get the dirt out and don't mind the extra effort. I can churn butter and imprint beautiful designs in it using old wooden butter molds. Why not just get with the twenty-first century, already? A little hard work never hurt anybody and I like to have fresh butter without the additives and junk they put in it nowadays. As far as a rug beater goes-- that was before they had vacuum cleaners. Sure, it's a lot of work to hang the rug on a clothes line and beat the dirt out of it, but eh, to each his own, I guess. Butter churning is something, that when I learned how to do this, I never wanted to go back to store bought butter again. In fact, before I started churning butter with a butter churn, I seldom, if ever used butter for cooking, or even consumed it on toast, unless it was already in the food to begin with. There's something healthier about home-churned butter. Not to say that it's any better for you, but tastes more like butter used to eons ago.

When incandescents lights and kerosene lamps once ruled the world; living old-fashioned, part 1

It was bound to happen. We heard of it coming for years. It was signed back when George W. Bush, Jr. was still in office. It was an end of something that's been a mainstay for generations for millions. What we took for granted, was a marvel back in the early 19th century-- electric lights. Incandescent light bulbs once shown no brighter than twenty candles lit at one time. The inventor of the incandescent light bulb was Thomas Edison. However, in rural areas, folks still lit their homes with kerosene lamps and that lighting is still used today in the twenty-first century. Beginning in 2014 it's considered illegal to sell or import incandescent light bulbs: 25 watt, 40 watt, 60 watt, etc. At one time they used to sell 75, 90 and 100 watt before the newer "curly q" light bulbs were shoved on people. "I don't care if they're supposed to be 'energy efficient!' I'm not going to light my home with mercury-laden, made in china light bulbs that look like a hazard waiting to happen." I harped when I first saw them emerging on store shelves. I know that nothing lasts forever, and neither could incandescent light bulbs. I was determined to come up with alternative lighting at night. Sure, kerosene lamps are extremely old as the hills and a potential fire hazard when using lamp oil and wicks. However, I wanted to circumvent this and decided to go with LED candles. They don't produce much light, if enough to safely see unless there's a lot of them turned on in same room. But-- when the power goes out, the LED's do make the home feel cozy with less worry about any flammable liquid or open flame. And they also give off the appropriate lighting that would have been commonplace way back when.

Why live in the past? Why not? I realize that I won't be able to evade these new light bulbs that look curly q like to me and just an eye sore that doesn't produce enough light to see clearly by. No, my eyesight isn't that bad. I've compared the incandescent light bulbs to the newer light bulbs and the difference is noticeable. Everything is darker with those newer bulbs and makes a home and/ or business seem less pleasant atmosphere-wise. And I've keenly noticed they emit a small "hiss" and sizzle-like sound whenever they're ready to bite the dust. That should tell anybody how bad these new light bulbs are, especially since they do contain mercury. Incandescent bulbs do get hot to the touch and always have, but let the bulb cool off before changing it out. I'd be more afraid of one of those newer bulbs just shattering because they're made with inferior components and are cheaply mass-produced in China. I'm not here to complain, just make an observation, which is why when the ban went into effect, I high-tailed it to my nearest antique store. That's not to say kerosene lamps are selling like day old hot cakes, but they're an alternative lighting source for those who don't want all the new light bulbs in their homes.

New vs. Old- Dark Shadows; my critique.

Okay... Antique Mystique, where's the photo of Depp as "Barnabas"? Please, I don’t want to post one. First, I won't bash or toss the DVD disc around like a hockey puck. I admit it: I bought a copy of this movie. Clearly, I was never a Tim Burton fan to begin with, but didn’t want to judge this movie by its ending I watched on Youtube recently. Secondly, I'm not even near a baby boomer’s age, either. And third, it would sadly mark Jonathan Frid’s final cameo appearance alongside his fellow co-stars from the original TV show. I won't knock Johnny Depp (the actor). I remember him from the late eighties show, 21 Jump Street. But whatever became of Depp telling the late Dan Curtis he'd always been a fan of the TV series and wanted so much collaborate with him on a new movie? All I heard Depp mention was to the effect of, "I wanted to do an old-fashioned vampire film with Tim Burton." In the behind-the-scenes interview is Dan Curtis fondly mentioned (posthumously) during the filming of this Tim Burton movie? I heard no mention of the late director’s name nor that of the original show's cast/ crew. I think the new Dark Shadows movie was a comedy and way too explicit with some awkward 'use your imagination' segments between Dr. Hoffman and Barnabas. That, and the actress who portrayed Julia's character just trashed it. What is she in the new movie exactly: a medical doctor or psychologist? And when did Julia Hoffman become a raging alcoholic and suffer daily hangovers? If I were a parent… (I’m not, but let’s see this from a ‘parental perspective’), then would I let junior watch this new movie? Not exactly. I'd much rather they enrich their literary diet with the slew of old Marilyn Ross paperbacks and Gold Key comics, then let them make the decision if they wanted to watch the 1970 MGM House of Dark Shadows and the original MPI vhs series. Then I must be from some foreign universe where I don't grasp that nothing is too extreme in movies nowadays. Not really. Whatever became of a small trickle of blood from the corner of the mouth or two small punctures on the neck? And what happened to a normal well-groomed vampire who didn't have elongated talon-like fingernails through the entire movie? Well, I am thankful for one thing: Barnabas (Depp) didn’t sparkle like Ed-weird-o did in Twilight. Moving along… The pros of the Tim Burton movie: 1. A handful of the original TV show cast members made their last on-screen cameo appearances together as they waltz through the doors of Collinwood, of which was an elaborate stage set. 2. The interior (and recreation of the early 70's decade) seemed about accurate for the time period. 3. Some of the key characters in this new movie were loosely based on the Gothic TV show’s counterparts. 4. The exterior of Collinwood looked like a carbon copy of the TV show’s depiction. 5. Alice Cooper helped flesh out the movie and made it worth watching as well. 6: The ending was a new twist with a lot of possibilities. I did find the ending poignant and unique. However, I could very well envision this scene belonging to Jonathan Frid and Kathryn Leigh Scott forty-three years ago, but the technological advancements and new computer-generated special effects weren't readily viable when the TV show aired and then the movie House of Dark Shadows was released in 1970. If Dan Curtis had the newer technological elements at his disposal back then, the possibilities would have been visually stunning. However, movie-goers nowadays might consider House of Dark Shadows a laugh-fest much like the original Halloween movie is to groups of college-aged kids who think Saw and its sequels are top notch horror films. I find the movie Saw and its sequels to be overtly grotesque, but that’s just my opinion. The cons I had about the Tim Burton Dark Shadows movie: 1. Barnabas' arrival in America is too fast-paced and the transitions don’t flow quite right. As a young man Barnabas’ all-too-brief love scene with Angelique is missing a lot of key elements. Whether this was Burton’s intention or not is anybody’s guess. Angelique curses Barnabas over a bubbling cauldron with a lock of blonde hair because Josette comes from a wealthy family, I assume? There’s no mention that Angelique came from Martinique or that she was the maidservant to Josette DuPres. The bubbling cauldron reminded me of a Grimm’s fairytale-style. 2. Unlike the new movie’s depiction, the veteran Barnabas didn't leap off Widow's Hill, hit the jagged rocks below and… ta-da! miraculously rise from the waves as a vampire. That’s Tim Burton pulling a rabbit out of a hat trick, I guess. This particular scene in the new movie made Angelique out to be a witch that just graduated with her degree in witchcraft. 3. Barnabas (Depp), had a need to show off his prowess and claw up the banisters and moldings. Too much claw action reminded me of a feral kitten. 4. Barnabas (Depp) did his best acting in terms of a man straight out of the 1790’s. However, his over use of the old English language annoyed me by movie’s end. 5. Barnabas (Depp), constantly made references to Victoria’s fertile birthing hips every chance the line could be reiterated. And why would he need to run to Carolyn asking for the fifteen-year-old’s advice on how to date a woman by 1972’s standards? Despite the humorous line of “Only fifteen and no husband?” the rest was kind of awkward. 6. Barnabas (Depp) sleeping in the linen closet, plus admitting to the modern-day Collins’ that he’s a vampire just simply killed whatever mystique this movie had going for it. I’m sorry, but Depp gets a few points docked, no offense. 7. When/ where does Josette’s ghost/spirit begin to possess Maggie Evans/Victoria Winters in the new movie? All the movie-goers notice by the end is her sudden change from mortal to doe-eyed, pasty white vampire during her fall off Widow’s Hill and Barnabas swoops to her rescue and bites her. Next, Barnabas clutches her to him amid the crashing waves, jagged rocks and kisses her lips. One would think by now the waves would have washed off the trickles of blood and they’d want to cut out of there before the sun dotted the horizon, but nope. 8. Why bother? I won’t mention the cliff hanger. Just buy/ rent the movie. Now for the original series and why it enthralled, terrified and captivated: On the TV show during the 1795 storyline Barnabas shoots Angelique, and before she dies, places a curse on him and whoever loves him, dies. Then a vampire bat crashes through the window and bites him on the neck. Barnabas suffers a terrible bed-ridden illness as a result, then rises again as a vampire. He returns for his beloved Josette, but having already seen a ghastly vision of what she'll become if she tries to be with Barnabas (now a vampire), she flees to Widow's Hill, and just as Barnabas tries to desperately intervene, throws herself off the cliff and dies a horrible painful death. Josette doesn't rise a vampire or become reincarnated as Maggie Evans/Victoria Winters on the show. In fact, this is where the new movie plot was confusing. 3. The new movie veered off into left field here and there. The TV show dared to push the envelope with what could be allowed to be aired on TV. True, on the TV series, Barnabas and Dr. Hoffman *might* have had the potential of an unrequited romance, but never in the Tim Burton vein (pardon the pun). The new movie is geared for a Twilight-infused generation full of tweens and young adults. However, on the other side of the fence, there are the baby boomer die hard DS fans, and lumped in with them are the displaced 80's generation who discovered this 60’s Gothic soap opera in syndication land. Then throw in a scant few early 90's born generation of nineteen and twenty-somethings that found the original show by happenstance on Sci-Fy.(I guess the old “Sci-Fi” network has long since changed), and thus it becomes one big eclectic mix that walk away from the new movie with confusion and misinterpretation of the origins of Maggie Evans and Victoria Winters. The soon-to-be governess didn’t glance at a skiing poster on the train, and decide on a whim, that her new identity would be “Victoria Winters”. The real Victoria Winters (from the TV show): Alexandra Moltke played Victoria Winters. She didn’t suffer from multiple personality disorder as the 2012 Maggie Evans/ Victoria Winters/ Josette DuPres does in the new movie. Victoria Winters (Moltke) was not reincarnated as Josette, although Barnabas did slip into her room at night, prepared to bite her. However, once he discovered Maggie Evans, the Collinsport waitress, he was instantly taken by her. He kidnaps Maggie and holds her captive at first in Josette’s bedroom of the old house, then imprisons her in the basement. Barnabas (Frid) tries to break her will and hypnotize her into believing she is his long-lost love, Josette DuPres, but with ghostly help of Barnabas’ long deceased sister, Maggie’s able to break free and later is confined to Windcliff sanitarium. At best, the new movie’s flashback of Maggie Evans/Victoria’s secret past where she’s committed to a padded cell as a girl in a kid-sized straight jacket is strange. Sure, her parents think their little Maggie… err, I mean Vicky Winters is a nut cluster because she has a sixth sense and can see/ talk to ghosts? This part of the movie confused me. Then again maybe I missed something and wasn't paying attention. So the parents have their child committed to an insane asylum because she’s talking descriptively about seeing a ghost? This segment reminded me of the Sixth Sense where the boy can see dead people. As for the younger generation they won’t know that on the TV show, Windcliff sanatorium is where Dr. Julia Hoffman worked when she wasn’t helping to cure Barnabas of his vampirism. On a related note: the younger generation won’t know that Alice Cooper’s Ballad of Dwight Fry somehow correlates with the 1931 Dracula’s all-time classic insect-eating lunatic, Renfield played by character actor Dwight Frye for that matter. On the original TV Dark Shadows series (1966-71), 1,225 episodes: The introduction of Barnabas Collins was creepy, simply put. He was sadistic in the early part of the show, then became a tragic romantic hero of sorts and the audience fell in love with him, sympathized with his situations and struggles. Barnabas Collins (Frid) was supposed to meet an early demise on the show and be staked off camera. However, the concept of a vampire living in a modern world was something new, exciting and unexplored in the 1960’s. Also, take into consideration there was the Vietnam war, social and economic unrest in modern society at the time. The country was going through a vast dark period. People needed an escape and Dan Curtis offered that every weekday afternoon on TV. When Jonathan Frid would flash his fangs before he bit on camera was also a very new concept that drove the ratings through the roof. Jonathan Frid received large volumes of fan mail as a result as did many in the cast. Barnabas quickly became one of America’s favorite ghouls. However, he was also typecast to play vampire roles, which severely crippled his versatility as an actor. On the TV show when Barnabas is accidentally released from his chained coffin by drifter, Willie Loomis, he’s the first victim and becomes Barnabas’ slave. In the black and white episodes (before the show transcended to color which was a brand new medium at the time), was far more atmospheric, aesthetic and spooky! Try watching the series in the dark sometime preferably when there’s a thunderstorm. In color, the show takes on new appeal, and the differences of Barnabas’ complexion are noticeable when he’s a vampire and when he’s cured. Depp’s Barnabas stood out like a sore thumb and he didn’t try to blend in with modern day society. Barnabas (Frid) didn’t poke his nose into the Collins’ family fishing business much less was hardly ever seen during the day at all. Staying true to the literary vampire folklore made Frid’s Barnabas eerie. What I liked: no claws. None. No pasty-white or over the top painted blood red-lips. I realize for the movie, heavy makeup was in order and so was the emphasis on the blood that didn’t readily rinse clean, either. Willie Loomis was lazy and too mellow in the new movie. On the show, poor Willie Loomis was timid and tormented something fierce by Barnabas (made equally graphic in House of Dark Shadows). The TV show’s Willie Loomis (Karlen) wasn’t out for laughs. In fact, it made one feel pity for the drifter, who was forced into being Barnabas’ slave. Dr. Julia Hoffman (Hall) was constantly trying to help Barnabas and more of his ally as the show progressed and they became central characters. She was not out to become a vampire herself or try to breech the patient/doctor code of ethics in any abhorrent manner like what was depicted in the new movie. Their TV show chemistry clicked, no doubt. The new movie’s characters seemed too Scooby-Doo-ish and veer off in a drive-in double-feature vein. Carolyn is a werewolf in the new movie. Whereas, Carolyn (Barrett) was nothing more than a typical rebellious young lady on the TV show and she didn’t change into a wolf and howl at the moon. Claws, claws, claws—- enough with the shredding already. Thank goodness, Carolyn (Barrett) wasn’t cursed with lycanthropy on the show or in House of Dark Shadows, either. Reverend Trask would have been a good pick for the new movie or how about Professor Stokes? They were hell bent on seeing Barnabas die. But… time is money and the movie can’t be two or three hours long. Maybe it can be made up in the sequel if there’s one for the new Dark Shadows movie. Enough said, for now anyway.

Porkchop 2004-June 28, 2005

The kitten who beat all odds wormed his little furry self into our hearts at two weeks old during a harsh winter in 2004. His time was all too brief. A year later on June 19, 2005 Porkchop sadly lost his life while trying to cross the street. He'd never come home to a dinner of cut up chicken and dry cat food waiting for him on the back porch.

Doll collecting.

I've been collecting dolls since I was ten years old, give or take a few years. Long before the internet, I'd check out the latest edition of Doll World magazine, always skimming the fascinating articles, pictures and collector's stories of what inspired them to collect dolls. Shirley Temple didn't appeal to me, but do recall I read and noticed more pictures and stories of that particular doll than any other. She was a famous child star, and one that was way before my time. That's pretty much all I grasped about her as a kid growing up. Ever since my mom had told me about the dolls she had as a girl, which were quite impressive: Thumbelina, Suzy Smart and Chatty Cathy, I was on a mission to find those particular dolls. As luck would have it, mom and I stopped in a corner junk store late one evening. Rushed as usual mom reminded me, "Don't take forever in a day looking at stuff." Mom had worked all day long and she still needed to make supper, get a load of laundry in the wash, plus make sure we kids were tucked in on time during the school week. One man's junk is another man's treasure... I often heard the adage quite frequently. And there she was sitting on the shelf, a pitiful sight of a Chatty Cathy doll, circa 1950's and hardly any blonde hair left on its head. I pointed out the doll to my mom, who couldn't believe what I just discovered. The price was expensive. $10 for a non-working doll. Mom didn't want to tell me it would have been a waste of money and back in the late 80s, ten dollars was a considerable sum for an old doll. And why should I get a doll and leave out my other siblings? Did I do anything special to deserve this particular doll other than flash my puppy dog eyes? My mom glanced at the old lady behind the counter, who appeared as though she would chew iron and spit nails. And would she even consider doing any less on the doll? I prepared my little mind that the old lady would like snap at me like a grouch and holler, "No!" Instead, I was quite surprised when my mom haggled on the price and we got out of there with my first true "antique" doll for $5. I was overjoyed and have one photo of that very doll. The image is blurry. The doll in the green dress is unknown.

I pretty much gravitated to dolls that were banged up, well played with and so worn out that no collector could possibly want to proudly display them in their great ancestor's hand-me-down Curio cabinet. My young eyes saw potential, not in dollar signs so much, but from a personal restoration and appreciation stand point. With my eldest brother's help, he tried to fix the first Chatty Cathy doll in my collection and I looked on as his personal assistant. However, neither of us could make out the garbled messages the doll was suppose to rattle off. In fact, this remained a mystery to me until I purchased a third Cathy Cathy doll from a thrift store some twenty-five years later that still talks when the string is pulled. The first doll lot I won from an eBay seller was for $8. The dolls weren't antique, per se, just vintage or old by a few years and one in particular I adored. She wasn't very tall, maybe about fifteen inches, with pale white parian-like head, arms and legs, blue dress and long straight blonde hair. Her eyes were dark blue and I recall that it creeped out my better half, so I stored them in the garage. My doll collection grew, waned and I downsized considerably. My primary focus was on the dolls that came before the 1930's whenever possible, although a few of my bed dolls might date around that time frame. I seem to like the older antique dolls, circa 1890's-1900's the best. I don't have any celluloid-made dolls in my collection. The reason for this is because celluloid was comprised of camphor and nitrate, and if subjected to extremely high temperatures for long periods or heat, can combust. Here in the U.S., celluloid dolls were banned in the 1940's due to the volatile nature of the chemicals. Do I have anything against dolls post-1930s? None at all. They just don't appeal to me (collector-wise) too much nowadays. Oil cloth dolls; are they worth the investment? Sure. However, conditions vary from excellent, fair and poor condition due to their age. I have one Harold Lloyd oil cloth doll that was given the nickname, "small fry" and he's been out-beaten by a small and fragile rival: a ten-inch low brow China head doll. She's no bigger than a modern Barbie doll by comparison. I recently came upon another large China doll head for $4. I also snapped up a random 1970's bisque jointed, cloth-bodied doll and utilized that for my first doll repair. The bisque head from the other doll will go up for auction in the near future. And this is how my first large China head doll turned out:

The big low brow China head doll donning a fashionable 1970's brown dress. The other China head doll is unmarked as well. Most of these China head dolls were produced in Germany. Some had marks: "Pat. Applied for... Germany". Other had "Germany 6 ", for example and others, like mine, have no identifiable maker's mark other than the pock-marked appearance of the glaze, rosy apple cheeks, painted on imperfections on the China head, etc. The blonde-haired "pet name" China Head doll, "Helen" was likely produced in 1905, give or take a few years. As far as I know, neither doll has its original cloth body or limbs, which makes them special, in my opinion. The "girls" are crowded. I didn't want these bed dolls to be accidentally knocked off the sofa, bed or any other everyday furniture. Sure, it means more to dust and work to tend to these beauties, but they're worth it. As my late Great-Grandmother told me, "Do you want my bed doll? She's old and very beautiful." Indeed, she is!

And she scared the pants off me when I received her in person. I didn't know what a bed doll was at the time. All I remember seeing were Great Grandmother's Kewpie dolls donning crocheted doll dresses. It took me some time to alculmate to the bed doll, during which time it didn't long for the composition to crack like an eggshell. I didn't bother to restore her nor do I intend to. Some dolls were meant to be left undisturbed by "miracle" do-it-yourself composition repair that was, for a while, a hot commodity. I've since learned that the composition material is highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. If its too dry or too humid, this reeks havoc on composition dolls. I've since acquired a few more bed dolls from other relatives. The composition material crazing varies from each doll, which is to be expected, given over time where (and how) these dolls might have been stored. And I'm well aware that basements and attics are no-no's for composition dolls. This will do harm to their features. However, sometimes people just have to make do where they live; be it basement dwelling or a glorious attic room. I've been asked, How do you sleep at night with these dolls in the same room? I'm not spooked by the bed doll anymore nor any of the other dolls in my collection. I have heard stories (be true or embellished) of the all-too-familiar, "Haunted doll" being sold on online auction sites. However, the market has been over-saturated with so many haunted dolls that it's lost its luster. So, how much is too many dolls? Dolls can over-run a small space in no time like anything else and I'd recommend no more than can be displayed in a single curio cabinet; two or three if one has enough room for that many cabinets. And I did save the best doll for last. (Drum roll, please)...

What is it? It's a tin head doll, produced anywhere from 1800s-1930, by Buschow & Beck, a German company. These dolls are also known as "Minerva" or tin head dolls. They were more durable that China head dolls and bisque. However, since these doll heads were made from pressed tin, most of their painted features have flaked and chipped over time. One interesting thing about these particular tin head dolls were their body styles. Think of it like designing your own car. The tin head could vary in style with painted on features, glass eyes, or a mohair wig. Other features also included a custom-made body. These dolls were also sold through Sears Roebuck mail order catalogs, too. What makes them fragile: the paint and when it was applied didn't fair well over time. Some of the faces have rust, missing almost all their original paint and this was the first tin head doll I had ever laid eyes on. What's with its oven-mitt sized hands? The all cloth body was likely custom-designed back in the day. And don't ask what child wanted their doll to have large cloth hands. As far as I can tell through a visual inspection, the doll appears to be complete with no added Frankenstein limbs. The head is stamped in front and back. However, due to the chipped paint, it is difficult to tell if this tin head doll was produced by Buschow & Beck. The shoes are definitely fragile and the leather soles are paper consistency. The black stockings are excellent for their age and the gray jumper is in good condition (appears to be machine sewed). It was attached with a tiny brass antique doll safety pin with an etched design. I removed the pin and put it away. It sure gives a new name to "metal head".